Sweet Spots for the Time-Crunched Gamer: MapTool

If you're reading this blog your probably a person with a family and career who has difficulty finding time and opportunity to game. For me, gaming is less about rules and more about the magic that happens when a group of three or more highly creative gamers share a few hours of imaginative fun. I run demo games for complete strangers, and from that sample, I can tell you I'm not alone.

From my introductory post, you know I've gamed for a long time with the same group. As distance or other chronological pressures prevented face-to-face gaming, I found other avenues to pursue my most favored hobby. In this article I'm going to discuss my current primary gaming tool, MapTool.

Interview: Craig Wisniewski - Maptool Gang of 3

We continue Maptool Month interviews with the father of MapTool frameworks, Craig Wisniewski. Frameworks allow for the creation of custom settings, screens, and macros that automate game mechanics. I've created one such framework but there are many, many others. Throughout this interview you'll find screen shots from some of the more popular frameworks.

Craig added the HTML frame and dialog functions allowing for the creation of custom windows using HTML/CSS with links and buttons that run MTScript macros. He also added the ability to update Token properties from within macros to automate game mechanics like hit point reduction due to a successful attack. Other biggies include trusted macros created by the GM and LIB: tokens which allow for the distribution of frameworks and other MTScript utilities. Basically, without Craig I doubt we would have the frameworks you see in MapTool today.

Craig refuses to adopt a pseudonym or use an avatar. Some feel this reflects the practical manner he brings to MapTool development. It could be he never intended to stick around long enough to need a nickname or stylized image. Still others believe he just likes it when people ask why he doesn't have them. Whatever the case, we present the very practical interview of Craig "No Avatar" Wisniewski.

Interview: Bill Hart - Maptool Gang of 3

We continue Maptool Month with an Interview with Bill Hart aka Dorpond from the MapTool forums. Trevor once described him as MapTool's energizer bunny. Bill found MapTool and began contributing almost immediately. He was a driving force behind the current MapTool visions system. He drove home the point that an elf with lowlight vision should see the map differently than a dwarf with darkvision.

Bill continues to support MapTool contributing to design and testing of the product. Those who don't produce code for a living often don't understand the old 40/20/40 rule of coding. Forty percent of a projects time is spent in analysis and design, twenty percent coding, and forty percent testing. Thus Bill is the forty percent bread in the MapTool code sandwich.

The other quality Bill brings to the table is endless enthusiasm.  You simply can't get the man down even with a troll club (trust me, I've tried). He believes deeply in the mission of MapTool of providing a free, quality tool that brings gamers together.

So, without further ado, the Dorpond interview.

Interview: Frank Edwards - Maptool Gang of 3

MapTool is my weapon of choice for online games. It started as a virtual battle mat but grew into a fully configurable, game system agnostic, online table top with rich map making capabilities. With MapTool you can create custom properties and data for your characters and creatures within your gaming 'verse, roll dice inside an integrated chat system, and track initiative. With the addtion of MTScript (MapTools scripting language) you can fully automate game mechanics within MapTool to share with your friends across the Internet.

MapTool is an open source Java project meaning the product is free and its source can can be viewed and changed, if desired. Since it's written in Java it works on Mac, Linux, and Windows operating systems.

The project has dozens of contributors who donate their time to provide code, testing, and content. Last year, long time project head Trevor Croft stepped down handing control of the project to a triumvirate of talented technicians while running out the door mumbling something about going to the store for a pack of cigs. We all thought this odd since Trevor doesn't smoke. He was last seen in Las Vegas being thrown out of a casino for testing a card counting program developed for an Android phone.

As we continue Maptool Month on The Savage Troll, we bring you interviews with each of the Gang of Three (as we call them) who direct the MapTool project. We start with Azhrei interview followed by Dorpond, then Craig, ending with a combined questionnaire about the features slated for MapTool version 1.4.

First up, Frank Edwards aka Azhrei.

Announcement: New Member of MapTools Staff

The MapTool Gang of 3 decided to add a new member to their group: The Bard. They placed the  following advertisement on the RPTools.net forum.

We have an immediate need for an individual with strong enthusiasm for MapTool (and RPTools in general) who is willing to join the project team as our Director of Public Interfacing (herein referred to as "The Bard"). The job will entail periodic discussions with the developers regarding the future of MapTool and acting as the team's public persona. The former will include input on such things as usability, opinions on graphics layout, ideas for features, and so forth. The latter involves interacting with users to provide a positive first experience for them. This includes, but is not limited to, demo sessions showing off the basic features of MapTool (such as VBL, drawables, and basic token manipulation), gently promoting the use of MapTool on other forums (ENworld, Paizo, DDI, and so forth), and other public relations functions as may be deemed useful by either The Bard or the team as a whole.

Since this blog has a tradition of spreading the word for MapTool, I applied.  I am proud to announce  I was selected as The Bard.

