Token Discussions - what style do you prefer

While we can share methods used to create token packs, it is highly unlikely that we can actually share any of these token packs due to copyright unless we receive permission or a license to redistribute them from the original artists.

Personally I prefer the round or square, but since I am currently not actually GM'ing anything, I use whatever the the GM uses. 3D all the way if/when possible though - the renders look wicked.

I like square for PCs and round for NPCs. Not sure if I prefer top down or portrait though.

I will say I don't really like the 2.5D ones, since they are flat.

Did you see the link I posted the other day to Miguel Zavala on Shapeways (https://www.shapeways.com/designer/mz4250)? He's modeled all of the MM creatures in 3D and has released the stl (?) files to the public domain. You might want to talk to him about what you might be able to do to use his work. Don't think any of it is textured, but it's all 3D that could be used in the TTC model/approach.

Generally, I find that cropped images tend to look the best. I use the 'pogs' from the modules if I don't have an image, or a letter token if all else fails. I don't think I'd like the 3d view images as they would likely end up being too limited for what I am starting with. Plus.. the maps don't look that great when pulled out that way... the map element is only one facet of a game and often the one that's kinda behind everything else. If they are too complicated to set up.. they are too complicated to use. Things like lighting features are great.. but only if they are simple to use... 3d mapping seems like it would fall into this realm... Player tokens as images mix well in your 4th example (in the original post) with the cropped images.. although I'd prefer if they were all square to match their spaces. For HERO stuff.. I use HEX tokens.. cuz the squares are hexes... similar idea. Ideally, you want to be able to see the token as clearly as possible. The top down idea is interesting as a concept.. but usually doesn't end up being all that clear. The tokens with no backgrounds end up having 'clickability' issues a lot of the time and they don't really look right with the square player portrait images... which usually look pretty cool.

As much as I like to use Top-down view of 3D minis, I end up using pogs for the ease of use. If 3D minis become as easy to use as the pogs I would switch to that in a heart beat.

I commented on Facebook - square or round portrait style pogs.

I prefer the pog-type as they are easy for the players to grab and manipulate on the map. Not only that, but the pog-border guarantees that there will be enough contrast to keep a token from being "lost" on the battle map.

That being said, it's also very very easy to make good pog tokens. The ONLY way I would consider paying for tokens would be if the pack of tokens is sincerely amazingly high quality for the price. Honestly, I can't imagine that it would be worth anyone's time to try to sell minis to me for FG.

Now... if you were to do a custom book of Monsters; unique creatures with unique art fitting a solid flavor/theme AND those monster stat blocks came with quality tokens... Then you could get some money out of me. No doubt.

I use full body side view tokens with the background set to alpha. I don't play with facing, so this works fine, and I can tip the figures over to indicate prone or incapacitated combatants.

I don't care much for top down tokens because I don't find staring at hats and hair very interesting and most of the time they seem to have their arms in strange positions.

I like the dinky letter ones, because a lot of the time I like being able to instantly tell what would otherwise be identical monsters apart.

By 'Cropped Profiles' you don't actually mean profiles.. right? You mean 'Cropped Images' .. ie. pictures of the monster from the front or side .. ie. not 'top down'.

And.. umm.. what is a 'pog' exactly? I can see the difference in the Token Modules, does it mean.. 'with a background' or something? Obviously it stands for something.. I just don't know what. :)