General RPG DiscussionDiscussion of all RPGs and non-system-specific topics. DM/GM/player issues, settings, etc. Rules discussion belongs in one the forums below.
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This is very cool. One step closer to ultimate cool would be to be able to project from underneath onto some kind of rear projection surface so that arms, miniatures, and other objects don't get in the way of the light.
But then your books and arms cover up the map and it can't be seen. This was the project puts the map on EVERYTHING on the table. You can have your book out and still share space with the map unless everyone goes over the tiny treasure chest projected on top of your book cover.
There are strengths and limitations to either top down or bottom up projection.
I think its fair to say that bottom-up projection is, all things being equal, preferential for actual use during play. I have no argument with this observation and I agree with it.
But all things are not equal. Bottom projection requires a special table and a special projector. It increases expense, abandons convenient portability and flexible use of the projector for Home Theatre when not used for gaming - all in pursuit of eliminating shadows and map obscurement. For the most part, these perceived problems rear projection addresses do not actually manifest during play or interfere with the enjoyment of the top-down projected map nearly as much as people who have not tried it think it does.
My point: you need to try the top-down technology before you start poking holes in it. It's not as problematic as you think. And it's affordable for many ENworlders, right now for use in your living room. You can actually do this for your gaming group.
Man great minds think alike about a month back i got the idea to use a projector to enhance my groups game. I hadn't thought to use it in the maner of combining Fig's and most likely won't due to my ceiling not being high enough. My set up thus far is just projecting a map on the wall and with the magic of photoshop which can put a visible grid on any pic. The nice part with photo is that you can have multiple layers to overlay yer map in black and reveal it as the gamers move about. I'd say the projector is a good buy for any group plus it play movies so well.
My only concern would be burning out the projector since it would be on for very prolonged periods of time. I could be wrong, but I don't think they're meant to be on for 6-8 hours at a time (at least not the economical ones).
__________________ Are you a player looking to join a D&D game in the Toronto area? Send me an email at fenris_wolff@hotmail.com
Would it be possible for the mods to save and turn Steel Winds posts into some sort of feature article on ENWorld? Create an article titled: "How to setup a digital projection gaming environment." or something. I really think this is worth saving
But if we have more sizzle to make the game more fun for ourselves - and to permit the game to connect and appeal to others in order to allow it to expand and grow, I don't think that can ever be a bad thing.
Absolutely! I take a slightly different method - using miles and miles of Master Maze, Hirst Arts Dungeon rooms and buildings, and miniatures to create 3d scenes at the table, and that stuff just draws kids to the game.
I'm thinking about using your methods for some convention games I run - lugging all of my dungeon stuff around is just not practical for every Con. I recently ran a massive dungeon scenario at a local convention and it took me a couple of hours to just pack the stuff! Totally worth it for the reaction at the con though
Thanks for sharing - I think it is very cool - and will probably try to use it soon.
My only concern would be burning out the projector since it would be on for very prolonged periods of time. I could be wrong, but I don't think they're meant to be on for 6-8 hours at a time (at least not the economical ones).
Then only use the projector during combat. I hope your combat scenes don't last that long
__________________ "If it doesn't fit, bend it. If it still doesn't fit, break it." -Old Dwarven saying.
"My sword is still in the dire shark? I jump back in and get it out!" -myself playing Balrog, a half-orc barbarian. It was a *really* nice sword.
Finally... 'NWN tools are available to anyone reading this'... you missed a clause. 'Who uses a PC rather than a Mac.' Not that I'm still bitter or anything.
To you and the other bitter NWN Mac user...
You should be aware that you are not shut out of the fun. Neveredit .80 was released a few weeks ago and it supports full NWN toolset creation on Mac OS X.
My only concern would be burning out the projector since it would be on for very prolonged periods of time. I could be wrong, but I don't think they're meant to be on for 6-8 hours at a time (at least not the economical ones).
Our projector is on for about 6 hours or so a session. It depends on the environment the players are in, of course. It's sometimes less - sometimes more I suppose.
6-8 hours would often be about right.
There is no problem with leaving a DLP on this long. It does consume the overall hours available on your bulb of course - but it does not "break" the projector. Some older LCD models could develop a black spot on the centre of the TFT from heat build-up, but this is not a problem with DLPs (or newer LCDs, for that matter).
Well along with most everyone else I have to say that this is a great set up.
I had thought of doing this several years before the article you mentioned from Dragon, but have not been in the right place to do it, and had issues convincing the wife it was worth the money. (I'll be showing her your set up as soon as she gets home from her trip tonight )
I had always guessed it work, but its great to see it in action.
The information you have provided in this thread will be invaulable to trying to get this set up for my games.
My only concern would be burning out the projector since it would be on for very prolonged periods of time. I could be wrong, but I don't think they're meant to be on for 6-8 hours at a time (at least not the economical ones).
I've been using my old 'n busted projector (InFocus LP425z) for about three years of game sessions. One session per week, for about 8-10 hours each (we're kind of marathon gamers). I haven't burned out a bulb yet. We have a backup bulb I bought for a song on ebay, but it's still in it's box.
We used my company's Infocus LP425 for a couple of years before that. It was still working fine when I quit the company. I don't know if I've just been lucky, or if the gaming gods are lookin' out for me, but so far so good...
Do you have to darken the room to be able to see the details in the projection? If so, does this hinder anything else, like reading, writing, etc.?
Just a follow up on this as a result of our session this evening.
We switched from our usual brownish/beige battle mat to a white blind as a projection surface this evening.
I am not as much a fan of this surface only because I prefer the grid to be on the projection surface (and our white surface does not have a grid on it) - but the white vs. brown is a massive spike in the resulting brightness factor.
The difference in the lighting from our 1600 ANSI Lumens projector was pretty significant. We did not dim any of the lights nor did we need to. We had all 5 of them on and didn't dim a single light. The picture was still very clear.
Just a follow up on this as a result of our session this evening.
We switched from our usual brownish/beige battle mat to a white blind as a projection surface this evening.
I am not as much a fan of this surface only because I prefer the grid to be on the projection surface (and our white surface does not have a grid on it) - but the white vs. brown is a massive spike in the resulting brightness factor.
The difference in the lighting from our 1600 ANSI Lumens projector was pretty significant. We did not dim any of the lights nor did we need to. We had all 5 of them on and didn't dim a single light. The picture was still very clear.
You need to take the white mat to Kinkos and have them put a grid on it.
I also recommend you get some kinda fantasy theme for Windows. So the Start button isn't so obtrusive.
Last edited by ecliptic; 28th February 2005 at 12:54 PM..
I am working on a Complete Guide to Digital Map Projection. It may take me a week or two to finish it up, but when its ready you should have all you need to know about the technology, the software, the options, the cost of the various options and hot to get started for your own group.
I've been researching projectors all weekend and it's not that easy finding a projector that will work.
1. Minimum throw distance. Many projectors have a minimum throw distance of 5' or farther (it won't focus closer than 5'). Clearing 5' from table to lens is the best we can do in our basement.
2. Brightness. Most of the newer projectors are almost too bright at 5' or less since they are designed for comfortable viewing at closer to 10-20 feet of throw distance.
3. Image/Throw distance. It's tough to find a wide angle projector. Several projectors with 5' minimum throw only give you a 36" image. Ideally you want more of a 48"-60" image at 5'.
I can definately see why projection from underneath is rough since the gaming table isn't usually 5' off the floor.
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