What does this mean to you, the Savage Troll reader?

It generally means this blog will become a bit more MapTool centric and less Savage Worlds centric. We'll be spreading our wings to other game systems to show how they can use MapTool to bring their by-gone friends back together and speed their gaming via MapTool automation.

It might also go the opposite direction with new MapTool content posted on some, yet-to-be-created space that specializes in MapTool content. Were that the case then this blog would become more about game reviews and interviews and less about mapping and MapTool. I'm just not sure yet.

Regardless of which direction this blog goes, my new job means that you, the reader, have more input on the direction of MapTool. Since I now sit at the design table, I'll have an opportunity to voice your concerns and ideas to programmers of MapTool.

What does it mean to me, The Savage Troll?

Well, for one thing it means a new name on many of the forums I frequent. Thanks to an elven smear campaign picked up by a willing media, trolling isn't consider a good thing. Please leave a comment if you think of a better pseudonym for me. It also means I'll be running a lot more demo games. Please let me know if you have any interest seeing MapTool in action. It's a fast, flexible tool that handles any RPG that uses maps and dice.

What's next?

I'll be forming the MapTool Bard's guild. I need folks active on gaming forums, GMs, graphic artists, bloggers, and active social media folks to become MapTool Bards to help spread the word and bring feedback to the RPTools staff. Send an email to bard at rptools.net or leave a comment if you're interested in helping. This is a big job and I'm going to need a lot of help.

Here's to keeping it virtual.

Regards,
Keith Athey aka The Savage Troll

MapTool Look and Feel

“There are somethings that really bother me about MapTool. I really want a more immersive experience. There’s too much crap on the window,” Matt said at a recent game. Matt is a long time MapTool user.

“You know you can unpin the window and they’ll disappear until you need them,” Bryan said.

“You’re Sh**ing me! I didn't know it could do that. Still, we're stuck with these colors. Why can't I make MapTool purple if I want?”

"You can," I said. "You just need to change the default theme."

Thus the conversation went a few weeks back during an Old School Hack game with Matt, Bryan, Alessandro, Rob, and myself. I have some sympathy for Matt. MapTool is a simple program to launch and use but it has many features that aren’t well advertised or understood. Part of this has to do with the fact it was developed with a lot of input from it’s user base. Group think is sometimes hard to document. This article attempts to let MapTool users know a few of the intricacies of the MapTool User Interface (UI). 

Planned Changes for MapTool 1.4 - Part 2

This is the second half of the MapTool 1.4 interview with Frank, Craig, and Bill the project leaders for MapTool.

In part one, we discussed the user interface changes planned for 1.4. In this portion, we focus on Macros, underlying architecture changes, JavaScript, third part tool integration, and MapTool plug-ins.

Planned Changes for MapTool 1.4 - Part 1

MapTool is a free, open source Virtual Table Top (VTT) used to connect gamers of all stripes. MapTool includes powerful map creation, token management, light and sight, and initiative tracking functionality in an easy-to-use package that a user can pack with customizations to speed game play.

It is The Savage Troll's go to technology for time-crunched gaming since it removes much of the setup and travel time required for our favorite hobby. You simply drop a map onto the screen, create a few tokens to represent PC and NPCs, start your MapTool server, and play.

The 1.3 version of MapTool is in Release Candidate mode which means the developers are tidying up a few final bits and pieces before all work on 1.3 stops. At that point the developers rip the code apart and do major modifications and upgrades to the existing code base while adding a slew of new functionality. This leads to the inevitable question regarding what's changing, what's staying, and what's leaving in terms of MapTool form and functionality.

The current project leads for MapTool ( Frank, Craig, and Bill ) took the time to answer a few questions regarding MapTool 1.4. Luckily for us they had a lot to say so we broke the interview into two sections. The first, Planned UI Changes for MapTool 1.4, is presented below. The follow-on interview regarding macros and other functionality should follow in one week's time.

Quick Mapping with MapTool, TokenTool, Google, and Gimp

Recently I faced the dilemma of a time shortage and the need to produce several new maps for an upcoming game in my Space Nazis campaign. I was able to produce everything in about an hour but only because I follow a tried and true method of map and token making. This post details the source, resources, and methods used to generate these maps quickly with a minimum of effort.

Savage Worlds/Maptool Oneshot Game 4/19

Occasionally I run Savage Worlds/Maptools Games to show off both products.  You can read my gaming history, how I found Savage Worlds, and why I use Maptool in other posts on my blog. In a nutshell, my discovery of Savage Worlds and Maptool allowed me to game again. To repay that debt, I run One Shots for other folks who, like myself, have limited time but a great desire to maintain the hobby of their youth.

