MapTool for Face-to-Face Role-Playing Games

It's no secret that we're fans of MapTool. Well, did you know that MapTool also works for face-to-face RPG sessions as well as those online? As a followup to the Sweet Spot article about MapTool, I'll tell you how you can leverage this marvelous free tool for your next face-to-face game.

As Mr. Athey has already mentioned, MapTool is a great tool for online games. What he didn't mention was how great this tool is for face-to-face RPGs. As a virtual tabletop, MapTool makes setting up and running your RPG encounters easier and faster than if you were to use conventional minis and battlemats. (Remember, this blog is about saving you time, not painting miniatures, constructing 3D terrain, and all the pie-in-the-sky tabletop accessories.)

Quick and Dirty Maps

First, we'll start with the basics of MapTool, and that's mapping (duh). As mentioned by R.K. Athey, there are several approaches to making a map. If you're really in a bind, the fastest way is to simply use a tiled background or solid background color, and draw on it with the shapes and pen tools. It's just like drawing on a battlemat except you don't have to erase it when your done. In fact, you can save it in the middle of an encounter and pick it back up at the next game session. (Did we mention MapTool autosaves your campaign files?) Oh, just so you know, MapTool gives you an endless canvas for your map, so you're not limited by physical table space.

Rapid Mass Token Duplication

Second is the ability to drop in as many tokens as you need for the number of NPCs, monsters, and objects on the map. That means you don't have to annoy your spouse by taking up half the basement with miniature storage. In fact, you don't have to buy miniatures at all. Another added bonus with MapTool is that you can drag-and-drop any image from anywhere into TokenTool, and drag the TokenTool image directly onto MapTool. Once it's in MapTool, just select the token, press Ctrl-C to copy, and press Ctrl-V to paste. Select multiple tokens to copy and paste multiple instances, the more tokens you select, the more tokens duplicate. Can't get much faster and easier than that.

Copious Amounts of Notes

Third on the list of bonuses from MapTool is the ability to insert campaign notes directly onto the map via tokens. All tokens have a notes field. Simply righ-click on the token, select Edit Properties, and select the Notes tab. You'll notice there's a GM's Notes section, too. Here's how these work. Users can hover over an object token and see notes pop up on the screen. The regular notes show up for everyone, but the GM notes show up only for GMs. The best use for these is to include room descriptions in the common notes and special secret GM stuff in the GM notes (e.g. - traps, search checks, reminders, situational rule references, etc.). It also helps you by giving the players a read-along text reference for room descriptions rather than having to repeat yourself because they were distracted by how cool MapTool is. (It's really that cool.) By the way, if you use PDF RPG adventures or sourcebooks, you get a double-bonus since you can copy and paste your material directly into the notes.

Having the notes stored directly on the map means no more flipping around in your notes for a particular piece of information. All of your notes are right there on the map when you need them.

Notes also apply to creature tokens. You can store full stat blocks in the notes, or actually use the token properties to store attributes, skill modifiers, and more. Tip: Token properties can be referenced by macros to perform calculations and tests based on their values. For more information about macros, visit RPTools Documentation Wiki. For more details on how to use the token properties, I highly recommend visiting the RPTools.net forums and seeking help there.

Forget the Macros

That's right, I said it! I know that macros are a cool and fun part of MapTool, particularly for online games. After all, they can speed up game play considerably. At a table in a face-to-face game, however, they're not important, and setting them up can consume a lot of time. Most players prefer to roll actual dice anyway. So, to save yourself some time for actual campaign planning, session preparation, or spending time with your family, ditch the macros. It'll just be one less thing to have to troubleshoot, too.

Portability

The great thing about MapTool is that you don't have to install it. You can simply extract the downloadable zip file and put it on a flash drive. You can then take it with you wherever you go. Got a few minutes during your lunch break? Work on drawing a new map, add a few notes, or create some new tokens. When your done, just save your campaign file and take it with you. DON'T FORGET TO MAKE A BACK UP!!! You never know when you'll lose your flash drive.

Displaying the Map

There are multiple ways to display the maps to the players, and the easiest way to do so is to hook up a computer to a TV screen or projector. Hooking up to a TV or projector is easiest because you don't have to worry about troubleshooting anyone else's laptop. It's certainly possible to have everyone hook up to the server on the local network from their laptop, but sometimes @#$% happens. Eliminating that element saves you time and energy.

Displaying the map on the TV for everyone to see actually requires two instances of MapTool to run concurrently on the same computer. Once instance will be the GM's view while the other the player's view. The player view will connect as a client to the local server. Tip: Turn on grid coordinates on the player view so that players can easily reference locations on the map using those coordinates rather than trying to point it out or describe it. Also consider using a wirless mouse that can be passed around from player to player while you use another mouse or touchpad; this requires a lot of cooperation and self control from the players. The GM can then place the map on the second display (the TV or projector) while his view remains on his screen. In fact, the player view can be set to full screen to utilize the entire real estate.

Pick Up Where You Left Off

Ever get to the end of your scheduled game session, but combat isn't over? Don't want to have to deal with trying to set it up next time exactly as you ended it? Don't want to lose track of initiative between this game session and the next? Have these situations prevented you from leaving off with a cliffhanger? With MapTool, none of that is a worry. Just hit save and close the program. No vinyl mat to erase. No miniatures or models to put away. Just save and exit. The next time you open it back up, everything will still be in place, including the initiative order. Oh yeah, MapTool has an initiative tracker complete with hold states and round counts.

Conclusion

Well, that pretty much covers the benefits of MapTool in a face-to-face RPG session. If there's anything else you'd like to know, or if you discover any additional tips or tricks with using MapTool in this manner, please do not hesitate to leave a comment below.

Oh, I almost forgot! for those of you who are really ambitious or just like to admire cool, creative uses of technology, here's a video of someone using MapTool with a Wii Remote. Yes, you read that right. A Wii Remote.