My digital gaming table setup... maps and music...

[benjamin]

Hey all!

A few people wanted to see how I set up my digital gaming table (maps and music and stuff)...

I've made a video and chucked it up on facebook. It's on a public page so you don't need to be logged-in or even a member to see it.

http://www.facebook.com/Syrinscape

It's the video titled "My digital gaming table setup" with the thumbnail of the two minis.

Let me know if you have any problems seeing it!

...!

BASK in the beautiful, cascading, sparkling waterfall of NERD!!!

Benjamin


**************************************
Want incredibly atmospheric background
soundscapes for your gaming table?
Go to: Welcome to Syrinscape | Syrinscape
Download for free!
See a program demo, and listen to mp3s
of Syrinscape in action.
**************************************

 

[JDragon]

Nice set up.

I have something very similar at home for mapping (using Photoshop instead of Gimp, but the same thing really) but have not set up the sound. Guess I'll have to do that in version 2. :-D

I think the options PS/Gimp give you are drastically better than any of the mapping programs that have been put out, especially when be used with setups like ours.

JD

 

[benjamin]

GIMP is free Photoshop

Yer... GIMP is a GNU Photoshop... FREE to use... pretty much all the same features...

I've actually never tried a mapping program. I use Dunjinni to make my own maps... and I've looked at a few of the map game play programs, but since I generally get to play with live human beings, most of the features are irrelevant to me.

You can get cool... dynamic what you can see fog-of-war stuff, but that's WAY to much work, when I'm already on overload as a GM anyway!

That's why I worked so hard on making Syrinscape as hands off as I could possibly make it. You seriously just need to click it once every scene change. Otherwise my brain starts to explode...!

...and the new VERSION... is going to be even easier to use...

Benjamin


**************************************
Want incredibly atmospheric background
soundscapes for your gaming table?
Go to: Welcome to Syrinscape | Syrinscape
Download for free!
See a program demo, and listen to mp3s
of Syrinscape in action.
**************************************

 

[Nytmare]

I've always managed to do an easy fog of war by setting up the projector as a secondary monitor and setting the desktop image to an image on a webpage that refreshes every 5 seconds or so.

So on my monitor I have Photoshop running with the map image sitting underneath a nice swirly fog layer mask, and as the players explore I just erase what new stuff they see from the mask and resave the image.

Just dragging the mask layer around also allows you to show traveling light sources if needed.

 

[benjamin]

Masking the issues...

You can see... on the video... that I've been doing 'fog of war' by turning whole rooms on and off... and sometimes I do it by erasing the Mask...

I have the whole level at the bottom... with a black mask on the layer above that... so I can erase bits of that to reveal anything I want.

Then above that I have a whole series of individual rooms which I can turn on and off at will.

Works pretty well... Another idea is just to have individual rooms in seperate files so they seem more like seperate encounter maps... and the whole thing feel less like a cheapish computer game!

It's never occured to me to do a movable mask with a hole in it. That might work too! Might just give that a try!

Benjamin


**************************************
Want incredibly atmospheric background
soundscapes for your gaming table?
Go to: Welcome to Syrinscape | Syrinscape
Download for free!
See a program demo, and listen to mp3s
of Syrinscape in action.
**************************************

 

[Nytmare]

It's never occured to me to do a movable mask with a hole in it. That might work too! Might just give that a try!

I've only done it a couple of times, and though it wouldn't work easily for every encounter, I think it added a lot.

I'd also suggest trying that "separate monitor" for the projector, it's a nice layer of protection for the DM, so you don't have to worry about revealing too much by mistake.

 

[benjamin]

Separate monitor...

What do you mean separate monitor?

At the moment I have an extended desktop... so I can have stuff in front of me on the laptop and stuff on the table, which mouse can go between... Is that what you mean... I love it if there was an even better way?!!?

I've only done it a couple of times, and though it wouldn't work easily for every encounter, I think it added a lot.

I'd also suggest trying that "separate monitor" for the projector, it's a nice layer of protection for the DM, so you don't have to worry about revealing too much by mistake.

 

[Nytmare]

What do you mean separate monitor?

For some reason, I thought the video showed the projector having the same view as the laptop.

In addition to having the extended desktop, what I did was to make a simple webpage that refreshed every 5 seconds and showed the the saved map image. Then I set that web page as the computer's desktop background.

Instead of having Photoshop up and running where the players could see it, I keep it on the primary desktop where I don't have to worry about revealing too much information by mistake. Then I just resave it after every change I want them to see, and within the next 5 seconds, their view from the projector changes.

 

[benjamin]

Awesome idea!

Awwwww!

I get it now... that is an AWESOME idea... that way... I can make the MASK see through while I rub it out, or fiddle and paint an area effect, or anything like that and then just hit save and the next time the webpage updates the changes will appear... that is a GREAT idea...

What code do you use for the webpage... care to share?!?!

For some reason, I thought the video showed the projector having the same view as the laptop.

In addition to having the extended desktop, what I did was to make a simple webpage that refreshed every 5 seconds and showed the the saved map image. Then I set that web page as the computer's desktop background.

Instead of having Photoshop up and running where the players could see it, I keep it on the primary desktop where I don't have to worry about revealing too much information by mistake. Then I just resave it after every change I want them to see, and within the next 5 seconds, their view from the projector changes.

 

[Nytmare]

What code do you use for the webpage... care to share?!?!

<html>

<body bgcolor=#000000>
<center>

<BR><BR>

<img src=viewer.jpg name="viewer"> 

<script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript">
<!-- 
var t = 5 // interval in seconds 
image = "viewer.jpg" 
function Start() {
tmp = new Date(); 
tmp = "?"+tmp.getTime() 
document.images["viewer"].src = image+tmp 
setTimeout("Start()", t*1000) 
} 
Start(); 
// --> 
</script>