Anything you do with Dynamic Lighting is going to require virtual tokens. For a while there, I hooked my laptop up to my TV, set it as an extended display, and then used GIMP to do my digital maps. I had the map as one layer and a black box covering the whole thing as the second layer. All I had to do was use the erase tool to gradually erase the black box and reveal the map underneath. I would definitely like a more elegant solution though, and this Infinitas looks very promising.
Arkenforge is brill for in person play and has a 7 day free trial.
Built for in-person play, this is everything you need as a DM to run and manage your games, with maps, audio and campaign management. Come and check out the future of tabletop gaming!
I currently use InfinitasDM. It does one thing and it can do it good. Besides, it's crossplatform. I can use my PC to prep maps and then use the tabled in-session to stream it via ChromeCast. I can also use a laptop if I wanna have it on the side and connect a screen to stream it.
I like the focus and ease of use InfinitasDM has. It could use some polish, but I believe it's one of the best tools out there, specifically for in-person play. I really don't need the in-person tool to do anything other than display map. Notes, music, campaign management and session tracking etc. all have different solutions that are actually already really good and don't need reinvention. The market for in-person play is to small to invest and create a tool that can do "everything" but lacks other stuff like crossplatformness etc.
I use a laptop and TV laying flat for my in person sessions. The monsters and NPCs are digital, and the players use minis. I have used both Roll20 (the one with dynamic lighting) and Maptool, both function equally well.
One recommendation I have: get one of your players hooked up with a laptop. Make sure it's a player that can handle playing and map management. Create a single token that the one player controls. I call it an "explore token". The purpose of this token is for fog of war reveals using dynamic lighting and sight. Having a player scroll the map (if it's larger than the screen you are displaying on) and revealing fog of war by simply moving the token at the same time the minis are moved makes things move so much smoother. It's definitely possible to handle FoW reveals and map moves as a DM, but my players and I like this way much better.
So, one suggestion... Let the players move their own tokens. There's just no need for the DM to manage all that.
We use owlbear.rodeo, and it lets players zoom in and out, move their tokens, measure distances, etc. I run the DM map on my screen, and I have one of the players cast the player version to the TV. That player manages their view and leaves me to manage the DM view (for fog and such).
Owlbear is nice because it's mobile friendly and players can use phones, tablets, or laptops to run their character sheets and map. Too easy.
As for the maps themselves, I use Google and filter on "large" maps. I also subscribe to the occasional Patreon for map packs (and there are some REALLY GREAT map makers out there!)
The best digital map tools for an in-person session depend on the type of game you are running and the level of detail you need. If you are looking for a basic tool to quickly create a map for a one-shot or a short campaign, you can use a program like Dungeon Painter Studio or Dungeon Fog. These tools allow you to quickly create a map with basic features like walls, doors, and furniture. If you are looking for a more detailed map for a longer campaign, you can use a program like Roll20 or Fantasy Grounds. These programs allow you to create detailed maps with dynamic lighting, fog of war, and other features.
I highly recommend Owlbear. I use it for my in-person games. I run it on my screen, then duplicate it on my 65" TV. My players control their icons on their own laptops.
I even use Owlbear to display background art or images of NPCs/monsters for everyone.
I then pair Owlbear with Improved Initiative and display it on the TV as well.
My players love this setup.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
C. Foster Payne
"If you get to thinkin' you're a person of some influence, try orderin' somebody else's dog around."
While roll20 is free to use please remember you have limited storage space with the free version 100 mb of upload storage Hi res maps can eat that up quickly prompting you to get the next tier up giving you 3gb storage which gives you more space to breathe.
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Anything you do with Dynamic Lighting is going to require virtual tokens. For a while there, I hooked my laptop up to my TV, set it as an extended display, and then used GIMP to do my digital maps. I had the map as one layer and a black box covering the whole thing as the second layer. All I had to do was use the erase tool to gradually erase the black box and reveal the map underneath. I would definitely like a more elegant solution though, and this Infinitas looks very promising.
