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{{Languages|Introduction to Mapping}}
{{Languages|Introduction to Game Hosting}}
{{#customtitle:Introduzione al Mapping|Introduzione al Mapping}}
{{#customtitle:Introduzione al Game Hosting|Introduzione al Game Hosting}}
[[Category:MapTool]][[Category:Tutorial]]{{Beginner}}__TOC__
[[Category:MapTool]][[Category:Tutorial]]{{Beginner}}__TOC__


==Introduction==
==Introduction==


===First Things First: What is MapTool?===
As seen in the [[Introduction_to_Mapping|Introduction to Mapping]], MapTool lets you create virtual maps and virtual "miniatures" (which are known in MapTool jargon as [[Introduction_to_Tokens|tokens]]) to be used for playing a roleplaying game session, much like you would use a real map and real miniatures on a tabletop. In fact, that's why we call MapTool a "virtual tabletop," or "VTT." In this guide, we'll walk through MapTool's fundamental reason to be: sharing a map with other players via the Internet.
 
Although you probably have an idea what MapTool is and does, I just want to take a moment to reinforce the main goal of MapTool:
 
<p align="center">'''MapTool is a program that helps you share a "virtual tabletop" with your friends, so you can play games on it.''' </p>
 
That is what MapTool does, and its features are aimed at providing a continuum of options, from the simple to the complex, to achieve that goal.
 
In all the talk of macros and properties and tables and scripting that will follow in this and other guides, don't lose sight of the reason you're checking MapTool out anyway: it's a way to play games with friends.
 
===About this Guide===
 
The purpose of this guide is not to delve into the seamy underbelly of MapTool's macro scripting system, lighting, properties, or any of that complex stuff. Instead, this guide should get you started on the path of using MapTool as a ''mapping'' program for role-playing games. Other guides address topics like [[Introduction_to_Game_Hosting|hosting an online game]], [[Introduction_to_Tokens|working with tokens]], [[Introduction_to_Lighting_and_Vision|setting up vision and light]], and [[Introduction_to_Macro_Writing|writing macros]].
 
The following instructions should get you up and running with MapTool to use as a battle mapping/general mapping tool. This assumes a few things:


# You know how to create or get some map images. There are terabytes (exabytes! yottabytes!) of map images out there on the web. Check out the [http://gallery.rptools.net RPTools Gallery] or [http://www.rpgmapshare.com RPGMapShare] for tons of way cool images.
'''Note:''' MapTool is not ''only'' useful for online play - many people use it for their face to face sessions too, because you can do things with a virtual map that you can't do with a physical one. Also, you're less likely to dump Mountain Dew on it. However, this guide will assume that you're playing online.  
# You can run MapTool on your computer. MapTool requires Java 1.5 to be installed on your machine; it's up to you to go find and handle that business.


So here we go. To begin with, the no-brainers:
The Introduction to Mapping guided you through the basic steps to get MapTool, open it up, and put a map and some tokens on it. It also talked about saving Campaign Files, how you can move and zoom the map, and how to move tokens around. These are essential features of the program, without which none of the rest would be worth reading about!


# Get MapTool from http://rptools.net. The latest "build" version of MapTool can always be found at the top of [http://www.rptools.net/index.php?page=downloads#MapTool this list]. Currently, the latest build is 1.3.b56. '''NOTE''': You can also run the [http://www.rptools.net/index.php?page=launch Java WebStart] to run MapTool without downloading and unzipping the file.
Since hosting is no fun without people connecting to your game, the last section of this guide covers how to connect to a MapTool server. You'll need to tell your friends how to do that, so make sure to read that section!
# If you download the zip file of MapTool, unzip it somewhere on your computer and make sure it runs. The built in .bat files set some parameters when you run, like allocated memory and so forth. It will run if you double-click on the .jar file, but it will give you warnings. If you use Windows, you can use the Windows Launcher as well, which makes altering the settings very convenient.


Now, let's get some useful mapping going.
Finally, since this guide is about ''hosting'' an online game, "you" will always mean "the person who is running the server."


==Getting Images into your MapTool Resource Library==
==Architecture==


MapTool's '''Resource Library''' is actually a collection of "pointers" or "links" to folders on your computer containing images you want to use with MapTool. MapTool comes with a default set of images, but you can add any images you wish - you are in control of what images are available to MapTool.  
When used for online gaming, MapTool uses a ''client-server'' architecture. In other words, one person (usually the GM, but not always) uses MapTool to start a ''server'', and the other people in the group then connect to that server as ''clients''.  
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[[Image:Mt-f-addtoreslib.jpg‎|thumb|File menu showing '''Add to Resource Library''']]
Once you start the server and everyone is connected, the campaign file (with all the maps, tokens, and other info) is then shared among all the players, so that everyone sees the same map and can watch as they and their friends move tokens around, enter text in the chat window, and have a great time.  


[[Image:File-dialog.jpg|thumb|'''Load Asset Tree''' dialog]]
==A Word About Networking Stuff==


1. Obtain some images (maps, for instance) from somewhere: these can be downloaded off the web, or created by you. Put them in a directory where you'll remember them - this directory is important for step 3.
One of the challenges in setting up a MapTool game (like many client-server applications, including many other Virtual Tabletop programs) is configuring your home network to permit your friends to connect to your MapTool server.  


