Software, Computers, Video Games and D&D UtilitiesGeneral discussion on computer software and hardware, PC and console games, and RPG utilities such as eTools, PC GEN, etc.
Battlegrounds: RPG Edition is new virtual tabletop software for both Macs and Windows PCs that allows you to play any RPG online or offline, using digital miniatures on digital maps. Battlegrounds: RPG Edition is very easy to use, the graphics are gorgeous, and it has tons of useful features like Fog of War. In addition to square grids, the software supports hexgrids and unit facings, so it's perfect for use with games that use hexgrids (eg, GURPS), or for using campaign-scale maps.
For more information, including a complete feature list, screenshots, and a downloadable beta demo, please visit http://www.battlegroundsgames.com/.
I'm always open to feedback from players and GMs on what features they want/need (mostly for future updates). I encourage anyone interested in this sort of tool to register on the site's forums and chime in.
Last edited by heruca; 17th January 2007 at 06:46 PM..
I'm sure you are familiar with Fantasy Grounds? Your product is priced competitively, which is nice.
Also you plan to provide a sensable upgrade path from Player Version to GM Version, very good. This isn't yet possible with Fantasy Grounds.
I'm interested to see how your photorealistic dice will compare to the dice in Fantasy Grounds. Granted this is such an important "feature" as it is a visual bonus, but theirs are going to be hard to top!
The feature list looks nice for a 1.0 product. I look forward to testing it out.
__________________ Go then. There are other worlds than these.
Two years ago this area had pretty slim choices as to what was available, this is clearly changing. I really hope you make your release date, thats a pet peeve of mine. I do not feel has anything to do with software developers it is just a choice people make.
Two years ago this area had pretty slim choices as to what was available, this is clearly changing.
I count about 33 virtual tabletops so far (there may be more that I don't know about), but not all are cross-platform, of course, and even so, there are only 5 or 6 worth serious consideration, IMO. I list them all on my site, if you're interested. And I know that there are a couple more in the works, so I'd say it's gonna get fairly competitive, for such a niche market.
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Originally Posted by Vascant
I really hope you make your release date, thats a pet peeve of mine. I do not feel has anything to do with software developers it is just a choice people make.
I'm definitely trying (I haven't been getting much sleep, lately, as you might imagine; it's crunch-time). I'd really like to have the product shipping a few days before Christmas, for obvious reasons.
But I'd like to point out that the release date is subject to change. That's just the nature of the business. It depends on how the beta-testing goes, among other things.
Last edited by heruca; 17th January 2007 at 06:48 PM..
Reason: Updated the number of VT apps
I will be keeping my eye on this one. I also have FG and think it is pretty good...but I am always open to new options. I perused the Forums at the site and am interested in how you work licensing out. It would be kind of neat for a GM to purchase a GM and some player licenses with a package discount and dole them out to players (taking them back if players drop)...intriuging, if there is a way to do it and protect the distributor.
I understand there will be a demo version available for download...yes?
I'm sure you are familiar with Fantasy Grounds? Your product is priced competitively, which is nice.
Yes, I am. I'm glad you like the pricing, although it may change slightly. I'm considering lowering the price of the Player Client, and slightly raising the price of the GM Client, to compensate. The total price for a gaming group should end up being lower, overall, particularly for larger groups. Price is a big issue for a lot of people, so I welcome feedback, and have set up forums for this purpose.
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Also you plan to provide a sensable upgrade path from Player Version to GM Version, very good. This isn't yet possible with Fantasy Grounds.
I'd heard that. I wonder why not?
You'll also be glad to know that I support cut, copy & paste operations.
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I'm interested to see how your photorealistic dice will compare to the dice in Fantasy Grounds. Granted this is such an important "feature" as it is a visual bonus, but theirs are going to be hard to top!
That's eye candy, for sure. My dice are photographs of real dice, drop-shadows and all. You won't get the physics aspect of dice bouncing around, but they look better than 3D renders (my opinion), and you can (optionally) hear the dice rattle and hit the table (which I don't think FG does). And of course, FG has the issue of players dropping their dice so that they barely roll, correct? Not a problem in Battlegrounds.
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The feature list looks nice for a 1.0 product. I look forward to testing it out.
Thanks, I'm very glad you like it. Even though it's a 1.0 release, I really wanted more than just basic functionality. And it'll only get better with future updates (which will always be free), and significantly better with upgrades (eg, version 2.0). There's a lot of room to grow & improve, but I'll make sure that it won't get "feature bloat". I really want this to be easy to use, both for the players and the GM.
I will be keeping my eye on this one. I also have FG and think it is pretty good...but I am always open to new options. I perused the Forums at the site and am interested in how you work licensing out. It would be kind of neat for a GM to purchase a GM and some player licenses with a package discount and dole them out to players (taking them back if players drop)...intriuging, if there is a way to do it and protect the distributor.
I understand there will be a demo version available for download...yes?
~ OO
Yes, a free Demo should be available for download in late December. It's actually the full software, that will become the GM Client or the Player Client when the correct unlock code is entered. Saves you from having to re-download the whole thing again.
The GM Client can include a number of floating Player Client licenses (more can be added post-purchase, if needed). Each of these floating licenses allows one person to connect with just the free Demo. If a licensed Player Client joins a game, that won't use up a floating license, of course. There's never a danger that a player will make off with your floating license, as it's stored within your GM Client, not transferred to the player.
I want to thank everyone for the positive feedback so far. It's been a bit frustrating on some other forums, where my pre-release announcement was met with comments like "Meh, I can do all that with the free browser-based tools." Some people just don't understand that you get what you pay for.
It's a sad-ish fact of the game that it is often the GM who has to fork out all the dough for everybody else to play. At the very least it'll allow for people to try out the game before they have to spend alot to join the group.