Arkenforge is brill for in person play and has a 7 day free trial.
Built for in-person play, this is everything you need as a DM to run and manage your games, with maps, audio and campaign management. Come and check out the future of tabletop gaming!
https://arkenforge.com/
I currently use InfinitasDM. It does one thing and it can do it good. Besides, it's crossplatform. I can use my PC to prep maps and then use the tabled in-session to stream it via ChromeCast. I can also use a laptop if I wanna have it on the side and connect a screen to stream it.
I like the focus and ease of use InfinitasDM has. It could use some polish, but I believe it's one of the best tools out there, specifically for in-person play. I really don't need the in-person tool to do anything other than display map. Notes, music, campaign management and session tracking etc. all have different solutions that are actually already really good and don't need reinvention. The market for in-person play is to small to invest and create a tool that can do "everything" but lacks other stuff like crossplatformness etc.
I use a laptop and TV laying flat for my in person sessions. The monsters and NPCs are digital, and the players use minis. I have used both Roll20 (the one with dynamic lighting) and Maptool, both function equally well.
One recommendation I have: get one of your players hooked up with a laptop. Make sure it's a player that can handle playing and map management. Create a single token that the one player controls. I call it an "explore token". The purpose of this token is for fog of war reveals using dynamic lighting and sight. Having a player scroll the map (if it's larger than the screen you are displaying on) and revealing fog of war by simply moving the token at the same time the minis are moved makes things move so much smoother. It's definitely possible to handle FoW reveals and map moves as a DM, but my players and I like this way much better.
Great tip man, cheers! Just need to dig out my old TV since the curved one is not so optimal for laying flat on the table xD
Quod in vita agimus, in aeternum resonat.
Yes, Mike makes the best maps!
Army-man (US Army), Policeman (LAPD), Fireman (LAFD), son/brother/husband/father GAMER = been there, done that, doing it! :)
So, one suggestion... Let the players move their own tokens. There's just no need for the DM to manage all that.
We use owlbear.rodeo, and it lets players zoom in and out, move their tokens, measure distances, etc. I run the DM map on my screen, and I have one of the players cast the player version to the TV. That player manages their view and leaves me to manage the DM view (for fog and such).
Owlbear is nice because it's mobile friendly and players can use phones, tablets, or laptops to run their character sheets and map. Too easy.
As for the maps themselves, I use Google and filter on "large" maps. I also subscribe to the occasional Patreon for map packs (and there are some REALLY GREAT map makers out there!)
The best digital map tools for an in-person session depend on the type of game you are running and the level of detail you need. If you are looking for a basic tool to quickly create a map for a one-shot or a short campaign, you can use a program like Dungeon Painter Studio or Dungeon Fog. These tools allow you to quickly create a map with basic features like walls, doors, and furniture. If you are looking for a more detailed map for a longer campaign, you can use a program like Roll20 or Fantasy Grounds. These programs allow you to create detailed maps with dynamic lighting, fog of war, and other features.
Thanks for the great advice on this forum. I think Infinitas DM is exactly what I've been looking for :-)
I'm returning to DnD after a LONG hiatus (last played was 2nd Edition while it was still reasonably new).
I highly recommend Owlbear. I use it for my in-person games. I run it on my screen, then duplicate it on my 65" TV. My players control their icons on their own laptops.
I even use Owlbear to display background art or images of NPCs/monsters for everyone.
I then pair Owlbear with Improved Initiative and display it on the TV as well.
My players love this setup.
C. Foster Payne
"If you get to thinkin' you're a person of some influence, try orderin' somebody else's dog around."
As an update to this: I've been using Encounter+ for the last 3 years. It's amazing and does everything + more and better. https://apps.apple.com/ch/app/encounter-vtt-for-d-d-5e/id1170693487
You can see the setup here: https://imgur.com/a/j6GvyFt
While roll20 is free to use please remember you have limited storage space with the free version 100 mb of upload storage Hi res maps can eat that up quickly prompting you to get the next tier up giving you 3gb storage which gives you more space to breathe.