So I like making tiles (Black Magic Craft tiles, etc.) and things from XPS. But I've also been thinking lately about getting a TV and using it for maps and the table in a live game.
Just wondering what other's thoughts and experiences are on using physical terrain (or even drawn maps) vs a TV might be. I'm just wondering if I'd be so tied up in manipulating a digital map on a TV in the middle of a table that I'd sacrifice focusing on other things that might be important to a DM. Here are the pros/cons as I see it:
TV on/in Table Pros:
Faster time to get a new map in place
Could spend more time on prepping story/content and less time crafting
Don't have to build unique pieces that correspond to published maps (spiral staircases, etc.)
Props like beds, tables, etc. are already integrated into the maps
Easier fog of war (using something like Roll 20 to expose the map as we go)
TV on/in Table Cons:
Concerned I would spend too much time fiddling with a laptop in the middle of a session
Not getting to craft things (maybe I only craft custom, big encounters?)
Setting TV on table would result in the map being about 3.5 inches off of the top of the table (not going to build a custom table for now)
Also, if you use a TV for digital maps at the table, is there a minimum screen size you recommend?
Having done both as a DM I found the players seem to react and enjoy physical terrain and miniatures a lot more than a virtual table top. I like the virtual table top more as I found it much easier, if I planned ahead, to have an entire adventure ready to go with the various programs out there. Building terrain was always time consuming and even with modular pieces it can take a while. What I've learned to do is simply not worry about perfection, matching the published maps exactly and just winging it. And I've always had a positive response. And when I take the time to put together a nice action set-piece... woo boy. So I've begrudgingly accepted the use of physical terrain and the theater of the mind.
Also, unless you want to build a monitor into a table, if you go that route I would recommend simply mounting the TV/monitor to a wall. Works just as fine. TVs in/on a table could be smaller as everyone should be close up. But if you do the wall, I would not use anything less than 50".
Also, unless you want to build a monitor into a table, if you go that route I would recommend simply mounting the TV/monitor to a wall. Works just as fine. TVs in/on a table could be smaller as everyone should be close up. But if you do the wall, I would not use anything less than 50".
Yeah, I can see players preferring the physical terrain. I think my biggest hang up there is that while I might build modular tiles (etc.), there are so many other little things on the maps like altars, furniture, stairs, etc. And I can't see placing a TV on the wall as I do think that the players will always prefer to choose where they place a mini (if not doing theater of the mind, that is).
I would go for tv mainly for time and can be usefull for FoW especially in stealth play or displaying the world/town/shop/bar while traveling.
as for the cons gonna depend how adept you'll be with program you gonna use. You can always switch when you in the mood and have time to craft it you can use the digital map as source to make it physical again. Could be handy to have some laser pointer though so they can indicate on the screen where they wanna move or where there attack lands.
46" TV minimum if you plan on using minis on top of it. The TV I use is a few inches off the table, and there have not been any issues with that. There is a post in the Arts & Crafts section where a TV and terrain was used together. Might be something you could consider.
Fiddling with the laptop comes down to just getting used to the software. There are programs that let you hide info into markers on a map that you can fill with information. As I scroll the map and my players get to a room I just need to click it and I have all my flavor text ready, with monsters placed. Can be pretty seamless if you put in the set up time.
But with that said, I would love to mix it up for my players by having a built terrain map for them. We all enjoy the TV though.
I use a combination of both. It depends on the specific adventure. I'd do 100% crafted/3D printed terrain if I had the time, but for a lot of dungeons, the TV just makes them more feasible.
Yeah, I can see players preferring the physical terrain. I think my biggest hang up there is that while I might build modular tiles (etc.), there are so many other little things on the maps like altars, furniture, stairs, etc. And I can't see placing a TV on the wall as I do think that the players will always prefer to choose where they place a mini (if not doing theater of the mind, that is).
I've just collected such things over years of gaming. You can get nice stuff on the cheap but you have to look around. And I misinterpreted what you said before, not thinking you'd put the physical minis onto the TV. I just used the whole kit and caboodle of the virtual table top.
