3D battlemats with DI?

[Frostmarrow]

It must be entirely possible to make 3D battlemats with the DI mapping software. That's pretty cool. We could have combats on terraces overlooking plazas, combats in winding staircases, and even in the rig of a ship. What do you think?

 

[frankthedm]

heh, I'd like to see this, but that is something most D&D PC games can't handle IIRC.

 

[meleeguy]

They had better

It's what I've been waiting for.

 

[Frostmarrow]

heh, I'd like to see this, but that is something most D&D PC games can't handle IIRC.

Yeah, but that's because they can't be bothered animating stair-climbing variants of all possible models. That's not a problem in DI as all models are being lifted by an invisible hand where ever they go.

Obviously you can't have custom models climbing up and down the rigging of a ship. But you could have 2x1 squares on a layer placed above the regular mat to create a faux 3D effect.

It would be nice to have a fight in the Infinite Staircase and have the computer make it go on and on.

 

[marune]

Flying is hard to do.

Climbing is "impossible".

 

[takasi]

MapTool is a thousand times better than drawing on a tabletop map or using tiles, and it's 2D.

I hope WotC keeps it simple, or I'll just keep using MapTool.

 

[Frostmarrow]

Flying is hard to do.

Climbing is "impossible".

What we have seen so far indicate that none of the models acually walk. They are digital stands that can be placed anywhere on the digital battlemat. They don't look like they are restrained by speed. The DM just selects a model and a square and the model lifts over to it.

 

[marune]

By climbing is impossible, I mean it's "impossible" to represent it right using a classic battlemap because the squares your moving on doesn't exits.

The flying problem is easier to solve (with an altitude tag) unless multiple, different sized, creatures are on same x, y, but different z.

Another problem with the z axis, is the need to do trigonometry to figure out if a spell can reach the target.

 

[frankthedm]

What we have seen so far indicate that none of the models acually walk. They are digital stands that can be placed anywhere on the digital battlemat. They don't look like they are restrained by speed. The DM just selects a model and a square and the model lifts over to it.

Problem is it has to be coded to have a 3d environment and elevations.

 

[Meloncov]

Another problem with the z axis, is the need to do trigonometry to figure out if a spell can reach the target.

I can't think of any situation where you would need more than the Pythagorean Therom, assuming you know both altitudes.