Been researching what it would take to use a 46" LCD Flat screen TV as a mat.
The TV will be placed into an enclosure on its back connected to the GM's laptop as a 2nd monitor.
The enclosure will have ample ventilation (installing fans) and be spill resistant(rubber/plastic lining with silicon caulking in the edges).
The frame will be wood, but the custom mounts will be rubber. The glass will be tempered.
The side of the enclosure will have handles and a VGA connector on each side.
Built into the enclosure will be a A-B-C-D video switch so the GM can select other feeds from the players or external devices).
This is the dream so far. I think this will be sub $800 build. Cheaper if I can salvage materials. What do you guys think?
Take a look at THIS - you can build the equivalent of your own MS Surface for about 350$!
+ the price of the projector...
That's an amazing build. But that's not what we're looking for. The cabinet is very large and we don't really want a touch surface.
We looked at projector builds and they seem to all require the lights to be turned off or dimmed.
We're looking for a semi-portable version of a flat mat. Something that we can hang on a wall after its done (even if it takes two people). And something that we can move to another venue (e.g. our main GM is out of down so we decide to do a pickup game elsewhere).
Every projector build that I've seen (maybe I'm not looking in the right place), is still very expensive (projector + bulbs that cost an arm/leg).
That's an amazing build. But that's not what we're looking for. The cabinet is very large and we don't really want a touch surface.
We looked at projector builds and they seem to all require the lights to be turned off or dimmed.
We're looking for a semi-portable version of a flat mat. Something that we can hang on a wall after its done (even if it takes two people). And something that we can move to another venue (e.g. our main GM is out of down so we decide to do a pickup game elsewhere).
Every projector build that I've seen (maybe I'm not looking in the right place), is still very expensive (projector + bulbs that cost an arm/leg).
Have you thought about using a Wiimote to help create a white-board? Maybe, try using that combined with Maptools?
That is something I would like to try looking into myself.
You can grab a decent projector for less than 300$ on ebay.
http://cgi.ebay.ca/NEW-HD-LCD-Movie-Projector-2000-Lumen-1080i-p-Game-HDTV- /260463016759?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3ca4ce3b37#ht_4706wt_1118
Anyway, I think the LCD setup you are thinking about has a serious flaw you should be aware of before spending your money: There will be a gap between the glass top and the screen, meaning it will be difficult for you and your players to know exactly where your minis are on the map without standing and looking directly above the middle of the screen.
Just try it with a paper map and a glass sheet a few centimeter above before you go spending, just in case you find this to be too confusing and annoying.
If you are going to go this route, forego actual miniatures entirely, and use maptools or a similar program to have your figures on screen. This allows for a great deal of scaleabiltiy...but you will need a method for players to move their own figures around unless they are willing to point and have you do the moves.
I currently use a wall-mounted 42" screen with maptools, running the 'gm' side of maptools on my tablet. Reaction has been pretty positive.
You can grab a decent projector for less than 300$ on ebay.
http://cgi.ebay.ca/NEW-HD-LCD-Movie-Projector-2000-Lumen-1080i-p-Game-HDTV- /260463016759?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3ca4ce3b37#ht_4706wt_1118
Anyway, I think the LCD setup you are thinking about has a serious flaw you should be aware of before spending your money: There will be a gap between the glass top and the screen, meaning it will be difficult for you and your players to know exactly where your minis are on the map without standing and looking directly above the middle of the screen.
Just try it with a paper map and a glass sheet a few centimeter above before you go spending, just in case you find this to be too confusing and annoying.
I was worried about that too. The Parallax error from both the protective glass and the TV's screen would make it difficult to determine exactly which square you are in.
To compensate we are trying using larger images. Squares on the screen are not 1x1-inch square, but rather 1.5 inch. We are testing using an upright TV and a thick piece of glass.
Another technique we are considering is recess the top of the "Mat". This effectively means that we need an adjustable table or some how increase the size of adjacent tables (we have a setup where we piece together many different tables to make a single large playing area).
But good point.
If you are going to go this route, forego actual miniatures entirely, and use maptools or a similar program to have your figures on screen. This allows for a great deal of scaleabiltiy...but you will need a method for players to move their own figures around unless they are willing to point and have you do the moves.
I currently use a wall-mounted 42" screen with maptools, running the 'gm' side of maptools on my tablet. Reaction has been pretty positive.
Before investing heavily in hardware we are exploring a couple of options. So far we think of having multiple pointing devices (one for each player) if we decide not to use figurines.
