This is incredibly helpful. A lot of the time the focus on battlemaps in VTT gets in the way of the imagination. And there’s the pressure in VTT to always have a map to look at. An atmospheric picture is the solution. The idea of using animations and lighting over a static picture really adds atmosphere as well. This way of presenting was the missing part of VTT for me. Many thanks.
Thank you for watching my video. A big part of D&D is the theater of the mind. I find this is very helpful. I will be making another video with a step-by-step.
I have never had so many D: moments as from the tips that this King provides. I've watched two videos so far, stumbling on it for lighting help. Not only have you approached it in a brilliant way, but you have me wanting to revamp my approach. Looking forward to your Saltmarsh project.
Oh god, I needed to see this. I used to play like this with a Discord stream from a localised Tabletop on my PC. I migrated to Foundry and, though I love its functionality, I've been looking for a way to get my players away from the idea of playing it like a videogame on a top-down map. Thank you, sir
Thank you for watching. If you want a more detailed video, with step-by-step and examples - you can see it here. ruclips.net/video/fjZpUm_IAuw/видео.html
This is Beyond amazing and helpful! I have been using Zoom and Dynamic Dungeons, and a friend just introduced me to Foundry. My biggest complaint or gripe is how having to use digital tools breaks the Theater of the Mind ambiance. But you figured out how to actually enhance it! This is Fantastic and you just convinced me to dump my old ways and to start learning how to use Foundry! Thank you for appreciating the need for Theater of the Mind gaming!!!
This is absolutely amazing advice. I've been using static images for my TOTM maps, but I see adding the characters, some lighting, some fx would really go a long way. Most of my maps are top-down, and I find my players tend to see every encounter as a board game /video game obstacle that must be killed. I'm going to try to use more of these maps in the future whenever possible. Subscribed! Going to start binging your videos now.
Awesome Idea, I was wondering how to pull ToM off in a still interactive way. One addition I would bring to that would be to not have the invisible wall for some ToM Scenes, e.g. the tavern doesnt need to restrict the players there because they could "sit" at the tables or the counter to better represent the current state, same goes a "in the streets" scenes where they could be talking to different persons or go to POIs in the "distance".
I only put the glass wall in to herd my cats from wandering around or set up a marching order. However, it might be fun to let them go into certain areas as well. Thanks for watching and sharing your ideas.
Awesome vid. I do interactions like this for role play with fantasy images but haven't done battle yet. I will now. I'm still in roll20 because I have invested a lot of money into assets/books and was wondering if you can do your glass wall in roll20. I put up an image for skill checks/ theater of the mind and want to be able to keep players locked at the bottom of the screen like you did.
I am not familiar with Roll 20 enough to know. However, there is a module for Foundry that allows you to port over your Roll 20 assets. I have not used it, but I have heard about it for those who have converted. Thank you for watching.
Would you be able to share which module you are using for the token stats tooltip and for your interface skin? It could be also interesting to have a video about what modules you use and that you think are interesting and useful (just an idea...).
Thank you. Most of my scenes are taken from google image searches. I use search terms like: Fantasy Store, Fantasy Shop, Fantasy Woods, etc. Here are a couple of links to some that I use. Hope this helps and thanks for watching. jacobscaifenextgen.files.wordpress.com/2016/03/shop_screenshot.png 3.bp.blogspot.com/-gZ1rUwC_Jck/UVp2LvcnYTI/AAAAAAAAC0k/97Dc3mWyvBE/s1600/Earthdawn%2BForge%2B02.jpg
@@kelanel I use JamesRPGART for all my Curse of Strahd - which match beautifully and are both static and animated. In addition - he is making maps for other D&D locations. Here is the link to his Pateron www.patreon.com/jamesrpgart
Great video, I will be using this for my own game! Could you tell me how you got the animated fog effect? And also what module you are using for the special effects. If you plan on putting out more videos like this you could refference the relevant modules in the discribtion maybe.