2. Open MapTool.
There are several ways to set up your network to allow Maptool to be hosted over the internet. UPnP, port forwarding, or an external Virtual Private Networking software package. Depending on your computer, ISP, and hardware (such as cable/DSL modem and/or router), will determine which of these options will work for your setup - with the wide variation in home networks and networking hardware, it's not possible to give a single set of rules that will guarantee success.


3. Select '''File -> Add to Resource Library''' (shown below, left). This will open a dialog called '''Load Asset Tree''' (click on the thumbnails to see the full images to the right).
===UPnP===


4. In the dialog, go to the folder where you stored the map images you want to add, and click '''Open'''. MapTool will process the images in the directory, and add a new folder in the Resource Library tree.  
An alternative to port forwarding - if it's available on your router - is called ''UPnP'' (short for ''Universal Plug-and-Play''). This feature, instead of permanently saying "Port XYZ traffic goes here!", will instead tell the router "for a little while - while we're playing - I'm gonna have to go ahead and ask you to open up Port XYZ for us. That would be ''greeaaaat''."


'''NOTE''': The name of the directory in MapTool's Resource Library will be the same as the name of the directory you picked in step 3.  
In other words, it makes the handling of ports and incoming and outgoing traffic a little more seamless and simple. Of course, the downside is that not everything supports UPnP, and you'll have to figure out whether your network can do it. However, if your network hardware supports UPnP, it is ''by far'' the easiest way to get your MapTool server up and running.


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===Port Forwarding===


[[Image:Mtreslib.jpg|thumb|Folders in the MapTool Resource Library. These are pointers to folders on your hard drive.]]
For home networks that use a router or physical firewall, you will probably need to configure ''port forwarding.'' This is a mechanism by which information coming ''to'' your network, and arriving on a specific ''port'', is sent to the right place ''inside'' your network. This is important for you as the MapTool server person, since your friends need to be sending information to the right place!


5. Afterwards, if you select one of the folders in your resource library (as seen in the image below), you'll see thumbnails of the images inside that folder. NOTE: if your folder has subfolders, hit the '''+''' to expand that folder tree. Also, you won't need to add that directory again - MapTool remembers what you picked.
The specifics of configuring port forwarding will depend on your hardware, so you'll have to check your manual for that one. But the basic idea is that you indicate two things to the router/switch/firewall:


'''NOTE''': Because the folders that appear in the Resource Library are in reality pointers to folders on your hard drive, you don't need to worry that MapTool is duplicating every file -- the Resource Library is just a way for MapTool to know where the images are.
# Which port MapTool will use (more on MapTool ports later!) - this is telling the router "information will be coming in on Port XYZ; pay attention!"
# Which computer, inside the network, that information needs to go to - basically, "and when you see information coming in on Port XYZ, send it ''here''"
## Incidentally, setting up port forwarding also tells the router where it can stick ''outgoing'' information, too.  


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That is port forwarding in a nutshell, and the reason you need to set it up is that most routers (especially if they're configured securely and properly) are not going to just allow random incoming information to get through.


==Creating a Map==
===More and Better Networking Information===


[[Image:Map-newmap.jpg|thumb|The '''New Map''' menu item]]
I was all set to write an elaborate section on networking, when I realized that there is an excellent [http://forums.rptools.net/download/file.php?id=116 FAQ] written by Azhrei at the [http://forums.rptools.net MapTool Forums]. If you are unfamiliar with concepts like Port Forwarding, configuring your router, or how networks work (in general), please read the FAQ.


[[Image:Map-new-dialog.jpg|thumb|The '''Map Properties''' dialog]]
If you are familiar with network configuration and managing your home network (especially if you can set up software to act as a server, or have set up port forwarding on your network for other applications), setting up MapTool to act as a server will be old hat: you'll basically need to configure port forwarding or UPnP on your router to permit MapTool network traffic to pass.  


1. Go to '''Map -> New Map'''. This will bring up the ''Map Properties'' dialog.
If you need specific information on port forwarding configuration for your network hardware, check out [http://www.portforward.com Portforward.com] for an extensive collection of how-to documents for specific network hardware and specific software packages.


2. On the left hand side of the ''Map Properties'' dialog, you’ll see several options and text fields.
On the other hand, if all that stuff above made no sense to you: read the [http://forums.rptools.net/download/file.php?id=116 Networking FAQ]! All will be revealed!
 
* '''Name''': this is the map’s title. Note that if you select a map image, the title resets itself to the filename of the image. Best bet is to title the map ''last'', so you can call it something you like, instead of xqmap2.jpg or whatever it was originally called.
* '''Cell Type''': hex or square map, or no grid at all.
* '''Distance Per Cell''': this is how many arbitrary units each cell covers (''e.g.'', for Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edition, since everything is counted in squares, you can just set this to 1)
* '''Pixels per cell''': this is how many pixels each cell should cover – the default is 50. This is most important for scaling to map images you downloaded.
* '''Vision Distance''': MapTool has vision, fog-of-war, and other functions, so this indicates how far, by default, a character can see on the map.
 
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[[Image:Background-dialog.jpg|thumb|The '''Choose Background''' dialog]]
Now, let's get on with it.


3. Click the '''Background''' button. You’ll get a pop-up dialog offering several options. The background texture and/or color are infinitely tiled in all directions.
==Starting Up a MapTool Server==


* '''Swatch''': lets you use a uniform color as the map background.
===Assumptions===
**<font color="red">'''Warning:''' As recently as version 1.3.b53, if you select the top-leftmost swatch (the "white" swatch), MapTool will generate an error. The error will not cause MapTool to crash or anything, but it will not set the background to white. As a workaround, you can set the background to white via the Hue or RGB tabs.</font>
* '''Hue/RGB''': lets you specify colors instead of selecting a color swatch
* '''Texture''' (what I use most often): gives you access to your resource library, where you can select a texture to serve as the background.


