GM's Note - MapTool
Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2010 5:55 am
I am going to experiment with using MapTool (http://www.rptools.net/index.php?page=maptool) as an aid to the visualisation of combat. I’m not going to use its realtime play facilities (i.e. I’m not going to run a MapTool server). I’m just going to use it as a means of drawing and updating the combat situation.
For the players, like the dice rolling, this is strictly optional. I plan to provide enough description in the main forum text to ensure that the MapTool representation is not a necessity. However, for those that are interested, I will provide updated tactical maps on a round-by-round basis so that you can see exactly how the fight is panning out. It should be useful for gauging movement distances, missile ranges, line of sight, etc. There’s no need to download the MapTool software; all the updates to the maps will be done by the GM.
The exported MapTool screenshots are quite large and are not particularly well suited to posting into the forum directly. Therefore, I’ve set up an external page that can be linked-to if you so choose. The link is: https://sites.google.com/site/marketstonecampaign/.
To get us started I’ve tried to pick some representative tokens for each character. However, the people behind MapTool also provide the very easy to use TokenTool (http://www.rptools.net/index.php?page=tokentool) with which you can make your own custom tokens. By way of example, I quickly made a Nivek one using Smoot’s signature picture. Feel free to make your own if you’re unhappy with my default choice.
If you have any questions about MapTool, please post in the “Out-of-Character Chat” topic.[/i]
For the players, like the dice rolling, this is strictly optional. I plan to provide enough description in the main forum text to ensure that the MapTool representation is not a necessity. However, for those that are interested, I will provide updated tactical maps on a round-by-round basis so that you can see exactly how the fight is panning out. It should be useful for gauging movement distances, missile ranges, line of sight, etc. There’s no need to download the MapTool software; all the updates to the maps will be done by the GM.
The exported MapTool screenshots are quite large and are not particularly well suited to posting into the forum directly. Therefore, I’ve set up an external page that can be linked-to if you so choose. The link is: https://sites.google.com/site/marketstonecampaign/.
To get us started I’ve tried to pick some representative tokens for each character. However, the people behind MapTool also provide the very easy to use TokenTool (http://www.rptools.net/index.php?page=tokentool) with which you can make your own custom tokens. By way of example, I quickly made a Nivek one using Smoot’s signature picture. Feel free to make your own if you’re unhappy with my default choice.
If you have any questions about MapTool, please post in the “Out-of-Character Chat” topic.[/i]