Battlegrounds: RPG Edition (virtual tabletop software)

[rpghost]

Originally Posted by heruca

Battlegrounds: RPG Edition is new Online Virtual Tabletop software for both Macs and Windows PCs!

I couldn't find your email on the website, though I sent one to the admin of the domain. But I guess I should include the letter here so you see it...

I'm the owner of RPGNow.com and we have about 75% of the online e-sales for electronic RPG products. We have 80,000 customers and several of your competitors sell through us. I'd hope you give us a serious look as we can bring you many new customers.

Second, we run CyberCon at http://www.RPGe.com We are going to have an online convention in February and we'd like to invite you and your tools there. What would be really awesome for marketing for both of us is if you could release a time expired or limited version just for the convention attendies to play/try. That would get the word out quick about your system. Some of your competitors are doing this (but not all).

Hope to hear from you.

James Mathe

[Vascant]

Even if you do not go with RPGNow, you should take that as a good sign you are heading in the right direction. *chuckles* The only emails us mere mortals get from James is a newsletter with whats new..

[schporto]

Originally Posted by heruca

Glad to hear it, schporto.

Your question is actually answered on the BRPG site already, but I'll post the info here in case anyone else is interested.

FOG OF WAR:
*snip*
By the way, did you register on my forums under a different username? I don't see a schporto there.

Sorry I missed that part. I didn't register although I posted as schporto. Now, get back to work so we can send you money!
-cpd

[heruca]

Originally Posted by rpghost

I couldn't find your email on the website, though I sent one to the admin of the domain. But I guess I should include the letter here so you see it...

Yes, I got your e-mail, rpghost, and I just replied to it.

I'll update my site today with clearly posted contact info.

[kanithardm]

looks good, but i dont want to buy my own mapping product

[heruca]

kanithardm,

You could always sketch a freehand map, scan it in, and use that.

There are also free mapping programs out there, if price is the issue.

[kanithardm]

yes price is the issue

[heruca]

Boy, it's been over a year since I updated this thread, and a LOT has happenned in that time. Battlegrounds went through 14 beta versions and was finally officially released in November 2006. Very delayed, yes, but also with many more features than were originally planned for v1.0.

Since then, there have been a number of updates released, bringing the Battlegrounds software to v1.0.4. (Actually, v1.0.2b is the official release, and v1.0.4 is still in beta status.)

I'll just summarize what's been added in the 2 1/2 months since v1.0 debuted:

• Finished implementing the Zoom feature

• The GM can now force the players' view of the map to a specific area and zoom level

• Added a highly-customizable Autosave feature

• Added auto-naming of units

• Units on a map may now be cloned (via copy & paste)

• Added the ability to select and manipulate multiple units at once

• You can now deploy many identical units at once

• Unit deployments can be saved, and they can thereafter be instantly loaded into any Encounter (e.g. the adventuring party in default marching order)

• The last-used connection settings are now saved between gaming sessions

• Added new hex base sizes

• Added many preference settings for customizing your games

• Deployed units can now be edited

• Map transfers have been enhanced, and now visually update in real time as new map chunks are received from the GM

• Figures can now have both a public name (which the players see) and a private name (which the GM sees)

• Added "map pin" graphics, for placing notes on maps

• The Fog of War mask can now be set to be any color

• The chat history can now be exported

In addition to the above, there have been scores of bug fixes, and enhancements to the user interface.

Almost forgot to mention:
FourUglyMonsters.com became the first third-party content supplier for Battlegrounds, featuring 11 sets of high-resolution top-down tokens, and more sets are planned. Check them out here: http://fouruglymonsters.com/onlinest...ab6fe7b9af77e4

From now on, I'll try to post on update here every time a significant new version is released.

[Kashkadir]

Originally Posted by heruca

From now on, I'll try to post on update here every time a significant new version is released.

Why not where it belongs?

[heruca]

You mean RPG software-related announcements don't belong in the "Software, Computers and D&D Utilities" forum? I'm confused now.

