New User with Questions

Hi, new user, first time poster. A quick setup:  Back to D&D after 30 years, running home game, using DnDBeyond for character management and compendium sharing (I'm in pretty deep) and Improved Initiative for combat tracking (lots of work). I bought into Roll20 for one reason:  Maps.  I needed an easy way to display Adventure maps and FOW.  Dynamic Lighting is just what I was looking for. But now I'm running all this stuff on two old computers, one cheap the other ancient (both have roughly the same specs), I'm old and I'm getting confused so I'm looking at ways to consolidate. I'm computer stupid.  I've watched a few API vids and hmmmmm.  I'm thinking about what I could get from a Pro sub but cautious about squeezing a crate of oranges for half a glass of juice. How much/well can APIs integrate DnDBeyond with Roll20, particularly in the area of Roll20 replacing Improved Initiative completely?   Improved Intitiative just added monster stat block importing from DnDBeyond.  That was a big help but I'm still manually entering character data.  Improved Initiative is going to be difficult to replace in our games.  But if I can put together a combat tracker that rivals Improved Initiative in Roll20 that would be HUGE. I'm curious what more experienced Roll20 users' thoughts are.   

Hiya, I´m not versed enough in Improved Initiative to say if a Roll20 script could replace it, but there is a script named Combat Tracker available for PRO users that see frequent updates and works very well for me and my group. What features do you need? I'm pretty sure there are ways to track them in Roll20 but they will require API scripts and a PRO subscription. Without API support I´m afraid that you will find Roll20´s ability to track combat and conditions somewhat lacking. As for DnD Beyond I know of at least one script that are supposed to be able to import character and monster data but I´ve never used it myself. The Roll20 compendium makes it very easy to import and edit characters into your game but I can understand that it´s somewhat daunting to re-buy the stuff you already own on Beyond. Even so, there are plenty of monsters in the SRD that you can just drag and drop into your game that reduce the manual load. Combat Tracker Script <a href="https://app.roll20.net/forum/post/6349145/script-combattracker/?pagenum=1" rel="nofollow">https://app.roll20.net/forum/post/6349145/script-combattracker/?pagenum=1</a> BeyondImporter Script <a href="https://app.roll20.net/forum/post/6248700/script-beta-beyondimporter-import-dndbeyond-character-sheets/?pagenum=1" rel="nofollow">https://app.roll20.net/forum/post/6248700/script-beta-beyondimporter-import-dndbeyond-character-sheets/?pagenum=1</a>

Thanks for your response, Ravenknight.&nbsp; I was beginning to wonder if I had worded my post poorly, but also considered that few have knowledge of Improve Initiative. What Improved Initiative has been providing (or what I have been using) is turn tracking, quick +/- to HP (and temp HP), spell slot tracking and quick reference to AC, attacks, bonuses and such. Yes, as I've continued to research it's becoming obvious that a Pro account is going to be needed to accomplish what I'm looking for. One problem I feel I may be running into is that I'm not running any actual players in Roll20.&nbsp; I just want to use tokens for map exploration, certainly not how Roll20 was designed to be used.&nbsp; I don't want for us all to sit in a room and play an online RPG together.&nbsp; I'm trying to preserve the F2F atmosphere just with cooler map presentation and some combat tracking that's a little more modern than paper tents hanging on my GM screen.&nbsp; If I could cut out Improved Initiative (one less sub, one less thing running in my browser, one less thing to switch back and forth from) and have that all on Roll20, that would be great.&nbsp; Again, I'm computer stupid.&nbsp; And APIs are rather daunting to me.&nbsp; But I've worked out such problems with good community before. I must admit that I'm kind of prodding the community here to see just how much help with that I can expect.&nbsp; Are there other sites where I can shoot such API stupidity and have people hold my hand?&nbsp; Because that's probably what I'll need. Thanks for the links.&nbsp; Definitely looks like what I need.

"Turn tracking, quick +/- to HP (and temp HP), spell slot tracking and quick reference to AC, attacks and bonuses" are all things that can be handled with Roll20 without even touching the API. I´ve never used Roll20 to show maps at the table myself, but I know that it´s not that uncommon. It seems like it can be somewhat tricky to do the setup and you will probably need both a laptop and a second monitor or television to pull it off. See link below: <a href="https://wiki.roll20.net/Using_Roll20_while_Playing_In-Person" rel="nofollow">https://wiki.roll20.net/Using_Roll20_while_Playing_In-Person</a> As for not being all that computer savvy, I think I can safely say that the community here is very helpful and that you will find it rather easy to get help once you get started. ;)

Thanks!&nbsp; I have the hardware all worked out.&nbsp; It's just navigating the roll20 learning curve.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Good luck! Post if you need help.

Anyone know how to delete items from an Art Folder? &nbsp;I seem to be out of space..... Thanks!

Hi, Warlock, here's how to delete things from the art folder.&nbsp; In the artwork tab, scroll down to Recent Uploads.&nbsp; Right-click and choose "delete item."&nbsp; You'll be prompted to confirm.&nbsp; This deletes the image from everyplace that it appears in all your games, so be sure to choose wisely!

Thanks Valerie!

Valerie M. said: Hi, Warlock, here's how to delete things from the art folder.&nbsp; In the artwork tab, scroll down to Recent Uploads.&nbsp; Right-click and choose "delete item."&nbsp; You'll be prompted to confirm.&nbsp; This deletes the image from everyplace that it appears in all your games, so be sure to choose wisely! Wait... where is the Artwork tab?

It is the tab in between the chat and the journal where characters/handouts are.&nbsp; You can only see it in a game you created.