Thank you for your response and suggestions. I will update the description. In the meantime - here is the list of modules I use and what they are for. I hope this helps and thank you for watching. Modules: Dancing Lights (firelight) FXMaster (clouds, fog, and other special effects) Lootsheet NPC (shop keeper) Grid Scale Menu (for grid sizing maps
Awesome info, I've recently delved into Foundry. When looking for these theatre of the mind references, what do you search for or what do you utilize. They are all real great.
When I search on google images I tend to have better success with using the word "Fantasy". "fantasy shop" "fantasy library" Think of a few descriptors - but fantasy seems to work best.
Pyram thanks for doing this. I'm really wanting to use VTT, but I find them immersion breaking. I feel like I'm no longer roleplaying a crazy imaginary story, but instead I'm playing a complicated board game. I fee "immersed" in the map, and not the story anymore. But when I play without these maps, my imagination is going CRAZY, like if I were reading a book. I wanna know how to get the best out of both worlds. Do you have any pointers? Maybe only breaking out the maps during encounters? Using more matte paintings and concept art style shots?
Thanks for watching. I tend to lean into the players style. Players want more heavy RP sessions then we go theater of the mind. They spent one entire session on one theater of the mind map, discussing plans and what has happened in our CoS campaign. Sometimes it is battlemaps exploring. If find a mix of both, but I do very much like the Theater of the Mind Maps. Not sure if you watched any of my Curse of Strahd guides but I do a lot lore/backstory and use James RPG ART for my Theater of the Mind. Here is the Wactherhaus to get an idea how I put mine together. ruclips.net/video/Awxy5TJNVvs/видео.html
Thanks for watching. When I search on google images I tend to have better success with using the word "Fantasy". "fantasy shop" "fantasy library" Think of a few descriptors - but fantasy seems to work best.
The list of items I just dragged and drop from the SRD compendium. I use Loot Sheet. There is a separate video on the Shop Keeper I made. Thanks for watching
This may be a stupid question, but where do you get those wonderful static images from? Did you find them online, commission an online artist or create them yourself?
This is excellent. Might run my SotDL games like this. Question. What module did you use for the special effects? Looks like that might be an add-on module?
@Lord Gwydion Here is a list of all the Modules I use. Actually Private Rolls (to hide GM roles) Ambient Doors (creates sounds to open/close doors) Better Rolls for 5e (improved rolling - helps with combat, crits, etc.) Chat Portrait (chat bubble on icon) Combat Ready! (a combat countdown - I give my players only 1 minute to complete a turn in combat) Compendium Folders (helps organize the Compendium for me and my players) Dancing Lights (for animated fire) Dice So Nice (to see the dice when rolling) Dice Tray (creates an easy to use dice tray in the lower right) Dynamic Effects (for special effects) Ernie's Modern UI (for customizing the UI) Follow Me! (to have a NPC follow a character - we are playing with a dog who follows the character) Forien's Easy Polls (if a player want to have a poll) FXMaster (fog, clouds, etc.) GM Notes (For notes in my journal that players cannot read) Let Me Roll That For You (I can send a message to a player to roll for saving throws, checks, and other needs) Loot Sheet NPC 5e (for creating the shop keeper) Multilevel Tokens (for creating traps, moving between floors) Pick-Up-Stix (for creating containers - like chests, footlockers and other things for loot and gold) Polygot (for writing in different D&D languages) Tidy UI (helps with the UI) Tidy5e Sheet (my favorite character sheet - allows players to keep journals in their character sheets) Token Action HUD (creates a HUD - great for a DM to roll for NPCs without having to open a character sheet) Token Tooltip (pop-up with info about characters - like their AC, HP, etc) Turn Marker (for marking the player during their combat turn) VTT ASSETS modules (for porting D&D Beyond and Iconizer and Tokenizer) I hope this helps. Thanks again for your interest.
I use James RPG ART (Patreon) for my Curse of Strahd. The others I use Google Image Search and mostly use the term "fantasy" in the search. Thanks for watching.
Most of them are from searching Google Images and using the word "Fantasy" as one of the descriptors. In addition, I recommend Jamesrpgart, he has a Patreon page with both static and animated DND images. Thanks for watching.
