(Hope this is the right section for this question)
I'm interested in trying to run a PbP, but I am VERY visually oriented. What is a good grid mapping tool/method that requires (if possible) neither purchase nor subscription?
Can it be done with something simple like Paint? Or is it a little more involved?
Do I need to have a file somewhere (I see a lot of photobucket and deviantart links) to post/link the maps?
Overall, I think the simplicty of use of the map tool will really determine whether I run a PbP or not.
Paint is painful to use for that purpose.
I recommend TTopRPG.
Obviously you need someplace to host the pics you created, so the players can see them, so photobucket, deviantart or flickr, dropbox or any other filehosting service should do the trick.
As Franz ntoes, TTopRPG and MapTools are both good for generating snazzy D&D maps. A more low-fi solution is to use a Google spreadsheet instead. They both have advantages -- the mapping program produces very nice-looking pictures, but the spreadsheet is easy to use, allows players to move their own "tokens" and comes with a built-in grid system (e.g. "I move from A5 to B7").
Maptools has all of those features that hogarth mentioned and doesn't look like trash.
How do you host a MapTools map online so that players can alter it? I've always just exported a static image file when I've used Maptools/TTopRPG for a play-by-post game.
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Maptools has all of those features that hogarth mentioned and doesn't look like trash.How do you host a MapTools map online so that players can alter it? I've always just exported a static image file when I've used Maptools/TTopRPG for a play-by-post game.
You can't without everyone logged into the same maptools game, which becomes more play over skype/scheduled game territory. For PbP, you can just provide co-ordinates via maptools for your screenshots and people can say where they are moving to etc.
Edit: I also self-censored my somewhat harsh comment in my previous post. I find the spreadsheet maps functional certainly, but I think taking a few more minutes per map for it to look nice and be a bit clearer is well worth it. I also love the layers of Maptools- being able to have all my hidden villains on screen without the players seeing them...
As Franz ntoes, TTopRPG and MapTools are both good for generating snazzy D&D maps. A more low-fi solution is to use a Google spreadsheet instead. They both have advantages -- the mapping program produces very nice-looking pictures, but the spreadsheet is easy to use, allows players to move their own "tokens" and comes with a built-in grid system (e.g. "I move from A5 to B7").
If I use the Google spreadsheet, I won't need a third site to host the maps? How are they able to move the icons, do I share it? would that enable anyone that even reads the thread to manipulate the icons?
If I use the Google spreadsheet, I won't need a third site to host the maps? How are they able to move the icons, do I share it? would that enable anyone that even reads the thread to manipulate the icons?
The hosting site would be spreadsheets.google.com, and you could either set it to share with specific Google IDs, or make it readable/writeable by everyone. It's up to you.
I will give it a try, thank you for the info.
Maps are a pain in the ass for pbp. I ran one on another board, and basically gave up because it was such a hassle. Alex, that's really a two-minute map? You, my friend, have skills.
For me, it involved ripping in image from a pdf, cropping and tweaking it, and blocking out what the players haven't seen yet, moving tokens, and then saving that new image. Then I upload that to flicker and linked it into the post I needed (that forum allowed images in posts.) All in all, a lot of work to update every round.
If you look over most of the pbp games here, you'll see they largely do away with maps unless absolutely necessary. Some people, like Alex, have better skills with software. Me, I don't really like Maptools, unless you can invest some time to actually sit down and learn it right.
Another option I checked out, which is fairly new, is Scene Grinder. Basically, it combines a VTT with a pbp forum. That is to say, the "table" stays up, and everyone can log on and post as they can. Everyone does not have to be online at the same time, but you don't have to constantly redo the maps, either. You just modify the one you have, and players can even move themselves. If I was going to run another pbp, and I think about it, that's the site I would check out.
That said, I've been in two on-going pbp on this site for the last 3+ years, and have had a blast with them.
If you look over most of the pbp games here, you'll see they largely do away with maps unless absolutely necessary. Some people, like Alex, have better skills with software. Me, I don't really like Maptools, unless you can invest some time to actually sit down and learn it right.
The time to learn it right is as long as it takes to watch the videos on the tutorial site.
I watched the videos for about two hours and then two hours after that I had the first level of a dungeon mapped out, complete with hidden doors and blocked sight lines.
I then spent WAY too much time on the details that don't really matter (which coffin token do I wish to use?).
How to build Alexander's map in ~2 minutes.
- Choose the base background of the map to be the red clay that covers most of his image.
- Set layer to Background
- Go to the drawing tools and select the paintbrush with the granite looking texture as the paint. Paint in the crater and the cracks running out to the side.
