I'm a DM who's all about pushing the boundaries of what's possible on a Virtual Tabletop. My players and I absolutely love a hyper-immersive experience. I'm currently running multiple campaigns using animated maps, creatures, and spells, all brought to life with voice-over narration. We're on the path to level 30 in both games (L19/L22 E2C Ruleset), and I'm always looking for ways to expand the experience.
I'm constantly on the hunt for the next cutting-edge tech to integrate into our sessions. I'm talking about things that go beyond the usual dynamic lighting and fog of war. I'm open to anything—no idea is too "out of the box." After all, animated spell effects were once considered a step above the norm, and we've been using them for years!
I'd love to hear your advice on some specific areas where I'm looking to level up.
Custom 3D Animated Maps
I'm a big fan of the immersive look of 3D maps but am tired of the limitations of standard AI generators. What are your go-to tools for creating custom 3D animated maps from scratch? Are there any better, non-AI alternatives or even specific Blender tutorials you'd recommend for a DM looking to get into this?
Animation and GIF Tools
I'm currently using the full suite of Ezgif and Crop-a-Gif, but I'm looking for something more powerful. What are your go-to tools for creating high-quality, free animations for maps, creatures, and spells? I'm looking for options that give me more control over frames, speed, and overall quality without a huge learning curve.
Sound Implementation
For TTS, I've been using FreeTTS over Google Meet, which is fantastic for one-off narration. However, for a more seamless, interactive experience in a live session, do you have any better options? I'm talking about tools that allow for real-time voice modulation or have a more robust soundboard feature that integrates directly with a VTT.
Photo and Image Editing
I rely heavily on the Google suite and Pixlr for editing my maps and tokens, but I'm looking for better and more robust solutions. Are there any free or low-cost photo editing programs that are a step up and particularly well-suited for fantasy map creation or editing?
For me, it's all about creating a jaw-dropping story and experience every single time to keep the gang engaged. Fortunately, I play with a bunch of like-minded DMs, so this information will trickle down and help countless sessions none of us will ever play in—the epitome of community!
What are you tech-savvy DMs out there using to blow your players' minds? I'm ready to take my VTT setup to the next level, and I'd love to hear what's working for all of you out there. Thanks for the help!
Hey, fellow DMs!
I'm a DM who's all about pushing the boundaries of what's possible on a Virtual Tabletop. My players and I absolutely love a hyper-immersive experience. I'm currently running multiple campaigns using animated maps, creatures, and spells, all brought to life with voice-over narration. We're on the path to level 30 in both games (L19/L22 E2C Ruleset), and I'm always looking for ways to expand the experience.
I'm constantly on the hunt for the next cutting-edge tech to integrate into our sessions. I'm talking about things that go beyond the usual dynamic lighting and fog of war. I'm open to anything—no idea is too "out of the box." After all, animated spell effects were once considered a step above the norm, and we've been using them for years!
I'd love to hear your advice on some specific areas where I'm looking to level up.
Custom 3D Animated Maps
I'm a big fan of the immersive look of 3D maps but am tired of the limitations of standard AI generators. What are your go-to tools for creating custom 3D animated maps from scratch? Are there any better, non-AI alternatives or even specific Blender tutorials you'd recommend for a DM looking to get into this?
Animation and GIF Tools
I'm currently using the full suite of Ezgif and Crop-a-Gif, but I'm looking for something more powerful. What are your go-to tools for creating high-quality, free animations for maps, creatures, and spells? I'm looking for options that give me more control over frames, speed, and overall quality without a huge learning curve.
Sound Implementation
For TTS, I've been using FreeTTS over Google Meet, which is fantastic for one-off narration. However, for a more seamless, interactive experience in a live session, do you have any better options? I'm talking about tools that allow for real-time voice modulation or have a more robust soundboard feature that integrates directly with a VTT.
Photo and Image Editing
I rely heavily on the Google suite and Pixlr for editing my maps and tokens, but I'm looking for better and more robust solutions. Are there any free or low-cost photo editing programs that are a step up and particularly well-suited for fantasy map creation or editing?
For me, it's all about creating a jaw-dropping story and experience every single time to keep the gang engaged. Fortunately, I play with a bunch of like-minded DMs, so this information will trickle down and help countless sessions none of us will ever play in—the epitome of community!
What are you tech-savvy DMs out there using to blow your players' minds? I'm ready to take my VTT setup to the next level, and I'd love to hear what's working for all of you out there. Thanks for the help!