GM questions

Hi, Just became a supporter last night. One step up from the free membership. I have a couple of questions. 1. In my campaign, I have created a couple of 'pages' to use. I notice that one is titled Start and the others are untitled. How do I title them? 2. Is there a way I can 'save' the page at 40% zoom? 100% is way to large. 3. I have access to dynamic lighting but can't figure out how to use it. Would someone please explain in layman terms? 4. Is there anyway I can handout/upload a file such as a character sheet or pic so that players can d/l it? I am trying to streamline my campaign from any 'glitches' that I may be able to avoid by having knowledge first. Thanks, Tom

1: Click on the word 'untitled' and enter a name for it; don't forget to hit Enter when done. 2: Nope, aside from setting it up smaller in the first place. 3: Sorry, not my area of expertise. 4: Not that I know of. Lots of people use myth-weavers.com for character sheets. Helpful Tips on Setting Up Tokens

Jugular said: 3. I have access to dynamic lighting but can't figure out how to use it. Would someone please explain in layman terms? 4. Is there anyway I can handout/upload a file such as a character sheet or pic so that players can d/l it? 4. Short of taking a screen grab, no. My groups use a shared folder on someone's Google drive when things could possibly be downloaded. I've had some players use Myth-weavers as above and it works, we just tend to prefer a fill-able pdf or spreadsheet. 3. Here's the obligatory link to the wiki: here! The short version: Tokens/objects on the token layer or the map/background layer can emit light. By double clicking on the object, then moving to the "Advanced" tab you can adjust the amount of light and who sees it. On the dynamic lighting layer, you can place lines and shapes using the Roll20 drawing features that block the light. It's something that benefits from being shown or just messed around with - if you run into any specific questions about it, give a shout. EDIT - I found a tutorial on Youtube that might help; there's likely others as well.

Thanks for the prompt replies. Changed the names of the pages! I suppose the Dymanic lighting will be trial and error. I do have one additional question on DL. The advanced options - All players see light and has light. All players see light - does that mean everyone sees the light from where ever they are? Or that all players can see the light once they are in the vicinity of the light's reach? Has light- what does this mean.

Jugular said: All players see light - does that mean everyone sees the light from where ever they are? Or that all players can see the light once they are in the vicinity of the light's reach? Everyone sees the light from wherever they are UNLESS you're enforcing line of sight (the check box on the page settings screen). With line of sight then lines on the DL layer impact what people can see. "Has sight" means that token and by extension the player who is set to control that token "sees" what that token sees. Player's tokens should have that checked, NPC tokens players control might have that box checked depending on how finicky you are with what you want to share, NPC tokens under your control won't need it checked.

"Has Sight" needs to be turned on if you're Enforcing Line of Sight. If you don't check it for player tokens, they'll just see black on pages you've Enforced Line of Sight. If you turn Enforce Line of Sight off, then players will be able to see any light source on the map, provided it's set to "All players see light". If you turn that off, only the person controlling the token will be able to see it's light.

If you prefer not to use line of sight, Dynamic Lighting pairs very well with Fog of War. As the others have said, normally a player would be able to view any light source on the map regardless of where it is in relation to their character if you don't have Line of Sight/Has Sight turned on. Fog of War can be used to cover areas that you don't want your players to be able to view. It's also useful to cover areas that you don't want them to unexpectedly explore: <a href="https://wiki.roll20.net/Fog_of_War" rel="nofollow">https://wiki.roll20.net/Fog_of_War</a> For more information about Line of Sight, there's a section on the Dynamic Lighting wiki page: <a href="https://wiki.roll20.net/Dynamic_Lighting#Adding_Light" rel="nofollow">https://wiki.roll20.net/Dynamic_Lighting#Adding_Light</a>

I am using Fog of War. I love that feature. But I also thought, after seeing the Dynamic Lighting video of the token using the torch, that would be a great enhancement for the game. Here is another question: In that video, the character only sees what his torch illuminates. The explored area goes back into fog of war mode. Is there a way to keep what he has explored with his torch revealed?

Not currently.