But right now we all like figurines and have a healthy closet full of them collected over the years that we pride ourselves in using, so this will be our last resort to forgo using figurines.
In my previous post we are doing some testing to see if we can deal with the Parallax error from the glass. We could find more expensive tempered glass that is thinner - looking at several options.
I've seen some tricks using rear projection and waxpaper. I've thought about doing that with an "under the table" projector but the problem is the throw distance. It basically has to be a standing or bar height table/counter to get a decent sized area.
http://anselan.blogspot.com/2009/01/rear-projection-with-wax-paper.html
If you mount the projector just beneath the table and near the edge, you can then project it against a mirror and reduce the height of the table by 50%.
I will have to try that... and that would make acess to ports easier to acess.
Looks like I'm going to have to delay this project for a bit. Sorry to those who were wishing to see a detailed build. I will have a built-out, but right now the earliest will be late fall / early winter at the earliest.
It's okay. We are still likely a decade away from affordable virtual/digital play surfaces. Custom projects are cool but bow to other concerns.
I stumbled on this thread and thought I would ask if anyone has made any progress on their projects?
I am planning on creating a interactive rear projected map using frosted glass, an old coffee table, a mirror, a projector, and a wii remote.
The wii remote allows the players and DM to manipulate the map like you would a giant Ipad. I got the idea after seeing the wiimote whiteboard video on youtube. It seems that a bunch of folks here are way ahead of me. Right now I am just waiting on the replacement bulb for my projector.
Is anyone using a similar set up? Is it as amazing in actual game play as I imagine it would be?
I've got a projector now, an Optoma ML500 and an Xbox Kinect. I now need to build a play and dive into the various Kinect driver projects.
Someone in a thread in compatiable products posted his completed table. Looked really impressive. I'll see if I can find his post and link.
In this table-top projector build he used:
- d20 Pro - Projecting Battlemats
- Blue Soleil - Wii-Mote as an infra-red pen input
- Smartboard - infra-red pen input as mouse
But I'm still dreaming of using an old flatscreen in the same setup above so we can lay it down on an existing table. The build above uses a box and projects up to the frosted screen.
Wow. That's a sweet looking set up. I'm in the middle of making a table like that I've got all the pieces I just don't have the time to put it together.
Maybe after I finish this dissertation...
I've had the experience of taking a few LCDs apart and fixing them.
Its a really neat idea.
A few thoughts concerning this.
1. If you fill comfortable take the case off of the LCD screen. You will find that it is a perfect rectangle that is 1/2 inch thick. You can put a glass surface dead on top of it with out a gap at all if you dismantle the case.
2 Once the case is removed correctly you will find small screw holes ever 5 or 10 inches on the side of the LCD. Use those holes to mount your new case. This will make it very secure.
3. Make the glass 1/8th an inch larger on all sides, then you can put a thin rubber seal on the metal LCD frame. This will absorbs shock and resist liquids.
4. Mount the power, ports, and every thing else as needed to the new case.
I'm referring to the table as the new case, because that is what it is.
Just my two cents.
I've had the experience of taking a few LCDs apart and fixing them.
Its a really neat idea.
A few thoughts concerning this.
1. If you fill comfortable take the case off of the LCD screen. You will find that it is a perfect rectangle that is 1/2 inch thick. You can put a glass surface dead on top of it with out a gap at all if you dismantle the case.
2 Once the case is removed correctly you will find small screw holes ever 5 or 10 inches on the side of the LCD. Use those holes to mount your new case. This will make it very secure.
3. Make the glass 1/8th an inch larger on all sides, then you can put a thin rubber seal on the metal LCD frame. This will absorbs shock and resist liquids.
4. Mount the power, ports, and every thing else as needed to the new case.
I'm referring to the table as the new case, because that is what it is.
Just my two cents.
Here's what I'm starting with: Samsung 40" 1080p LCD TV. I think we are going to try without having to remove the case to see and play with slightly larger squares.
I'm a little worried about the TV overheating.
This is an interesting setup, not mine, but from it our group is learning a lot. I like the Wii controller and the token you can use to pick up a token.
Wii Mote software - Boonjin Smoothboard
Ultimate LCD Gaming Table - Part 1
Ultimate LCD Gaming Table - Part 2
Ultimate LCD Gaming Table - Part 3
Using Mini + an LCD monitor may be a problem for us because of the Parallax error...this we were afraid of and the 2nd video above showed why its a huge problem.
Take a look at THIS - you can build the equivalent of your own MS Surface for about 350$!
Cool!