- Select the draw freeform object tool with water as the paint color and a contrast as the border. Click in the outlines of the pool: left click to start, right click for more edge points and left click to finish.
- Set layer to Token Layer
- Grab some bad guy tokens and drop them in.
- Grab some good guy tokens and drop them in.
Bingo, bango, bongo!
Edit: I also self-censored my somewhat harsh comment in my previous post. I find the spreadsheet maps functional certainly, but I think taking a few more minutes per map for it to look nice and be a bit clearer is well worth it.
Don't get me wrong -- I much prefer the good-looking Maptools-style map! But I much, much, much prefer any map to no map at all.
If you look over most of the pbp games here, you'll see they largely do away with maps unless absolutely necessary.
Out of the 6 play-by-post games I playing in on this web site, all 6 of them have use some kind of map during combat (mostly a Maptools-equivalent, but one uses a spreadsheet). Likewise for the two play-by-email games I play in (one uses Dundjinni -- I think -- and the other uses a spreadsheet). Of course, I'm probably self-selecting to a large degree; I'm not crazy about mapless D&D games.
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You forgot putting names on the tokens and a few other small steps... but essentially yes ;).
Bilzzabub, vision blocking and fog of war are very fast and easy to use on Maptools, once you've done it once or twice.
This map took me significantly longer, and was made mostly from other objects in my extensive image library (the bigger one you build up, the easier it is to find what you need in future...). Still, only about an hour-hour and a half's work. It would take me less time now i'm more practiced with the software.
The only problem I may have with the bigger programs is that I won't be able to download them at work. Since I have time at work to read and respond to posts, the google program will probably be better for me since I can log in to it at work.
Alexander: Do you ever import images (from published adventures, for instance) to use as maps? If so, how do you do it? I tried, but the map-image was larger than the MapTool screen, and it didn't seem possible to scroll down.
Alexander: Do you ever import images (from published adventures, for instance) to use as maps? If so, how do you do it? I tried, but the map-image was larger than the MapTool screen, and it didn't seem possible to scroll down.
The video on starting a map, including importing an image.
Short answer:
- Zoom out by using your mouse wheel or the '-' button. (Zoom in is the '=' button.
- Resize your imported image if you wish by dragging the resize handle in the lower right corner. (Hold shift to maintain ratio)
- Resize the grid on Maptools to match the grid spacing on your imported image. (This can be a little fiddly if your image has a lot of squares, but 10x20 can be aligned to "good enough" in a minute or two.)
In my experience, the biggest trick to running a PbP is nailing down the conventions that your group will use and then using technology to automate your job.
As far as map management goes, I personally prefer to run a MediaWiki site (MediaWiki being the software that powers Wikipedia). When I run a combat, I'll upload a brand new map file which creates a page of its own on the site. Then, for each update that I need to do, I'll simply re-upload the file. This leaves a nice trail showing how the battle progressed, and (unless you're really picky like me) you don't need to copy/paste a new URL each time you update. Just keep linking to the same one and players will be able to see the current version.
Here are two different examples of how I employ this while GMing Serpent's Skull. To see how it looks in the actually PbP thread itself, here is an example post. Note that all of those URLs and formatting are contained within automated scripts. About the only thing I have to do is type in the actual time, type the number of the update, and paste a link to that round's map (for historical purposes since I'm kind of anal-retentive about such things). It takes about 2-3 minutes to do that as opposed to what would probably be 10-15 minutes if I tried to type that stuff up from scratch every time.
As far as map creation goes, you can either use Some PDF Image Extractor to export maps from PDFs, use a camera to take a photo of your flipmat, scan a map from a book or map tiles, or do like Alex and draw one yourself. You can even combine the techniques.
The main benefit of MapTools isn't so much drawing maps as it is keeping track of distances, player icons, HP, initiative, etc. At least that's how it is for me anyway. I can tell you this though, every hour spent learning your tools and learning how to automate things, will see many more hours saved each time you update a session. I have a couple tools I've made in my profile that may be of use to you in simplifying the act of running a PbP — well, they've saved me time anyway.
BTW, a handy tip for making decent looking maps in MapTool is to set the opacity of the drawing tool to about 20-40%. That's how I achieved the look of the water getting deeper in the castaway fight from Smuggler's Shiv. Likewise you can use the same technique to make a trail cutting thru grass without there being a stark contrast around the edges. Start with a low opacity, and just keep going over areas until you have achieved the look you want. (Make the map bigger than you need so you can crop out the messy bits.) That beach fight took all of about 5 minutes, mainly because I was experimenting with this technique.
Just remembered another thing about MapTools that will help you to automate your job. You can paste in or create macros to handle time-consuming chores. Here are a few macros that I've found handy for keeping track of damage and healing.