Online Campaign Maps?

[MageHunter]

I'm considering starting up an online campaign, how do you guys handle the maps? I know there's a lot of different ways but I just want to find a (free) system so everyone can move around their icons or whatever, and isn't too hard for me to craft.

Thanks.

[Tyranius]

Use Google Drive. Upload the maps from the PDF's into Google Slides (So players can alter from their phones also). Then all you have to do is copy/paste their icons from the forums onto the map and share with the group as a url link.

Make sure when you share that you edit the settings so that anyone with the link can edit the document.

Easy and free.

If you have any questions on how to use or need far more detailed instructions just let me know :) Hope this helps.

[MageHunter]

Forgot to mention it's a homebrew.

What's a good way to make my own maps?

I'll look into Google Slides, thanks.

[Saethori]

I do all my campaigns online, and usually use either Pyromancers (an online based map tool) or draw maps from scratch using a collection of textures I've made and filters in Paint.Net.

For the actual playing, I use Roll20.

[Firewarrior44]

Roll20 and Map tool work too.

Roll20 is probably better for your needs as it's browser based.

It can be used to upload images or just draw like a whiteboard / battlemap.

It also has tokens (which can be assigned to each player so only they can move it) and fog of war functionality.

[GM Rednal]

I use Google... Picture, I think it is? It's an image one, anyway, allowing for editing and drawing lines and stuff. XD I have weird troubles with copying pics directly from my computer to Google Drive, so I often upload to Imgur first (without publishing to its community).

For making actual custom maps, Hexographer and Dungeonographer are good, game-focused tools. Not always the prettiest, but they do what games need done. They're kind of pricey, but if you're the type to seriously use that stuff, the cost-per-hour will be tiny. XD Or you can do stuff like color in an excel grid, or try to draw in an image editor... whatever works best for you. There's lots of options in lots of price (and time) ranges.

[Astral Wanderer]

MageHunter wrote:

I'm considering starting up an online campaign, how do you guys handle the maps? I know there's a lot of different ways but I just want to find a (free) system so everyone can move around their icons or whatever, and isn't too hard for me to craft.

Thanks.

MapTool is what you want.

Has all the features Roll20 has (including the $$$ ones) and many more.
All for free.
It lacks the eyecandy UI of other utilities, but its functionality is unparalleled, and I mean literally.

The map functions are actually its "smallest" feature.
At its very basic, you can use MapTool to just drop a map background, drop players' tokens on it and play with simple rolls (like: /r 1d20+5).
Then you can start using fog of war, visual block and lights.
And after that, you can download someone's (free) framework to have properly coded commands to automate a lot of nice things (like attacks and skill checks).

Further beyond, you can make your own macros (and build a framework, maybe), and a universe opens. Random generators of any kind, to say the least. This takes effort, but well worth it, and anyway it's totally optional... you can use MapTool without ever writing even the simplest macro.

[Mike J]

I use both MapTool and Roll20 - either/both can get the job done. Each has their strengths and weaknesses. I suggest giving both a try (the price is right).

I play face-to-face and use MapTool to draw custom maps and Roll20 to display them. My players use an iPad to view the maps, allowing me to take advantage of fog of war. I use a battle map and tokens for actual combat. I can't comment on how each program handles online play.

[heruca]

Go here to investigate all of the available virtual tabletop options out there.

Scroll down a bit to get to the free ones.

[GM-JZ]

MapTool is great.

In terms of creating your own maps for homebrew, there are literally hundreds of maps out there that you can find with the right Google search term.

Aside from that, depending on the level of fidelity you and your group likes, ANA Map might work well for you.