I've been working on Disposable Tilescapes, which lets you create your own 1"-tiled dungeon maps (and eventually other stuff like starship floor maps). The online interface is very simple to use. You click on a tile and can choose a floor, wall, and prop (any combination of the three). This will also be low-priced, at less than $10 per set, with any set giving you access to the system. You can save and maps and download to PDF. An eventual feature will also be the ability to host your map online, move around counters (from your available Disposable Heroes Paper Minis sets); this will work in a live fashion, permitting others to see your map with counters.
There will basically be 3 types of sets:
1. Customizable Tiles: these are the floor and wall tiles that you can use to build your own map.
2. Build Your Own Tiles: upload your own floor and wall tiles for use with the customizable tiles.
3. Props: general items that can be overlaid over floors for added effect (build your own props are likely at some point).
4. Statix Maps: a collection of ready-made maps in a single download.
See attachment for sample.
So, my question is, what features would you like to see in such in a product?
The example looks great. I like the idea being able to build a map. But most of the time, I just want something without work. What I'd want is the ability to load from a selection of maps and then do a few tweaks to it. So, between a ready made map and build your own.
Yeah, I had already thought of it, but haven't coded it yet. It's on the to do list. In essence, you can save your own maps - what I want to do is allow people to save community maps, so that anyone who has the needed sets can access them.
Thanks.
I'd like to see the following:
*Environments beyond fantasy. I'd really like tiles that would allow me to run Mean Streets or Coyote Trail with less work than it currently would be.
*Exporting other than .PDF - I do most of my playing on virtual tabletops these days and it's easier to upload via .jpeg than .pdf. This would also allow me to do some tweaking via an image editor prior to uploading.
*A way to share maps with other GMs who own similar tile sets. If I make "Noir Streetcorner #4" with a Mean Streets set, it might encourage others to purchase the set if there was a repository of user-made maps. EDIT: looks like you're waaaaay ahead of me.
Yes, a starship set is in the works (this is really for the Warcosm Assault Minis games). Others will be as I figure out how to do them :)
It saves an image when saving the data - this is used for the preview and upcoming live battlemap feature. It wouldn't be much work to allow you to access the image.
Here's a screenshot of the design interface and one of the proposed live battlemap.
The ability to make your maps public, so anyone can edit and download them has been added (provided they have access to the required tile/prop sets).
You can also toggle between BW line art and Color (good for saving your ink when printing).
Am I the only one who does not like colour?
I would far prefer maps in black and white (mostly white).
I never have a colour printer, and even when I have access to one it becomes cost-prohibitive, and always seems wasteful to print.
Further, I can make notes on black and white, like an "X" in pencil telling me that wall previously exploded.
The product looks great, I just have a hate-on for the kind of over detail that comes with colour. I feel like the more detailed and "realistic" it looks the farther I am from the realm of imagination, the closer to the realm of "meh".
//Panjumanju
I hear you. That's why it toggles between BW line art and color.
Here's a BW version. Note that the outer area could just as easily be blank.
I'd like modern streets, with cars and street furniture.
Quote from: brettmb;691254Here's a BW version. Note that the outer area could just as easily be blank.
That's awesome.
Thanks, I may be able to use this.
//Panjumanju
Quote from: APN;691269I'd like modern streets, with cars and street furniture.
A tiles and props set is planned for that. Thanks.
EDIT: A chat system has been added to the Battlemap feature, so you can play live internet games over the internet: the host can move counters around the map and all users can chat. It is still primitive, but will be expanded over time.
I think the starship set will be nice, but I'm also interested in items such as diverse overland terrain (swamp, hill, coast, mountain, riverside).
This is going to be such a cool product. :)
Terrain is planned, but that's going to be tricky - I need to find a good way of doing it, so that it tiles well. Thanks!
This looks pretty cool - up until now I've mostly been using either pymapper or roll20's internal drawing program, and the latter one doesn't work so well.
Quote from: brettmb;691693Terrain is planned, but that's going to be tricky - I need to find a good way of doing it, so that it tiles well. Thanks!
WOTC Dungeons Tiles seem to do a good job of this. Perhaps look at them and see how they deal with the issue.
Quote from: estar;691697WOTC Dungeons Tiles seem to do a good job of this. Perhaps look at them and see how they deal with the issue.
I have. A slightly different style that just may work for the terrain.
I worked on the live battlemap feature today. Wow, did I do good :) The person hosting the maps can switch them on the fly, so it's dependent on the main user rather than individual maps. I also added a password capability and live notes along with the chat system.
Oh yeah, you can get early access for free (still two slots):
http://www.pigames.net/store/blog.php?entry=2150
So now that the public maps, dynamic battlemaps, and live chat are working, I'll be adding a dice roller to the system - shouldn't be too hard, as I'll utilize some of the code from PrecisRoller 2 (http://www.pigames.net/store/product_info.php?products_id=621).
The screenshot here is the battlemap host screen showing one of the community maps. The left side shows your available Disposable Heroes Paper Minis sets that can be used as counters on the map. The middle area is the map itself, with the chat area below it. Inside the chat area is the latest die roll. The right side lets you make the map live so that the battlemap client can access it, letting other players see it along with the the counters and dice. Below that is a notes area, the dice rolling setup, clients connected, and the list of available maps that can be loaded in the middle map area on the fly. Most of these sections can be toggled opened and closed. The dice images can be toggled on and off.
So, the system can handle basic die rolls: xDx ±x.
Quote from: brettmb;690864I've been working on Disposable Tilescapes, which lets you create your own 1"-tiled dungeon maps (and eventually other stuff like starship floor maps). The online interface is very simple to use. You click on a tile and can choose a floor, wall, and prop (any combination of the three). This will also be low-priced, at less than $10 per set, with any set giving you access to the system. You can save and maps and download to PDF. An eventual feature will also be the ability to host your map online, move around counters (from your available Disposable Heroes Paper Minis sets); this will work in a live fashion, permitting others to see your map with counters.
There will basically be 3 types of sets:
1. Customizable Tiles: these are the floor and wall tiles that you can use to build your own map.
2. Build Your Own Tiles: upload your own floor and wall tiles for use with the customizable tiles.
3. Props: general items that can be overlaid over floors for added effect (build your own props are likely at some point).
4. Statix Maps: a collection of ready-made maps in a single download.
See attachment for sample.
So, my question is, what features would you like to see in such in a product?
This seems interesting. Is this going to be hosted on a website or is it software?
Number two is of interest. Does that basically allow me to set the the shape and size of tiles (i.e. I need a 5x10 room)? Does it allow me to adjust materials like stone, wood, etc? If it can be used for online play, i definitely know some players who would be interested. I suppose that would be a big selling point for a lot of people, as online running of games is becoming more common.
This is web-hosted. Build your own tiles lets you upload your own artwork to fit in a standard tile, either a floor or a wall (upload your own props is also planned).
Disposable Tilescapes for Mac (http://www.pigames.net/store/product_info.php?cPath=114&products_id=819) (native Mac app) is now available with the Retro Dungeons tile pack. Use Customizable Disposable Heroes as counters in Battlemap mode.