I'm building my first D&D campaign. My goal is to have a map on screen to help with visualization for the sake of battles or just keeping track of pcs. I currently have access to the following software(s) but haven't spent a lot of time learning to use any of them yet:
Talespire
Wonderdraft+Dungeondraft
Foundry VTT
Maptool
D&D Beyond
I don't mind spending some of my time learning to use one (or more) of these tools effectively, but I'm not sure which one will work best for what I'm hoping to achieve. My set up will be - 4 to 6 players , face to face, with a single shared view of a tv up on the wall. I want to be able to define what each character can and/or cannot see on his or her turn. I definitely want to be able to use FoW to decide what the players can see on the map, and specifically I would like to be able to define each character's vision abilities (darkvision, line-of-sight etc), I don't think Talespire is really set up for that kind of functionality yet, but it does include the ability to use custom HF minis which is alluringly cool...
I would love to hear about your experiences using some or all of these tools, and maybe some guidance about where I should be focusing my time and energy if possible.
I tend to go very light on digital maps in face to face sessions. Using a tablet to show maps for flavour rather than direct tactical combat (as in controlling measured movement and vision on a digital board/VTT).
But I also run online sessions making use of these features, albeit mainly using roll20 (still trying to learn and get comfortable with Foundry, but I'm finding that to be really slow progress)
Generally, I use dungeondraft to create the maps, and then export to images and then apply barriers and lights in the VTT tool (e.g. Foundry or Roll20 in my case)
The difficulty in running a VTT in person would be that you would still have to switch between different player views to ascertain their vision ranges etc. And without each player being logged into a server the provides their specific view, it might be a bit sluggish to do that during a live session. But admittedly have not tried it.
I find the ability to share imagery for flavour via digital a great addition to live sessions, as well as overview maps. But to be honest, I prefer drawing out rough shapes on a flip matt with dry-erase markers for the more tactical combats, and find that it tends to move a bit quicker around the table than during online play.
I do also have talespire - and I love building "stuff" in it, but have yet to actually make it useful in a session. Personally, I think the visualisations and way to build is totally awesome, but completely distracting during play.
I'm not a fan of a digital map on the wall. Someone is always out of position or it brings the players out of eye contact and staring at a wall instead of interacting with each other. When I use digital maps in person, it's either a tabletop screen or a monitor mirrored from a laptop that doubles as a DM screen.
I use dungeondraft to make my map backgrounds, then Foundry to program all of the assets and lighting. It takes some time to learn how to quickly produce new sessions, but once you have a good grip on the programs you can knock out the session prep in a couple hours (depending on how detailed you get). Granted, I use this for online or hybrid games, not really for all in-person sessions.
Okay, so with a single computer and a TV this is definitely possible.
I would pull up all your DM only stuff on one browser (I use Edge for this) D&D Beyond, Character Sheets, Notes, and Owlbear.
Then all the player display stuff on another browser (I use chrome for this) Just the player version of Owlbear.
I use https://www.owlbear.rodeo as my virtual tabletop as it requires no log-ins, no accounts, and has a buttload of tools to use all for free (though I do donate something every so often to them). DM sees one thing, players only see what they need to.
When setting up, you want your TV (or other screen the players can see) to be an extended display (as opposed to duplicated display). Screen 1 should be your laptop or similar which is only your DM stuff. Screen 2 should be off to the right and literally just needs to have the chrome windows open. Once you have Owlbear pulled over and open in player mode...well you can do everything else on the edge windows that you have open.
This all seems sort of straightforward to me, but I'm a tech inclined person so aware I can sound a bit crazy or difficult to understand when talking tech solutions...please tell me if this is the case and I'll gladly reword what I said into a more understandable form.
Okay, so with a single computer and a TV this is definitely possible.
I would pull up all your DM only stuff on one browser (I use Edge for this) D&D Beyond, Character Sheets, Notes, and Owlbear.
Then all the player display stuff on another browser (I use chrome for this) Just the player version of Owlbear.
I use https://www.owlbear.rodeo as my virtual tabletop as it requires no log-ins, no accounts, and has a buttload of tools to use all for free (though I do donate something every so often to them). DM sees one thing, players only see what they need to.
When setting up, you want your TV (or other screen the players can see) to be an extended display (as opposed to duplicated display). Screen 1 should be your laptop or similar which is only your DM stuff. Screen 2 should be off to the right and literally just needs to have the chrome windows open. Once you have Owlbear pulled over and open in player mode...well you can do everything else on the edge windows that you have open.
This all seems sort of straightforward to me, but I'm a tech inclined person so aware I can sound a bit crazy or difficult to understand when talking tech solutions...please tell me if this is the case and I'll gladly reword what I said into a more understandable form.
I've done this too with success biggest takeaway was to have an HDMI cable long enough so you are not pressed against the TV and create as much of an unobstructed view as possible.
Okay, so with a single computer and a TV this is definitely possible.
I would pull up all your DM only stuff on one browser (I use Edge for this) D&D Beyond, Character Sheets, Notes, and Owlbear.
Then all the player display stuff on another browser (I use chrome for this) Just the player version of Owlbear.
I use https://www.owlbear.rodeo as my virtual tabletop as it requires no log-ins, no accounts, and has a buttload of tools to use all for free (though I do donate something every so often to them). DM sees one thing, players only see what they need to.
When setting up, you want your TV (or other screen the players can see) to be an extended display (as opposed to duplicated display). Screen 1 should be your laptop or similar which is only your DM stuff. Screen 2 should be off to the right and literally just needs to have the chrome windows open. Once you have Owlbear pulled over and open in player mode...well you can do everything else on the edge windows that you have open.