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From here on out, these instructions assume that you have configured your network to handle MapTool traffic (via port forwarding or UPnP, for example). If not, you'll have to figure out how to do that before it will be possible to start a server that your friends can use.


[[Image:Map-mapbutton.jpg|thumb|The '''Map''' button on the map properties dialog]]
===The Start Server Dialog===


4. If you have a map image in mind (like a downloaded one, or one you created in Photoshop or something like that), click the '''Map''' button. You’ll be taken to a dialog that shows your Resource Library. Select the image you want to use. This image will be layered above the background you already selected.
[[Image:mt-file-menu-startserv.jpg|thumb|Selecting ''Start Server'' from the File menu]]


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[[Image:mt-start-server.jpg|thumb|The '''Start Server''' dialog]]


[[Image:Map-create-done.jpg|thumb|The '''Map Properties''' dialog after a map has been selected from the Resource Library. Note the map thumbnail in the preview.]]
1. Go to '''File > Start Server'''.


5. When you’re satisfied with the background and map – you’ll be given a preview thumbnail to double check, as shown below - give it a title, and click '''OK'''. The map will now be loaded into the main window of MapTool.
2. You will now see the '''Start Server''' dialog. There are a lot of options here.


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===Server Options and Settings===


===Creating Multiple Maps in One Campaign===
====Configuration Settings====


MapTool lets you create multiple maps, all of which will be in one campaign. The process is very simple: you simply repeat the [[Introduction_to_Mapping#Creating_a_Map | Creating a Map]] steps for each new map, selecting a new image, background color/texture, and title for each new map.
* '''Username''': this is the name that will appear in chat and in the Connections window; you can set it to be anything you like.
* '''Role''': this drop down box lets you tell MapTool what ''kind'' of user you are: are you the GM (and therefore in possession of Total Cosmic Power over all of the MapTool functions?) or are you a player, who lives at the GM's every whim (or, in other words, only has access to player functions)? Note that a game can have more than 1 GM!
* '''Port''': A ''very'' important setting, this is where you tell MapTool what port you've configured your router to forward. If you give it the wrong port, MapTool traffic will be unable to enter or leave your network, and you will have no game!
* '''RPTools Alias''': this field allows you to set up an "alias" for your server to appear on the RPTools server registry. It basically lets you tell your players "look for the server named Awesome Server and connect to it," instead of "connect to the server at IP Address 123.45.678.9"
* '''Passwords''': you can protect access to your server by configuring passwords. Setting a password on the server is optional; however, if you leave it blank, anyone who can find your server can connect to it as a player. There are two password categories:
** '''GM''': the GM password is used to provide someone with full access to the campaign remotely, though there are a small number of features which cannot be done remotely, such as loading a campaign. The GM password is typically used for a secondary GM so that GM duties may be shared, but can also be used in cases where the GM may not be able to get hosting set up properly and has one of his players host the session.
** '''Player''': people connecting to the server in the "Player" role will use this password to connect.


Each new map you create will automatically be created within the campaign you are currently working on (creating a new map does not automatically save your campaign, so make sure to [[Introduction_to_Mapping#Saving_Your_Work | save your work]] when you're finished).
====Ownership, Vision, and Behavior====


You can also add new maps to a campaign you've already saved - just open the campaign file (by going to '''File > Open Campaign''') and follow the steps to create a new map.
* '''Strict Token Ownership''': MapTool uses a concept called "token ownership" to control who can select, move, or look at the [[Macros:Glossary#P|properties]] of a particular token. If you enable ''Strict Token Ownership'', only the ''owner'' of a particular token may perform any actions on it - everyone else is confined to looking at the token.
* '''Players can reveal vision''': MapTool has a vision and fog-of-war system (where you can configure how tokens "see" the map). With this option enabled, players can reveal the area that is "visible" to their token without GM intervention (in other words, an area hidden to the token is covered by Fog of War, and appears opaque on the screen; when you reveal it, the opaque overlay is cleared, and the map underneath becomes visible). Otherwise, the GM must do all reveals.
* '''Use Individual Views''': in the vision system mentioned above, player tokens can either "share" their vision (''i.e.'', everyone sees what one player character sees) or they can have individualized views.
* '''Restricted Player Impersonation''': This means that players can only impersonate tokens that they have ownership (see above) of
* '''Players Receive Campaign Macros''': MapTool lets you write [[Macros:introduction|macros]], which are basically sequences of text, token, and dice rolling commands used to automate certain activities - basically, a short script that does ''something''. The GM can create "Campaign Macros" which become available to all players if this option is checked.
* '''Use Tooltip for [] rolls''': Enabling this option makes any dice roll you enclose in square brackets show only the roll result, and display the full roll details if you hover your mouse over the result.


==MapTool Main Window==
===Testing the Connection===


===MapTool Layers===
Before you start your server, it is a good idea to hit the '''Test Connection''' button. This will send a message out to a server at RPTools.net asking that it attempt to connect to your computer - in other words, the RPTools connection testing server will find out if it can see your computer over the network!


[[Image:Layer-window.png|thumb|The '''Layer''' window, which is present on all maps in MapTool]]
What you want to see is '''Success! I can see your computer!''' If you get that, you can be pretty sure that your server will be visible when you start it up.


