Ok, so, disclaimers first: I know nothing about DnD, how easy/hard this would be to implement, how people would react to it ETC. I'm just throwing this out there as a outsider, or at best someone who's watched the odd DnD campaign on Youtube. So, pleas be gentle with this suggestion and that it's coming from a sort of outside perspective.
Ok, so. When everyone is talking about the Campaign Manager, they talk about things like tokens, or notes, or whatnot, everything that requires imagination or notetaking. And that is all well and good and I'm not saying take it away. I realize that kind of creativity is a essential element of what MAKES DnD, and why the thing I suggest would be tough ti implement with that kind of creativity in mind. But for this suggestion, I want to go wild and controversial. I want to go full on with what digital formats can bring. My goal here is twofold: to make a simple to use campaign editor that even someone like me, just walking into DnD, can use and make something cool, and to actively show events happening in a way that even full on DnD games have not done before. Now, I admit these tasks sometimes conflict, so I ask you that if you have any ways on how to improve this base idea, suggest them below.
With that said... I'm thinking full on campaign maker like what you see in a video game. It does not have to be super powerful graphics: in fact I'm thinking more a traditional dungeon type look to it like Legends of Grimlock or something, or easier like a pixel type FF game. The important thing is this: It just needs to be enough to be a aid to the imagination. Just enough that it can remain as flexible as DnD normally is but show the thing occurring.
But how to make this happen, I hear you ask? Simple. A simple to use campaign maker that actually makes the campaign with your imput, rather then you writing notes and whatnot. It needs to be flexible enough to adapt to the DM's needs, while being easy enough to use that some random guy walking in can use it. Tooltips that explain how everything works will be a great help, but I'm also thinking that having a tutorial on how to make a typical base DnD campaign would help. Make it step by step so they are not overwhelmed.
Now, you may have noticed that I've posted no or few ways to make this HAPPEN. Truth be told: I have no idea. I'm really a ideas guy, and I don't enough about DnD to make this happen. Which is where you guys come in. If you LIKE this general idea, and have any ideas how to make this work, add it below.
If I am getting your idea right, the closest things to it I can think of are either the Neverwinter Nights or the Neverwinter (MMO) adventure builders, and they are everything but easy to use.
The most difficult part of your idea (which, to be clear, I like as a basic one) is the need for this kind of builder to be as free as possible, in order to accommodate any idea a DM might come up with, but due to this very reason, it cannot include too much (or any in some cases) automation, and it would be a painstaking process of picking and choosing from a (limited) library of events and/or come up with your own, possibly needing to input some light coding in order for things to "move" on. I have been using Roll20 for quite some time now (with the Lost Mines of Phandelver published adventure), and that's a middle ground between your idea and full-on imagination that can work well, but it's still a long process in the creation of visual and combat tracking for the Dungeon Master. It works like a charm with published and supported adventures, but I can only imagine how much time I would have to pour into it in order to achieve the same level of use on my own ideas.
The above is one of reasons why I decided to take two steps ahead and one back: I have prompted my players (now that LMoP is done) to re-create their characters here in DDB, and I am currently writing my own followup adventure here in DDB, full-on imagination (with visual aids in the form of shared images, but no combat tokens or combat maps). Granted, there are a few things that I had in Roll20 that would be nice to have here as well in terms of initiative tracking, encounter managements and whatnot, but they are on the way, so it's just a matter of waiting.
The other reason I decided to get out (not meant in a bad way) of Roll20 and similar VTTs (Virtual Table Top) is beacuse I have the feeling it gives too much of a videogame feel, and can take away from the roleplaying aspect of it, focusing the players focus on moving on to the next encounter rather than be more invested in the story itself and in the development of their characters.
Now, I can perfectly see why an idea like yours (which, again, I like as a basic one) can be appealing, and I'd love for it to be an option here in DDB, just maybe more focused on being a tool for more experienced groups and probably with access behind the Master Tier subscription (the cost of developing something like this would not be little).
