1)understanding how to use the framework. I am finding it slow going getting all of the features of the LM framework to work, and although the forums are helpful, I would far rather have a good help file that holds my hand.
having a single dedicated framework for pathfinder might make it simpler, I hope so!
it would also be very, very helpful to have a few sample tokens to illustrate how the framework is implemented.2)making tokens for monsters and NPCs.
there are several ways that this could be improved over LM:
- having a macro to "translate" a PF stat block (maybe this exists elsewhere but having it built it would be great)
- the skill system is really tough to edit in line format, a dialogue box would be superior. It might be nice to be able to add custom skills (e.g. I collapse climb swim and jump into a single "athletics" skill in one of my games).
- I really like the idea of macros for adding templates to monsters, so expanding this beyond fiendish would be welcome
Thanks for the ideas!
For documentation, I'm trying to comment every macro with an explanation header at least. When I have more completed, I'll look into an optional "onCampaignLoad" macro with a tutorial.
As for making tokens from statblocks: parsing a statblock is a little out of my league but I might try it. Instead, I'll probably do what I did for my last framework... a statblock formatted HTML frame in maptool. At least that way, if you're entering each item by hand, they're in the correct order.
Any more ideas?
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Hooray, a maptools thread! I'm surprised I didn't notice this until now, I've been using MapTools for a while. Though in a slightly different fashion than designed for. I have a projector setup to send the map to the game table, and have two instances of MapTools open at all times. One for the projector for the players to see, and one for my laptop for me to play around with.
Anyhow, great to see there is a MapFinder thread, I'll be keeping an eye on this to see if any awesome Pathfinder-related things pop up. :D
Hooray, a maptools thread! I'm surprised I didn't notice this until now, I've been using MapTools for a while. Though in a slightly different fashion than designed for. I have a projector setup to send the map to the game table, and have two instances of MapTools open at all times. One for the projector for the players to see, and one for my laptop for me to play around with.
Anyhow, great to see there is a MapFinder thread, I'll be keeping an eye on this to see if any awesome Pathfinder-related things pop up. :D
This is how I want to initially use maptools. I'm working on setting up a projector for our local gamedays and using maptools to project the map on the table. The main reason I wish to use it this way is becuase I either have to take an hour before the game, or during the game to draw out all the maps for combat. This shortens the actual play time during the 4 hour slot we have set aside. Plus it would allow me to show maps of cities and countries so that all the players can see it at the same time. Besides, its rather frustrating drawing a quick stick built dungeon when there is a beautiful detailed map in the adventure packet.
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The projector has saved me countless hours of time, definitely. Especially when the players are in one of the larger dungeons. Most of the Paizo maps are pretty detailed enough too, and getting to show them to the players is quite nice. The most time I have to spend is usually preparing the line of sight walls in MapTools and icons for monsters, but that only takes 30-60 minutes.
And every now and then I can do something like this for a really high resolution map.
I am glad I found this thread. I just downloaded Maptools and am trying to figure it out. I recently figured out I could snap a map image from a PDF and use it to be the background for the map and match the grid to it, however I can't seem to get the grid to line up perfectly. I can get what appears to be a clean alignment but then if I move over to look at another section of the map the grid start to offset from the one in the background image. Any hints on how I can get that to stop?
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You want this. It helps you adjust the image size of your map so it fits the scale in MapTools perfectly. :)
I am glad I found this thread. I just downloaded Maptools and am trying to figure it out. I recently figured out I could snap a map image from a PDF and use it to be the background for the map and match the grid to it, however I can't seem to get the grid to line up perfectly. I can get what appears to be a clean alignment but then if I move over to look at another section of the map the grid start to offset from the one in the background image. Any hints on how I can get that to stop?
You can either use Karui Kage's spreadsheet, or, as I have done, when you clip the map from whatever PDF you're using, try to zoom in as much as you can so the image file is large enough. For the Paizo age of worms maps for instance, I usually zoom in to about 400%, take a copy of the map, save it as a PNG, import it into maptools, then adjust to grid to it. I find that if the maps have a larger resolution you have a little more room to adjust the grid to them.
I am glad I found this thread. I just downloaded Maptools and am trying to figure it out. I recently figured out I could snap a map image from a PDF and use it to be the background for the map and match the grid to it, however I can't seem to get the grid to line up perfectly. I can get what appears to be a clean alignment but then if I move over to look at another section of the map the grid start to offset from the one in the background image. Any hints on how I can get that to stop?
Welcome to the club I just started out as well. If you haven't already watch the tutorials they are a bit dated but are a huge help.