This is incredibly helpful. A lot of the time the focus on battlemaps in VTT gets in the way of the imagination. And there’s the pressure in VTT to always have a map to look at. An atmospheric picture is the solution. The idea of using animations and lighting over a static picture really adds atmosphere as well. This way of presenting was the missing part of VTT for me. Many thanks.
Thank you for watching my video.
A big part of D&D is the theater of the mind. I find this is very helpful.
I will be making another video with a step-by-step.
I made a step-by-step video and include the modules used. Hope this helps. ruclips.net/video/fjZpUm_IAuw/видео.html
This is really a nice touch. I've seen some folks just put up a theater of the mind picture and do nothing w/ it. What you have done is really nice.
Thanks for watching.
I have never had so many D: moments as from the tips that this King provides. I've watched two videos so far, stumbling on it for lighting help. Not only have you approached it in a brilliant way, but you have me wanting to revamp my approach. Looking forward to your Saltmarsh project.
Thanks for watching and your kind words.
Oh god, I needed to see this. I used to play like this with a Discord stream from a localised Tabletop on my PC. I migrated to Foundry and, though I love its functionality, I've been looking for a way to get my players away from the idea of playing it like a videogame on a top-down map.
Thank you, sir
Thank you for watching. I have a few other tip videos you may find helpful.
This is excellent. So simple, but very effective!
Thank you for watching.
I'm here thanks to youtube recommendations, and this way of setting up the theater of the mind in foundryvtt s awesome! Thanks
Thanks for watching.
EXACTLY what I was looking for! Thanks!
Thank you for watching. If you want a more detailed video, with step-by-step and examples - you can see it here. ruclips.net/video/fjZpUm_IAuw/видео.html
This goes really well with Dungeon World and other PbtA titles... Most of the time it's going to be theater of the mind
Thanks for watching. I am a fan of Dungeon World and PbtA.
This is Beyond amazing and helpful! I have been using Zoom and Dynamic Dungeons, and a friend just introduced me to Foundry. My biggest complaint or gripe is how having to use digital tools breaks the Theater of the Mind ambiance. But you figured out how to actually enhance it! This is Fantastic and you just convinced me to dump my old ways and to start learning how to use Foundry! Thank you for appreciating the need for Theater of the Mind gaming!!!
Thanks for watching - I have made several Theater of the Mind Map (ToTM) videos.
Amazing and creative approach! Thanks for the idea 8)
This also makes the game much more immersive and attractive for people watching the games on youtube or twitch.
Different perspective. Thanks for sharing. I can see putting in range increments as a way to keep track of “I move up...I should be able to....
This is absolutely amazing advice. I've been using static images for my TOTM maps, but I see adding the characters, some lighting, some fx would really go a long way. Most of my maps are top-down, and I find my players tend to see every encounter as a board game /video game obstacle that must be killed. I'm going to try to use more of these maps in the future whenever possible.
Subscribed! Going to start binging your videos now.
Thank you for watching.
This is amazing! What a great idea. I will use this for sure.
Thanks very much for this, very helpful.
Thanks for watching. I made some videos on lighting Theater of the Mind and making Theater of the Mind.
Wow awesome advice! Keep them coming, I very appreciate it!
Recently made an update to lighting theater of the mind maps - here: ruclips.net/video/QNMxFML02BI/видео.html
Thanks for watching.
Simple and great idea.
I think these are brilliant
Really helpful-am experimenting with mixing some of these scenes in .
Awesome Idea, I was wondering how to pull ToM off in a still interactive way. One addition I would bring to that would be to not have the invisible wall for some ToM Scenes, e.g. the tavern doesnt need to restrict the players there because they could "sit" at the tables or the counter to better represent the current state, same goes a "in the streets" scenes where they could be talking to different persons or go to POIs in the "distance".
I only put the glass wall in to herd my cats from wandering around or set up a marching order. However, it might be fun to let them go into certain areas as well. Thanks for watching and sharing your ideas.
This is awesome! I love it.
