Utilizing Roll20 and a TV in a traditional tabletop D&D game

Last month this article introduced me to Roll20. My group has been playing for a decade, and I have spent half that time looking for a tabletop mapping solution. While I did not employ a projector as shown in the article (and mentioned widely on the internet), Roll20 has proven to be exactly what I was looking for. Being geeks, we already had everything on hand we needed to make it work aside from a TV, and my wife gladly let me take ours from the living room when I replaced it with a larger one. Surprise! (The new TV was still less than the price of a projector) My setup: 42" LED TV, Apple Mac Mini (running Chrome), Laptop. I run the game from the laptop, while one of the players logs in thru the Apple using the TV as the monitor (I suspect any sufficiently powered PC could do the same). Either of us can control the PC tokens, while monsters and NPCs are controlled solely by me. At 80% zoom the grid is a perfect inch square; sizing the player tokens exactly to the base of our figures. We had our first full run last night, and, after a minor learning curve, were off and running. Game play was largely unaffected, and ran exactly as they had for the previous ten years, minus one key change - I didn't have to draw the maps. This one thing sped up the game significantly. The fact the map was now in full color, with lighting, and line of sight only served to take it well above the next level. You can see the results in the picture below. Aside from the epic-level quality of the maps, this should also allow players who are unable to attend physically to still play remotely by logging in and playing as Roll20 is intended. (This has yet to be tested, however) My questions to the community: Has anyone else employed this method for tabletop game play, and what were your results? Has anyone laid an LED TV on it's back before? There has been concerns raised about damage to the screen. (A piece of plexi will used over the screen next game to protect it from pressure)

A nice hint I would recommend for this is called "Presentation Mode" in Chrome browser. Enable Presentation Mode (in one of Chrome's menus) and it will hide all the browser tabs / menu space / top border, giving you more screen real estate for the map. Also there is another thread on this subject, which if you search & find it in the forums, there is a browser code that lets you hide even more of the Roll20 interface (like the toolbar and zoom slider, and the names at the bottom) in order to make your screen 100% map with no distractions. The code goes in your browser address bar, and was provided by The Aaron on the forum if I remember correctly.

That thread: <a href="https://app.roll20.net/forum/post/1174957/hide-ui#" rel="nofollow">https://app.roll20.net/forum/post/1174957/hide-ui#</a>... =D

Presentation Mode is F11 on the keyboard.

I've talked to some other gamers that have used a tv in that manner and they suggestion adequate ventilation. One guy built a stand so the tv could lay flat and have a plexisheet lay over it. You want the sheet to be think enough not to bend but still be thin enough to see through easy enough. One group did what you did and used rubber bands (those large industrial ones) to hold the sheet onto the tv.They used a few felt strips to allow air to flow under the sheet and it was sized about a half an inch to an inch bigger then needed to hang off the sides. This was to make sure any spilled drinks did not get in the tv. Good luck and congrats.

The vents on displays are typically on the back and/or top but they aren't normally fan assisted so having the TV like that will essentially make all the heat raise up via the screen. If it was a plasma I would highly recommend against it for a variety of reasons, in the case of an LCD/LED you're probably fine as long as it has - as you suggested - a protective cover and adequate airflow (coasters in the 4 corners just to give a bit of breathing room). I run a face to face game using Roll20 face to face but we leave the TV on the wall. Since one of our players moved from the UK to Canada he connects in the more traditional way and it works out pretty well. As per The Aaron's link there is a handy script which will hide the few other tabs and stuff and if you hit F11 you will end up with a full screen map (just hit F5 to get the tabs and stuff back if you need them).

Thanks for the tips everyone. I appreciate it.

You didn't protect your screen? I thought about picking up a 4k for my home-group and then bolting on a plexiglass cover over it. Problem was that it would leave an inch gap (due to the bezel) which would have minis hovering over the grid.

You can pick up a laptop fan that is meant to stick under the laptop and add some cooling.they plug into a USB port for power. I got one for about $5 or $6 . It should give you the cooling you need, and levitate papers around the screen for a nice spooky effect...

I've actually done some research in the past here's some handy links I've found: Custom built table to house the TV long term Another custom built table but using a projector Discussion on using LCD I know that wasn't what you originally asked for, but they have discussed ventilation/overheating as one of the areas they've had to deal with.

Ken, I purchased a poster frame and used the plastic cover from it to protect the screen. I was concerned about the gap caused by the bezel, but the plastic was flexible enough to bend down in the middle. I've considered cutting the plastic to fit within the frame. Heat hasn't been an issue, but the laptop fan is a good idea. Alicia, thank you for those links. I've been debating about how to build the table, and those will help out.

Ah, condensation would be an issue in humid environments once you leave that air-gap caused by the bezel and screen enclosed. Having a fan or something to vent that area would prevent that.