A few ideas

Hey all, I just wanted to post a few ideas I had concerning roll20. I am not a developer or programmer by any means, so these might be impossible or not practical, but I would like to post them anyway in hopes that I might inspire some ideas in those who are technically proficient with design. 1.) Rotating tokens: I'm really into using the 16bit "SNES" style in my games. I think it would be cool to upload 4 images to a token (up, down, left and right) and have the image change to the corresponding direction when moved with the arrow keys. This would really work in any art style, even a straight top down view. 2.) Isometric grids: pretty self explanatory. We have square and hex grids, and it seems to me that an isometric style grid could easily be created by making a grid of diamonds. Correct me if I'm wrong because like I said above, I'm no programmer or designer, but I think this would be cool. 3.) GIF tokens: I know this one would be a little more complex. Like, I said earlier, I'm into the SNES style, and the ability to select two images for a tile that automatically switched back and fourth would be neat. In older games like Zelda: A Link to the Past, an otherwise boring landscape comes alive with a simple GIF-type animation such as flowers blowing or water flowing. Essentially it would be the same thing as the rotating tokens posted in point #1, but the images cycle automatically. If I have anything else, I'll post it here. All others are welcome to do the same. I just hope these suggestions might inspire the right people and improve the platform for everyone. Thank you for reading!

ZoSo said: Hey all, I just wanted to post a few ideas I had concerning roll20. I am not a developer or programmer by any means, so these might be impossible or not practical, but I would like to post them anyway in hopes that I might inspire some ideas in those who are technically proficient with design. 1.) Rotating tokens: I'm really into using the 16bit "SNES" style in my games. I think it would be cool to upload 4 images to a token (up, down, left and right) and have the image change to the corresponding direction when moved with the arrow keys. This would really work in any art style, even a straight top down view. There has been done but it is a manual not automatic like you suggest. Good idea anyway. ZoSo said: 2.) Isometric grids: pretty self explanatory. We have square and hex grids, and it seems to me that an isometric style grid could easily be created by making a grid of diamonds. Correct me if I'm wrong because like I said above, I'm no programmer or designer, but I think this would be cool. I think one of the grid settings does work for Isometric grids. There was a thread featuring an artists work on it. I think it is somewhere in the on-topic forum section. ZoSo said: 3.) GIF tokens: I know this one would be a little more complex. Like, I said earlier, I'm into the SNES style, and the ability to select two images for a tile that automatically switched back and fourth would be neat. In older games like Zelda: A Link to the Past, an otherwise boring landscape comes alive with a simple GIF-type animation such as flowers blowing or water flowing. Essentially it would be the same thing as the rotating tokens posted in point #1, but the images cycle automatically. I'm not sure on this. I think a mod or dev will need to comment on the reason why it is not being used.

It wouldn't be too difficult to do 1) with an API script. Basically, on a graphic that is a token moving, you'd calculate it's move direction and then swap it's imgsrc for the correct image. It would be more difficult to automate setting up the images than the actual image swapping. Actually, you could probably do an initialization step for each token you wanted to do this with where you put all 4 images (or 8 if you handle diagonals) in a + (or box) shape around the token you want to set them to, then select them all and run an init command. I've often thought 2) would be cool as well. Probably dimetric grid lines would be better. That's usually what people mean when they say isometric. That would open a whole new can of worms for the Roll20 developers. You'd probably want to have a means of sorting front to back based on top to bottom, so your tokens could walk behind things that are closer to the foreground. That would be really cool. =D Probably not a huge draw for that, but I'd enjoy it. You could do 3) with an API script, swapping out the imgsrc for a token on a timer. Less difficult than 1), pretty easy, really. So.. get a Mentor subscription and PM me and I'll help you get 1) and 3) going. =D

I think I will man. I was a supporter for a while but my card expired and I just never renewed my subscription. If I do so I'll PM you. Much appreciated! :)

So am I right in saying 3) would consist of multiple jpegs on a timer? if so I want to upgrade just to make a token that blinks or makes a subtle movement, just to freak out the players who are now used tonstatic game pieces... :)

Yup, that's how I would do it.

Doing this in the API would be epic: <a href="http://sheepfilms.co.uk/interact/eyes.htm" rel="nofollow">http://sheepfilms.co.uk/interact/eyes.htm</a>

Oh wow that would cause a few nightmares... I definitely have a use for that :) Nice job thinking up how to make this stuff work, I know the Gifs option would have placed a lot of strain on the engine but hopefully this is more do-able since the individual jpegs are relatively small in file size. As always this community continues to amaze me with the ingenuity displayed.

For #2, check out this thread

Brian said: For #2, check out this thread I knew it was there. thanks for the find.

Brian said: For #2, check out this thread That is rather cool. Do you know if that technique would work for maps made in something like the Shadowrun Returns editor?

Based on the proportions from the screenshot, the grid could be aligned correctly. The technique in the link relies on the ratio of width to height being 2/1. You can see in the screenshot that the rectangles sketched out are 84 x 42, which follows that 2/1 ratio.

Awsome. Thank you.