GM tools

[Steven (SPX)]

Hello,

I thought maybe we can collect some links for GMs with some nice tools which assist them in their sessions or which give a little more atmosphere to the sessions.

One program I found during my CoC time was this one:

Softrope -  RPG Soundscape Mixer - http://softrope.net/
With this you can predefine scenes and sounds and switch easy between them. Its freeware and I really liked it because it is so simple.
I have heared of some people who use virtual audio cable or another soundcard to make it work for their online sessions but never tried it myself.

Regards,
Steven

[Ceodryn]

Hey Steven,

That's a great idea to have a thread with GM tools suggestions. I'll gather up mine and post them soon.

I have looked into audio software, for local games, but didn't know this one. However, I am unsure how it would work with online sessions? That would be very cool. If anyone has experience with that, I'd love to hear it!

Cheers

Ceodryn

[John]

Great thread, and a coincidence that I was trying something similar this week?

Anyone know this program:

http://www.rpgsoundmixer.com/

It is paid, but not expensive, and although I am still trying to learn, it does not look very difficult.
It has some cool features like, it can dinamically mix your music with sound effects you schedule to execute simultaneously.

For example, you can play a music and have traveling sounds in the background, looping from a list of sounds you schedule, like horse hooves in the mud, people talk, the wind, etca.

Now to make all that go through from your computer to the other players over skype, just like you, I also heard about Virtual Audio Cable.

I had some trouble to configure it, but after a tutorial I got it.

I can give a step by step guide tonight when I get back home from work, on how to make it work with skype: how to make people hear your computer music, over your skype conversation...

[Ceodryn]

Hey John,

I did hear of this one, and tried the demo. However, it didn't work with Windows 7 very well (at least not with my Windows 7 and sound card). Is it working all good for you?

I am looking forward to your step by step, as I am really interested in the idea of playing audio online (or local).

Cheers

Philippe / Ceodryn

[Curtis Jackson]

That's a great idea! I've utilized some sound effects through Skype
during our Pathfinder games but the quality has been rather
so-so...I'm interested to hear how this might sound in a game.
Although the idea of juggling one more thing as an FG GM is a bit
groan worthy...:-D.

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[John]

Hey Ceodryn,

I will see about that, RPGSoundMixer did work on my Win7 x64 the other day, but I had an issue when I changed my default output (I was messing with Virtual Audio Cable)

I will try a test run on it, and will let you know.

The guy that develops/sells this program is a very nice person by the way. I think he is from Germany, the application has both english and german support.


Hey Grolsch,

One of the things that attracted me to RPGSoundMixer is that it allows you to predefine events, so if you get all of them ready, it is just a matter of pressing a key and that sequence (music and sound) will start.

[Cutlass]

A long time ago I've created a soundtrack for RPG purposes, it starts with relaxing athmosphere music and builds up to crescendo for the Final Confrontation ™  

Check it here:  http://gamejunks.podomatic.com  

I'm also fan of this site:  http://altdorfer.blogspot.nl/ , check out the Help Wanted section to get some inspiration for side-quests and such.

And here is a very extensive pricelist:  http://sherohman.org/~dave/rpg/wfrp/whprclst.txt 

The adventure collection:  http://www.wfrp.de/advcol/en/index.html 

And abviously for those that did not see it yet, my Creature creator pages:  http://www.cutlass.be/rpg/wfrp/creatureview.php 

There are tons more websites out there, not in the least Liber Fanatica and Warpstone but I assume everyone knows those.

[Ceodryn]

Ok, here is a GM tool that I cannot do without (reprinted from Gitzmann's Gallery). With that guide, I do not (ever) open my player's guide or gm's guide as I am running a game. If it's not on that sheet, I just improvise it (but honestly you won't find anything not on it). 

WARHAMMER FANTASY ROLEPLAY 3rd EDITION - REFERENCE GUIDEBy Court Dimon v6.0
5.14 MB .PDF

---

A wonderfully clean and concise summary of the rules and functions of the game. Layed out in landscape format for maximum space, though this limits your ability to use in as a replacement document for the GM screen. Regularly updated by the author.

http://www.gitzmansgallery.com/WFRP3_Resources/Docs/WFRP3/WFRP3%20Reference%20Guide%20-%20Court%20Dimon%206.pdf

[HedgeWizard]

Sweet Thanks for the plug!  I really debated re-working my original sheets, but I think these came out nicely, and are pretty feature complete. 

[Cutlass]

Hey guys: I'm very happy to announce Part 1 of Liber Fanatica 9 is released:  http://www.liberfanatica.net/LF9download.html

I've done some art and several one page adventures. If anyone runs them, pls let me know what you think of them.

