Tabletop Note Pad

ANYTHING to just put text in a box on a table that isn't that label. Some kind of object that is text editable. Something everyone can see. Thank you.

What is the specific issue you have with the text drawing tool?

It's just simply text with no frame, it's not a text box, it's not a note, it's just so you can write words on a map. I want my players to be able to see things like quick notes without having to go into handouts all the time. A scratchpad where you can jot down a quick list of NPC names on the fly. A place where you can track things simpler than having to go into every extended file on a campaign. A place I can use to write aspects, new rules, and share them quickly. Hell, even Windows has Sticky Note, can't I get something like that on the board? Opening and closing windows for one or two things at a time is a labor, especially for players. GMs can get used to the system, but players don't have to. They should be able to access information easier without slowing down and explaining how to get it every time.

One potential workaround would be to create a "character" called "Note Pad" and allow that character to be controlled and edited by everyone. The Bio and Info section could be where you write all that information. They could open it up whenever they want. And a cool feature of the Character Sheets is that double clicking in the titlebar minimizes it on the map so it's quickly accessible. Just a thought.

See I thought about that also with Handouts, which work the same, and it's a temporary fix. But that means opening up the file each time, to go to section, editing and saving, and hopefully not screwing it up for someone else. A small notepad or sticky note would be an easily removable item... I wonder if you can do that with a token and text.

+1 I've been requesting this for months. We have super elaborate character sheets, but index cards or post-its are not on the table? Blah.

You could find a GIF/PNG image of sticky note and then use the text tool to write on it. You could then group the two things together so they move together. The only downside is you'd have to ungroup them to edit the text box and then regroup them again. That could be done an whichever layer you want. And this isn't to say your request/suggestion is invalid. I'm just trying to help you find a solution until something like this could get implemented. :)

I do use something like that for when on a special board I made for a game. The one thing that was the problem about that was my players couldn't edit it, so I was doing it every time. Right now, I have the hangouts, which I think everyone has to open on their own to see.

The other problem with the text boxes, is when you paste in info from another source, like your backup text doc, it does not preserve the line breaks. This makes the suggested method of using a graphic and a text field even more of a chore. It works, but we're coming from a table where making sweet, clear index cards or posties is a snap.

If by 'hangouts' you mean handouts, you can actually force show it to all players. When you open it up there's a button at the top for "show to players" and that will open it onscreen for all players who are authorized to see it. Now, they can close it anytime they want, but you can also keep showing it to them. And when it shows to them, they can click the edit button and edit the document right then, too.

The other problem with the text boxes, is when you paste in info from another source, like your backup text doc, it does not preserve the line breaks. This makes the suggested method of using a graphic and a text field even more of a chore. It works, but we're coming from a table where making sweet, clear index cards or posties is a snap.

Handouts, yes. That's a better fix than the paste over a BG. This is more important in games like Fate, where you kinda need to have that whiteboard aspect to it, but also things aren't so permanent there, and get exist from scene to scene. And I can't write with my mouse. :)

No one? :.(

Jonathan S. said: No one? :.( uh.. +1 ? =D I'm certainly in favor of more features and more refinement to features. Having started playing The Dresden Files RPG, I can definitely see the need for taking note of various aspects!

I use a handout as a "Journal/Notebook" that all players can edit. They can choose to either leave the handout open resize/position/edit at will, minimize the handout by double-clicking the header, or close it completely. I can "Show to Players" whenever I want to. You can make as many handouts as needed. Works well. If we had "post-it" style notes, how would they be different? That said, I do use real post-it notes as a GM and as a player while playing on roll20. If screen real estate was not an issue I guess I could use "virtual" post-its. I also feel the text tool could use a little help. Formatting and text boundaries (wrap) would be nice.