This all seems sort of straightforward to me, but I'm a tech inclined person so aware I can sound a bit crazy or difficult to understand when talking tech solutions...please tell me if this is the case and I'll gladly reword what I said into a more understandable form.
I've done this too with success biggest takeaway was to have an HDMI cable long enough so you are not pressed against the TV and create as much of an unobstructed view as possible.
Alternate option to this is also using a cast system like a Chromecast. Fire Sticks also have on board browser so theoretically you could simply load owlbear or your browser based VTT on any streaming stick with a browser. I don't know about others but can confirm this works with Owlbear and Fire Sticks
Thanks for the suggestions! I had not really considered Owlbear before, looks like it's gotten a decent upgrade since the last time I looked.
Honestly, I'm currently leaning a bit toward Foundry, I'm attracted to the implementation of vision blocking and levels. The downside is that it seems to have a fairly steep learning curve, and I'm not sure how complicated it will be to get everything I want out of one laptop and one common screen.
Still researching, thanks for the input!
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Do you have access to two computers? If you do then what you're describing is definitely possible.
1 shot dungeon master
I tend to go very light on digital maps in face to face sessions. Using a tablet to show maps for flavour rather than direct tactical combat (as in controlling measured movement and vision on a digital board/VTT).
But I also run online sessions making use of these features, albeit mainly using roll20 (still trying to learn and get comfortable with Foundry, but I'm finding that to be really slow progress)
Generally, I use dungeondraft to create the maps, and then export to images and then apply barriers and lights in the VTT tool (e.g. Foundry or Roll20 in my case)
The difficulty in running a VTT in person would be that you would still have to switch between different player views to ascertain their vision ranges etc. And without each player being logged into a server the provides their specific view, it might be a bit sluggish to do that during a live session. But admittedly have not tried it.
I find the ability to share imagery for flavour via digital a great addition to live sessions, as well as overview maps. But to be honest, I prefer drawing out rough shapes on a flip matt with dry-erase markers for the more tactical combats, and find that it tends to move a bit quicker around the table than during online play.
I do also have talespire - and I love building "stuff" in it, but have yet to actually make it useful in a session. Personally, I think the visualisations and way to build is totally awesome, but completely distracting during play.
I'd like to be able to do this from my laptop since we will be meeting at a nearby flgs, not at my home
Not sure if you need one for other life needs, but I use a second travel monitor when I play my games, and it has worked well in person.
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B087792CQT
I'm not a fan of a digital map on the wall. Someone is always out of position or it brings the players out of eye contact and staring at a wall instead of interacting with each other. When I use digital maps in person, it's either a tabletop screen or a monitor mirrored from a laptop that doubles as a DM screen.
I use dungeondraft to make my map backgrounds, then Foundry to program all of the assets and lighting. It takes some time to learn how to quickly produce new sessions, but once you have a good grip on the programs you can knock out the session prep in a couple hours (depending on how detailed you get). Granted, I use this for online or hybrid games, not really for all in-person sessions.
I also forgot, the character sheets, encounters, and campaign tracking are all DnDB.
Also, read up on different modules for Foundry. There are a lot of them that will make using it a ton easier and a more powerful tool.
Okay, so with a single computer and a TV this is definitely possible.
I would pull up all your DM only stuff on one browser (I use Edge for this) D&D Beyond, Character Sheets, Notes, and Owlbear.
Then all the player display stuff on another browser (I use chrome for this) Just the player version of Owlbear.
I use https://www.owlbear.rodeo as my virtual tabletop as it requires no log-ins, no accounts, and has a buttload of tools to use all for free (though I do donate something every so often to them). DM sees one thing, players only see what they need to.
When setting up, you want your TV (or other screen the players can see) to be an extended display (as opposed to duplicated display). Screen 1 should be your laptop or similar which is only your DM stuff. Screen 2 should be off to the right and literally just needs to have the chrome windows open. Once you have Owlbear pulled over and open in player mode...well you can do everything else on the edge windows that you have open.
This all seems sort of straightforward to me, but I'm a tech inclined person so aware I can sound a bit crazy or difficult to understand when talking tech solutions...please tell me if this is the case and I'll gladly reword what I said into a more understandable form.
DM session planning template - My version of maps for 'Lost Mine of Phandelver' - Send your party to The Circus - Other DM Resources - Maps, Tokens, Quests - 'Better' Player Character Injury Tables?
Actor, Writer, Director & Teacher by day - GM/DM in my off hours.
I've done this too with success biggest takeaway was to have an HDMI cable long enough so you are not pressed against the TV and create as much of an unobstructed view as possible.
Alternate option to this is also using a cast system like a Chromecast. Fire Sticks also have on board browser so theoretically you could simply load owlbear or your browser based VTT on any streaming stick with a browser. I don't know about others but can confirm this works with Owlbear and Fire Sticks
DM session planning template - My version of maps for 'Lost Mine of Phandelver' - Send your party to The Circus - Other DM Resources - Maps, Tokens, Quests - 'Better' Player Character Injury Tables?
Actor, Writer, Director & Teacher by day - GM/DM in my off hours.
Thanks for the suggestions! I had not really considered Owlbear before, looks like it's gotten a decent upgrade since the last time I looked.
Honestly, I'm currently leaning a bit toward Foundry, I'm attracted to the implementation of vision blocking and levels. The downside is that it seems to have a fairly steep learning curve, and I'm not sure how complicated it will be to get everything I want out of one laptop and one common screen.
Still researching, thanks for the input!