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<blockquote data-quote="GreatLemur" data-source="post: 3621486" data-attributes="member: 28553">Oh, wow.&nbsp; Sounds like you guys really have the potential for something of dream setup.&nbsp; If you're anywhere near Chicago, I wanna join your group.Anyway, the obvious core to star planning around is some kind of <a href="http://www.penpaperpixel.org/tutorials/tabletopprojection/" target="_blank">tabletop projection</a> rig, tied to a computer at the GM's station.&nbsp; I can't imagine any technophilic GM who wouldn't utterly love to scan or create maps and project them at miniature-friendly scale on the gaming table, and then alter them dynamically in Photoshop during play.&nbsp; I think the coolest way to do it would be to get a frosted glass tabletop and project the map up from underneath, but that generally requires some screwing around with mirrors, due to focal range issues.The other big thing you might want to tie into the GM's computer would be a decent soundsystem for music, ambient noises, and situational sound effects.&nbsp; Maybe you could even go so far as to have some kind of mood lighting setup.&nbsp; The GM could kill or lower the room lights, so that everyone just has a desk lamp or something to read by.&nbsp; (Whether or not this would be of any use depends pretty strongly on what kind of games you guys play, of course.)If you want to go so far as to set up a machine for every player, then everyone would be able to refer to RPG PDFs, use digital character sheets, replace note-passing with an instant message client, etc.&nbsp; (Of course, personal computers--especially with Internet access--can be a dangerous thing to have at a gaming table.&nbsp; A little while ago, one of my players spent half the session looking at some lolcats forum.)Other things to consider would be storage space for books and minatures, comfortable seating, air conditioning, possibly a fridge for drinks, etc.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="GreatLemur, post: 3621486, member: 28553"] Oh, wow. Sounds like you guys really have the potential for something of dream setup. If you're anywhere near Chicago, I wanna join your group. Anyway, the obvious core to star planning around is some kind of [url=http://www.penpaperpixel.org/tutorials/tabletopprojection/]tabletop projection[/url] rig, tied to a computer at the GM's station. I can't imagine any technophilic GM who wouldn't utterly love to scan or create maps and project them at miniature-friendly scale on the gaming table, and then alter them dynamically in Photoshop during play. I think the coolest way to do it would be to get a frosted glass tabletop and project the map up from underneath, but that generally requires some screwing around with mirrors, due to focal range issues. The other big thing you might want to tie into the GM's computer would be a decent soundsystem for music, ambient noises, and situational sound effects. Maybe you could even go so far as to have some kind of mood lighting setup. The GM could kill or lower the room lights, so that everyone just has a desk lamp or something to read by. (Whether or not this would be of any use depends pretty strongly on what kind of games you guys play, of course.) If you want to go so far as to set up a machine for every player, then everyone would be able to refer to RPG PDFs, use digital character sheets, replace note-passing with an instant message client, etc. (Of course, personal computers--especially with Internet access--can be a dangerous thing to have at a gaming table. A little while ago, one of my players spent half the session looking at some lolcats forum.) Other things to consider would be storage space for books and minatures, comfortable seating, air conditioning, possibly a fridge for drinks, etc. [/QUOTE]

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