Once you have a map loaded, you’ll see a small box in the map window titled ''Layer''. MapTool maps have four layers:
If you do ''not'' see a message proclaiming a successful connection test, you will need to investigate port forwarding and your network configuration to make sure you have the right ports configured and everything properly arranged.


* '''Background''': this is the layer for images, background maps, and anything that isn’t going to move.
===Get your Connection Information and Tell Your Friends===
* '''Hidden''': for online games, this is a layer only the GM can see.
* '''Object''': this is a layer for token-like objects, things that might move, or that players might be able to move (lamps, tables, etc.).
* '''Token''': this layer is the layer that tokens go on (tokens are small images that represent characters or NPCs). Make sure you have the Token layer selected when you’re adding characters and enemies to the map.


Think of the MapTool Layers as four different sheets of acetate or tracing paper, one on top of the other. The bottom one - the '''Background''' - is where you draw the basic parts of the map: walls, floors, trees, etc. On the next sheet of tracing paper, the one called '''Objects''' you draw the ''things'' that your characters might use, mess with, or break: doors, chests, tables, chairs, and so forth. On the next one up - the '''Hidden''' layer - you put things only the GM can see (which might be objects ''or'' hidden characters!). Finally, on the very top layer - the '''Token''' layer, you put your miniatures - the monsters, characters, and NPCs of the game world.
[[Image:mt-file-menu-cinfo.jpg|thumb|Opening ''Connection Information'' from the File menu]]


Tokens can be put on any of the 4 layers in MapTool. To do so, just right-click on the token image, and select '''Change To >'''. In the menu, select the layer you want to change the token to, and it will be moved.
[[Image:connection-info.jpg|thumb|The '''Connection Information''' dialog]]


===Selecting Maps===
Assuming that you had a successful connection test, and you clicked '''OK''' to start the server, you can then check out your ''Connection Information'' to double-check the settings. These settings will need to be passed on to your friends so that they can connect to the server.


[[Image:Blueglobe.jpg|thumb|The Globe button, where you can select among your maps]]
1. Go to '''File > Connection Information'''.  


[[Image:Maplist.jpg|thumb|A list of maps, which appears after you click the Globe button.]]
This will display what MapTool currently knows about your computer. Since you haven't started a server quite yet, you'll just see your computers internal and external IP addresses (this is useful info, though, especially if you haven't quite set up port forwarding!).


If you create only one map in your campaign, it will be loaded by default and will be the only map you can see.
When a server is started, you will also see the name of the server (if you give it one), and the network port that server traffic will use.


If you [[Introduction_to_Mapping#Creating_Multiple_Maps_in_One_Campaign|create multiple maps]] or have a campaign with multiple maps, you can choose between them by clicking the blue globe icon in the upper right hand side of the MapTool window – this will present a list of possible maps. Note that if you have only one map, clicking on the blue globe will show that map's name.
2. Provide this information to your friends: tell them the ''Server Name'' (a.k.a. the RPTools Alias, if you set one), the ''external'' IP address, and the ''port''. They will need to put this into the '''Connect to Server''' dialog when they attempt to log in to your server.


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===Zooming and Moving===
==Connecting to a MapTool Server==
 
To zoom the map, you can use the mouse scroll wheel (if you have one), or you can use the equals sign to zoom in, and the hyphen to zoom out.
 
Hitting the plus sign will zoom to 1:1.
 
To move the map, right click on it and move the mouse. This will pan the map in any direction.
 
==Token Basics==
 
[[Token:token|MapTool Tokens]] (or just "Tokens") are small images that act as visual representations of many things in a MapTool map. The most common use for tokens is to represent player and non-player characters - in other words, tokens take the place of miniatures on the virtual map.
 
Tokens, like everything else, start as image files that are stored in your [[Macros:Glossary#R|Resource Library]]. MapTool comes with some default tokens (and they have a great, separate program called [http://www.rptools.net/index.php?page=tokentool TokenTool] that lets you make tokens), or you can supply your own from wherever you find them.


This section of the Introduction to Mapping guide deals with only a few of the most basic, common things you might want to do with MapTool Tokens. There are ''many'' features, tricks, and cool functions available when working with tokens - so many that they deserve a guide all to themselves.  
The steps leading up to this point walked you through setting up a MapTool server so that people can connect to it. Of course, if you don't have anyone connecting to your server, things are going to get pretty boring pretty quick. These steps are focused on your friends who will be connecting ''to'' the server you just created.  


===Placing Tokens on the Map===
===Assumptions===


[[Image:Default-library.jpg|thumb|The ''Default'' folder in the Resource Library]]
The following information assumes that all of the following are true! Lacking any of these is going to make for a very short trip.


1. To see the default tokens mentioned above, go to the Default folder in your ''Resource Library'', and click the '''+''' to expand it.
* You have friends
* You have a MapTool server running
* Your friends know the following:
** Either the server's ''Name'' OR the servers ''External Address'' is (or preferably, both!)
** What the appropriate ''password'' is (either GM or Player password)
** What ''Port'' the server is using
* '''VERY IMPORTANT: Your friends are using the same version of MapTool that you are using!'''


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===Open the Connect to Server Dialog===


[[Image:Default-tokens.jpg|thumb|The ''Tokens'' subfolder]]
[[Image:mt-connect-to-server.jpg|thumb|The '''Connect to Server''' dialog]]


2. Select the Tokens folder.
If the assumptions mentioned above are met, here's what you tell your friends:


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1. Go to '''File > Connect to Server''' to see the '''Connect to Server''' dialog.


