newbie GM questions

Hi, new to Roll20, we have had 2 sessions that went well. Some questions I have: One issue I have is when working on maps and the map is way over on the right (because I have so many), every time I open the map menu I have to re-scroll all the way over if I want to change the settings. Is there any way to keep the current map highlighted or have it scroll to that map directly if it is open? the slider bar is so thin as well making this onerous. Next, we had a battle against 8 kobolds. I dragged the kobold token I had made over from the journal and made some DM only edits on the token that I wanted access to without opening the journal (they don't carry over for some reason when you move them onto a map?). Then I copy/pasted the token 7 times. Problem was during the battle when I adjusted the HP bar of one, it reduced the value for all eight! I surmise this is because I copy pasted the token. Am I doing something wrong? I don't find the dnd 5e char sheet good for NPC's (although excellent for PC's). what do you guys/gals use for NPC's? I put a lot of their stats and info in the DM only section of the journal but then I find it does not show up when I drag that token onto the map (see above). I cannot simply use the PC char sheets because some of the macros are premade and NPC's don't always follow PC rules. Thanks in advance!

1. You can move the Players flag to the map that you want to be shown to the Players when they first log into the game. Just pick it up and drag onto the preferred map. 2. On the first goblin token open the Edit Token window. Next to the three Bars you'll see a drop-down menu. Select 'None' on the bar that you are using for HP. Now, copy and paste the goblin token as many times as you need. Now, each goblin token will adjust HP individually. 3. I create a blank NPC Character Template in the Journal. I then copy it and use for it creating NPCs.

thanks for your reply! 1. I think you misunderstood. say I am working on a map and it is my 15th map so it is way over on the right of the list of maps at the top. now when I want to edit the settings of that map, I have to open the Page Toolbar and then scroll all the way past the maps I have already completed to get to my active map (I like to keep them in order of appearance). Every time. I find this the most frustrating part of roll20 so far actually, maybe it is a trivial thing to others. Maybe this should be in the Suggestions section, unless there is an easier way? 2. I see, I must copy them before I put numbers in the Bars! Ok cool. 3. I don't see how that helps? Where do you put the info? Do you not use the DM only section since it doesn't apparently move over to the map? Can you give me an example of a blank NPC Character Template?

1. maps you've used and don't expect to return to can be archived. 3. Creating a blank NPC or Monster character journal and adding some consistant things like attributes and abilities lets you COPY that sheet whenever you want to make a new NPC or Monster in the character journals. That saves you the time of configuring or entering in EVERYthing, just letting you update some numbers instead.

1. OK, I got it. Yeah, not much can do about it in that case. You can move the map order around, but that's about it for the time being. The suggestion has been made before for a better map management system, but it couldn't hurt make it again. 2. Not quite. First, you create a generic Goblin Character in the Journal tab. Second, bring a goblin token onto the map. Third, you bring up the Edit Token window. Fourth, you select Goblin in the Represents Character drop-down menu. Now the Bars on the right of the Edit Token window will populate with the numbers from the Goblin Character. Fifth, you now select 'None' from the Bar drop-down menu for HP. This will de-link that token's HP from the HP on the master Goblin Character sheet in the Journal tab. Lastly, copy and paste the token as desired and each token now be able to individually adjust HP without it being linked to the master Goblin Character's HP. 3. Rather than using the 5e D&D Character sheet for NPCs I create my own NPC template using the Attributes & Abilities tab of the Character sheet in the Journal tab. I create a box for important stats under the Attributes section on the right, and then I create macros for the NPC using the Abilities section on the left.

Drohem, mark G, 1. I figured as much, thanks! 2. ok I will follow those steps 3. my main issue is I put stats and info that doesn't fit into A&A or can't be made into a macro (ie. darkvision 30', special notes) under the DM only section. But that doesn't come across when I put the token on the map. How do you do that?

You can use the Aura function in the Edit Token window to simulate special vision fields. You can make a macro that just states any special notes and have the macro just send the information to you. For example, let's say you have special notes for a NPC about a secret he knows about a PC's past. You create a macro labeled 'Secret' and set it up like this: Secret /w GM @{selected|token_name} has a secret. He knows about Jeremy's past life as a thief.

1. There are a couple possibilities that may help you: In Chrome you can shift+mousewheel to side scroll. If your mousewheel has a 'press in' mode you can use that to side scroll. You can re-arrange your maps by dragging them into the desired order. As already mentioned, you can archive maps. 2. This is a good guide for how to link tokens (it basically says what Drohem said) <a href="https://wiki.roll20.net/Linking_Tokens_to_Journals" rel="nofollow">https://wiki.roll20.net/Linking_Tokens_to_Journals</a> 3. Drohem's suggestions to use the attributes and abilities work well. I would put the special notes in the GM section of the token or the bio in the character sheet.

For # 3: The NPC secton of the D&D5e sheet is set up so that you can use the actions that you input as token actions. There are 10 inputs for actions labeled "Row 1" - "Row 10" Input all of your information into the fields. Create a token action and use this as the input there: /w gm @{npc_action_name1} @{npc_action_type1} @{npc_action_multiattack1} @{npc_action_description1} @{npc_action_effect1} When you click the Token Action button it will then post all the information in a whisper to you, the gm. For actions 2-10 you just need to change the numbers in the token actions to the corresponding Action Row. Example: You can also make token actions for the abilities and traits. Say you want a token action to read what traits the creature has, create a token action and use: /w gm @{npc_traits} I always use the #1 bar for Health but always leave it set to "None" #2 bar for Passive Perception #3 bar for Armor Class

Thanks all. I am making great progress. Unlinking mook tokens is stumping me however. I have tried everything in that 'how to' and the above poster's instructions. But still when I try to change HP on the mook tokens they all are linked somehow. Maybe I have to wipe that character from the journal and start over?

Atif, you don't need to do that. Drag the token on your map Remove the token from the sheet and save your edit. Open edit on token then unlink your HP on the token then save. Attach token back to sheet.

That isn't the route I'd go for a mook. Create the character sheet, set a default token, via the howto, drag the mooks to your map, and then open each mook's pog and where you want the health bar to be, select whatever you've named your hitpoints from the drop down, and then set it back to non. That act will set the hitpoint bar and then unlinking it again will leave the numbers without having changes to one affect them all. If I need to be clearer, let me know.

eureka I have finally figured it out! thanks all