Flat Screen Telly!

twiggyleaf
twiggyleaf
edited August 2013 in General Discussion
Hi All

I just wanted to share my joy from last night's game. We are currently playing a game outside of Obsidian Portal (Pathfinder Rise of the Runelords) and last night we strode boldly into the virtual (but real) tabletop future with our FLAT SCREEN TELLY on its back on the table, connected to an iPad to give us our first trully electronic terrain. It was so fantastic to see our little miniatures on that well lit surface that could change according to the different parts of the dungeon. Bravo! to our new GM, who has given us such innovation and a new thirst and hunger for improvements!

Happiness is a FLAT SCREEN TELLY!

twigs

"I met a traveller from an antique land....."

CotM May 2016: Mysteria: set in Wolfgang Baur’s MIDGARD.

Previous CotM Aug 2012: Shimring: High Level Multiplanar Campaign

Inner Council Member

Comments

  • Leonidas300
    Leonidas300
    Posts: 273
    Sounds Awesome Twiggs,

    But someday I have to get you hooked on Dwarven Forge though

    "BEHOLD":http://www.obsidianportal.com/campaign/metzger/wikis/dwarven-forge-set-ups


    "Leonidas300":http://www.obsidianportal.com/campaign/metzger/wikis/leonidas300
    "A Manifestation of Chaos":http://www.obsidianportal.com/campaign/metzger/wikis/main-page
    COTM - Sept. 2012
  • twiggyleaf
    twiggyleaf
    Posts: 2,006
    Hi Leo

    I am absolutely aware of Dwarven Forge and we have played many games in our last club, although it is better in a place that is dedicated to the game where the terrain can be left untouched until the next game - a luxury we do NOT have. The up and coming simpler KICKSTARTER stuff looks great as well, but I am still very much a fan of the vinyl grid mat! Quick. Flexible. Easy to add stuff or take away as required. Quick wipe. Move on.

    twigs

    "I met a traveller from an antique land....."

    CotM May 2016: Mysteria: set in Wolfgang Baur’s MIDGARD.

    Previous CotM Aug 2012: Shimring: High Level Multiplanar Campaign

    Inner Council Member

  • wolfhound
    wolfhound
    Posts: 354 edited August 2013
    Ah the Kickstarter... I spent way, way too much money on that. Can't wait until they come in.

    I think my wife would kill me if I used our flat screen for gaming... scratch that, she'd think it was awesome... my kids might protest though.
    Post edited by wolfhound on
  • wolfhound
    wolfhound
    Posts: 354
    .. but then again, I do have a 19 inch sitting around gathering dust... hmm... do you guys play on it directly or put a sheet of plexiglass down first?
  • twiggyleaf
    twiggyleaf
    Posts: 2,006
    Hi Wolfhound

    Last night was our first time. We played directly onto the glass and everything was cool. It is not the DM's lounge telly, so I don't suppose surface dirt would be a major problem. Although it took up some space on the table, it actually created space in a way, because we tended to keep our piles of crisps, drinks, chocolates and other junk foods off the tabletop so that it was only the central screen with us and our character sheets around it. It also doubled up as a display for pictures and other PDF stuff. It would not be great for TEXT but maybe if you go HD - who knows???

    twigs

    "I met a traveller from an antique land....."

    CotM May 2016: Mysteria: set in Wolfgang Baur’s MIDGARD.

    Previous CotM Aug 2012: Shimring: High Level Multiplanar Campaign

    Inner Council Member

  • ketherian
    ketherian
    Posts: 203
    Sounds cool twiggyleaf.

    Did you take any pictures of the set-up?
    Did the map use lighting effects or the fog of war?

    I've toyed with similar ideas (only on a flat-screen monitor however) and love the effect. Have to set it up again soon for a Grand Melee; and it's really cool when you can watch your characters move about high-res backgrounds. Always torn about turning on the fog of war, or not. It's a really cool effect (darkening areas beyond the player's light source), but it can lead to player confusion.
  • twiggyleaf
    twiggyleaf
    Posts: 2,006
    I didn't take any pictures, but will next time.
    The GM had developed a system of cover over the whole dungeon that he "scrubbed" away as we entered each room. It worked pretty well but this "Fog of War" effect sounds really cool. Tell me more....

    "I met a traveller from an antique land....."

    CotM May 2016: Mysteria: set in Wolfgang Baur’s MIDGARD.

    Previous CotM Aug 2012: Shimring: High Level Multiplanar Campaign

    Inner Council Member

  • ketherian
    ketherian
    Posts: 203
    MapTools lets you identify and program the light radius of any object (torch, spell, whatever). You have to specify where shadows will fall (which takes some work), but in the end, you get a section where - move the PCs and the area lights up within the radius of their light source. And outside this radius - darkness returns. This video helped me set it up the first time: "MapTools Tutorial: Fog of War & Other Tricks (YouTube)":http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TdHBhIEsLU as did this one "Vision and Light tutorial":http://www.rptoolstutorials.net/videos/VisionLight1/VisionLight1.html.

    I'm pretty sure most RPG map display programs will have a similar effect; and it sounds like your GM was doing this manually.

    I ended up not using it as often as I wanted to because (a) it was tricky to set up and (b) I got complaints from my players that it made the map too confusing.

    I look forward to seeing your pictures.
  • GamingMegaverse
    GamingMegaverse
    Posts: 2,998
    Yes, Roll20 does similar- and I find it easier to use than MapTools!
    killervp
    "A God...Rebuilt":http://www.obsidianportal.com/campaigns/a-god-rebuilt
    "OP's COTM April 2012":http://blog.obsidianportal.com/a-god-rebuilt-aprils-cotm/

    Just trying to help out.

  • Pils
    Pils
    Posts: 149
    I think I can understand your joy Twiggy!

    Recently, we're playing with a 21" touchscreen on the player side and a classical screen on my side: with Roll20 (and the fog of war feature), I can see the whole map, but on their screen the players only see the part I'm lighting up! And when their is a fight, the tokens are moved via the touchscreen!

    Before, I have to draw my maps with photoshop, print and cut them, find and position them at the right time, and they were black & white...

    I will take pictures the next time we play.

    -Pils
    "Dark Sun -- La Décade des Héros":http://www.obsidianportal.com/campaigns/dark-sun-a-trova: Face the Fire of the Dark Sun... a World ravaged by Sorcery!
    "Al-Qadim -- Golden Voyages":http://www.obsidianportal.com/campaigns/aq-golden-voyages: Who Among you Dares to Challenge the High Seas?

    -Pils

    Dark Sun ● La Décade des Héros : Face the Fire of the Dark Sun... a World ravaged by Sorcery! (CotM - Dec 2012)

    Les Royaumes Oubliés : A D&D 5e old school style Forgotten Realms campaign!

    (And I'm so soooorry for my poor english...)

  • twiggyleaf
    twiggyleaf
    Posts: 2,006
    Sounds good, Pils

    We did it again tonight but I forgot to take pictures.

    twigs

    "I met a traveller from an antique land....."

    CotM May 2016: Mysteria: set in Wolfgang Baur’s MIDGARD.

    Previous CotM Aug 2012: Shimring: High Level Multiplanar Campaign

    Inner Council Member

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