In layman terms. Fog of war requires the GM to reveal what the characters see as they venture forth. When reveal is used the way traveled is visible to all. Dynamic lighting allows the characters, who are 'chosen', to see only the area that is emitted by the light source, i.e. a torch on the wall. Once outside that range they are in the dark, unless they are carrying a lamp. If they are carrying a lamp and no one else in the group is, I'm assuming that as long as the other members in the group follow the character who has the lamp, they will continue to see what the lamp illuminates, correct? If I am using Fog of war and Dynamic Lighting, will the dynamic lighting show whats on the other side of a wall that has yet to be explored? If so, then I can see the need for the lines being drawn to prevent the dynamic lighting from 'bleeding' over where in real life it wouldn't. I see that there is a 'group' and 'ungroup' option. How does that feature work? Thanks

Jugular said: Is there a way to keep what he has explored with his torch revealed? No, the point of Dynamic Light is to simulate a more realistic approach to tabletops. Players can only see things they have sight on, meaning that things going on outside their field of view or in other rooms, they do not see. If you want to leave those areas illuminated, try creating a small token and just giving it enough light to illuminate the room, and putting one in each room they explored.

I have set wall torches with the dynamic lighting. I was just wondering if the Dynamic Lighting feature had a permanent reveal option.

Askren said: If you want to leave those areas illuminated, try creating a small token and just giving it enough light to illuminate the room, and putting one in each room they explored. To help with this, you can put tokens on the dynamic lighting layer that are set to emit light. The tokens themselves will be invisible, but the players (if you check the all players see light option) will be able to view the light. One note on this is that once you put a token on the dynamic lighting layer, you need to double click on it to open the token's settings. You also must have the all players see option checked in order for the light to be visible. This can be a useful trick for creating ambient light such as dimly glowing magic moss or something.

Ok. Fog of war, everything is in black. The GM reveals what he wants the party to see and it remains revealed. Dynamic Lighting - the character is given the ability to 'emit' light, as if they have a lantern/torch. The light that is emitted only displays the area allowed by the torch and as the character moves the once lit area goes black as he continues venturing forth (there is no permanent reveal). Unless lines are drawn in the dynamic lighting, the character will be able to see what is on the other side of a wall, correct? The lines prevent the emitted light to penetrate a wall, door, etc. In other words, Dynamic Lighting is a super improved Fog of War - i.e. HD TV to black and white tv. Tom

Jugular said: Unless lines are drawn in the dynamic lighting, the character will be able to see what is on the other side of a wall, correct? The lines prevent the emitted light to penetrate a wall, door, etc. Yes, unless you go to the Dynamic Lighting layer and draw out your light-blocking lines, there will not actually be anything there blocking the light tokens emit, so it kind of doesn't do anything.

Ok. I have a better grasp of Dynamic Lighting. I had my first session last night and would prefer to use Dynamic lighting. I used Fog of war and it was ok but dynamic lighting would have been a better enhancement. I have a more questions (crazy, eh?). When I am on the token edit and I am on the advanced screen. On the left it has player permissions. I do not believe that for the lighting, any of those are necessary. On the right where you determine how much light is emitted, below it there are two options. All players see light. Does this mean that players will see any light that is being used in dynamic lighting? Has sight. What does this option do? My next scenario/campaign will be in a ruins. I have lined off all the rooms and walls so that dynamic lighting is realistic. I even have one room that has a few small openings that I left open from the lines and the light is actually shining through. Very impressive. I assume that if the escaping light is in the line of sight of the players, then they should see it even though their lamps may not reach that far. Is this correct? Thanks!

If all players see light is checked they all will indeed see the light. Has Sight means that the token should use line of sight rules, meaning you won't be able to see tokens or a light source around a corner.

Ok. Please clarify this statement. The torch is emitting light. I have players see light checked for the torch. I check line of sight also. Does that mean that the torch is only visible to players who have line of sight to the torch? OR do the players tokens have to have players see light and line of sight checked ? Tom

The player tokens have to have Has Sight check, the map has to have Enforce Line of Sight checked, and the torch token has to have All Players See Light check.

Ok. So the players have to 'have sight' to see the light. The light emitting source has to have 'all players see light' allowing the players can SEE the light source. The map has to enable dynamic lighting AND enforce line of sight for it to work. Is this correct?

Yes.

THANK YOU!!! I appreciate your help.