What software (D&D/TTRPG-related) do you wish existed?

[weem]

I was reading about some peoples hopes for WoTC stuff that hasn't happened (the VTT for example), and more recently about the troubles with Masterplan and I was thinking about what I wished I had right now (software-wise).

The thing is, there were a few ideas that I thought would be cool, but none of them stood out more than the others.

So I ask you... what software does not exist today (or does, but could be done much better) that you would REALLY want to have for your D&D game right now (regardless of edition)?


Of course, you say, that depends... is this from a DM or Player standpoint... to which I say... give me either, or both!

And, if I could help narrow that down, let's assume it would not be something WoTC could come after, at least in immediately obvious ways.

I have seen 'Adventure Planner' come up from time to time, as well as mapping programs... though I know there are a number of programs out there for mapping already, so maybe there are specific features people are looking for.

I see campaign managers mentioned, but I know there are some sites out there that help with that as well. Hmm.

Anyway, let me know what you would be into! I was thinking about a poll, but I don't want to exclude anything I may not think of

 

[gamerprinter]

Tough one...

That's a tough one to try and think of something new I need. Really, everything I need right now already exists - MapTool for most of it. Since I create my own maps and maps for commission, its not map-making. Plus I have a few other doodads like Treasure Generators - and there's plenty of free tokens available across the internet. If can't find what I'm looking for I create it myself.

Maybe I will post again, if I think of something new, or someone else's post gives me new ideas, but I say again, everything pretty much exists in current condition to meet my satisfaction.

?

GP

 

[Asmor]

This is probably going to come off as snarky, but I wish Masterplan existed in an updated form with compendium integration. In particular, I suspect the compendium is going to have to switch to the new monster format eventually, and that'll probably break the integration of older versions for monsters when it does.

That's really about it. I can't think of anything I'd want that's not already covered. Masterplan takes care of all the planning stuff, the DDI monster tools take care of the rare times I need to build a new monster, and iplay4e is perfect for players.

 

[OnlineDM]

I want a good, user-friendly, easy to use mapmaking program. I'm using MapTool now to run my online D&D 4e game because of the power, flexibility, macros, etc. But I still need map images, and MapTool does nothing to help me create them.

Over the past couple of weeks I've looked at a bunch of options (as you can read on my blog), and none of them are what I'm looking for. My favorite map making tool is actually OSU-gt (until recently known simply as Gametable). What I love about OSU-gt's map making ability is that you have a grid and you can easily drag a bunch of pre-packaged things like walls and doors and the like onto the map and have them snap to the grid. It's easy to create new items like stairs, fire pits, etc. using images you find online and then boom, they're available in OSU-gt for you to use, resize, etc.

The program is supposed to be able to export maps as JPGs, which would be great for using in MapTool, but that function is buggy at the moment. If they get that fixed then I'm probably happy with the available tools. I'm also open to other suggestions of programs to try. I want snap to grid, resizable grid, show/hide grid options, several different background colors/textures, some nice prepackaged dungeon items and the ability to easily import my own graphics to drag onto the map and snap to the grid.

 

[IronWolf]

I want a good, user-friendly, easy to use mapmaking program. I'm using MapTool now to run my online D&D 4e game because of the power, flexibility, macros, etc. But I still need map images, and MapTool does nothing to help me create them.

Have you found the existing image and drawing tools in maptools not up to the task? I've used them for small encounter maps where the pre-packaged module did not have a map to import into maptools. It seemed to work well for that. Not sure I would want to draw a huge multi-level dungeon in it, but seemed to work well for the smaller stuff I needed.

 

[FireLance]

I'd like something that will not just help me plan adventures, but manage them as well. In addition to the standard VTT, condition tracker, turn tracker, etc. software, perhaps something that would allow me to organize and call up adventure notes at the touch of a button.

 

[Jan van Leyden]

I'd like something that will not just help me plan adventures, but manage them as well. In addition to the standard VTT, condition tracker, turn tracker, etc. software, perhaps something that would allow me to organize and call up adventure notes at the touch of a button.

This, and then some. Currently I'm using Mortaneus' Combat Tracker for my 4e games. It's great for game prep and managing a lot of combat effects, but it doesn't integrate attacks and Power usage.

So I want the MTC with a simple battle map, not for presenting beautiful pictures but for letting me as DM manage all combatants.

I want a targeting mechanism which checks line of sight, line of effect and so on, and which auto-calculates cover.

I want an attack resolution mechanism which lets me run in full-auto mode for simple monsters as well as in detailed, let-me-enter-your-die-roll mode. Of cause I can switch modes at any point.

Am I spoiled? Why, of cause.

 

[Thanee]

A random adventure generator, that makes really good adventures (not just weird random stuff); especially useful with the optional rules to play without a DM (D&D-Quest ).

Bye
Thanee

 

[OnlineDM]

Have you found the existing image and drawing tools in maptools not up to the task? I've used them for small encounter maps where the pre-packaged module did not have a map to import into maptools. It seemed to work well for that. Not sure I would want to draw a huge multi-level dungeon in it, but seemed to work well for the smaller stuff I needed.

The drawing tools in MapTool are fine for quick and dirty maps, and I'm glad they exist for that purpose. If I had nothing but those tools at my disposal, I'd still be able to run fun games as if my players and I were sitting around a real table with a wet-erase battle mat. But I was spoiled by Gametable (OSU-gt). I love being able to click a section of wall from the bin and drag it onto the map, rinse and repeat. It just looks so good! I could probably kludge something together in MapTool - create a bunch of images of walls and such and then tell MapTool they're 2 by 2 or something as I drag them onto the map - but I like the way OSU-gt does it better.

Aside from that, I've got everything I could want in MapTool already. It does totally rock.

 

[Lanefan]

Sometimes, my answer might be "None, and get rid of everything that's already out there.", as I just don't want to see D+D as a computer-dependent game and most programs I've ever tried to use are more headache than they're worth.

Other times, there's things I could really use (most are dreamware):

- a mapping program that can take what I draw on a piece of paper, translate it, colour it, scale it, zoom in/out, give me different projections, do some random fill-ins if I want it to, etc.; all taking a tiny fraction of the time it takes to do on paper (otherwise what's the point). Oh (and here's why this will never exist) and it does all this while being easy and intuitive enough to operate that I - a non-computer person - never need to read the instructions.

- a program that can take said maps and "google-earth" them, generating 3D scenes of what the characters would see when standing at point x on the map and looking in direction y. This program would be efficient enough to do this on a basic single-core processor with no lag time between request and image.

- a program similar to above except working off dungeon maps, to show in 3D what the party sees as they crawl from room to room.

- a global and local-scale weather simulator. I input the world map, solar data, axis tilt, average global expected mean temperature, etc. once; then turn it loose and let it generate daily weather for anywhere in the world.

- a tides generator. I input the world map, solar and lunar data including mass for gravity, expected basic oceanic current pattterns, etc.; then turn it loose to generate me a tides table.

- something that can voice-to-text the game as played, edit out all the garbage, and turn what's left into a readable story.

Lan-"computers rot your brain"-efan