The problem I am having is convincing the other players that it is easy to use and to invest some time. They think its WOW light and no mater how much I try I cant spark up any interest.
The grid in Maptools is one glaring weakness - it's near impossible to make the darn thing line up exactly. Using the spreadsheet and resizing is too much of a pain for me. What I do is just grid the grid close so that Maptools can size tokens correctly and distances are about right. We then just use the grids on the map itself - not maptools - to figure out our movement.
You want this. It helps you adjust the image size of your map so it fits the scale in MapTools perfectly. :)
Thanks I downloaded it and will give it a try.
I am glad I found this thread. I just downloaded Maptools and am trying to figure it out. I recently figured out I could snap a map image from a PDF and use it to be the background for the map and match the grid to it, however I can't seem to get the grid to line up perfectly. I can get what appears to be a clean alignment but then if I move over to look at another section of the map the grid start to offset from the one in the background image. Any hints on how I can get that to stop?Welcome to the club I just started out as well. If you haven't already watch the tutorials they are a bit dated but are a huge help.
The problem I am having is convincing the other players that it is easy to use and to invest some time. They think its WOW light and no mater how much I try I cant spark up any interest.
I did watch the tutorials and from reading this thread I found the wiki which I already picked up some tips on doing the topography. Though I am not sure the vision and light thing is worth the extra time in prepping the map for use. Is anyone using the light/vision feature? What do you like and dislike about it? I am mostly looking to use Maptool as a game board for combat over the internet to try and get some games going with friends back home. I moved a year ago and miss gaming with my old group. We are role play vs. roll play as well so would use a voice/video chat to interact and just use the maps for combat marking. Im not sure we would even use the dice rolling feature in the chat window. On the other hand I am intrigued by all the frame work features Evil Lincoln was talking about but I haven't looked into all that yet, I just downloaded it a few days ago and am still playing around with map construction.
You want this. It helps you adjust the image size of your map so it fits the scale in MapTools perfectly. :)Thanks I downloaded it and will give it a try.
Okay I have to admit I am not too computer savvy. I opened the map I cut from a PDF and in MS paint. I found a way to determine the size of it in pixels for step one, and step three is easy. However I am having a devil of a time trying to figure out how to get a measurement in pixels for step two. Am I overlooking something?
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Okay I have to admit I am not too computer savvy. I opened the map I cut from a PDF and in MS paint. I found a way to determine the size of it in pixels for step one, and step three is easy. However I am having a devil of a time trying to figure out how to get a measurement in pixels for step two. Am I overlooking something?You want this. It helps you adjust the image size of your map so it fits the scale in MapTools perfectly. :)Thanks I downloaded it and will give it a try.
Ah, yes, the spreadsheet kind of relies on you checking those things with Photoshop, as it has both the measuring tool and all the resizing capabilities. Without that... sorry, I found that way out when I first started looking and never tried looking for other ways afterwards. :)
Ah, yes, the spreadsheet kind of relies on you checking those things with Photoshop, as it has both the measuring tool and all the resizing capabilities. Without that... sorry, I found that way out when I first started looking and never tried looking for other ways afterwards. :)Okay I have to admit I am not too computer savvy. I opened the map I cut from a PDF and in MS paint. I found a way to determine the size of it in pixels for step one, and step three is easy. However I am having a devil of a time trying to figure out how to get a measurement in pixels for step two. Am I overlooking something?You want this. It helps you adjust the image size of your map so it fits the scale in MapTools perfectly. :)Thanks I downloaded it and will give it a try.
Okay thanks.
Vision/light is not worth it for every map, but it can make for really dynamic battles in scenes with limited visibility, as you would imagine. My players really enjoy having to describe what they can see to other players and have it serve more of a function than a mere exercise in RP. When the rogue goes around the corner and says "Holy crap" and the other players are like: "What? What? What do you see?" ... that's worth the extra effort for me.
Plus, the more you do it, the faster you can make it happen.
The pixels of the image are shown in the bottom left corner in Paint. Or maybe you had to 'cut', select the whole image, and then you get the size.
The light/vision thing can be pretty cool but it has a couple annoyances - (1) if a player clicks on the map rather than their character, they see everything that has been revealed (2) Players will move their figure through a door and into a room, going right past a monster they couldn't see outside the room. Players have to remember to move through the door, stop their movement, let the vision update, and then continue the movement if they want. (3) It's a pain for the DM to reveal things. First remove the fog, then remove the vision blocking. And one of those is a click while the other is a shift-click. Even with the annoyances, I find myself using it half the time. It's very cool to be in a dark dungeon and the one PC with the light runs off leaving everybody else in the dark.
