ProphetSword
Explorer
Warning - This post is heavy on images...
After a couple of years of gaming with my current group in 5th Edition, dealing with miniatures (whether it was having the right ones or having enough of the right ones available) and sketching out horrible hand drawn maps on a grid board became a real hassle. We really wanted to take the game to the next level. For a while, we tried to use those printed D&D tile sets, but they were such a pain to deal with, and it didn't help with the miniatures situation.
So, we decided to go fully digital:
One of the guys in my group built a large table. At the center of the table is a 40" TV, which is supported on the inside by braces. There is a hollow space underneath the table (the table has hinges, and the entire top will open) that houses large fans that keep everything cool and space for a laptop or small computer. The table itself, as large as it is, has thick legs that can be folded (they lock in place when the table is in use, so it won't collapse), and the table can be stored along the wall in an upright position.
As time went on, we added a large whiteboard to the table so that players didn't have to use scrap paper to track hit points or spell slots used. In addition, this helps me out as the DM because the players can write important information in front of them that I can access at any time (their armor class, their Passive Perception score, which order in initiative they have, etc). On my end, I also use the white board to track monster hit points behind the DM screen.
I love to build maps. I tend to make maps I think I might need for a session in advance. I even make maps just for fun, so I have a ton of maps just sitting around in case the group decides to explore something I hadn't considered (my campaign is sandbox, so it helps to always be prepared). Even if they do something I haven't prepared for, I have tons of digital tiles that allow me to throw things together in less than a minute if I need a quick and dirty dungeon. I use MapTools, available for free, as the engine to run these maps.
Here recently, I have taken to building my maps using the Neverwinter Nights toolset. I found that not only could I build a ton of maps really quickly, I could utilize the lighting and shadows in the engine to create a near 3D effect. My players have really grown to appreciate this and how it looks in play.
And finally, I never want for miniatures now. Thanks to being able to make them digital, I have as many as I'll ever need, in whatever size I need and whatever quantity I choose to use on a single map. An army of creatures is always available.
I'm posting all this for two reasons. 1) It's really cool. 2) I want to know if any other groups have done anything similar and would like to share about their digital tables. Or if they plan to do something similar in the future. I'm always looking for new ideas and I'm always interested to hear stories about how technology has been implemented into D&D games.
After a couple of years of gaming with my current group in 5th Edition, dealing with miniatures (whether it was having the right ones or having enough of the right ones available) and sketching out horrible hand drawn maps on a grid board became a real hassle. We really wanted to take the game to the next level. For a while, we tried to use those printed D&D tile sets, but they were such a pain to deal with, and it didn't help with the miniatures situation.
So, we decided to go fully digital:
One of the guys in my group built a large table. At the center of the table is a 40" TV, which is supported on the inside by braces. There is a hollow space underneath the table (the table has hinges, and the entire top will open) that houses large fans that keep everything cool and space for a laptop or small computer. The table itself, as large as it is, has thick legs that can be folded (they lock in place when the table is in use, so it won't collapse), and the table can be stored along the wall in an upright position.
As time went on, we added a large whiteboard to the table so that players didn't have to use scrap paper to track hit points or spell slots used. In addition, this helps me out as the DM because the players can write important information in front of them that I can access at any time (their armor class, their Passive Perception score, which order in initiative they have, etc). On my end, I also use the white board to track monster hit points behind the DM screen.
I love to build maps. I tend to make maps I think I might need for a session in advance. I even make maps just for fun, so I have a ton of maps just sitting around in case the group decides to explore something I hadn't considered (my campaign is sandbox, so it helps to always be prepared). Even if they do something I haven't prepared for, I have tons of digital tiles that allow me to throw things together in less than a minute if I need a quick and dirty dungeon. I use MapTools, available for free, as the engine to run these maps.
Here recently, I have taken to building my maps using the Neverwinter Nights toolset. I found that not only could I build a ton of maps really quickly, I could utilize the lighting and shadows in the engine to create a near 3D effect. My players have really grown to appreciate this and how it looks in play.
And finally, I never want for miniatures now. Thanks to being able to make them digital, I have as many as I'll ever need, in whatever size I need and whatever quantity I choose to use on a single map. An army of creatures is always available.
I'm posting all this for two reasons. 1) It's really cool. 2) I want to know if any other groups have done anything similar and would like to share about their digital tables. Or if they plan to do something similar in the future. I'm always looking for new ideas and I'm always interested to hear stories about how technology has been implemented into D&D games.