Arrr!

[Daniel Wise]

Yes I started reading this yesterday.  Great work cutlass and LF team.  I'm a fan of your dedication.

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[Radosław Grzanka]

Hello,
  there were several people posting applications for soundeffects. I'm using Scene Sound http://scenesound.cyclobster.com/ . It works great on windows 7 (but I didn't manage to run this under linux). It supports random sounds, repeated sounds, single sound fx'es. You can trigger them manually, randomly, loop them, change volume of single sound effects and so on. It works great on sessions (both face to face and online). (No charge).

  For actual sound effects audio files I use - http://www.freesound.org. (No charge).

and recently I bought some sound sets from http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/ - not very happy with them but good enough. (Some $$ required.)

  For music I use http://deezer.com/ + uploaded soundtracks from various games (Dragon Age, Dragon Age 2, Realms of Arkania, Witcher, Witcher 2). Bright side of using deezer is android app in my phone, so I can prepare playlists at home and take music wherever I go. (Some $$ required)

  For prices, equipment and economy I (sometimes) use "WFRP Equipment Prices" - https://dl.dropbox.com/u/31339820/WFRP-prices.zip . I'm sorry, I don't know where I found it. (No charge).

  For maps I use gitzman's gallery site (everyone knows it - I bet ) - http://www.gitzmansgallery.com/Warhammer_Maps/index.html . (No charge).

  For online sessions I use mumble and two computers. One for streaming music and sound effects, and the other for talking and playing. http://mumble.sourceforge.net/ (No charge).

  As for software I used maptool ( http://rptools.net/ ) but I didn't like it + we had technical problems.  (No charge).

  So now I use Fantasy Grounds 2 - http://www.fantasygrounds.com/ . ( many gold pieces required, but worth it.)

I think those are all tools I use. :)

Hope it helps somebody.
  Radek.

[Skellan]

The sound effects look great. I was looking at voice changing software and had good fun with  http://www.screamingbee.com/product/MorphVOX.aspx this was frankly hilarious. there are quite a few voices such as demons, ghosts, orcs and imps etc. and there's sound effects too. It is paid software but there's a demo. I didn't get it running on skype, though i didn't try that hard. I didn't get it as there's enough to do at the moment getting used to fantasy grounds and the wfrp 3 system. I will add sound effects in the future though as they sound lots of fun

[Ceodryn]

Radek, thanks a lot for that info, that is amazing. I am really interested in using sound mixer at my gaming table, and those resources are very good!

For the soundtacks of the games you mentioned (which are unknown to me... I am not a big computer gamer), are they available online to buy, or do you have to own the game and extract the tracks?

Cheers

Ceodryn

[Radosław Grzanka]

2012/8/24 Ceodryn <phbo...@gmail.com>:

> Radek, thanks a lot for that info, that is amazing. I am really interested
> in using sound mixer at my gaming table, and those resources are very good!
>
> For the soundtacks of the games you mentioned (which are unknown to me... I
> am not a big computer gamer), are they available online to buy, or do you
> have to own the game and extract the tracks?

Both.

Dragon age: Origins soundtrack is already on Deezer:
http://www.deezer.com/pl/music/ea-games-soundtrack/Dragon-Age--Origins-1334818
- so once you have deezer account this is free to use.
Dragon age 2 OST on amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/Dragon-Age-2/dp/B004P9DRVG (which is worse than
soundtrack from first game)
I have deluxe editions of The Witcher (Wiedźmin), and The Witcher 2:
Assasins of Kings (Wiedźmin 2: Zabójcy Królów) - Soundtracks included
(Polish games FTW ;P) - awsome sountracks!
Realms of Arkania - hmm.. I don't think you can buy this anymore.. :(
Great game, nice sountrack (for its times). You can still buy game on
gog.com (Polish company FTW) -
http://www.gog.com/en/gamecard/realms_of_arkania_3 . I don't know how
they solved sountrack issues as these were audio tracks on original
CD.

If you are looking for other music - I also use great, legendary and
awsome sountrack from Robin of Sherwood TV Series
(http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086791/) by Clannad. Name of the album:
Legend.
There is 3 CD compilation of this and similar albums by Clannad on
Deezer - http://www.deezer.com/pl/music/clannad/magical-ring-legend-sirius-110557

Bonus track: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4z9TdDCWN7g (mp3 at
http://www.malukah.com/free/ ) ;)

HTH,
Radek.