[[Image:Token-drag-to-map.jpg|thumb|Dragging a token onto the map]]
2. Enter a ''User name''. This can be anything your friends wish.


[[Image:Token-on-map.jpg|thumb|The token appears!]]
3. Enter the password (which you set when you started the server).


3. In the window below (where the thumbnails appear), use the mouse to drag a token onto the map. The cursor will change to a hand, and you just need to hold the token over the map somewhere and release the button.
4. Choose your ''Role''. Your friends can connect as a GM, or as a Player. Make sure that they pick the right role for the password you're using!
 
When you release the mouse button, the token will appear on the map, as shown in the thumbnail.


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===Moving Tokens===
===Choose how You will Connect===


Once a token is on the map, it can be dragged around using the mouse, or moved by selecting the token (clicking on it) and using the arrow keys to move the token, and pressing the '''D''' key to complete the move.  
The '''Connect to Server''' dialog presents three ways to connect to a running server.


If you want to create a complex path, you can hit the space bar to make a waypoint in your path.  
====RPTools.net====


===Changing a Token's Name, GM Name, and Label===
[[Image:mt-connect-registry.jpg|thumb|The RPTools tab in '''Connect to Server''']]


[[Image:Token-default-name.jpg|thumb|A token, showing the default name assigned when it was first dragged onto the map.]]
This tab (which is shown by default) lists all of the servers listed at the RPTools.net ''Server Registry.'' When you set up the server, you had the option to give it an ''alias'', which is what appears in this list. The ''Server Registry'' stores the connection information for the server, so your friends can just select the server they want, and hit '''OK'''.
 
[[Image:Edit-token.jpg|thumb|The '''Edit Token''' dialog]]
 
Tokens have three possible "names" you can assign to them. When a token is first dragged onto the map, it is given a default name (typically, the same as the token's ''filename'' on your computer, with the extension trimmed off). For example, the token shown in the image below was dragged from MapTool's default token set, and its default name is "Hero."
 
The three possible names a token can have are:
 
*'''Token Name''': The name of the token that will appear to all users. This is not optional.
**<font color="red">'''NOTE''': Make sure each token has a unique name! Otherwise, MapTool macros may behave unpredictably.</font>
*'''GM Name''': This name appears only to the person(s) currently connected to MapTool in the role of "GM."
*'''Label''': This text appears below the Token Name, and is visible to all connected individuals.
 
To change a token's name, GM name, and/or label:
 
1. Double-click on the token image on the map. This will open the '''Edit Token''' dialog, as shown below.


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[[Image:Edit-token-changednames.jpg|thumb|Editing the token's name, GM name, and label]]
====LAN====
 
[[Image:New-token-names.jpg|thumb|Token showing the new names and label]]
 
2. In the '''Name''' field, enter the name you'd like. For this example, I've entered "Bork the Brave"
 
3. In the '''GM Name''' field, enter a name. For this example, I've entered "Cork the Cowardly"
 
4. In the '''Label''' field, enter a Label. For this example, I've entered "Human Warrior".
 
5. Click '''OK''' to save your changes.
 
Once you've clicked okay, you'll see that the token has changed:


You can do this name changing process with any token you drop on the map.
[[Image:mt-connect-lan.jpg|thumb|The '''LAN''' tab in '''Connect to Server''']]


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This tab will show any servers that are currently running on the ''local'' network. This is for when you want to have a MapTool LAN Party, or when all your friends are inside the same network (like if everyone bringes their laptop to your house for game night).  
 
===Changing a Token's Image===
 
Sometimes, when you create a new token, you will want to change the image on the token's face. Say, for instance, you find a cool new picture that you just ''have'' to use for your evil overlord, but you already have a token made up for him - you don't want to delete the whole token just to change the image, right? That's overkill. Instead, just change the token image using the following steps:
 
[[Image:Edit-token.jpg|thumb|The '''Edit Token''' dialog]]
 
1. Make sure you have a new token image in PNG or JPG format, already available in your MapTool Resource Library. If you look at [[Introduction_to_Mapping#Getting_Images_into_your_MapTool_Resource_Library|Getting Images Into your MapTool Resource Library]] section, above, it talks about how to get map images into your Resource Library: well, token images (in fact, ''any'' image) can be added to your resource library in exactly the same way.
 
2. Double-click on the token to open the '''Edit Token''' dialog.  


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[[Image:Edit-token-changeimage.jpg|thumb|The button to change the token image]]
====Direct====
 
3. In the upper-left of that dialog, click the small green plus sign.
 
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[[Image:New-image-picked.jpg|thumb|A new image is selected from the resource library]]
 
4. In the '''Choose Image''' dialog, select the Resource Library folder that has the new token image in it (a red-and-white border will indicate the image you've selected), and click '''OK'''.
 
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[[Image:Token-image-changed.jpg|thumb|The token's image has been changed]]
 
5. Once you hit '''OK''', you are taken back to the Edit Token dialog, and you will see that the token image has been changed to the one you selected.
 
