Map Tools

[YAKO SOMEDAKY]

I was seeing that there is a program called maptools and it sitema there is a fog of war. visibility and light sources and what I can do with the player to see what's on the map by d asua vision and light source it loads, not to mention that I can better adjust or limit the walls with masks and each time they move the character this view adjusts automatically, would it be possible to have this in Gurps Fantasy grounds or be considered automation?
I was wondering if it is possible to put this on FG specifically in GURPS?

[Invictys]

From my understanding none of those things are currently possible with FG2 regardless of the ruleset used. Pretty sure most of that is on the table for a future release.

Personally I would love to have a dynamic lighting radius and a sight radius attachable to a character token that would automatically adjust the layer mask accordingly!

[Trenloe]

FG has the mask functionality that allows the GM to reveal the maps manually and process fog-of-war that wat, but there is currently nothing like a dynamic reveal like you get in map tools.

It is on the FG wish list - go there and vote! https://fg2app.idea.informer.com/

[Willot]

FG has the mask functionality that allows the GM to reveal the maps manually and process fog-of-war that wat, but there is currently nothing like a dynamic reveal like you get in map tools.

It is on the FG wish list - go there and vote! https://fg2app.idea.informer.com/


Well.... It has 175 votes it is the biggest wanted feature on there and has been for awhile. I suspect it is a very hard thing to do and requires a BIG rewrite, which it why it hasnt yet been achieved I assume. FG has ALOT of very nice features and with some clever masking you can create the effect. But dont look for Dynamic Lighting anytime soon. And too be fair Id like to see other (much simplier things) done first such as Magic Item Effects (https://fg2app.idea.informer.com/proj/?ia=54565)

[damned]

it also could potentially create far more work for you as GM as you need to define walls and obstructions etc - not just when you make your map but again when you load your map. but yes - it would be nice.

[Griogre]

it also could potentially create far more work for you as GM as you need to define walls and obstructions etc - not just when you make your map but again when you load your map. but yes - it would be nice.

This is why this isn't an important feature for me. I don't need any extra work to prepare a map. The other issue is that casting rays to determine dynamic vision (and lighting) is CPU/VPU intensive. When this feature first came out for MapTool it was almost never used because there was almost always someone in the group who's computer couldn't handle it and you can hardly turn it on for everyone but one player - its an all or nothing type of thing. Computers are better now but I would suspect low end laptops, notebooks, and tablets would have problems processing dynamic fog of war and lighting.

[grimm182]

Not trying to be a troll...but id rather have a feature i dont use than not have it at all.
I wish FG and MP would merge and we could have the best features of each! :)

[Griogre]

I'm afraid I'm a little more selfish. :) I don't really mind the feature - I just don't like the time it will take Smiteworks to add it - I feel we could easily get 6-8 other features instead in the same time. However, the dynamic light sources is the highest voted feature request. I'd encourage everyone to vote on what you think they should develop next here: https://fg2app.idea.informer.com

[Valarian]

Glad to see the GUI Ruleset builder is up to 5th place. A lot higher than the Mobile App I see. Not sure how much the Idea Informer is actually informing decisions.

[Moon Wizard]

The wish list is definitely a large mixing pot of all my ideas plus the community ideas. It's great for consolidating all the ideas and letting people vote. Before that wish list, the ideas were scattered around the forums and around my desk.

I definitely consider the wish list as we make product decisions, but I also have to consider many other factors (supportability, usability, backward compatibility, store product support, market trends, and more).

For example, I had to make a tough choice on this last dev cycle between map features vs. making rulesets easier to build and maintain. They are both big projects, but I chose the ruleset features since the barrier to building and maintaining modules is high not just for the community but for myself. That's not to say that are not a few map feature improvements, but it wasn't the core feature set I am working on.

Also, I feel that many of the most highly requested map features actually increase the burden on the GM while adding only a little to the actual game experience. (i.e. dynamic lighting, which can be mimicked by exposing/covering areas on a static fog of war.)

If you want to see what is in the pipeline or be involved in beta testing when the next version is ready for testing, check out the threads in the Laboratory forum.

Regards,
JPG

[Doswelk]

I understand how people want the dynamic fog of war, but I wonder once implemented and people see how much longer each map takes to prepare how many would actually use it.

I myself would never use it, I see it as a gimmick anything I could not do in a face-to-face game I do not need to be honest.

Like I said I'm selfish I'd rather other things were done instead of the #1 voted option.

[Valarian]

I know I wouldn't. I hardly use the map features as they are. I use the images to display scenes, items and creature pictures more than maps.

[Griogre]

While I probably wouldn't use dynamic lighting, the technology would lead to other things I would use, like being able to select creatures on the map by drawing an area pointer, automatic application of 4E aura effects, basically a whole slew of automatic range/area delimited effects. Personally, aside from the ruleset builder, I'm most happy to see the limited visibility token request so high, which is another that might use part or contribute to that dynamic lighting technology.

[primarch]

Hi!

There is a reason dynamic FOW is so popular. For Maptools, its probably one of its defining features. While I think as a VTT Fantasy Grounds is superior to Maptools, for my face to face games Maptools is what I use solely because of this feature.

Even roll20 made this happen. I can tell you that all players I have used it for (online and off), just love this feature. Its the closest thing you'll ever get to have players experience the wonders of the unknown as they constantly worry what beyond the edge of their vision. When they can actually experience an attack by missile weapons and they can't see or have a clue where its coming from. It produces some very realistic responses (and blunders) from players. It has enhanced the games I have run immensely.

As for map prep. My experience is different. In roll20 for example its a breeze and I have actually done the necessary map editing in game, quickly and efficiently without undue waste of time. It all depends on how the tools are presented and how detailed/elaborate you want to be with the boundaries of light blocking lines or polygons.

For most "dungeon" type maps (squares and rectangle room/corridors) it has not added a burdensome amount of time.

There is a reason its number 1 on the list, and any other VTT's list if you go look at their forums for feature requests. Once you use it its hard to be without it.

All this said, I am very aware of what a royal pain in the butt it is for the developers. I was on the maptool forums back when it started and this feature was developed. I do not envy the heavy lift they need to do.

While I love this feature, I still consider the ruleset builder WAY more important than dynamic FOW. A ruleset builder for me at this point is paramount. Additionally, if the developers think they can do several features in the time they could do just the dynamic FOW, then they should do all those other features. Dynamic FOW deserves to be done right with the developers full attention, so it should be tackled when its most cost effective for the developers to do so.

Primarch