It's a pain for the DM to reveal things. First remove the fog, then remove the vision blocking. And one of those is a click while the other is a shift-click.
From your description, it sounds like you're doing more than you should have to.
You should be able to set up just vision blocking, turn fog on, and reveal what the players can see. When a map has the VBL set up correctly, you should never have to remove VBL to remove fog. Try using the "Empty Box" VBL tool instead of the "Full Box" tool.
I just quickly set up walls with the "Empty Box" VBL tool, then Drag PCs across doors if it isn't important that they be partially opened (like there's a monster on the other side). If there IS a monster, I will have them partially open doors by erasing a bit of VBL, but this sounds like less work than what you've described.
I actual got connected with friend last night and we played around with the vision and blocking as well as the general map making. Looks like this is going to be a very cool addition to my game. While working on a map last night I kept getting an error unable to auto save java heap dump. Or something like that, then it wouldn't let me save the campaign. Anyone else experience this? Is it a memory issue from my PC? Its an older laptop so it might just not have the umph to do it.
The java error sounds like a memory problem but it may be worth while to check the maptool forums.
I also wanted to report that I've been using Karui Kage's spreadsheet to great effect. The calculations are almost spot on, even when I'm doing most of the measuring with MS Paint.
Nice job on that!
I actual got connected with friend last night and we played around with the vision and blocking as well as the general map making. Looks like this is going to be a very cool addition to my game. While working on a map last night I kept getting an error unable to auto save java heap dump. Or something like that, then it wouldn't let me save the campaign. Anyone else experience this? Is it a memory issue from my PC? Its an older laptop so it might just not have the umph to do it.
The geometry in Maptool VBL is not optimal, and it has been marked for improvement. As it stands, it's kind of piggy memory-wise. Try sticking to simple, clean shapes and avoid sharp points in your VBL.
It may also be something completely different. Check the forums for advice on launching the tool with the correct memory configuration. I've never had to worry about this myself, so I'm sorry I can't be more help.
The geometry in Maptool VBL is not optimal, and it has been marked for improvement. As it stands, it's kind of piggy memory-wise. Try sticking to simple, clean shapes and avoid sharp points in your VBL.
I've notice that VBL eats up a lot of memory. However, I am curious as to what you mean by avoiding sharp points in your VBL ? I've had a tendancy to use VBL by covering my map and cutting holes in it. I understood that it was less memory intensive than adding up walls and empty shapes. Am I mistaken ?
I've notice that VBL eats up a lot of memory. However, I am curious as to what you mean by avoiding sharp points in your VBL ? I've had a tendancy to use VBL by covering my map and cutting holes in it. I understood that it was less memory intensive than adding up walls and empty shapes. Am I mistaken ?
I think so. The worst thing by far is un-bounded vision that just goes off as far as maptool can measure it. I've also heard that pointy corners are more geometry intensive and to be avoided. As I understand it, a completely bounded but empty box with a player inside it is the same as a box completely bounded by lots and lots of VBL around it... but a thin box with a little gap is BAD. Long story short: use indoor environments with block rooms and you should get good performance. You can do other things, but don't overdo them (like VBL circles for every pillar in the Parthenon when a simple line will do)
The whole geometry system is up for replacement according to Trevor, since he saw somebody else do it more efficiently. You can be sure this will be less of a problem in the 1.4 builds.
This specific topic is probably best covered on the maptool forums, though. I may have no idea what I'm on about.
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New map coming out on 04/01 Fantastic Maps: Tribal Encampment
New map coming out on 04/01 Fantastic Maps: Tribal Encampment
NICE!
Same MapTool features as the last one? More maybe?
I, too, am a MapTooler! My group still plays face-to-face, but instead of using a battle mat, I connect my laptop to my 50-inch widescreen via HDMI cable and *TA-DA*, gorgeous maps! It's such a leap in gaming. To me it feels like the equivalent of going from radio to television.
I'm currently running Rise of the Runelords, still in AP1. I've started re-creating the maps in MapTools for a hi-res, pimpin' look. Using tintagel's map for the Glassworks set the bar pretty darn high; I couldn't possibly go back to low-res maps from the PDF!
I'm currently mapping out the dungeon of Thistletop. Perhaps I'll post some screen shots. :-)
Those maps are beautiful!!
AJC
Those maps are beautiful!!
AJC
Yes, tintagel does amazing work. Have you seen his map of Misgivings for AP2? It's incredible.
Yes, tintagel does amazing work. Have you seen his map of Misgivings for AP2? It's incredible.
Nope - off to look...
Thanks,
AJC
Awesome.
