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<blockquote data-quote="TheSword" data-source="post: 8385495" data-attributes="member: 6879661">So I had a bit of an epiphany when prepping to DM on Roll20 for an adventurer with some big dungeon areas. In the past I’ve found it hard to flip between multiple pages and location descriptions and a map, while keeping an eye on the chat boxes and results. It’s a bit of a juggling act.So instead I’ve started adding the description text to each area on the GM layer in 16 pt font. Which because the maps I use are typically 2000 pixels on the longer dimension let’s me zoom in and everything look good. The text is easy to read and next to the location, so if players go in weird directions (which I hope they do) I don’t need to search for the room numbers.I can put a short description in large font 56pts and the number if needed. I can also add in the DCs to find secret doors next to the doors, indicate stuck DCs or lock difficulty. Put little notes to suggest when you would start to smell the Otyugh ahead or the point at which enemies will be triggered by the PCs light. I can even zone areas for different wandering monster groups. Or limits of pursuit.In short everything I need to run a dungeon is now on the tabletop to be defended at a glance and a zoom in if needed. The GM layer can be partially faded easily when combat starts so it’s not distracting so much from the token side of things.In short, I’ve never really used this function except for room numbers and hidden monsters/traps. So I’m loving the impact it’s had on making DMing easier.Anyone else use this function. GM layers are on lots of TT programs. It just happens that I use Roll20.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="TheSword, post: 8385495, member: 6879661"] So I had a bit of an epiphany when prepping to DM on Roll20 for an adventurer with some big dungeon areas. In the past I’ve found it hard to flip between multiple pages and location descriptions and a map, while keeping an eye on the chat boxes and results. It’s a bit of a juggling act. So instead I’ve started adding the description text to each area on the GM layer in 16 pt font. Which because the maps I use are typically 2000 pixels on the longer dimension let’s me zoom in and everything look good. The text is easy to read and next to the location, so if players go in weird directions (which I hope they do) I don’t need to search for the room numbers. I can put a short description in large font 56pts and the number if needed. I can also add in the DCs to find secret doors next to the doors, indicate stuck DCs or lock difficulty. Put little notes to suggest when you would start to smell the Otyugh ahead or the point at which enemies will be triggered by the PCs light. I can even zone areas for different wandering monster groups. Or limits of pursuit. In short everything I need to run a dungeon is now on the tabletop to be defended at a glance and a zoom in if needed. The GM layer can be partially faded easily when combat starts so it’s not distracting so much from the token side of things. In short, I’ve never really used this function except for room numbers and hidden monsters/traps. So I’m loving the impact it’s had on making DMing easier. Anyone else use this function. GM layers are on lots of TT programs. It just happens that I use Roll20. [/QUOTE]

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