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===Changing Token Size===
 
[[Image:Token-rightclick.jpg|thumb|Changing the token size using the right-click menu]]


Tokens will default to the size of one grid square (note that by default, MapTool’s grid is 50x50 pixels). If you right-click on a token, the menu has a lot of options – one of which is '''Size'''. You can then set it using the size values there, so you can make large or huge or gargantuan creatures, and so forth. The image below illustrates the right-click menu for a token.
[[Image:mt-connect-direct.jpg|thumb|The '''Direct''' tab in '''Connect to Server''']]


NOTE: these size values (large, huge, gargantuan, etc.) only apply to maps that have a grid (remember, when you create a map, you have the option to make a map with no grid). If you use a gridless map, the size values are more fine-grained.
A direct connection is just that - your friends bypass the friendly RPTools.net tab, and simply type the External Address and port number for the server.


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==Saving Your Work==


MapTool's default "save" format is called a ''Campaign File''. The Campaign File (which has the extension ''.cmpgn'') contains the maps and tokens that you've set up. If you're interested in this sort of thing, the campaign file is actually a zipped XML file.
===Verifying Connections===


To save your work so far, choose '''File -> Save Campaign''', give your campaign a name, and that’s all there is to it.
As your friends connect to your MapTool server, you will see notifications in the '''Chat Pane''' that people have connected to your server, which look like:


When you save a campaign, MapTool saves the locations of the tokens on all of the maps, so you can pick up right where you left off!
<font color="blue">''JQRandom has connected.''</font>


==Exporting Map Images==
You can also check the '''Connections Pane''' to see a list of everyone who is connected to your server. If you do not see the Connections Pane, go to '''Window > Connections''' to have it pop into view.
{{Languages|Introduction to Game Hosting}}[[Category:MapTool]]


MapTool can export your map images to an image file (PNG format). To export an image to a location of your choice:
==Tokens on your Map==


1. Go to '''File->Export''' and select '''Screenshot As'''.
When you're running MapTool by yourself, you've got access to every token and every item on a map, because MapTool assumes that you're the GM (and, therefore, the All-Powerful God of the tiny world represented by the Map). However, when you start hosting a game, MapTool has different roles (mentioned previously) for the different people connecting. The '''GM''' role retains it's all-powerful status, able to select and manipulate anything on the map; however, the '''Player''' role has a much more restricted set of options, able to control only those items that the player has ''ownership'' of.  


2. In the dialog that comes up, select a "View" (either GM view, where you can see everything, or Player View, where the only things visible are what ''players'' can see...I told you MapTool had some cool vision capabilities!)
Because of that, when you start a server, you will need to make sure that you give your players ownership of the Tokens they are supposed to control! This is a common oversight when starting up a new server - forgetting to set token ownership after your players have connected!  


3. Select the destination for your file using the Browse button (or, alternatively, send it to an FTP server)
Token Ownership is explained in more detail in [[Introduction to Tokens]], but for the purposes of this tutorial, once you've started a server and you've got your friends connected as players, do the following for each player connected to the game:


4. Click '''Export'''.
# Double click on the token that player will be controlling as their Player Character (see Note, below).
# Set the token type to PC.
# Go to the '''Ownership''' Tab
# Check the box next to the ''player's'' name, granting them ownership of the token.
# Click '''OK''' to save the changes.


==Next Steps==
Once you do this, the players will be able to move and edit their own tokens. You can also grant ownership of a token to All Players, if everyone needs to manipulate it.


Now that you can create a basic map and put some tokens on it, the next step is connecting up with some friends over the Internet (or face to face) and using it for a game session! This topic is covered in the [[Introduction to Game Hosting]].
'''NOTE''': players can have ownership of NPC tokens if you wish (the process is the same, except you don't do Step #2); however, you'll at least need to make sure they own their own player token!
{{Languages|Introduction to Mapping}}

Revision as of 04:41, 8 September 2010

Languages:  English  • Deutsch  • español  • français  • italiano  • 日本語

{{#customtitle:Introduzione al Game Hosting|Introduzione al Game Hosting}}

BEGINNER
THIS IS A BEGINNER ARTICLE

Introduction

As seen in the Introduction to Mapping, MapTool lets you create virtual maps and virtual "miniatures" (which are known in MapTool jargon as tokens) to be used for playing a roleplaying game session, much like you would use a real map and real miniatures on a tabletop. In fact, that's why we call MapTool a "virtual tabletop," or "VTT." In this guide, we'll walk through MapTool's fundamental reason to be: sharing a map with other players via the Internet.

Note: MapTool is not only useful for online play - many people use it for their face to face sessions too, because you can do things with a virtual map that you can't do with a physical one. Also, you're less likely to dump Mountain Dew on it. However, this guide will assume that you're playing online.

The Introduction to Mapping guided you through the basic steps to get MapTool, open it up, and put a map and some tokens on it. It also talked about saving Campaign Files, how you can move and zoom the map, and how to move tokens around. These are essential features of the program, without which none of the rest would be worth reading about!

Since hosting is no fun without people connecting to your game, the last section of this guide covers how to connect to a MapTool server. You'll need to tell your friends how to do that, so make sure to read that section!

Finally, since this guide is about hosting an online game, "you" will always mean "the person who is running the server."

Architecture

When used for online gaming, MapTool uses a client-server architecture. In other words, one person (usually the GM, but not always) uses MapTool to start a server, and the other people in the group then connect to that server as clients.

Once you start the server and everyone is connected, the campaign file (with all the maps, tokens, and other info) is then shared among all the players, so that everyone sees the same map and can watch as they and their friends move tokens around, enter text in the chat window, and have a great time.

A Word About Networking Stuff

One of the challenges in setting up a MapTool game (like many client-server applications, including many other Virtual Tabletop programs) is configuring your home network to permit your friends to connect to your MapTool server.

