VT(virtual table) alternative to D&D Insider

[skn]

Hello, I was wondering if someone could recommend an alternative to the D&DInsider VT? While I found it great and all, the inability to add customized tiles and such really drove me crazy...

I've been lurking around all over and found allot of great suggestions, only problem being that I can't host(To low outspeed). In this regard the D&DInsider is the only choice that I know off, since you don't have to actually host. So I'm interested in an alternative that works like the D&DI VT, in that it's hosted trough their server, not "mine".

I don't mind if it's not a free one. -Thanks.

 

[Rechan]

Maptools. Maptools is the best one.

 

[Mercutio01]

I was going to suggest MapTools until I read about your inability to host. That would be a significant issue.

 

[skn]

Maptools. Maptools is the best one.

That may be, but it still requires my local bandwith to host it, which is not an option since it's not fast enough.

 

[ahayford]

*you* don't necessarily have to host. I think you can connect as GM and have someone else host it off their system,

 

[skn]

If only that were an option too. I pretty much have the best out-speed among us that are playing. Seems like we're stuck on using the D&DI VT :\.

 

[Hussar]

How slow is your local bandwidth?

Actually, there are ways around that with Maptools. You can host your campaign file on any online storage ((Introduction to Campaign Repositories - MapToolDoc)) and then your players will access that and not your computer. It's not that hard to do. Get a pay bit of web space and away you go.

Additionally, how large are the files you're trying to use in your campaign file? As a general rule, any map over about 300k isn't going to work when locally hosted, regardless of how good your connection is. Which, generally means, your maps are limited to about 1600x1600 pixels on a pretty low quality jpeg.

Take a look at this thread http://www.enworld.org/forum/d-d-4th-edition-discussion/315102-running-chaos-scar-experiences.html for an example of maps in and around that file size.

 

[skn]

I'll see If I can't get that to work, thanks. My upload speed is around 30-40kb\s. this is if only I'm on, and usually my entire family is on reducing it down towards 25-30kb\s.

 

[Nagol]

Alternatively, use Amazon.com's E2 service to get a cloud server, host on it.

IIRC, Amazon is offering effectively free resources for the first year and the charges for running a D&D session would be quite light even after that.

 

[skn]

Alternatively, use Amazon.com's E2 service to get a cloud server, host on it.

IIRC, Amazon is offering effectively free resources for the first year and the charges for running a D&D session would be quite light even after that.

So that would allow me to run maptools on amazon's servers instead of my own computer? Since I'm unable to host at all(just using maptools without anything customly done, no one can access it to my IP).