Spin-Off: Useful software for the gaming table
- Thread starter Somebody
- Start date
Out of the box, many things can be readily handled by most cell phones today - simple text messaging actually accommodating not only 'secret' messaging, but tracking and emailing more detailed adventure info. Higher end phones - becoming quite common now, and lower end ones with limited screen/internet access can display maps and other info. Character sheets and such are easily handled even if only as text messages, notes or on a forum post.
Content creation and rule mechanic automating is where custom software is needed and device dependency/ease of use come in to play. The former can be done on less portable/more powerful devices and hosted for free on blog sites and free hosting sites (wordpress and webbly for example).
The later, for those for whom native programming is not feasible, can rely on others or make use of script/spreadsheet-style applications.
Content creation and rule mechanic automating is where custom software is needed and device dependency/ease of use come in to play. The former can be done on less portable/more powerful devices and hosted for free on blog sites and free hosting sites (wordpress and webbly for example).
The later, for those for whom native programming is not feasible, can rely on others or make use of script/spreadsheet-style applications.
GamerDude
Cosmic Mongoose
First:
Any MS Office document can be dumped out as a webpage and uploaded. It's connecting the pages so you can jump back and forth that's a pain but not bad with a little prior planning.
Websites - Obsidian Portal. You can have TWO campaigns at the same time on the free account. You can delete a campaign to start another. Quite full featured and the Wiki feature allows any page to have "GM Only" information. (here is mine - http://www.obsidianportal.com/campaigns/fireflies-in-the-night)
Local - NBOS is great with their mapping programs (can be output to a web friendly format) and "The Keep" is great for keeping a campaign or even just an adventure in order. I used this to keep straight the two adventures I ran at cons back in Feb and March - made it sooo much simpler to run them. If you are familiar with DM Genie for d20/D&D 3.x, and checked out the Campaign Manager" then you have an idea how it works. I believe the run on Java.
One problem - I loaded a few maps and graphics from the adventures into The Keep but never could find a way to display them full screen for showing the players. It's been a while since I got sidetracked from looking for it.
iPad, I know there are sites out there that let you input a character for some games (D&D) and then you can view the sheet from anywhere (hence my observation at the con last Aug with people not handing over the iPad demanding the GM get up and come around to them).
Any MS Office document can be dumped out as a webpage and uploaded. It's connecting the pages so you can jump back and forth that's a pain but not bad with a little prior planning.
Websites - Obsidian Portal. You can have TWO campaigns at the same time on the free account. You can delete a campaign to start another. Quite full featured and the Wiki feature allows any page to have "GM Only" information. (here is mine - http://www.obsidianportal.com/campaigns/fireflies-in-the-night)
Local - NBOS is great with their mapping programs (can be output to a web friendly format) and "The Keep" is great for keeping a campaign or even just an adventure in order. I used this to keep straight the two adventures I ran at cons back in Feb and March - made it sooo much simpler to run them. If you are familiar with DM Genie for d20/D&D 3.x, and checked out the Campaign Manager" then you have an idea how it works. I believe the run on Java.
One problem - I loaded a few maps and graphics from the adventures into The Keep but never could find a way to display them full screen for showing the players. It's been a while since I got sidetracked from looking for it.
iPad, I know there are sites out there that let you input a character for some games (D&D) and then you can view the sheet from anywhere (hence my observation at the con last Aug with people not handing over the iPad demanding the GM get up and come around to them).
Well, I haven't look at it in years (er, ~15) - but this is very much like the stuff we used to do in the corporate world (IT dept) via outlook and MS backoffice server products. It was all accessible via web portals (so not platform specific) as well as Outlook (not the free version) and Project.
I only mention because I assume such should exist today - probably under the CRM umbrella. Take a look at http://www.opencrx.org/index.html.
I believe its Java based - plays well with iOS/Android and IMAP clients and calendar apps (Mozilla at least). Fully open source and works with most DBMSs IIRC.
I think this could be customized to your needs...
I only mention because I assume such should exist today - probably under the CRM umbrella. Take a look at http://www.opencrx.org/index.html.
I believe its Java based - plays well with iOS/Android and IMAP clients and calendar apps (Mozilla at least). Fully open source and works with most DBMSs IIRC.
I think this could be customized to your needs...
Similar threads
