Comments on: Uncharted Territory: Using the Fog of War in Your Campaign http://www.dungeonmastering.com/campaigns-adventures/uncharted-territory-using-the-fog-of-war-in-your-campaign The D&D Blog Fri, 10 Feb 2012 20:54:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: bitingback http://www.dungeonmastering.com/campaigns-adventures/uncharted-territory-using-the-fog-of-war-in-your-campaign#comment-8585 bitingback Wed, 15 Jul 2009 08:48:09 +0000 http://www.dungeonmastering.com/?p=1906#comment-8585 On a physical table, the DM can have a map of just the night's section, which can be covered in clear contact paper. Use some wipe off markers with some cotton balls to black out the map. Then, when you're ready for them to see things, wipe those sections clean, a little at a time. Add on at whim. On a physical table, the DM can have a map of just the night’s section, which can be covered in clear contact paper. Use some wipe off markers with some cotton balls to black out the map. Then, when you’re ready for them to see things, wipe those sections clean, a little at a time. Add on at whim.

]]> By: DandDGuy http://www.dungeonmastering.com/campaigns-adventures/uncharted-territory-using-the-fog-of-war-in-your-campaign#comment-8577 DandDGuy Tue, 14 Jul 2009 16:45:24 +0000 http://www.dungeonmastering.com/?p=1906#comment-8577 This is also successful in Ravenloft Campaigns. It can also be useful in other games as well such as Cyberpunk, and Vampire the Masquerade with a small group of players (Small Meaning Under 4 with 4 being Max). I have used it to great success but it takes effort on the part of the players and the DM and some just can't pull it off. This is also successful in Ravenloft Campaigns. It can also be useful in other games as well such as Cyberpunk, and Vampire the Masquerade with a small group of players (Small Meaning Under 4 with 4 being Max). I have used it to great success but it takes effort on the part of the players and the DM and some just can’t pull it off.

]]> By: Mike Strand http://www.dungeonmastering.com/campaigns-adventures/uncharted-territory-using-the-fog-of-war-in-your-campaign#comment-8574 Mike Strand Tue, 14 Jul 2009 02:21:50 +0000 http://www.dungeonmastering.com/?p=1906#comment-8574 That is the best use of the computer at the gaming table that I have heard yet! My gaming grognards, including myself, are all over 40 and we have an aversion to bringing computers to the gaming table as we feel that people interact more with theiir machines than with each other. In this case, we stand corrected. That is the best use of the computer at the gaming table that I have heard yet! My gaming grognards, including myself, are all over 40 and we have an aversion to bringing computers to the gaming table as we feel that people interact more with theiir machines than with each other.
In this case, we stand corrected.

]]> By: Zog http://www.dungeonmastering.com/campaigns-adventures/uncharted-territory-using-the-fog-of-war-in-your-campaign#comment-8573 Zog Tue, 14 Jul 2009 01:10:30 +0000 http://www.dungeonmastering.com/?p=1906#comment-8573 I happened to actually be planning a fog-of-war style dungeon crawl (or cavern in this case) before I read this last Friday. The cave was very dangerous and I planned on using the fog-of-war to keep everything in the party couldn't see a secret. So I figured I'd report my findings from last night. My method was purely on the computer. I made a photoshop (or I use GIMP) image with 2 layers: the dungeon floor plan, and an all black layer on top. I pre-erased the black around the entrance to designate the starting area and when the party moved, I'd fold my laptop down on the table so they could look onto it like a tablet and direct my mouse (by verbal command) as to where the party wanted to go and, based on my judgment of how far they could see, I would erase the black layer that hid the floor plan. I also had little images of treasures and creatures drawn on the floor plan to make it indicate when something of interest was found. The plan worked great, and there are still plenty of parts on the map that went unexplored. In fact, the concept itself scared the party so much that they split up into 3 groups based by Move Silent ranking (figuring that since they couldn't see, they best not be heard at all). Often they'd start to walk down one path but get too nervous and turn around, fearing the dark. Some times, they'd see one creature and charge into battle, allowing me to expand the fog of war to reveal 3 or 4 more creatures they hadn't seen much to their surprise (this also caused them to be more bold with their scouting before battles). Everyone seemed to enjoy it, and whenever it was time to move the party, everyone would get up out of their seat to get a view of my laptop screen. I'd be interested to hear of other ways this can be accomplished. I happened to actually be planning a fog-of-war style dungeon crawl (or cavern in this case) before I read this last Friday. The cave was very dangerous and I planned on using the fog-of-war to keep everything in the party couldn’t see a secret. So I figured I’d report my findings from last night.

My method was purely on the computer. I made a photoshop (or I use GIMP) image with 2 layers: the dungeon floor plan, and an all black layer on top. I pre-erased the black around the entrance to designate the starting area and when the party moved, I’d fold my laptop down on the table so they could look onto it like a tablet and direct my mouse (by verbal command) as to where the party wanted to go and, based on my judgment of how far they could see, I would erase the black layer that hid the floor plan. I also had little images of treasures and creatures drawn on the floor plan to make it indicate when something of interest was found.

The plan worked great, and there are still plenty of parts on the map that went unexplored. In fact, the concept itself scared the party so much that they split up into 3 groups based by Move Silent ranking (figuring that since they couldn’t see, they best not be heard at all). Often they’d start to walk down one path but get too nervous and turn around, fearing the dark. Some times, they’d see one creature and charge into battle, allowing me to expand the fog of war to reveal 3 or 4 more creatures they hadn’t seen much to their surprise (this also caused them to be more bold with their scouting before battles).

Everyone seemed to enjoy it, and whenever it was time to move the party, everyone would get up out of their seat to get a view of my laptop screen. I’d be interested to hear of other ways this can be accomplished.

]]> By: Narishma http://www.dungeonmastering.com/campaigns-adventures/uncharted-territory-using-the-fog-of-war-in-your-campaign#comment-8564 Narishma Sat, 11 Jul 2009 01:48:01 +0000 http://www.dungeonmastering.com/?p=1906#comment-8564 I really enjoyed the article. A real thought provoker. I have personally never used this in 9 years of gaming, bu as i am looking for something new to freak my players out with for our next campaign this article might turn out to be mighty handy. the only thing that worries me about this idea is if the players start over compensating for their lack of knowledge. my group tend to have over exagerated survival instincts (can't think why =P) and i worry that their 5 person group might start buyingwagons and donkeys to carry supplies that they might need, in case say they get lost in a desert or something I really enjoyed the article. A real thought provoker. I have personally never used this in 9 years of gaming, bu as i am looking for something new to freak my players out with for our next campaign this article might turn out to be mighty handy.

the only thing that worries me about this idea is if the players start over compensating for their lack of knowledge. my group tend to have over exagerated survival instincts (can’t think why =P) and i worry that their 5 person group might start buyingwagons and donkeys to carry supplies that they might need, in case say they get lost in a desert or something

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