Once you are inside your game and on your art tab,you can double click on one of your recent upload images. This opens up your art library and you can bulk delete the images but no more than 15 to 20 at a time otherwise it won't work.&nbsp; As Valerie says Valerie M. said: This deletes the image from everyplace that it appears in all your games, so be sure to choose wisely! Once they are deleted, they are gone. To get them back you will have to re-upload them again.

Glad the post is getting some action.&nbsp; Thanks, 13th Warlock. I've been into this a few days and maybe I can be a little more specific.&nbsp; These are the things Improved Initiative does for me that I need Roll20 to do.&nbsp; Maybe you guys can help me out. 1.&nbsp; Track Initiative - This I can do in Roll20 2.&nbsp; Track Hit Points - Can do in Roll20but a macro to assign and maybe randomize HP to a simple templated monster and maybe the AC so that I don't have to enter those on each token would save a lot of time. 3.&nbsp; Instant character sheets and stat blocks - This is where I struggling.&nbsp; I've watched a few days of outdated videos about creating monster manuals and character sheets and tried a little with rather limited results.&nbsp; I just don't need all that.&nbsp; We are rolling dice.&nbsp; What I need is maybe a macro to whisper a stat block or character sheet or something like that?&nbsp; I saw how in these videos how attacks, attributes, etc.. were separate macro windows when you clicked on the token .&nbsp; That may be a little more work but worth it in the end.&nbsp; I don't really need all the action macros, I just need the info at a click (what attacks, attributes, AC characters, monsters and NPCs have) so that I and they can roll that out and add/reduce hit points accordingly.&nbsp; I just need to know&nbsp;what I'm rolling and why.&nbsp;&nbsp; 4. Spell Slot Tracking - So far I haven't seen any way to do this. &nbsp; If I must I can track this on paper.&nbsp; But if anyone knows of a macro or idea to handle this, that would be cool. I'm finding little bits of what I need buried under all the info that I don't need.&nbsp; Confused AF.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Most of what you want to do is pretty clunky on roll20, until you get the API (Pro subscriber). Tracking hit Points : Macros cant edit a character sheet or token - they can only read values, they cant change them. At the Pro subscriber you have access to the API, which does allow you to edit character sheets and tokens. As well as use the various initiative enhancing scripts people have created. Instant Character Sheets/Stat Blocks: If you drag a creature from the compendium to the map, it'll create a token, and a character sheet, with all the most used skills, stats, and abilities already filled in. You can then just use the buttons to launch macros from the sheet. By default, the compendium only includes creatures in the SRD, and tokens are bland without art. They are easily edited, but with the roll20 Monster Manual, you get complete art and a wider range of monsters. If you like using custom monsters, its easy enough to create something from the compendium or MM, and rename then edit it to fit your needs. If youre using the API, there are scripts that can let you set up a chat menu (a list of action buttons and information that appears in chat), that you only need to create once and will work for all creatures and characters. Universal Chat Menus and Menu Maker are two examples (Full disclosure: I wrote the first, Scott C wrote the second). Spell slot tracking: The ammo script in combination with a chat menu can handle this, I think. I havent played D&amp;D on roll20, but if there is no existing solution, I imagine people will be happy to come up with a custom API to sort it.

Yeah, it's coming along fine. Dragging or entering monster stats into a blank template is easy enough.&nbsp; Entering player (in my case NPC- there are no players) info is easy too.&nbsp; Link to a token and all of that can be pulled up with a shift+click.&nbsp; Everything I need to track is there.&nbsp; Finding that information was much harder than understanding or applying it.&nbsp;&nbsp; Macros to make all that a little easier can come later.&nbsp; I just needed to get off the ground for a game this weekend. I don't think I need a Pro account at all.&nbsp; Nice pitch though.

Hope this is the proper place for this, if not please forgive, but I purchased something from the marketplace and did not realize it was not printable or downloadable whatever the proper jargon is for it, but um question is ....where is it? Worst part *hangs head in shame* I can't even remember what it was called.&nbsp; I know, I know, but if anyone has seen a lil rogue with something he should not have shank him it's mine! lol But on a serious note, where do I find things I purchase there? Thanks in advance.

Good a place as any.&nbsp; Hope you find the answer, I'm a bit too new to give it to you.&nbsp; All I know is compendium stuff is under the "i" in a circle icon at the top of the chat window.&nbsp; It will depend on what you bought.&nbsp; Maps and tokens will be in the Art Library, the two little pictures icon at the top of the chat window.&nbsp; That is all in-game, of course.&nbsp; If you aren't in a game, I don't think you can see any of that. But I'm a noob and so far have had to find my own answers.&nbsp; Good luck

Maps can also already be placed on pages in the map list at the top of the screen.&nbsp; If what you purchased isn't downloadable, it may be an addon which has to be enabled on the game launch page.

Zamara, if you hover over the Marketplace link at the top of any roll20 page, one of the dropdown options will be Your Purchases . You hsould be able to see the name of what you bought there.

Just to chime in with a data point: If you use the Shaped Sheet instead of the official Roll20 D&amp;D sheet, it has built in chat menus like you were describing: they put a shorthand version of the character sheet into chat where nearly everything is clickable. It is less compatible on more recent Compendium releases, and cannot use charactermancer, but is much more powerful and flexible than the official sheet.

keithcurtis said: Just to chime in with a data point: If you use the Shaped Sheet instead of the official Roll20 D&amp;D sheet, it has built in chat menus like you were describing: they put a shorthand version of the character sheet into chat where nearly everything is clickable. It is less compatible on more recent Compendium releases, and cannot use charactermancer, but is much more powerful and flexible than the official sheet. Good to know.&nbsp; That's actually helpful.&nbsp; Thanks, keithcurtis