There are several ways to set up your network to allow Maptool to be hosted over the internet. UPnP, port forwarding, or an external Virtual Private Networking software package. Depending on your computer, ISP, and hardware (such as cable/DSL modem and/or router), will determine which of these options will work for your setup - with the wide variation in home networks and networking hardware, it's not possible to give a single set of rules that will guarantee success.

UPnP

An alternative to port forwarding - if it's available on your router - is called UPnP (short for Universal Plug-and-Play). This feature, instead of permanently saying "Port XYZ traffic goes here!", will instead tell the router "for a little while - while we're playing - I'm gonna have to go ahead and ask you to open up Port XYZ for us. That would be greeaaaat."

In other words, it makes the handling of ports and incoming and outgoing traffic a little more seamless and simple. Of course, the downside is that not everything supports UPnP, and you'll have to figure out whether your network can do it. However, if your network hardware supports UPnP, it is by far the easiest way to get your MapTool server up and running.

Port Forwarding

For home networks that use a router or physical firewall, you will probably need to configure port forwarding. This is a mechanism by which information coming to your network, and arriving on a specific port, is sent to the right place inside your network. This is important for you as the MapTool server person, since your friends need to be sending information to the right place!

The specifics of configuring port forwarding will depend on your hardware, so you'll have to check your manual for that one. But the basic idea is that you indicate two things to the router/switch/firewall:

  1. Which port MapTool will use (more on MapTool ports later!) - this is telling the router "information will be coming in on Port XYZ; pay attention!"
  2. Which computer, inside the network, that information needs to go to - basically, "and when you see information coming in on Port XYZ, send it here"
    1. Incidentally, setting up port forwarding also tells the router where it can stick outgoing information, too.

That is port forwarding in a nutshell, and the reason you need to set it up is that most routers (especially if they're configured securely and properly) are not going to just allow random incoming information to get through.

More and Better Networking Information

I was all set to write an elaborate section on networking, when I realized that there is an excellent FAQ written by Azhrei at the MapTool Forums. If you are unfamiliar with concepts like Port Forwarding, configuring your router, or how networks work (in general), please read the FAQ.

If you are familiar with network configuration and managing your home network (especially if you can set up software to act as a server, or have set up port forwarding on your network for other applications), setting up MapTool to act as a server will be old hat: you'll basically need to configure port forwarding or UPnP on your router to permit MapTool network traffic to pass.

If you need specific information on port forwarding configuration for your network hardware, check out Portforward.com for an extensive collection of how-to documents for specific network hardware and specific software packages.

On the other hand, if all that stuff above made no sense to you: read the Networking FAQ! All will be revealed!

Now, let's get on with it.

Starting Up a MapTool Server

Assumptions

From here on out, these instructions assume that you have configured your network to handle MapTool traffic (via port forwarding or UPnP, for example). If not, you'll have to figure out how to do that before it will be possible to start a server that your friends can use.

The Start Server Dialog

File:mt-file-menu-startserv.jpg
Selecting Start Server from the File menu
File:mt-start-server.jpg
The Start Server dialog

1. Go to File > Start Server.

2. You will now see the Start Server dialog. There are a lot of options here.

Server Options and Settings

Configuration Settings

  • Username: this is the name that will appear in chat and in the Connections window; you can set it to be anything you like.
  • Role: this drop down box lets you tell MapTool what kind of user you are: are you the GM (and therefore in possession of Total Cosmic Power over all of the MapTool functions?) or are you a player, who lives at the GM's every whim (or, in other words, only has access to player functions)? Note that a game can have more than 1 GM!
  • Port: A very important setting, this is where you tell MapTool what port you've configured your router to forward. If you give it the wrong port, MapTool traffic will be unable to enter or leave your network, and you will have no game!
  • RPTools Alias: this field allows you to set up an "alias" for your server to appear on the RPTools server registry. It basically lets you tell your players "look for the server named Awesome Server and connect to it," instead of "connect to the server at IP Address 123.45.678.9"
  • Passwords: you can protect access to your server by configuring passwords. Setting a password on the server is optional; however, if you leave it blank, anyone who can find your server can connect to it as a player. There are two password categories:
    • GM: the GM password is used to provide someone with full access to the campaign remotely, though there are a small number of features which cannot be done remotely, such as loading a campaign. The GM password is typically used for a secondary GM so that GM duties may be shared, but can also be used in cases where the GM may not be able to get hosting set up properly and has one of his players host the session.
    • Player: people connecting to the server in the "Player" role will use this password to connect.

Ownership, Vision, and Behavior

  • Strict Token Ownership: MapTool uses a concept called "token ownership" to control who can select, move, or look at the properties of a particular token. If you enable Strict Token Ownership, only the owner of a particular token may perform any actions on it - everyone else is confined to looking at the token.
  • Players can reveal vision: MapTool has a vision and fog-of-war system (where you can configure how tokens "see" the map). With this option enabled, players can reveal the area that is "visible" to their token without GM intervention (in other words, an area hidden to the token is covered by Fog of War, and appears opaque on the screen; when you reveal it, the opaque overlay is cleared, and the map underneath becomes visible). Otherwise, the GM must do all reveals.
  • Use Individual Views: in the vision system mentioned above, player tokens can either "share" their vision (i.e., everyone sees what one player character sees) or they can have individualized views.
  • Restricted Player Impersonation: This means that players can only impersonate tokens that they have ownership (see above) of
  • Players Receive Campaign Macros: MapTool lets you write macros, which are basically sequences of text, token, and dice rolling commands used to automate certain activities - basically, a short script that does something. The GM can create "Campaign Macros" which become available to all players if this option is checked.
  • Use Tooltip for [] rolls: Enabling this option makes any dice roll you enclose in square brackets show only the roll result, and display the full roll details if you hover your mouse over the result.