I just use a Wet Erasable Map with Miniatures, if it's online I don't bother with a map. There are also Dry Erasable Maps, but I find the Wet one easier to deal with. You can draw or describe the objects in the room, I think Miniatures for that are more distracting than helpful. You can get Miniatures on the cheap by buying some of the D&D Board Games. By buying Wrath of Ashardalon I effectively got the Miniatures for a Dollar a piece, that one has several regular monsters in it. I figure after getting Castle Ravenloft, I will never need to buy another monster Miniature again. I might get a custom one on Hero Forge for a Character that I make, but other than that.... When I don't have a specific Miniature, I just use an excess die to represent it, I got massive amounts of d6s.
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So I like making tiles (Black Magic Craft tiles, etc.) and things from XPS. But I've also been thinking lately about getting a TV and using it for maps and the table in a live game.
Just wondering what other's thoughts and experiences are on using physical terrain (or even drawn maps) vs a TV might be. I'm just wondering if I'd be so tied up in manipulating a digital map on a TV in the middle of a table that I'd sacrifice focusing on other things that might be important to a DM. Here are the pros/cons as I see it:
TV on/in Table Pros:
TV on/in Table Cons:
Also, if you use a TV for digital maps at the table, is there a minimum screen size you recommend?
Thanks!
Having done both as a DM I found the players seem to react and enjoy physical terrain and miniatures a lot more than a virtual table top. I like the virtual table top more as I found it much easier, if I planned ahead, to have an entire adventure ready to go with the various programs out there. Building terrain was always time consuming and even with modular pieces it can take a while. What I've learned to do is simply not worry about perfection, matching the published maps exactly and just winging it. And I've always had a positive response. And when I take the time to put together a nice action set-piece... woo boy. So I've begrudgingly accepted the use of physical terrain and the theater of the mind.
Also, unless you want to build a monitor into a table, if you go that route I would recommend simply mounting the TV/monitor to a wall. Works just as fine. TVs in/on a table could be smaller as everyone should be close up. But if you do the wall, I would not use anything less than 50".
Yeah, I can see players preferring the physical terrain. I think my biggest hang up there is that while I might build modular tiles (etc.), there are so many other little things on the maps like altars, furniture, stairs, etc. And I can't see placing a TV on the wall as I do think that the players will always prefer to choose where they place a mini (if not doing theater of the mind, that is).
I would go for tv mainly for time and can be usefull for FoW especially in stealth play or displaying the world/town/shop/bar while traveling.
as for the cons gonna depend how adept you'll be with program you gonna use. You can always switch when you in the mood and have time to craft it you can use the digital map as source to make it physical again. Could be handy to have some laser pointer though so they can indicate on the screen where they wanna move or where there attack lands.
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46" TV minimum if you plan on using minis on top of it. The TV I use is a few inches off the table, and there have not been any issues with that. There is a post in the Arts & Crafts section where a TV and terrain was used together. Might be something you could consider.
Fiddling with the laptop comes down to just getting used to the software. There are programs that let you hide info into markers on a map that you can fill with information. As I scroll the map and my players get to a room I just need to click it and I have all my flavor text ready, with monsters placed. Can be pretty seamless if you put in the set up time.
But with that said, I would love to mix it up for my players by having a built terrain map for them. We all enjoy the TV though.
I use a combination of both. It depends on the specific adventure. I'd do 100% crafted/3D printed terrain if I had the time, but for a lot of dungeons, the TV just makes them more feasible.
Another benefit of TVs that I haven't been able to really mess with yet... Dynamic/Living/Animated maps.
They look really cool. I just need a laptop upgrade before I try to keep something like that running.
I've just collected such things over years of gaming. You can get nice stuff on the cheap but you have to look around. And I misinterpreted what you said before, not thinking you'd put the physical minis onto the TV. I just used the whole kit and caboodle of the virtual table top.
I just use a Wet Erasable Map with Miniatures, if it's online I don't bother with a map. There are also Dry Erasable Maps, but I find the Wet one easier to deal with. You can draw or describe the objects in the room, I think Miniatures for that are more distracting than helpful. You can get Miniatures on the cheap by buying some of the D&D Board Games. By buying Wrath of Ashardalon I effectively got the Miniatures for a Dollar a piece, that one has several regular monsters in it. I figure after getting Castle Ravenloft, I will never need to buy another monster Miniature again. I might get a custom one on Hero Forge for a Character that I make, but other than that.... When I don't have a specific Miniature, I just use an excess die to represent it, I got massive amounts of d6s.