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When I play physically, we usually use 2 big blank maps and the GM draws on them when we enter an encounter-worthy place (easy : those are the ones which have maps in the adventure).
The GM usually draws only what the PCs see and adds more as we explore. And, as needed, erases the old place to make room for drawing the new one.
I know other GMs do the whole drawing beforehand and unveiling parts little by little. Whatever you prefer, I would say.
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There is of course the good old flipover pad with 1" grid. In my experience they're typically just a little bigger than Paizo's flipmats, so I can usually fit stuff on them.
It's a bit more work but it's definitely cheaper than most other options. And because you're not using a single reusable map, you can prepare a lot of stuff ahead of time without having to erase stuff to make room.
A single roll used to go for about €10 for 50 pages here, probably similar elsewhere.
There is also Gaming Paper.
Edit: Although some time over the past few years shipping appears to have become cost prohibitive...
I use one of the Paizo flip mats as well. At some point, I may get more of them, so I don't have to erase and redraw as much.
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One thing I've done in the past is use graph paper to draw out the whole dungeon and use a 1" square mat to draw out individual rooms, when the layout of the room becomes more relevant (ie: combat or searching, ect.)
You can use flash cards to block off unexplored parts of the graph paper map.
For dungeons that fit on the 1" mat, I've either drawn the whole thing out and blocked it by paper or drawn additional rooms as they get explored.
The former is more time efficient; the latter can build suspense.
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Posterazor? That sounds interesting. I have never ever had success trying to cut up a large format image, print on letter paper, and have it work. Has this software succeeded for you in the past? Is the 1x1 grid translated well?
Thanks for all your advice folks.
Hmm. Can't get Posterazor to open my .pdfs, either downloaded or browser based. I wonder if something happened while converting the .webp to .pdfs.
Sorry, missed a step, I normally right mouse click on the map image and copy image and save it in Paint, then use that image in Posterazor. To get the sizing right, just count how many squares in the grid, and times by 2.5 cms (or 1 inch, depending on what measurement system you have set).
You can draw out your entire map ahead of time and reveal it bit by bit, or you can just draw rooms if tactical positioning becomes relevant (ie, normally just combat encounters.)
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Sorry, missed a step, I normally right mouse click on the map image and copy image and save it in Paint, then use that image in Posterazor. To get the sizing right, just count how many squares in the grid, and times by 2.5 cms (or 1 inch, depending on what measurement system you have set).Posterazor? That sounds interesting. I have never ever had success trying to cut up a large format image, print on letter paper, and have it work. Has this software succeeded for you in the past? Is the 1x1 grid translated well?
Thanks for all your advice folks.
Hmm. Can't get Posterazor to open my .pdfs, either downloaded or browser based. I wonder if something happened while converting the .webp to .pdfs.
Coincidentally, I was just doing this very thing getting ready to GM at a local con.
One thing I would add to sanwah68's instructions: The process can be a little tricky if you don't have a printer capable of edge-to-edge printing (which I, sadly, do not). In which case you have to add a little bit of overlap to account for the non-printable area of the paper (which will vary according to your specific printer model). Happily, PosteRazor supports this.
I find it is helpful to do a "dry run" print of a single page in low-quality grey scale (or "draft" mode if your printer offers it) just to make sure I've gotten the sizing and margins right.
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The little projector is a cool idea. Hmm. I wonder if you could get away with just projecting the map it self, maybe onto a poster board or butcher paper or something, and then plopping standees on it. You'd get some shadowing of course. I wonder how annoying that would be?
Aaaand... I still can't get Posterazor to open my .pdfs. Argh. :-/
Posterazor doesn't like PDFs, you need to convert it to an image file, like a jpeg. Hence using Paint as the extra step.
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I just ran my first session using a little mini projector pointed down at the table.
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Only thing I'm not loving so far as that I can't have the room be overly bright or it just blows out the image. I suppose you could also get a small tv to set on the table and do the same thing.
Having done both at one time or another, the TV route is definitely better (and nowadays, quite cost effective, even for larger screens).
A few suggestions if you go the TV route:
* You'll likely need to pick up an HDMI cable with a 90 degree angle at one end (or an 90 degree adapter).
* If you have a choice, you want a TV with a relatively flat back. That way you can use cheap rubber feet (for airflow) and just set it down on your table.
* Don't worry about paying extra for resolution -- and old 1080P TV should be fine at the sizes you need. I've even used a 32" 720P TV once, and it was a little pixelated if you got up close, but worked fine.
* Most importantly, don't spend a ton. TVs aren't designed to be left on their back, and it can be unhealthy for the screen over the long term. Best case scenario you grab one from someone who is upgrading for free/cheap.
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My group has a 50in TV in a wooden case with see thru glass. We turn it on its side on a table. Open up the GM version of your VTT. Then run an HDMI from a player version of the VTT to the TV. Make the squares roughly 1in. Turn off line of sight.
Just use fog of war from your GM side.
Put your minis down on the table.
I love this because I can't draw for sh*t. So it lets me use digital maps and real minis, dice, etc.
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Am I missing an easy fix to the ACTUAL (not virtual) table top map aspect of the hobby? How do folks deal with this?
These are not necessarily mutually exclusive. I use a 40" TV in my table on which I display maps at minis scale. It works wonderfully for my games. Here is a photo of my setup.
A nice thing about having a TV in the center of the table is I can play my Syrinscape music through it. The second TV behind my seat is on wheels and oriented vertically. I use this to display the initiative window from the Combat Manager app as well as show images to the players (NPCs, city-scale maps, etc.).
No one else uses a computer at the table, just me, so it doesn't feel like they're playing a VTT.
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The best option is going to be the Foundry modules. You'll need to buy them and buy Foundry, but Foundry's a one time fee, and the modules are *much* better. They have redone maps, lighting, and sounds. You can use the module Monk's Common Display to display what you want.
There is a module that will import characters from Pathbuilder! This is great for me because all the players that I set up on Pathbuilder and got on board with it all can keep doing it, all I need to do is import any updates into Foundry as necessary.
Shame it doesn't go both ways, but I'm still happy about it.
I'm having trouble getting the Monks Common Display to do one GM screen for me and one Players View for everyone else, but I'm sure that is just a matter of finding the right tutorial.
Did they update that Pathbuilder module to work with the latest version of Foundry? Last I checked that module wasn't being kept up to date and I had given up on it.
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Did they update that Pathbuilder module to work with the latest version of Foundry? Last I checked that module wasn't being kept up to date and I had given up on it.I installed the most recent version of Foundry yesterday and it seemed to work fine! I have no idea of the previous versions, but I'm pleased so far.
Be careful because some things on importers are not going to import properly. Double check the sheets to make sure they look right.
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I know I'm investing in a camera tripod and a 1080p projector for my home game. You can get the whole setup for under $150 and use it for all your maps at the table. Can't say it will work for everyone but it ought to make running APs easier at home for me.I'm interested in that option as well, but... where do you put the tripod?
Where we game for AV, the host has a nice big table, but over it is a chandelier, three lights in a row. There doesn't seem to be a place to attach something like a projector, but a tripod also doesn't seem like it would go anyplace.
I've seen successful setups that are directly beside the table, about 4' above the table top, and pointed down at the table. With keystone correction built into most projectors it seems to work well.
The chandeliers might be a problem, depending on how it's built. The projector doesn't take much space, but there does need to be some space above and directly beside the table for it to work.
For what it's worth, I stole the idea from a fellow local GM and haven't used it myself, but I thought his setup was really slick. He just removed one of the player chairs from the table and put the projector where the player would have been sitting. I haven't gotten my projector in yet, so I don't have experience setting it up.