Awesome vid. I do interactions like this for role play with fantasy images but haven't done battle yet. I will now. I'm still in roll20 because I have invested a lot of money into assets/books and was wondering if you can do your glass wall in roll20. I put up an image for skill checks/ theater of the mind and want to be able to keep players locked at the bottom of the screen like you did.
I am not familiar with Roll 20 enough to know. However, there is a module for Foundry that allows you to port over your Roll 20 assets. I have not used it, but I have heard about it for those who have converted. Thank you for watching.
Would you be able to share which module you are using for the token stats tooltip and for your interface skin?
It could be also interesting to have a video about what modules you use and that you think are interesting and useful (just an idea...).
It is called "Token Tooltip" - I will be making a video of modules I use - thanks for the suggestion.
Awesome video Thank you! Where do you get the items the merchant sells?
I imported the items from the DND Beyond SRD. I believe the module is DND Beyond Importer.
Thanks for watching.
This is awesome can i ask what module you use for the flicker for torches?
Dancing Lights by Blitz
Thanks for watching the video.
I made a step-by-step video and include the modules used. Hope this helps. ruclips.net/video/fjZpUm_IAuw/видео.html
Great video. Got some theater of the mind map sources I can scour through?
Thank you.
Most of my scenes are taken from google image searches.
I use search terms like:
Fantasy Store, Fantasy Shop, Fantasy Woods, etc.
Here are a couple of links to some that I use. Hope this helps and thanks for watching.
jacobscaifenextgen.files.wordpress.com/2016/03/shop_screenshot.png
3.bp.blogspot.com/-gZ1rUwC_Jck/UVp2LvcnYTI/AAAAAAAAC0k/97Dc3mWyvBE/s1600/Earthdawn%2BForge%2B02.jpg
Ah okay. I was thinking maybe a patreon artist or something would be doing setting art like this but that works. Thanks again
@@kelanel I use JamesRPGART for all my Curse of Strahd - which match beautifully and are both static and animated. In addition - he is making maps for other D&D locations.
Here is the link to his Pateron www.patreon.com/jamesrpgart
Great video, I will be using this for my own game! Could you tell me how you got the animated fog effect? And also what module you are using for the special effects. If you plan on putting out more videos like this you could refference the relevant modules in the discribtion maybe.
Thank you for your response and suggestions. I will update the description.
In the meantime - here is the list of modules I use and what they are for. I hope this helps and thank you for watching.
Modules:
Dancing Lights (firelight)
FXMaster (clouds, fog, and other special effects)
Lootsheet NPC (shop keeper)
Grid Scale Menu (for grid sizing maps
I made a step-by-step video and include the modules used. Hope this helps. ruclips.net/video/fjZpUm_IAuw/видео.html
@@PyramKing Thanks a lot for the effort!
Awesome info, I've recently delved into Foundry. When looking for these theatre of the mind references, what do you search for or what do you utilize. They are all real great.
When I search on google images I tend to have better success with using the word "Fantasy".
"fantasy shop"
"fantasy library"
Think of a few descriptors - but fantasy seems to work best.
AMAZING CONTENT! Liked and subbed. The player tokens, where did you get those?
The player tokens come from the reroll ap.
www.reroll.co/
You can custom make various player tokens.
Thanks for watching.
This is great, thank you!
What is the shop picture that you show at 9:00? I'd love to use it in my game :)
I found it here: vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/miradelphia/images/7/7d/Pharmacy_by_realnam-d6rvlo6.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20150330181302&path-prefix=fr
Great video! I just tried to do it myself and the scene size got all weird in Foundry. Is there somethign I'm missing?
great ideas
Pyram thanks for doing this. I'm really wanting to use VTT, but I find them immersion breaking. I feel like I'm no longer roleplaying a crazy imaginary story, but instead I'm playing a complicated board game. I fee "immersed" in the map, and not the story anymore. But when I play without these maps, my imagination is going CRAZY, like if I were reading a book. I wanna know how to get the best out of both worlds. Do you have any pointers? Maybe only breaking out the maps during encounters? Using more matte paintings and concept art style shots?