[Skellan]

Some people were interested in map making tools during the session tonight.
I put them together using dundjinni, which i am dead pleased with as it is basically drag and drop and is quick and easy to use. theres a demo thats free but the mainsoftware is paid for.
alternatively i have used pyromancers (i just googled it) which is great as it is free and easy to use. i think you can import textures and objects into it too
finally, i love making maps, so if anyone wants me to do one for them just let me know

[Philippe Boujon]

Yeah your maps were amazing. I need to check that software. I am unfortunately too busy this fall so far to GM.

Sent from my iPhone

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[Karma Kollapse]

Had a play around in pyromancers for the game I'm running on Saturday; could make very good looking maps in a matter of minutes, incredibly impressed.

[Radosław Grzanka]

Hello,
thanks for all the pointers about map applications. I've tested
Dundjinni, Campaign Cartographer 3 and couple of free alternative. I'm
so frustrated because those tools are old and counter-intuitive. To my
surprise Pyromancers is the best tool out there, it's modern, fast and
easy to learn.

Any other pointers? I would really like desktop based application for
dungeon/map creation.

Cheers,
Radek.

2012/9/1 Karma Kollapse <karmak...@hotmail.com>:

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[Skellan]

Pyromancers is good. You may be able to add the fantasy objects from Gitzman's site too, though I haven't tried this.

It did take me a little while to figure out Dundjinni, but now I have I think its great.

We could perhaps make a thread or something on here so people can download the maps. Especially warhammery ones such as  Inns and forests etc?

[Fly-n-Dad]

Hey Guys,...

In the late 80's and early 90's I owned "The Playrooms Music and Recording Complex" in Atlanta, Georgia.

I can attest to the quality and ease of use the Scene Sound software offers a GM. The way in which they divide categories of a scene works quite fluidly with a tabletop RPG. Never tried to use it online though.

I was wondering if it would be ok to start an AUDIO thread here at WFRP3 Virtual. I have already started to create MANY custom sounds and short series of sounds for some of the action cards in the core set,. ie. Melee strike, ranged shot, accurate shot, etc. These sounds vary based on intensity of hit ( one hammer, or + damage ) , creature that you are engaged with ( orcs being hit sound different than goblins which are different than beastman etc ) and MANY other factors,.. In other words a basic melee strike has many different sounds depending on your dice roll and who it is that you are attacking.
What I don't know is how hard would it be to automate this,... Example: elf character drags and drops his Accurate Shot pool, GM add fortune/misfortune. elf rolls his pool and depending on the outcome of his roll, the proper sound effect plays,...... bow being drawn, slight inhaleation with breath hold, bow release, arrow through air, arrow makes contact, creature cries in pain. ( with the "level" of pain sound determined by the damage done by this hit) .

I also use an open source mixing and recording software called Audacity. With this software I am able to "pre-record" scene intros, and string together various sounds to create a longer custom sound. ( as I explained with the action cards) .  I will try to attach some examples with this post. Please keep in mind that I created ALL of these with a $4 ( that's right $4) headset w/mic, the free software, and lying on my bed, in a "not so good", audio environment.       The intro is for a day late and a shilling short. I can't wait to re-do these files in my friends studio,... Let me know what ya think,... And tell me how you are using audio in your online RPG games,...       

[Fly-n-Dad]

The Day late intro,... oopps ,..  is there a limit to the file size?,.. I seem to be having trouble uploading it to the server. File size is 27 mb,..

[Radosław Grzanka]

From experience, I can tell you that using sound effects for every
hit, ranged shot and other action is not very convenient unless it is
automated - then I don't mind. However, when you try to automate this
you go into other technical problems and when you do it manually you
end up in situation "You hit.. <awkward moment of silence>... <sound
effect> .. for 3 wounds"

It is much more useful to get generic medieval battle sounds and just
loop them, or marketplace sounds with merchants advertising their
goods, or tavern background noises - nothing as specific as single
hit.

I tried both approaches, and second one works better for me.

Cheers,
Radek.

2012/9/11 Fly-n-Dad <sagin...@yahoo.com>:

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[Skellan]

I think this is awesome. Please go ahead and set up your audio thread :)

I think adding audio to games is a great idea, though I haven't done it yet. I started using ambient sounds that I had found on you tube, and have been using them for backdrop to some boardgames. I have a spooky thunderstorm one which is great for mansions of madness. I am not running anything tabletop at the moment, but I certainly want to try this. Its amazing how the forest sounds or birdsong etc can really add to the mood, especially if they are played low so they aren't distracting.

