I will be running the STAP from Dungeon magazine in about 2 months or so and wanted to get some opinions on some of the various DM tools that are available. I have purchased a laptop since my last campaign and a projector as well. I plan to use the projector to display the maps from the PDFs available on the Paizo site. I own Fantasy Grounds (purchased for an online game that never got off the ground) and was thinking of using that program to display the maps. I know there are other systems available but I don't have any experience with any of them. I'll start with some questions and I am sure the answers I receive may prompt other questions.
1. Is there an easier/ better program than Fantasy Grounds to display the maps? I'll be honest I haven't spent much time learning how to use it up to this point.
2. How do most electronic DM tools work? I figure I'll have to enter the PCs but what about the NPCs? Entering all of them would be very time consuming.
3. If I use a program does it keep track of the PCs current status?
4. If 3 is a yes does that mean I have to use the die roller supplied with the program or can I still roll dice?
That's about all I can think of for now. I'll let you know in advance I am not a computer programmer by any means but I do use a computer daily. I don't mind spending a few bucks on a program if there is one out there that fits the bill. Ideally this program will do the displaying and the miscellaneous tracking as well. Perhaps Fantasy Grounds is what I am looking for but I just wanted some opinions from those who are already doing what I intend to do.
Thanks in advance for the help.
1. Is there an easier/ better program than Fantasy Grounds to display the maps? I'll be honest I haven't spent much time learning how to use it up to this point.
2. How do most electronic DM tools work? I figure I'll have to enter the PCs but what about the NPCs? Entering all of them would be very time consuming.
3. If I use a program does it keep track of the PCs current status?
4. If 3 is a yes does that mean I have to use the die roller supplied with the program or can I still roll dice?
That's about all I can think of for now. I'll let you know in advance I am not a computer programmer by any means but I do use a computer daily. I don't mind spending a few bucks on a program if there is one out there that fits the bill. Ideally this program will do the displaying and the miscellaneous tracking as well. Perhaps Fantasy Grounds is what I am looking for but I just wanted some opinions from those who are already doing what I intend to do.
Thanks in advance for the help.