Like vocaldc, I use a second monitor (although mine's just a 20") to display the maps to the players. I haven't had much need to get into the macros and framework details; although I do have a 3.5/Pathfinder framework loaded (mostly for the token overlays it provides).
I would happily pay for a scaling guide and a vision blocking layer so that I could then just take the maps from their purchased PDF and add it to the MapFinder's package. Admittedly, I also would pay for grid-free and map-key (numbers, notes, etc) free map versions of the Paizo maps; it's rather what I expected when I purchased my first Map Folio.
DM's Familiar has had several Pathfinder enhancements recently. It can now import a PRD stat block - just copy & paste and you've got all of your monster die-rolling ready to go. It also has an export to Maptools button which then creates all of your attack, damage, saves, skills, etc rolls in Maptools (without a framework!). A good deal of Paizo OGL is also available in DMF format, ready to import.
I want to learn how to use Maptools as my players have told me they want to game again. Probably just need to sit down one day or two and go over it and learn how to use it.
I have a web site of close to two thousand maps if anyone would like a link to them. About 200 of them from my old earlier d&d campaign. All of them are free. They come in pngs and campaign Cartographer 3 fcw files. I'll post the link if anyone is interested. Note that I do have some google ads on my site, but no popups nor huge banners.
There are no stats on any of the monsters on the site, and only a few characters have partial stats. So they are very generic.
I feel good after my purchase of an ASUS tablet.
Here is the link to my site: Crest of a Star
Continent, nation, city, and town maps. With a few interiors of buildings. Most all info is generic.
I want to learn how to use Maptools as my players have told me they want to game again. Probably just need to sit down one day or two and go over it and learn how to use it.
I highly recommend ignoring MapTool's scripting features at first. You can do a lot with them, but some of the best features don't require that stuff at all.
Other than that, yes, playing around with it is the way to learn. I usually spend about a half hour to an hour preparing for each session by finding maps and making tokens and the like. It used to be a lot longer. Sit down and try to set up the campaign — create maps on the background layer, make NPC and PC tokens, add some 'props' — and you'll get the hang of it soon enough.
Don't worry about automating all the game mechanics right away. If you want to eventually do that, you can use some of the frameworks available, but you can get a ton of utility out of the basic vision and light tools. Just start out using it as a fancy replacement for miniatures and a whiteboard; one that manages the light radius of torches and whether or not the PC has line of sight to that goblin!
This group runs PFS games, many of them using Maptools. If you want to learn a program, just play a game there. Or just sit in and watch a game:
https://groups.google.com/forum/?hl=en&fromgroups#!forum/pathfinder-soc iety-online-collective
This document has instructions on getting Maptools, starting with the iMarkus framework and how to set up a token:
https://docs.google.com/a/paladinpgm.com/document/d/1Es94WTUhRCp8DSmO0pTtgG 4ohoEjUcZBkt33YQrjOsk/edit
Can anyone recommend a very stable build of MapTool that is more recent than b63?
My players are finally emerging from the stone age and getting intel-based machines, so I can dust off my old macro script codebase!
But it looks to me like b87 and b88 are a little wonky. Is b86 okay? That looks like the last version supported by Lindsay's PF framework.
Can anyone offer first-hand experience with a more recent build?
I ran two full APs on 86 and a good 20 games of PFS on 87 without any real trouble; both with the Lindsay framework. I think the reports of Maptools wonkiness are overrated.
I ran two full APs on 86 and a good 20 games of PFS on 87 without any real trouble; both with the Lindsay framework. I think the reports of Maptools wonkiness are overrated.
I know first-hand they are not overstated. b85 was very crashy for me, to the point where my second group switched to d20pro (which is also somewhat crashy).
Still, thanks very much DMFTodd for the report, I'm thinking I'll do b86 because of compatibility with the framework.
I've had no real issues with b86 or B87, though I likely don't use the macroing to it's greatest extent. I seem to have missed both b85 and b88 entirely, so I guess i've been fortunate :)
Everything I was doing got put on hold after I released my toolbar, because I had new players come into the group with machines that could not run the most recent version.
Just this week, they both upgraded (after months and months) and now it looks like I might get into it again.
Maptool frameworks are kind of a b~$*~ to write, though, the syntax for their scripting language is really brutal. I wouldn't mind making something new, but I'd want to have a clear picture of what it was before I started working on it.
Dogstarrb, how much are you looking to automate? I've gotten pretty good mileage out of a set of macros that use only the basic MapTool configuration (no specialty framework).
You have to be willing to open them up and customize a bit for each creature, but it's not particularly difficult. (I've commented the Macros for my own reference).