game-master assistant software

[steve98052]

I'm tinkering with a game-master assistant program. The general idea is that each player has a computer (or possibly a mobile device, most likely Android only because that's what I know), and the program tracks administrative stuff like hit points, as well as a map. My data sharing mechanism would involve shared files in cloud storage.

What kinds of things would be most worthwhile in such a program?
- Calculating damage (as opposed to clicking it in after rolling physical dice)?
- Tracking movement beyond a simple 2D whiteboard?
- Terrain beyond a 2D whiteboard?
- Inventory, including both notable possessions and expendables like bullets?
More ideas are welcome.

 

[AnotherDilbert]

Automatic hit and damage rolls for common attacks?
Hit location system for received damage: Player inputs received damage, hit location is generated and local armour deducted?
Hit and current char tracker with current DMs on common tasks?


Referee: Automatic hit and damage rolls for a few NPCs?
Referee: Keep track of a few groups of NPCs, one group per encounter?

 

[BigDogsRunning]

NPC Name Generation/Tracking
Timeline
Ship economics
Trade Tools
Handle multiple campaigns
Structured notes for settings, background info
Flag info for GM/Players.

 

[Linwood]

Under "NPC Name Generation" add "Alien Name Generation." The D66 name tables have been very helpful to me, but I'd like more variety....

 

[Old School]

Personally I think the data input required to automate tracking of damage rolls received and taken would be more cumbersome than beneficial. Different weapons and armor (both highly customizable), infinite variety of opponents, etc.

Some tools that I use now:

Name generator
https://donjon.bin.sh/scifi/name/#type=cyberpunk;cyberpunk=Modern Male

Trade info
http://travellertools.azurewebsites.net

Ship builder
There is a google sheets doc called MgT2 Ship Design v1.9, but I can't find a link to it. An older version, 1.5, is posted on reddit and can be found with a google search.

Single ship trade and economics tracker
- password protected site, request access from markus_d on this board

 

[steve98052]

Some good suggestions so far; thanks. The challenge, as Old School notes, is minimizing the administrative load of setting things up.

People in another discussion group suggested Roll20 and Fantasy Grounds. I looked at the video for Fantasy Grounds, and it looks like more work for the game-master, rather than a time-saver. It would be useful, however, for a game where players are geographically distributed it might be useful. I was going to get a tour of Roll20 from someone, but I haven't had a chance to do it yet.

Links:
https://roll20.net

https://www.fantasygrounds.com/home/home.php
https://www.fantasygrounds.com/wiki/index.php/Main_Page

 

[ShawnDriscoll]

Some GMs like to role-play as computer apps for their players.

 

[Tom Kalbfus]

Ever play Minecraft? What if we had a program where the DM designs dungeons and the computer runs them?

 

[Old School]

Ever play Minecraft? What if we had a program where the DM designs dungeons and the computer runs them?

Baldur’s Gate 2 is the all time classic in this regard, IMHO.

 

[steve98052]

My brother played a lot of Baldur's Gate back in the day. And I was thinking that the simple voxel style modeling is Minecraft would be easy to manage. But I want to keep the game master in charge of the thinking parts of the game.

 

[Tom Kalbfus]

My brother played a lot of Baldur's Gate back in the day. And I was thinking that the simple voxel style modeling is Minecraft would be easy to manage. But I want to keep the game master in charge of the thinking parts of the game.

The thinking goes into the design of the adventure or encounter, but the computer runs it. You give instructions to the computer on how to run it, what the characters and creatures do.