[heruca]

The BRPG v1.0.5 beta has just been released.

Read all about it here.

[heruca]

Two announcements this time:

ANNOUNCEMENT #1:
Battlegrounds: RPG Edition v1.0.6a is now available.

Here's a summary of what's been added since my last post here:
• Greatly increased the number of units that may be deployed on a map.
• The Chat panel (which was previously embedded in the map window) has now been moved into an independent, resizable Chat Window.
• Maps may now be downloaded from a URL. This is MUCH faster than peer-to-peer map transfers (the GM's upload speed is no longer a bottleneck).
• Audio clips can now be assigned to both figures and objects, and any given unit may have many audio clips assigned to it. This feature is also available to players.
• Unit defaults are now stored in an external preferences file, so you automatically retain your custom unit settings when upgrading from one BRPG version to another.
• The order of figures in the Turn Sequencer is now stored in Encounter files, so that it does not need to be reset between sessions.
• Added a Buzzer button to the chat window, which can be used to get someone's attention if you suspect they have gone AFK during an online game.
• Figures now "slide" (animate) into their new position on connected clients' screens when you release a figure after dragging it to a new location. This animated effect keeps figures from seeming to "teleport" from one location to another each time they are remotely moved with the mouse.
• Numerous bug fixes and enhancements to the user interface.


ANNOUNCEMENT #2:
Battlegrounds is now free for a limited time

Until March 26, Battlegrounds: RPG Edition is free for everyone to try. The free Demo's 45-minute timeout period and other restrictions have been lifted until iCon* is over. Essentially, anyone with the free Demo or a Player Client gets temporarily upgraded to a full GM Client. An internet connection and v1.0.6a of the software is necessary to obtain this temporary upgrade.

I hope a lot of people take advantage of this opportunity to acquaint themselves with the software.

* iCon is a free online game convention taking place March 24-25. One of it's objectives is to familiarize more people with virtual tabletop software. For more information, please visit http://iconvention.org.

[heruca]

The BRPG v1.0.6b beta has just been released.

Read all about it here.

This will hopefully be out of beta shortly and become the next official release.

Reminder: iCon starts today (Saturday). There are still many events you can sign up for. Battlegrounds remains free for anyone to use until March 26.

[heruca]

The BRPG v1.0.8 beta has just been released. This version adds lots of great new Fog of War related features, among other things.

Read all about it here.

By the way, BRPG v1.0.7a is now out of beta status, and is the new official release.

[Hand of Evil]

Looks interesting, are you going to be at GenCon? This would be a great demo to check out.

[heruca]

I would very much like to attend GenCon this year, but I may not be able to for financial reasons. I'd have to sell over 100 copies just to cover the airfare from Argentina, hotel, vendor booth fee, food, computer and projector rental, etc.), and that's not a very realistic/achievable goal.

However, I'd be happy to run a live demo online for anyone that's interested. I'll be posting several demo times and dates on my forums soon, and folks will be able to sign up for whichever time slot is most convenient for them.

I also plan to produce some tutorial screencapture videos that teach new users the program and showcase its features. I have some friends who will be attending GenCon who have offered to give away free demo CD-ROMs for me, so I'll make sure to get those tutorial videos done by then.

[heruca]

Hand of Evil, could you please e-mail me at heruca at mac dot com? Thanks.

[heruca]

The first official adventure module for BRPG has just been released, and it's free (but note that it won't work with the free BRPG Demo unless your GM has a floating license available).

Read about it and download it here:
http://battlegroundsgames.com/forums...pic.php?t=1208

[heruca]

The second adventure module for BRPG has just been released. It, too, is free.

Read about the adventure and download it here:
http://battlegroundsgames.com/forums...pic.php?t=1223

[heruca]

The BRPG v1.0.8a beta has just been released. This version adds even more new Fog-of-War-related features, and adds Flash content support, among other things.

Read all about it here .

Coming soon: The two free adventures mentioned in my previous posts will soon be updated to be compatible with v1.0.8a.