OnlineDM
Adventurer
@Ferghis: I'm happy to spend money on the stand, but I really want good portability if at all possible. I worry that if the metal base that you sketched (cool sketch, by the way) would be heavy enough to hold the projector securely in place from that angle, it would be pretty heavy to carry. Also, do you have any suggestions in a setup like that about how I would get the projector out over the middle of the table? If the side of the projector were mounted right to the vertical pole as in the sketch, the lens would only be maybe 5 inches out from the side. I'm open to suggestions!
I don't mind handling monster conditions myself - the players will still be able to see them on the monsters (in MapTool I have little icons appear over the monsters to show when they're bloodied, slowed, etc.). As for initiative, I could have it show up on the map if I really wanted to, but I really haven't had any problems just running it myself and letting everyone know who's up next ("Okay, Alayne, it's your turn, Thorfin up next, and then the bad guys..."). But to each his own.
@Tuft: I wouldn't want to use heavy feet because, again, I want portability. But clamping the legs to the table... that's an idea I like! I'll have to give that some thought. One issue to deal with is that I'll be playing at tables of varying sizes and thicknesses; if the tripod legs were right at the edge of one table (ready for clamping), they might be a foot into the center on another table. I'm not quite sure how I'd handle the clamping in that sort of situation. Still, I'm sure I could find a way to always clamp down at least one leg, which is a good start. Thanks for the suggestion!
I'll admit that I don't quite follow you on how putting the fishing line at the bottom rather than near the top helps, but I believe you. I worry that the line would get in the way, though, if it were down low. It's worth experimenting with, but I'm guessing I'll want the cross-bracing for the legs to be at least a foot and a half above the tabletop so that it doesn't get in the players' way.
Great suggestions, all! I'm always open to more ideas, too. I plan to build my first prototype tomorrow (Saturday) and I'll share my progress here.
I don't mind handling monster conditions myself - the players will still be able to see them on the monsters (in MapTool I have little icons appear over the monsters to show when they're bloodied, slowed, etc.). As for initiative, I could have it show up on the map if I really wanted to, but I really haven't had any problems just running it myself and letting everyone know who's up next ("Okay, Alayne, it's your turn, Thorfin up next, and then the bad guys..."). But to each his own.
@Tuft: I wouldn't want to use heavy feet because, again, I want portability. But clamping the legs to the table... that's an idea I like! I'll have to give that some thought. One issue to deal with is that I'll be playing at tables of varying sizes and thicknesses; if the tripod legs were right at the edge of one table (ready for clamping), they might be a foot into the center on another table. I'm not quite sure how I'd handle the clamping in that sort of situation. Still, I'm sure I could find a way to always clamp down at least one leg, which is a good start. Thanks for the suggestion!
I'll admit that I don't quite follow you on how putting the fishing line at the bottom rather than near the top helps, but I believe you. I worry that the line would get in the way, though, if it were down low. It's worth experimenting with, but I'm guessing I'll want the cross-bracing for the legs to be at least a foot and a half above the tabletop so that it doesn't get in the players' way.
Great suggestions, all! I'm always open to more ideas, too. I plan to build my first prototype tomorrow (Saturday) and I'll share my progress here.