At least this is my impression/opinion. The idea has potential, but it would be hard for it to be useful for complete newcomers, I am afraid.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Born in Italy, moved a bunch, living in Spain, my heart always belonged to Roleplaying Games
First, welcome to the hobby! I'm fairly new myself, but I believe what you're looking for is a Virtual Tabletop. While I would love to see this functionality come to an official Wizards service, I'm not sure this is the direction they want to move with D&D Beyond. These services do exist elsewhere online though, usually for little to no cost. Look into services like FantasyGrounds and Roll20 for visual D&D experiences.
What you are asking is kinda counter intuitive though. Unlike games, dnd can go wherever the characters wanna go and thus tons of stuff gets bypassed. Unlike video games most of what youll do wont be used.
What you are asking is full blown level making software. In itself it is great, but... Those who actually uses it... They make the biggest dm mistake... Preparing way too much !
While i created myself an app to make cities automatically with quest hubs... All those things are not the main quest and basically just fat added onto bones. Most of the time i have used comprehensive campaign managers... I realised quite fast how useless it is to plan too far ahead.
Nah... The things i want are more for world building. I mean the 5e book as it all set already. Just need to put those tables up. The rest... Initiative tracker is pretty much all you really need. Also when it comes to tokens... I crafted myself plenty of 3d stuff... While its great i ended up coming back to the much simpler theater of the mind. Visuals are cool but as soon as you show them people think like video games and just stay in the box. This is something i dislike.
Conclusion to me...
Too much prep is like not enough. And visuals really arent needed ! D&d is not a video game unless you are a fan of dungeon crawling all the times.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM of two gaming groups. Likes to create stuff. Check out my homebrew --> Monsters --> Magical Items --> Races --> Subclasses If you like --> Upvote, If you wanna comment --> Comment
Play by Post Games --> One Shot Adventure - House of Artwood (DM) (Completed)
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Ok, so, disclaimers first: I know nothing about DnD, how easy/hard this would be to implement, how people would react to it ETC. I'm just throwing this out there as a outsider, or at best someone who's watched the odd DnD campaign on Youtube. So, pleas be gentle with this suggestion and that it's coming from a sort of outside perspective.
Ok, so. When everyone is talking about the Campaign Manager, they talk about things like tokens, or notes, or whatnot, everything that requires imagination or notetaking. And that is all well and good and I'm not saying take it away. I realize that kind of creativity is a essential element of what MAKES DnD, and why the thing I suggest would be tough ti implement with that kind of creativity in mind. But for this suggestion, I want to go wild and controversial. I want to go full on with what digital formats can bring. My goal here is twofold: to make a simple to use campaign editor that even someone like me, just walking into DnD, can use and make something cool, and to actively show events happening in a way that even full on DnD games have not done before. Now, I admit these tasks sometimes conflict, so I ask you that if you have any ways on how to improve this base idea, suggest them below.
With that said... I'm thinking full on campaign maker like what you see in a video game. It does not have to be super powerful graphics: in fact I'm thinking more a traditional dungeon type look to it like Legends of Grimlock or something, or easier like a pixel type FF game. The important thing is this: It just needs to be enough to be a aid to the imagination. Just enough that it can remain as flexible as DnD normally is but show the thing occurring.
But how to make this happen, I hear you ask? Simple. A simple to use campaign maker that actually makes the campaign with your imput, rather then you writing notes and whatnot. It needs to be flexible enough to adapt to the DM's needs, while being easy enough to use that some random guy walking in can use it. Tooltips that explain how everything works will be a great help, but I'm also thinking that having a tutorial on how to make a typical base DnD campaign would help. Make it step by step so they are not overwhelmed.
Now, you may have noticed that I've posted no or few ways to make this HAPPEN. Truth be told: I have no idea. I'm really a ideas guy, and I don't enough about DnD to make this happen. Which is where you guys come in. If you LIKE this general idea, and have any ideas how to make this work, add it below.