I haven't tried ambiance online, and I am worried it might be too much as we sometimes suffer from sound quality issues anyway. I think your idea of scene intros is dead good. This could be the way to go, to play a short intro track to set the scene for new locations. Though I can't download it from the boards..it may be too large for them. Could you email it or something? my email is skel...@yahoo.co.uk

I was also looking at voice changing software - have you got any experience with it? It seemed rather fun, and some of the effects for demons etc were good

Its great that you are doing custom sounds. The ones you have added here are cool. I am not sure FG supports audio at the moment, so I am not sure that you could attach audio to actions. Having a library of sounds would be brilliant though, and it is certainly something I would use if I can get it set up right

I had a go of audacity once and it scared me hehe

[neilgfoster]

Fantasy Grounds doesn't support sounds at the moment, but looking on the forums it looks like it is a well requested feature. Hopefully we might see the developers add it in the future.

[Philippe Boujon]

Hey guys, to exchange bug files, I recommend dropbox, which is free and links can be added. Go ahead and set up your audio thread Flyndad, I am very interested in sounds with rpg and currently trying to set up my new Mac to use scene sound and soft rope.

Sent from my iPhone

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[Fly-n-Dad]

Just set up dropbox so I am not certain that it is working,.. let me know. The Day Late intro,.. please remember this was just a test created on my bed with a $4. We should be in the studio soon,.. https://dl.dropbox.com/u/104621339/Copy%20of%20Day%20Late%20-%20Journey%20to%20the%20Coach.wav

[Fly-n-Dad]

It helps if you close your eyes instead of staring at the sound bar when it is playing.

Also keep in mind that since this is a single sound file in Scene Sound, there are other sounds that I add when my players (my daughters) are at the table. In Scene Sound you have the ability to divide up your sounds into sub categories depending on Function. The sounds you don't hear that I have placed in the "Random" category, and activate on the fly are: Sounds of large fists beating on the coach; a light, howling wind; leaves blowing in the wind; and, at the very end I activate the sound file of the fight between Rutger and the Gor set up on a loop. When the "intro" file stops playing this leaves just the occasional beating sound, the occasional wind sound, the occasional leaves sound, and the occasional thunder sound, and all are preset with varying percentages of "randomness". This leaves a constant "2 guys fighting" sound. It becomes MUCH less "sound heavy" enabling the players to discuss and think about what they are going to do.  

[Fly-n-Dad]

What if EACH player already had all the sound files you were intending to utilize??  Similar to how each player already has the same library loaded into FG. Then, a simple "activation" by the GM would play EACH players sound file from their own computer?? I know you guys are MUCH more computer savvy than I am,... is it possible that something like this be done?? 

Continuing with this thought,.. Could a "package" of sound files, customized for each campaign, be created?, i.e, a "Eye for an Eye" sound file package or a "Lure of Power" sound package?

[Philippe Boujon]

Wow, I am impressed. Would there be a way for you to share all theses sounds, and the scene file? I am just dabbling with scene sound and not sure how to use it. I also need to acquire some sound effects.

Sent from my iPhone

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[Flyndad]

I second this Radio!

I have used every RPG sound software that I could find and have determined, for the way I GM, that Scenesound is by far and way the better, most versatile, easiest to use software.

As far as using sound with a VOIP, that is a little more tricky. The easiest and best way I have discovered is to purchase a little USB mixer with the capability to create an "Aux Mix" and do a "mix minus" back to your laptop to prevent the players from having a echo loop of their voice.     ( more on this later if you are interested) ,... 

[Karma Kollapse]

Just a note to all that I attempted to buy dundjinni a few weeks ago and was not delivered an end product. After many emails and an eventual claim against them through paypal, I got my money back.

Needless to say, not recommending this product.

On Friday, 31 August 2012 02:39:16 UTC+1, Skellan wrote:

[John]

I know most people here will already know, but I really love Profantasy's Campaign Cartographer.

It is not easy to learn, but not that difficult to do some awsome maps with the basics either.

http://www.profantasy.com

There are several addons, each one excellent

[Philippe Boujon]

I used Campaign Cartographer (I own the 1st version of theirs) and it is indeed great. Sorry to hear about Dunjinni though, as I bought it online/download, and didnt have any problem with it.

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[Steve of the Red Fez]

Dundjinni had what it took to be THE great map tool, but they've pretty much entirely stopped supporting it and have done nothing with it (at least last I checked, which was about 6 months ago). Because of that I can't recommend supporting them either even though I *WISH* I could.

[Philippe Boujon]

Karma, I am not in the same boat as you. I tried 2 weeks ago to buy an expansion for it, and have not yet received my download. It is unfortunate that Dunjinni has stopped supporting their product and yet still have an online store open.