Interview with Trevor Croft, creator of MapTool

With a full-time job, a newborn baby, and a virtual tabletop software application project all consuming his schedule, Trevor Croft, creator and caretaker of MapTool, was kind enough to take a few moments from his own busy life to answer a few questions.

(Article originally appeared in The Dice of Life )

MapTool Savage Worlds Adventure Edition (SWADE) Framework

Much time has passed since I worked on the Savage Worlds framework for MapTool. I am resurrecting the project for two reasons: RPTools recently announced they were adding HTML5/CSS3 and JavaScript to the MapTool Virtual Tabletop and Pinnacle Entertainment Group released the Savage Worlds Adventure Edition (SWADE).

SWADE has some significant rules changes which call for adjusting the old framework. However, the old framework was developed over the years and had become something of a Frankenstein monster of old and new ways of doing things in MapTool MTScript. I attempted to rewrite it once for Savage Worlds Deluxe Edition (SWD) but abandoned the project due to poor design desitions regarding internationalization which slowed the framework to a crawl.

The other factor was the introduction of HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript into MapTool MTScript. This adds tremendous capabilities for the character sheet and other frames/dialogs giving me the ability to code dynamic screens. It also will make things much easier to code.

Before beginning the rewrite, I started a design document while I awaited the changes to MapTool. It fairly extensive (45 pages long) and is not yet complete. However, it is complete enough to begin coding. I'll continue updating the document as I reach new design decisions based on lessons learned from the new MapTool implementation.

The new framework will feature two primary Lib tokes: Rules and Setting. With luck, the rules should remain the same between Savage Settings. The Setting tokens will contain setting specific rules, edges, hindrances, stats, vehicles, and HTML themes. The setting token will also hold any internationalization required. Thus you'll have a French Setting token and an English Setting Token for the same ruleset. This bypasses my earlier problems with internationalization.

I've also decided to implement an Avatar system so no matter how many of your PC tokens are scattered across maps they will all interact with a single set of data. The PC tokens thus become very light with a single property naming the data store. Extra tokens work much the same way except the hold temporary data on them so you can summon 12 goblins to a map, they will all start with the same basic data but temporary changes to state, gear, power points, etc. will be kept with the Avatar without update the primary data token.

There are many other changes as well that you'll find in the design document. Feel free to give it a read and let me know what you think in the comments below. 

Interview: Jonathan Roberts aka Torstan

We continue Maptool Month with an interview with Jonathan Roberts, also known as Torstan on multiple gaming forums. Jonathan is another artist who gives back to the virtual gaming community with the release of free tiles and maps to be used online. Publishers noticed his maps and he soon found a second career as a cartographer and artist in the gaming and comic book industry. In his spare time Jonathan contemplates the creation and composition of the universe as a doctor of theoretical physicist with New York University.

We caught up with Torstan between drawing fantasy maps for our imagination and analyzing data detailing the structure of our physical reality.

Life as a Middle-Aged Gamer (with Kids)

When I read my first D&D book 30 years ago, I never imagined that first fantasy game would be a lifelong hobby. At 15, your long term outlook is pretty limited. I was an avid fantasy and science fiction fan and D&D gave me a way to create my own characters that shaped their own story. After the first game, I was hooked.

Screencasts from The Savage Troll: Maptool Servers, Chat, and Dice Rolls

We continue MapTool Month with a series of screen casts showing MapTool Functionality. Maptool is a free, open source product and project written in Java which functions as a virtual table top.  This 10 minute video demonstrates how to start a server, how players connect to the server, chat commands, and dice rolling during a game.

Related Links:
MapTool Screen Cast 1
MapTool Screen Cast 2 Download

MapTool Month Redux

We tried. We really, really tried to pack all our MapTool articles in 28 short days.

Sadly, we failed.

On the upside we're continuing our MapTool emphasis for another month. That's right: March is MapTool Month Redux on The Savage Troll!

Articles this month include:
Our final interview with the MapTool Gang of 3.  We discuss the direction for version 1.4 Fantasy map creation using Jonathan Roberts' map tiles and Devin Night's top-down tokens Resource libraries “Vision and Light: A Step-By-Step Guide On How To Setup Your Own Savage Setting with MapTool.”

Thanks to everyone who helped make February our best month ever for The Savage Troll. We're doing our best to make sure March is even better!

In February we offered discounts on five products from DriveThruRPG. In March we're actually going to give stuff away. That's right: free stuff!  Woot!

Here are the rules: The first five blog followers to comment on this post in March gets a freebie from DriveThruRPG. To be eligible for the prize, you must first be a blog follower. To become a blog follower click the 'Follow' button in the sidebar.

Once a comment is received, we'll contact you about picking one of five gifts to download from DriveThruRPG.com.

Good luck everyone and thanks again for your support.