It's a sad-ish fact of the game that it is often the GM who has to fork out all the dough for everybody else to play. At the very least it'll allow for people to try out the game before they have to spend alot to join the group.
--fje
That's true. It isn't fair to the GMs (I've said as much in my forums, but that's what people are requesting). However, what you just said made me think that being able to permanently transfer a player license might be a desireable feature. His trusted core players would get to try it out for free (to them), and if they decide they like it, they just reimburse the GM for his expense and have the license transferred permanently. The GM would lose one floating license from his GM Client, and the player's Demo gets upgraded to a Player Client.
It's also a built-in mechanism for gifting (is that a real word?).
Just wanted to let everyone know that I posted a new batch of screenshots yesterday, focusing on the user interface. Check them out: Battlegrounds: RPG Edition
Last edited by heruca; 28th November 2005 at 07:32 AM..
Nice work as far as I can see. Say, is there a possibility to have the map window full screen on the client side? I plan to display the client map on a projector while having the DM client with all tool on the notebook monitor. Another feature I did not see is if I have the possibility to hand draw on the map. I have a Wacom tablet that I would like to use to draw in spell effects or other stuff. Preferrably it would be nice to be able to actually draw a map in Battlegrounds directly. Though that doesnt have to be too complex. A line drawing tool and a text input/placement features would be enough. That would be quite helpfull for those moments you have to wing a location
__________________ "It is a mistake to bow to the wishes of munchkins who whine." - E. Gary Gygax 1938-2008, we will never forget you! "Yes, even at twelve years old, I was already old school... " - The Shaman
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Currently DMing: Expedition to the Ruins of Greyhawk (Castles & Crusades Ruleset)
Currently Playing: nothing
The Player Client and the GM Client can both display the map full screen. If you have two laptops networked together with an ethernet cable (or wireless), one for the GM and one for the players (hooked up to a projector), you'll have some sweet capabilities at your disposal in a face-to-face game session. What won't be possible in this initial release is to output both the GM and the Player's views from a single laptop/desktop.
The initial release will let you "paint" and erase only on the Fog of War layer, but in a future version I am planning to add a separate Drawing Layer (including text labeling tools) with which you'll be able to improvise quick maps (hopefully with cool texture fills, too). I will see if I can include tablet support, though you're the first person to mention this need.
I'd recommend using a specialized map-making tool like Dundjinni to create for yourself a series of reusable locations to have a small library at your disposal whenever you need to improvise an encounter. Those maps can be used as a starting point on which you can add furniture, trees, etc., to make the encounter feel more unique/customized. No one likes playing on the exact same map over and over.
I also hope and expect that the "User Creations" section of the Battlegrounds forums will serve as a good central repository of stock maps, figures, and props that people will upload to and share with the rest of the Battlegrounds community.
As for spell effects, you should know that you will have a wide selection of semi-transparent overlays in different sizes available for use. These arcs and circles will be provided both in standard and gridded mode (where the arc or radius of the overlay is already translated into discrete grid squares or hexes).
I hope this answers all your questions, and I encourage you to post other questions directly on the Battlegrounds forums (saves me from having to answer the same questions repeatedly on various sites).
__________________ Battlegrounds: RPG Edition is new virtual tabletop software that allows you to play any RPG online or offline. It's cross-platform and very easy to use.
LOL! Glad to hear it (especially what you put in parenthesis).
Oh, and...
This won't suck.
__________________ Battlegrounds: RPG Edition is new virtual tabletop software that allows you to play any RPG online or offline. It's cross-platform and very easy to use.
Actually, since I posted that I realized that this is possible even with the initial release. It requires that both the GM Client and the Player Client be installed on the computer. The GM Client hosts a game, and the Player Client connects to it, just as if it were on another computer on the network.
__________________ Battlegrounds: RPG Edition is new virtual tabletop software that allows you to play any RPG online or offline. It's cross-platform and very easy to use.
Last edited by heruca; 17th January 2007 at 06:56 PM..
Heruca,
I just wanted to let you know that my wife has approved my purchase of your software. Well, as soon as it is realeased that is .
But I'll throw in one question (you've answered what I've posted on your boards).
Does the fog of war know about walls?
-cpd
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:
It's a given that the GM is able to show or hide figures and props at will (eg, traps and secret doors). But the Fog of War feature in BRPG goes well beyond this. Each figure on the map can be assigned a light source (be it a candle, torch, lantern, flashlight, or a night vision device or ability). Every type of light source gives off a different range of visibility, specified either by the GM or by the RPG game system's rules. The program uses this information to automatically reveal what each character can see at any time, and blacking out everything on the map outside of their light radius. This means that each player will only see what his or her character can see, and also means that each player will get a slightly different view of the map, depending on where they're standing. This makes for creepy situations, when someone gets stranded in the dark! On top of all this, the GM can also manually mask off certain areas of the map, to keep them from being revealed until the right time. For example, the players shouldn't be able to see into a room until they've opened the door, even if they have a light source handy. With BRPG, you can do that. Oh, and props can have a light radius, too, so a campfire or a row of torch sconces placed along a corridor can light the way. Cool, huh? This kind of thing just can't be done in a traditional pen and paper gaming environment. So even GMs who never plan to play online can make good use of BRPG in their face-to-face game sessions. Fog of War is very useful in nighttime and indoor Encounters, but if the Encounter takes place on an outdoor map in daytime, the GM can just turn Fog of War off.
This masking feature would also be useful to represent the effects of a Darkness spell, for example.
By the way, did you register on my forums under a different username? I don't see a schporto there.
__________________ Battlegrounds: RPG Edition is new virtual tabletop software that allows you to play any RPG online or offline. It's cross-platform and very easy to use.
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