If I am getting your idea right, the closest things to it I can think of are either the Neverwinter Nights or the Neverwinter (MMO) adventure builders, and they are everything but easy to use.
The most difficult part of your idea (which, to be clear, I like as a basic one) is the need for this kind of builder to be as free as possible, in order to accommodate any idea a DM might come up with, but due to this very reason, it cannot include too much (or any in some cases) automation, and it would be a painstaking process of picking and choosing from a (limited) library of events and/or come up with your own, possibly needing to input some light coding in order for things to "move" on.
I have been using Roll20 for quite some time now (with the Lost Mines of Phandelver published adventure), and that's a middle ground between your idea and full-on imagination that can work well, but it's still a long process in the creation of visual and combat tracking for the Dungeon Master. It works like a charm with published and supported adventures, but I can only imagine how much time I would have to pour into it in order to achieve the same level of use on my own ideas.
The above is one of reasons why I decided to take two steps ahead and one back: I have prompted my players (now that LMoP is done) to re-create their characters here in DDB, and I am currently writing my own followup adventure here in DDB, full-on imagination (with visual aids in the form of shared images, but no combat tokens or combat maps). Granted, there are a few things that I had in Roll20 that would be nice to have here as well in terms of initiative tracking, encounter managements and whatnot, but they are on the way, so it's just a matter of waiting.
The other reason I decided to get out (not meant in a bad way) of Roll20 and similar VTTs (Virtual Table Top) is beacuse I have the feeling it gives too much of a videogame feel, and can take away from the roleplaying aspect of it, focusing the players focus on moving on to the next encounter rather than be more invested in the story itself and in the development of their characters.
Now, I can perfectly see why an idea like yours (which, again, I like as a basic one) can be appealing, and I'd love for it to be an option here in DDB, just maybe more focused on being a tool for more experienced groups and probably with access behind the Master Tier subscription (the cost of developing something like this would not be little).
At least this is my impression/opinion. The idea has potential, but it would be hard for it to be useful for complete newcomers, I am afraid.
Born in Italy, moved a bunch, living in Spain, my heart always belonged to Roleplaying Games
First, welcome to the hobby! I'm fairly new myself, but I believe what you're looking for is a Virtual Tabletop. While I would love to see this functionality come to an official Wizards service, I'm not sure this is the direction they want to move with D&D Beyond. These services do exist elsewhere online though, usually for little to no cost. Look into services like FantasyGrounds and Roll20 for visual D&D experiences.
Check out Talespire ;). Links in my signature.
Check out the upcoming full 3D VTT, TaleSpire! [official website] [subreddit] [discord]
What you are asking is kinda counter intuitive though. Unlike games, dnd can go wherever the characters wanna go and thus tons of stuff gets bypassed. Unlike video games most of what youll do wont be used.
What you are asking is full blown level making software. In itself it is great, but... Those who actually uses it... They make the biggest dm mistake... Preparing way too much !
While i created myself an app to make cities automatically with quest hubs... All those things are not the main quest and basically just fat added onto bones. Most of the time i have used comprehensive campaign managers... I realised quite fast how useless it is to plan too far ahead.
Nah... The things i want are more for world building. I mean the 5e book as it all set already. Just need to put those tables up. The rest... Initiative tracker is pretty much all you really need. Also when it comes to tokens... I crafted myself plenty of 3d stuff... While its great i ended up coming back to the much simpler theater of the mind. Visuals are cool but as soon as you show them people think like video games and just stay in the box. This is something i dislike.
Conclusion to me...
Too much prep is like not enough. And visuals really arent needed ! D&d is not a video game unless you are a fan of dungeon crawling all the times.
DM of two gaming groups.
Likes to create stuff.
Check out my homebrew --> Monsters --> Magical Items --> Races --> Subclasses
If you like --> Upvote, If you wanna comment --> Comment
Play by Post Games
--> One Shot Adventure - House of Artwood (DM) (Completed)