Questions on mapping for VTT

[Badger]

Finally my plan is to create around 25 maps of my hand-drawn style, along with 200+ map objects formatted for use in MapTool free VTT application. And sell it for $5 from my site.

I'm not the greatest in math and economics ... but that just seems a little low for the amount of work entailed... don't get me wrong.. I like the price, and would probably jump on a deal like that... just seems like your selling yourself a little short is all...

[Gamerprinter]

I agree that that much work is worth more than $5 per adventure, however, I am not WotC or Green Ronin or Paizo, I'm just little ole' unheard of me. So as a publisher, who no one's heard of - its hard to assign $19.95 or any other price, because no one's going to buy.

As a "loss leader" that is, something to get buyers into the store to look at my wares, by making a insanely low purchase. I can get people to make a purchase, that might otherwise not want to invest in what they don't know.

On the extreme side, if 5,000 people ordered the adventure (not very likely) that's $25K - certainly a worthy profit. If no one buys, it was an experiment worth the effort all the same.

[loogie]

I think your idea of supplying map objects for use in VTT's would be extremely popular, there are many, MANY collections of tokens for sale (the pc's and npc images, most that are pay are top down 3d renders) but there are very few collections of straight objects... i know i like my maps to look uniform, and its very difficult to get a few images made from one source never mind enough to run campaigns... and i don't like throwing in different artists objects because in most cases, different styles = different look and feel... and makes they seem out of place.

As for pricing, I don't think its all that unrealistic... your not making commercial adventures and your using a free VTT client, so the main reason to pay for it is your creativity and artwork... token packs from four ugly monsters and such go for about $4 a pack, and there are a number of images in a pack... I think its very reasonable, and as long as your getting it out there you'll get some sales, and it will also add to your experience so you can end up making much more complex, involved adventures that you can charge more for.

[Gamerprinter]

and it will also add to your experience so you can end up making much more complex, involved adventures that you can charge more for.

Exactly, if I can sell and get a name for quality material, the next adventure could be priced higher and more likely to sell!

[GM's Apprentice]

Thanks for this thread. I would like to know more about VTTs in general, since I've not used one.

Does anyone know if there is a table that lists the best resolution for maps for each of the VTTs?

I'll look through the other threads before asking for recommendations.

[Gamerprinter]

These are the kinds of responses I'm getting at RPTools.net forums...

Phergus responded: IMO, you should design for users running the base MapTool config of 256MB.

With that base, the practical limit for loading a single map is 5000x5000. You'll still have enough memory to load tokens and the odd smallish object.

At 50 pixels/grid and a 5' grid, that would be a 500' x 500' map.

IMO, 200 pixels/grid is overkill on maps in a VTT. With no other UI elements cluttering up the display on a 1920x1200 display they would be looking at a 9x6 section of the map when at a 1:1 zoom.

That's not to say that creating the maps in that resolution wouldn't be a good idea as it does provide users more options. If the source maps in the PDF are at that resolution while the included campaign file uses 50 pixels/grid (or somewhere in that ballpark) then everything is good.

Now that is for fixed or bounded maps.

For unbounded maps (using a repeating texture as a background) you memory limitation is that same you just have to keep the total for all your graphics done under the equivalent of that 5kx5k map.

Zgros wrote: You can also try the "encounter" format where you have one overview map (perhaps at a lower res) for the group's movement and then each tactical encounter has its own map at full/higher res.

If it were me, I'd have a poetic overview map of the swamp. This allows the group to see the big picture. You can even use a token to indicate their current location.

Then you could have 3 or 4 generic "swamp encounter" tactical maps that the GM could pick to handle any random encounters.

Then you'd have your X static encounter tactical maps for when the group arrives at your points of interest.

In summary, I think having one mega-map that the group travels across and you try to fit everything onto is not a great idea. Lots and lots of scrolling and all you get is lots of lots of black areas on the screen.

Torstan added: For your swamp adventure I would usually have three levels of map. One level shows the swamp in the wider world. The next shows as much information as they know about the swamp, and their rough location in it - think the rough overland maps from Dungeon magazine adventures. The GM view can have much more info on it, and can be revealed as they explore more and more. Finally the individual tactical maps should show the planned encounters, and a few random encounter sites for when they go off-piste.

(Some good stuff here!)

GM's Aprentice, check out the DPI vs. PPI discussion in the software discussion forums - great info about VTT maps there...

[RPMiller]

Thanks for this thread. I would like to know more about VTTs in general, since I've not used one.

Does anyone know if there is a table that lists the best resolution for maps for each of the VTTs?

I'll look through the other threads before asking for recommendations.

Hopefully this link will help somewhat:
http://www.battlegroundsgames.com/links.html#anchor6

Also, try this one it is a site devoted to the VTT community:
http://www.fouruglymonsters.com/