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<blockquote data-quote="CleverNickName" data-source="post: 9276373" data-attributes="member: 50987">When we first started gaming on a VTT, we went all-in on the visual features.&nbsp; I would download high-res maps, rig them for dynamic lighting, set light sources and visibility for every character, create open-able doors, and all that.&nbsp; We had animated maps, animated spell effects, the whole shebang.&nbsp; And it...wasn't great.&nbsp; My amount of prep time went through the roof, because it took hours to rig the map for a single encounter!&nbsp; To make matters worse, the light rendering in Foundry VTT was so CPU-heavy that the game lagged, the animations were choppy, and it would take several minutes just to switch from one scene to another.We have since gotten older and wiser.&nbsp; Now, here's how I do it.<ol>
<li data-xf-list-type="ol">I create the map I want to use in DungeonScrawl, and save it as a .PNG file.</li>
<li data-xf-list-type="ol">Import it into the VTT on the Map layer (I use Roll20, another DM in our group uses Foundry, we haven't noticed an appreciable difference between the two.)</li>
<li data-xf-list-type="ol">Turn the Fog of War on.</li>
<li data-xf-list-type="ol">Reveal locations manually as the characters move from point to point, by clicking &quot;Reveal Area&quot; and drawing a polygon with my mouse.</li>
</ol>That's it.&nbsp; No snazzy animations, no dynamic lighting, no walls that block movement.&nbsp; The VTT is just for keeping track of character positions, and we do everything else in Theater of the Mind.&nbsp; I'm not saying it's the best solution for everyone, but it's the best for me and my group.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="CleverNickName, post: 9276373, member: 50987"] When we first started gaming on a VTT, we went all-in on the visual features. I would download high-res maps, rig them for dynamic lighting, set light sources and visibility for every character, create open-able doors, and all that. We had animated maps, animated spell effects, the whole shebang. And it...wasn't great. My amount of prep time went through the roof, because it took hours to rig the map for a single encounter! To make matters worse, the light rendering in Foundry VTT was so CPU-heavy that the game lagged, the animations were choppy, and it would take several minutes just to switch from one scene to another. We have since gotten older and wiser. Now, here's how I do it. [LIST=1] [*]I create the map I want to use in DungeonScrawl, and save it as a .PNG file. [*]Import it into the VTT on the Map layer (I use Roll20, another DM in our group uses Foundry, we haven't noticed an appreciable difference between the two.) [*]Turn the Fog of War on. [*]Reveal locations manually as the characters move from point to point, by clicking "Reveal Area" and drawing a polygon with my mouse. [/LIST] That's it. No snazzy animations, no dynamic lighting, no walls that block movement. The VTT is just for keeping track of character positions, and we do everything else in Theater of the Mind. I'm not saying it's the best solution for everyone, but it's the best for me and my group. [/QUOTE]

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