So I GM'ed my first session of my campaign Saturday, using an overhead projector set up. I took a photo before game began that's available here.
There are limitations of my set up with this specific projector combined with my iPad. It is a wide screen projector and I have a first gen iPad, which is 4:3 for non-video applications. So the battle map software I'm using displays as 4:3 over the projector. I could stretch the image out with the projector, but the iPad software doesn't allow for different x,y grid sizes, so it distorts the image. The VGA port is via a dongle, where as the HDMI port is via a direct connection, so HDMI is very much preferred.
At the height shown in the picture (4.5 feet), the image is the size of the pillowcase on the table at 16:9. In 4:3, it comes out to about 24inx18in (a little larger than that). So it's not huge, but it doesn't need to be. The software on the iPad covers a gigantic area and can be moved as they go through an area. Big areas can be done and displayed. Lighting, line of sight, traps and hidden objects are built in.
The projector is 50 lumens, which was a worry when I ordered it. I have a Mitsubishi HC1600 (1600 Lumens) I use for movies and it's REALLY bright. I was surprised to find the PK301 worked quite well in household lighting and there is no problems with image quality even at a 10ft wide image.
Portability can't be beat, which is why I went with the set up. iPad, Projector, cords, and stand all fit in one bag.
Cost: Projector $280 with shipping (Amazon), 10ft HDMI cord $15-18 (Amazon), Stand $30 (Mainstay brand flexible lamp and Mainstay normal lamp at Walmart), modifications to lamp head $10 (Ace hardware)
I gutted both lamps. The main rod is a series of metal pieces that screw together. Both lamps were made by the same company and the metal pieces are compatible. I bought the second one so that I could have back ups and do any height I wanted. Only the flexible lamp was necessary. The lamp fixture was a series of screw on plastic pieces. It was modified with a rubber stopper, a bolt, a plastic cap, and some two part epoxy to act as a projector mount. The projector has a mount screw hole on the bottom. I'm using some spacers on the bolt so that the projector can be screwed on tight with no stripping of the connections.
There was some initial problems with weight. Basically the flexible section could hold the projector perfectly still at any angle if I had it shaped just right. Wrapping it with duct tape solved the problem. I got some plastic ties with a mechanism to be removed quickly to hold the cords down the length of the rod to keep them out of the way.
In game, I used software tokens (labeled with numbers on screen) and the players used their mini's. Combat Manger (Windows) was used for all combat tracking, spell and feat look ups, stat blocks, etc. Each monster labeled with numbers in Combat Manager corresponding to the tokens on my iPad. Combat could not go smoother. The players have access to ALL spells and feats from Paizo (which they use the PRD for). All spells and feats from the PRD are in Combat Manager, along with EVERYTHING needed to run combat by a GM. I can't recommend that software enough to GMs. When combined with on the fly touch generated maps on my iPad, everything from set up, to NPC/Monster selection, combat tracking, lighting/sight constraints, and everything in between just can't be better. Little things like the fact that their torches illuminate what they can see just make everything easier to manage.
