Hello fellow DMs! I would like to pick your collective brain on not one, but TWO topics!
TOPIC #1: THE MAP
I am struggling to find an application that is (a) cross platform (b) allows fog of war for maps (c) allows drawing on the maps or moving around virtual minis.
I have had some mixed success with MS Whiteboard. The issue is, I have players that have a Chromebook or Android, which isn't supported by the app. It's also challenging to do fog-of-war as they explore dungeons.
I want to sit behind my screen, and using either my iPad + pencil or Laptop + wacom graphic tablet, interact with my players who each have a device that can also view what I am viewing.
I have looked at Roll20, but honestly, it is far more complex than I need, and it looks like it will have a steep learning curve.
TOPIC #2: Using OneNote For Sessions
Another issue I'm having mixed success with is keeping all of my DM notes, combat, encounters, maps, etc. in MS OneNote. It's a great tool for DMing, but I struggle with organization, particularly as the players are, say, moving through an encounter or exploring a numbered dungeon.
I've been running Hoard of the Dragon Queen, Baldur's Gate: Avernus, and Waterdeep: Dragon Heist.
As for the map: I take it you're not looking for a paid solution?
I've not used it as a DM, but I've played in a Roll20.net game and the VTT seems to have all those features: web-based, fog-of-war, and virtual minis, with status markers are tracks.
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Just use Roll20. The things you want to do with it are fairly trivial.
I find context switching between a VTT and a note-taking app too slow for exploration. I use Roll20's DM layer to place tokens I can double-click to open room and encounter descriptions. When I do use other apps it's to reference global info that's applicable to the whole session, like dungeon-wide features and character stat cheat sheets.
I just finished building this gaming table. I'm using Fantasy Grounds for my VTT. I will manage the monsters and npc's as tokens, while the players will use real mini's on the TV screen. Going to be nice switching maps with a few clicks VS what I was doing before: printing.
We are kicking off Dungeon of the Mad Mage next week. I will be keeping everything within Fantasy Grounds. Notes, maps, images, etc.
5e is theatre of the mind mostly. But I have boards where in draw things out. As far as notes.. I use a laptop to type it all out then print it so that I'm not using a computer or phone.
My players and myself prefer pencil and paper. But not every group is that way. So try things and see what works best.
If you're only really using the map features, Roll20's learning curve isn't really that bad. As a plus, you can import maps directly into the site, so all you really need to know how to do is to size the grid to your map and grab tokens from the free assets (learning how to add nameplates and to add/track things like AC and HP on tokens can be really useful as well. Turn tracker can also be useful).
And since Roll20 is free, the features you aren't using didn't cost you anything.
It works fairly well on a laptop. I've used it as a player on a tablet, but it is kind of clunky in my experience, and I'd hate to try DMing from a tablet.
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Hello fellow DMs! I would like to pick your collective brain on not one, but TWO topics!
TOPIC #1: THE MAP
I am struggling to find an application that is (a) cross platform (b) allows fog of war for maps (c) allows drawing on the maps or moving around virtual minis.
I have had some mixed success with MS Whiteboard. The issue is, I have players that have a Chromebook or Android, which isn't supported by the app. It's also challenging to do fog-of-war as they explore dungeons.
I want to sit behind my screen, and using either my iPad + pencil or Laptop + wacom graphic tablet, interact with my players who each have a device that can also view what I am viewing.
I have looked at Roll20, but honestly, it is far more complex than I need, and it looks like it will have a steep learning curve.
TOPIC #2: Using OneNote For Sessions
Another issue I'm having mixed success with is keeping all of my DM notes, combat, encounters, maps, etc. in MS OneNote. It's a great tool for DMing, but I struggle with organization, particularly as the players are, say, moving through an encounter or exploring a numbered dungeon.
I've been running Hoard of the Dragon Queen, Baldur's Gate: Avernus, and Waterdeep: Dragon Heist.
Any thoughts appreciated!
As for the map: I take it you're not looking for a paid solution?
I've not used it as a DM, but I've played in a Roll20.net game and the VTT seems to have all those features: web-based, fog-of-war, and virtual minis, with status markers are tracks.
My DM Philosophy, as summed up by other people: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rN5w4-azTq3Kbn0Yvk9nfqQhwQ1R5by1/view
Disclaimer: This signature is a badge of membership in the Forum Loudmouth Club. We are all friends. We are not attacking each other. We are engaging in spirited, friendly debate with one another. We may get snarky, but these are not attacks. Thank you for not reporting us.
Just use Roll20. The things you want to do with it are fairly trivial.
I find context switching between a VTT and a note-taking app too slow for exploration. I use Roll20's DM layer to place tokens I can double-click to open room and encounter descriptions. When I do use other apps it's to reference global info that's applicable to the whole session, like dungeon-wide features and character stat cheat sheets.
The Forum Infestation (TM)
I just finished building this gaming table. I'm using Fantasy Grounds for my VTT. I will manage the monsters and npc's as tokens, while the players will use real mini's on the TV screen. Going to be nice switching maps with a few clicks VS what I was doing before: printing.
We are kicking off Dungeon of the Mad Mage next week. I will be keeping everything within Fantasy Grounds. Notes, maps, images, etc.
5e is theatre of the mind mostly. But I have boards where in draw things out. As far as notes.. I use a laptop to type it all out then print it so that I'm not using a computer or phone.
My players and myself prefer pencil and paper. But not every group is that way. So try things and see what works best.
If you're only really using the map features, Roll20's learning curve isn't really that bad. As a plus, you can import maps directly into the site, so all you really need to know how to do is to size the grid to your map and grab tokens from the free assets (learning how to add nameplates and to add/track things like AC and HP on tokens can be really useful as well. Turn tracker can also be useful).
And since Roll20 is free, the features you aren't using didn't cost you anything.
It works fairly well on a laptop. I've used it as a player on a tablet, but it is kind of clunky in my experience, and I'd hate to try DMing from a tablet.