Projector view

[Vash108]

I would like a Projector view that I could have in another window or screen that I could use to project Maps, pictures and such to a surface.

The end result would be my Ability to project the playing grid or city maps onto a table where my players put their pieces. This way I can reveal fog of war directly onto the tabletop.

 

[pyremius]

Player View can do that. I've never oriented it to project onto a table - but that's because I don't have the necessary hardware to orient the projector that way.

 

[liz]

To clarify, are you looking for "Projector View" to be a whole separate view from "Player View"?

 

[Vash108]

yes a separate view run by the GM. I can have my regular realm works up on my Surface or laptop and a secondary screen as a map or picture view. This way I could have the maps up projected onto my tabletop which we can use as live player maps. Possibly with the ability to draw on the screen.

 

[Nostromos]

I run my games that way as well. I just have the projector as a seperate monitor on my computer and put the player view up on that. Then I can have the map there or whatever I want to show to them (town picture, whatever).

 

[Nostromos]

Actually now that I've played with it more I see what your talking about Vash.

1. Grid lines would be awesome to put over a map to change it to tactical
2. Eliminate the border around the map as an option
3. Change the background color of the player view to black so you can reveal the map as they go without blinding the players from the projector going from dark to light.

Items #2 and 3 would be VERY awesome to get (and hopefully easily coded). Item #1 I can understand taking a bit longer...and I can do grid overlays through my map program/photoshop in the meantime (just makes scaling a little harder).

 

[zarlor]

Why not just have your grid on the actual map you're using in RealmWorks? Or, if you're using a projector anyway, what about projecting onto a Battlemat or other already-gridded surface?

 

[Nostromos]

Well if you have a town and the group suddenly picks a fight on the street its nice to zoom into that location and throw down a gridmap at that point. I guess you'd have to define the size of the area to begin with rather then just using snaping a jpg into it though for that to work. Just nice being able to hide it and reveal it as needed (I guess you can always do 2 maps, one with a grid and one without but thats more work for me as a DM).

The Battlemat isn't a bad idea but its not the most reflective in the world for a projector. We use a white vinyl table cloth as it shows everything really well



Thats why I put that as a "not as important" item....the other 2 are really nice for using a projector view.

 

[lifer4700]

This is where you're starting to get into the Virtual TableTop realm.

For this type of thing, I prefer to use MapTool or Roll20, but there are many out there.

 

[Nostromos]

Well technically Realm Works is a Virtual TableTop in some ways...I'm just hoping for one tool to manage my games from a high level running/describing the world down to running combat as well. Having to jump between different tools is a pain in the middle of things. I'm fine with making my maps in Photoshop or Campaign Cartographer (I prefer that finite detail) but when a software has a "fog of world" feature and the tutorials show it for a small tower map of "what players can see"...being able to use that in a dungeon crawl would be awesome.

 

[mirtos]

Its not really a VTT. I dont think there is anything wrong with having different tools for different purposes.

although that doesnt defeat the projector question, because there are things that it would be nice to project. General information, pictures, overall world maps, etc.

Personally, I use a combo of RealmsWorks and Maptool in my games. I would project the tabletop via maptools for combat (abotu 20% of the game time) and the realms works stuff the rest (80% of game time).

 

[Portilis]

Well, a projector is simply another monitor as far as the computer is concerned, so there's nothing to prevent use of one with Player View whilst you run RW on your monitor.

The idea of being able to use Player View across multiple screens/projectors/monitors would be kinda handy though I think anyway.

 

[Nostromos]

Its more of just some change suggestions for player view rather then a "new view"...or at least some options for player view.

 

[soulfly]

I would love a full screen projector view as well. I think the player view is really close already and with a few more features it could replace the need for having a 2nd app running for VTT.

Few additional ideas:

New reveal tool allow you to click points and reveal/conceal everything in side of the "polygon" of points clicked.

"Map ping" let players and DM click a point on the map to aid in game discussion.

Right click (or any hot key) to drag to move around map; Pan.

 

[Farling]

The fog-of-world always expands so that only the visible part is shown within the player view. This hides from the players where there might be unexplored areas on the larger map (since they never get to see where the exposed area is on the larger map).

This basically means that the square sizes will vary as they continue to explore and more map is revealed (unless the GM resizes the window on the player view screen).

 

[soulfly]

I played around with this and after zooming into my desired distance/square size as a gm, was able to reveal more map area with the player view still focused where I left it. I was able to move players around the dungeon by panning across the player view.

 

[Jay-Bird]

+1

Well technically Realm Works is a Virtual TableTop in some ways...I'm just hoping for one tool to manage my games from a high level running/describing the world down to running combat as well. Having to jump between different tools is a pain in the middle of things. I'm fine with making my maps in Photoshop or Campaign Cartographer (I prefer that finite detail) but when a software has a "fog of world" feature and the tutorials show it for a small tower map of "what players can see"...being able to use that in a dungeon crawl would be awesome.

+1 for OP, but also this^^

I have no problem using other products to MANIPULATE maps for creation.I can put my own grid lines on, but if this software could at least DISPLAY a map a little better/easier, it'd be all I need. ie: borderless images, adjustable background colors, etc. as I tend to use VirtualTabletop or Roll20 type stuff to use for display during ACTUAL tabletop sessions.

And yes: I am very aware of the possibility that any perceived shortcomings in RW are my own failings at properly using it.

 

[FreakFire74]

"Map ping" let players and DM click a point on the map to aid in game discussion.

Right click (or any hot key) to drag to move around map; Pan.

+1 for these!!!

 

[jkthomsen9]

+1 for this.

The main reason it would be nice to have projected view separate from player view is that they could be used separately. If you truly geek out your table....which I have, you are using the projector to project maps at the table and a flat screen tv on the wall as your player view. This way I can have the map of the area on the table and pictures of the current NPC, or player handout on the wall. Currently it is cumbersome to switch back and forth from player handouts and maps.....especially if you have to move the map so you can see/manipulate what you want to show next. As a result I am currently using Gimp to run my projector and RW to run the TV. It would be a godsend to be able to do both in RW.

 

[jkthomsen9]

I thought I would put up some pictures of my gaming table.