Staff of The Savage Troll

Review: Story Maps: Ruins of the First Age

From: Savage Mojo
Price: $6.95
Artist: Mike Burns

Ruins of the First Age includes two maps of 12 tiles each meant for printing and use in face-to-face games. The map depicts ruins and surrounding area with 8x8 inch tiles. If you plan to use it for a Virtual Table Top there's some work ahead of you. The maps are 8x8 inches bounded by white borders that overlap a bit. You'll need to crop the border before using.

If you plan to use this product in a VTT, you'll need to crop the border first with an image manipulation program. I use GIMP. While GIMP can have quite a learning curve, it is highly functional and quick if you know a few tricks. For more information check out Beginning GIMP by Akkana Peck.

You can crop the images quickly by importing all the pages at once into GIMP assuming all the images are identically layed out like Savage Mojo's. This creates one layer per page. Crop the image to the corners and it crops them all at once.

Google Hangouts with Extras for RPG

Friday night I played Warrior, Rogue, and Mage from Stargazer Games. game with my longtime online gamers I met through MapTool. As always, we had a great time.

Matt Jackson - cartographer, book cover designer, and the master of 20,000 rules-light games - wanted to try a Google Hangout with Extras for maps, character sheets, and handouts. I'm a longtime MapTool fan and serve on the RPTools.net staff so I suspect I'm more than a little biased.

MapTool does all of those functions very well and was custom designed with gamers in mind. Still, I tried to go in with an open mind. I suspect the two glasses of wine I had beforehand helped. What follows are the Good, the Bad, and the Frustrating about Google Hangouts for RPGs.

The Good.

This is a web application and so needs no client software or special plug-ins to play. As long as you have a Google+ account you have access. I suppose some would consider forcing you to use Google+ is an overall minus but I suspect those people are still trying to figure out a way to get Facebook usable for RPGs.

Google Hangouts with Extras has great integration with Google Docs. You can store documents, spreadsheets, pdfs, etc. in Google docs and share them during the game. You can share only with certain members or open an entire folder up for the group to use.

Google Sketchpad integration is nice as well. Sketchpad is an drawing/image sharing program that lets everyone in the Hangout draw or drop images onto a common canvas. This was the way we shared maps and moved our tokens around the maps.

You can open both Sketchpad and Docs in a separate tab or window if you need multiple items open at once.

The new Hangouts has full text, voice, and video chat capabilities. You don't need a third party product. The picture and voice quality were both good. The text chat comes in handy for sharing AFKs and BRBs as well as typing out quips versus saying them.

The Bad

There is no built in die roller. I hear there are online sites that let players share dice rolls but I haven't found a good one yet. During the game we rolled actual dice and shared the result via the voice chat. While I trust the guys I game with, others may not be so lucky. Isn't it time all text chat programs came with built in die rollers? Let's start an occupy Google campaign (via hangouts) until we get it.

The Sketchpad functionality is fairly limited. It does OK and is good for getting a point across but it really isn't built for gaming. The objects you place on the screen don't have a way of annotating ownership. Sketchpad only tells you who has the object selected. One of the major problems is that the map is an object just like the tokens. So anyone can grab and move it around. Adding layers to Sketchpad would go a long way to making it more usable for Gaming. Player tokens could go on one layer and background objects on another. Let's start an occupy Google campaign (via hangouts) until we get it.

The Frustrating

• It's not MapTool, a product designed for gaming. It's a presentation/discussion tool. I spent a lot of extra clicks doing what comes easy in MapTool.
• There wasn't an easy way to zoom around the map.
• The accidental map movement drove me nuts when people selected the map rather than their token.
• Images could not be named and had no owner. It was hard telling who was who and what they were doing.
• You quickly run out of screen real estate for viewing different documents and images.

Conclusion

A Google Hangout is what it is: a method of sharing documents with chat and whiteboard built in. You can make due if you don't expect a lot from it. I hope they someday publish an API for Hangouts that VTTs connect into so you can let VTTs do what they do well and Hangouts do what they do well.

Still, if your mapping needs aren't large and you do more storytelling than combat, Hangouts may be the right gaming tool for you.

Screencasts from The Savage Troll: MapTool Introduction

If a picture is worth a 1000 words, what's a screencast worth?

We continue MapTool Month with a series of screen casts showing MapTool Functionality. Maptool is a free, open source product and project written in Java which functions as a virtual table top.

In this screencast we discuss launching MapTool, adding maps, Fog of War, PC and NPC tokens, and movement. You can view the video on YouTube or do a right click save from this link.

Since this is our first venture into screencasting any constructive advice and criticism is appreciated. Well, either appreciated or callously disregarded. We are trolls after all.

Sweet Spots for the Time-Crunched Gamer: Weeknights, Nine To Midnight

So you've tried all the automation tips and game systems we've discussed and still can't get your group together to game. What's an RPG enthusiast to do? You're now battling the toughest constraint of all, which is time itself.