Thanks for watching.
I tend to lean into the players style.
Players want more heavy RP sessions then we go theater of the mind. They spent one entire session on one theater of the mind map, discussing plans and what has happened in our CoS campaign.
Sometimes it is battlemaps exploring.
If find a mix of both, but I do very much like the Theater of the Mind Maps.
Not sure if you watched any of my Curse of Strahd guides but I do a lot lore/backstory and use James RPG ART for my Theater of the Mind.
Here is the Wactherhaus to get an idea how I put mine together.
ruclips.net/video/Awxy5TJNVvs/видео.html
@@PyramKing I'll check this out. Thanks for the reply 👍 😀
Where do you find those amazing backgorund images ?
Thanks for watching.
When I search on google images I tend to have better success with using the word "Fantasy".
"fantasy shop"
"fantasy library"
Think of a few descriptors - but fantasy seems to work best.
Great as always ! I was wondering how you did that shop list of goods that the PJ can buy ? is that a module or something ?
The list of items I just dragged and drop from the SRD compendium. I use Loot Sheet.
There is a separate video on the Shop Keeper I made.
Thanks for watching
@@PyramKing thanx, i have the bad taste to GM on Roll20 so i don't know if it will work !
whats the module which allows the buttons on the top for inventory, spells, features etc?
This may be a stupid question, but where do you get those wonderful static images from? Did you find them online, commission an online artist or create them yourself?
I found them online with a quick Google search. Thanks for watching.
This is excellent. Might run my SotDL games like this. Question. What module did you use for the special effects? Looks like that might be an add-on module?
@Lord Gwydion
Here is a list of all the Modules I use.
Actually Private Rolls (to hide GM roles)
Ambient Doors (creates sounds to open/close doors)
Better Rolls for 5e (improved rolling - helps with combat, crits, etc.)
Chat Portrait (chat bubble on icon)
Combat Ready! (a combat countdown - I give my players only 1 minute to complete a turn in combat)
Compendium Folders (helps organize the Compendium for me and my players)
Dancing Lights (for animated fire)
Dice So Nice (to see the dice when rolling)
Dice Tray (creates an easy to use dice tray in the lower right)
Dynamic Effects (for special effects)
Ernie's Modern UI (for customizing the UI)
Follow Me! (to have a NPC follow a character - we are playing with a dog who follows the character)
Forien's Easy Polls (if a player want to have a poll)
FXMaster (fog, clouds, etc.)
GM Notes (For notes in my journal that players cannot read)
Let Me Roll That For You (I can send a message to a player to roll for saving throws, checks, and other needs)
Loot Sheet NPC 5e (for creating the shop keeper)
Multilevel Tokens (for creating traps, moving between floors)
Pick-Up-Stix (for creating containers - like chests, footlockers and other things for loot and gold)
Polygot (for writing in different D&D languages)
Tidy UI (helps with the UI)
Tidy5e Sheet (my favorite character sheet - allows players to keep journals in their character sheets)
Token Action HUD (creates a HUD - great for a DM to roll for NPCs without having to open a character sheet)
Token Tooltip (pop-up with info about characters - like their AC, HP, etc)
Turn Marker (for marking the player during their combat turn)
VTT ASSETS modules (for porting D&D Beyond and Iconizer and Tokenizer)
I hope this helps.
Thanks again for your interest.
I made a step-by-step video and include the modules used. Hope this helps. ruclips.net/video/fjZpUm_IAuw/видео.html
Where do you get the images? Just search online? Any specific websites your use?
I use James RPG ART (Patreon) for my Curse of Strahd.
The others I use Google Image Search and mostly use the term "fantasy" in the search.
Thanks for watching.
These images are really cool, where did you get them?
Most of them are from searching Google Images and using the word "Fantasy" as one of the descriptors. In addition, I recommend Jamesrpgart, he has a Patreon page with both static and animated DND images. Thanks for watching.
@@PyramKing thanks!
Where did you get those... tokens
I made them on ReRoll www.reroll.co/