Testing the Connection

Before you start your server, it is a good idea to hit the Test Connection button. This will send a message out to a server at RPTools.net asking that it attempt to connect to your computer - in other words, the RPTools connection testing server will find out if it can see your computer over the network!

What you want to see is Success! I can see your computer! If you get that, you can be pretty sure that your server will be visible when you start it up.

If you do not see a message proclaiming a successful connection test, you will need to investigate port forwarding and your network configuration to make sure you have the right ports configured and everything properly arranged.

Get your Connection Information and Tell Your Friends

File:mt-file-menu-cinfo.jpg
Opening Connection Information from the File menu
File:connection-info.jpg
The Connection Information dialog

Assuming that you had a successful connection test, and you clicked OK to start the server, you can then check out your Connection Information to double-check the settings. These settings will need to be passed on to your friends so that they can connect to the server.

1. Go to File > Connection Information.

This will display what MapTool currently knows about your computer. Since you haven't started a server quite yet, you'll just see your computers internal and external IP addresses (this is useful info, though, especially if you haven't quite set up port forwarding!).

When a server is started, you will also see the name of the server (if you give it one), and the network port that server traffic will use.

2. Provide this information to your friends: tell them the Server Name (a.k.a. the RPTools Alias, if you set one), the external IP address, and the port. They will need to put this into the Connect to Server dialog when they attempt to log in to your server.


Connecting to a MapTool Server

The steps leading up to this point walked you through setting up a MapTool server so that people can connect to it. Of course, if you don't have anyone connecting to your server, things are going to get pretty boring pretty quick. These steps are focused on your friends who will be connecting to the server you just created.

Assumptions

The following information assumes that all of the following are true! Lacking any of these is going to make for a very short trip.

  • You have friends
  • You have a MapTool server running
  • Your friends know the following:
    • Either the server's Name OR the servers External Address is (or preferably, both!)
    • What the appropriate password is (either GM or Player password)
    • What Port the server is using
  • VERY IMPORTANT: Your friends are using the same version of MapTool that you are using!

Open the Connect to Server Dialog

File:mt-connect-to-server.jpg
The Connect to Server dialog

If the assumptions mentioned above are met, here's what you tell your friends:

1. Go to File > Connect to Server to see the Connect to Server dialog.

2. Enter a User name. This can be anything your friends wish.

3. Enter the password (which you set when you started the server).

4. Choose your Role. Your friends can connect as a GM, or as a Player. Make sure that they pick the right role for the password you're using!


Choose how You will Connect

The Connect to Server dialog presents three ways to connect to a running server.

RPTools.net

File:mt-connect-registry.jpg
The RPTools tab in Connect to Server

This tab (which is shown by default) lists all of the servers listed at the RPTools.net Server Registry. When you set up the server, you had the option to give it an alias, which is what appears in this list. The Server Registry stores the connection information for the server, so your friends can just select the server they want, and hit OK.


LAN

File:mt-connect-lan.jpg
The LAN tab in Connect to Server

This tab will show any servers that are currently running on the local network. This is for when you want to have a MapTool LAN Party, or when all your friends are inside the same network (like if everyone bringes their laptop to your house for game night).


Direct

File:mt-connect-direct.jpg
The Direct tab in Connect to Server

A direct connection is just that - your friends bypass the friendly RPTools.net tab, and simply type the External Address and port number for the server.


Verifying Connections

As your friends connect to your MapTool server, you will see notifications in the Chat Pane that people have connected to your server, which look like:

JQRandom has connected.

You can also check the Connections Pane to see a list of everyone who is connected to your server. If you do not see the Connections Pane, go to Window > Connections to have it pop into view.

Languages:  English  • Deutsch  • español  • français  • italiano  • 日本語

Tokens on your Map

When you're running MapTool by yourself, you've got access to every token and every item on a map, because MapTool assumes that you're the GM (and, therefore, the All-Powerful God of the tiny world represented by the Map). However, when you start hosting a game, MapTool has different roles (mentioned previously) for the different people connecting. The GM role retains it's all-powerful status, able to select and manipulate anything on the map; however, the Player role has a much more restricted set of options, able to control only those items that the player has ownership of.

Because of that, when you start a server, you will need to make sure that you give your players ownership of the Tokens they are supposed to control! This is a common oversight when starting up a new server - forgetting to set token ownership after your players have connected!

Token Ownership is explained in more detail in Introduction to Tokens, but for the purposes of this tutorial, once you've started a server and you've got your friends connected as players, do the following for each player connected to the game:

  1. Double click on the token that player will be controlling as their Player Character (see Note, below).
  2. Set the token type to PC.
  3. Go to the Ownership Tab
  4. Check the box next to the player's name, granting them ownership of the token.
  5. Click OK to save the changes.

Once you do this, the players will be able to move and edit their own tokens. You can also grant ownership of a token to All Players, if everyone needs to manipulate it.

NOTE: players can have ownership of NPC tokens if you wish (the process is the same, except you don't do Step #2); however, you'll at least need to make sure they own their own player token!

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