Ironwood Omnimedia

I was hoping to have some good screen shots to show concerning this article. However, I spent the better part of last week engaged in a serious migraine battle that threatened to put me back in the hospital. I think we have the problem identified with this and should have it resolved this week. However, that slowed down some progress. However, the Digital GM Screen is a huge addition to the CRM. Its potential is immense. It not only handles basic information, but it also has tools to allow you to run some amazing scenarios that would just be too cumbersome to do without it.

The Digital GM Screen was a last minute addition to the CRM. It actually evolved from an idea to allow GMs to use the CRM to easily add awards and logs to a DPnP character created with the Character Manager. The idea was that players can send the GM their character files, the GM then uploads them to the CRM while running the game. As events play out the GM can quickly click on characters and do things like add items, experience awards, and take them away as well. A little text box allows the GM to add a note as to why this was awarded, logging it into the player’s character log. 

Initially these were added directly to the character file. We started adding little things to make life a bit easier as well. We added a virtual dice cup, because it was easy to code in. We also added a tool to make target levels. We even added an option to create target levels based on a character’s specific difficulty, rather than an abstract difficulty that is usually done. Then we added function to the dice roller that would compare it to the target level and give you a success, failure, and the success and failure level.

As you can see, things started to evolve quickly. Furthermore, it started to look a little strange in the wizard. We thought to cut it, but it just seemed like something that should stay. Then we got another idea: manage combat initiate.

Now, in hindsight, that was probably something we should have not thought of. The problem is scope. How far is far enough? When do you finally have enough functionality in it and don’t run the risk of 100 requests for more features in it until you have what is basically a virtual table top? So, what we did do is treat like a list. The first step is to allow you to add campaign NPCs as well as access to the NPC wizard to add new NPCs. You also need to be able to quickly add multiple versions of the same NPC. Lastly, it should organize a list of combatants in order, but allow the GM to alter the order as needed based on surprise or any other situational modifiers.

So, after you set up an initial list you can then click a name and select an action, or a custom action level. This sets the character as being in an action phase. The character’s button changes colors to reflect this and the button moves down the initiative list to the coincide with the combat round in which the action resolves.

This way, the GM only needs to interact with the character whose button is at the top of the list. However, he can cancel, or change any initiative as needed. Furthermore, simple actions, such as drawing a weapon, movement, etc. are automatically calculated by the CRM by taking these straight from the character. For instance, attacking with a sword for one character may have an action level of 4. When the character declares the action the button changes to reflect the character is in an action phase (performing the action but not having resolved it yet) and the button moves down the list 4 levels (or last if 4 levels are not present).

At any point a character can change his action by cancelling it. When he or she does so the action is canceled and the characters declaration is moved to the top of the list. The character can now declare a new action.

GMs can also use the dice roller to automatically roll dice for the character’s test. This is mostly used for NPCs, as players prefer to roll their own tests. However, GMs may determine that certain tests should be out of the player’s hands such as with detection.

This combat manager takes the sorting and ordering of actions and simplifies it, and virtually takes it away. The GM doesn’t have to fuss over action levels or initiative values as the combat manager can do that for him/her. It allows the GM to focus on the action, and resolving it, which also means the GM can manage much larger encounters. PCs can now face hordes of enemies that the GM doesn’t have to cringe to resolve. Furthermore it helps to add in bonuses such as success levels by doing the calculations quickly and easily. This way your player won’t have missed an opportunity to add 3 more points to damage after scoring that incredible attack roll.

The CRM’s Digital GM Screen goes beyond a typical GM screen. It takes the tables and graphs and whatnots that flood the tri-folding piece of cardboard and converts it into an actual assistant to the GMs efforts. Furthermore, it adds easy tracking of events and developments for exp and other awards so that players, and more importantly the GM, can always know how that greatsword was acquired or how that skill suddenly seems much more effective after 3 game sessions. By logging these awards, and the Character Manager logging how they are spent, it makes record keeping as simple as possible.

The future is looking better with new features already installed in the CRM. When the final clean up is finished we can get closer to pegging a release and get this gaming revolution going.

Until then, Happy Gaming!

This entry was posted on Monday, September 21st, 2009 at 9:01 am and is filed under Campaign Resource Manager, Developer Blog, DPnP. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.