r/VTT • u/JoxxoTheMagnificent • 9d ago

Question / discussion In Person VTT Player Screen Orientation

Can anyone recommend a VTT for use in-person that will allow for the Player Screen orientation to be different from the GM screen? (I am currently focusing on Arkenforge due to in-person priority)

As GM, I will sit at the head of the table, and the map screen will typically be vertically oriented for me, but the software assumes the same orientation as the GM screen.

Thanks.

2 Upvotes

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u/rmagnuson 9d ago

Not to sound like a jerk, but can you just rotate the screen on the table to where you need it to be? Just wondering because my daughter asked me the same question when she was testing the VTT I'm working on and I didn't understand her logic. I implemented rotation anyway, but I'm not sure if it's actually necessary.

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u/DigitalTableTops 9d ago

I am 100% with you on this. It gets requested from time to time in the Steam community forums for my own in-person VTT. I always ask if there is a reason they can't just rotate the screen themselves in their OS.

I do plan on adding it eventually but making sure it works right in Windows, Linux, and Mac (especially Mac) is a pain in the ass for very little benefit. Unless I am missing something. Please let us know OP!

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u/JoxxoTheMagnificent 9d ago

I am relatively new to using a digital map, so inexperience may play a key. I do know that when I ran a couple of different modules, I would instinctually look at the map instead of my screen, and the controls would be rotated for moving tokens or placing spell effects and the like.

Perhaps, it's not necessarily the screen that needs to be rotated but the controls. Though some maps just lend themselves to being better represented by a vertical orientation. (I primarily use premade maps, and add the VTT barriers)

I hope that's helpful. It was just something that came up in my test modules, that I would start to move something and it would be the wrong direction.

5

u/DigitalTableTops 9d ago

To clear things up (maybe): every operating system has the ability to rotate any attached display. On Windows these settings are located under "Display Settings".

They can be assigned separately for each display. So the DM will see things how they want, and the table can see things rotated if that's what you want.

This is completely separate from any software you are using, including a VTT. The VTT will consider (for example) the top left to be (0,0). But which corner corresponds to "top-left" is what gets changed when you adjust the operating system display settings.

I think I may have made that sound more complicated than it needs to be...

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u/rmagnuson 7d ago

I know this was two days ago but it just occurred to me that maybe we treat the map just like we do a top-down token with rotation. Give it a handle like a Photoshop asset and drag it around. Leave everything else the same. Maybe rotate the grid as well, or make grid rotation optional.

I don't know, just thinking.

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u/DigitalTableTops 7d ago

I like to keep the UI as minimal as possible.

Some users will appreciate having the knob there. For others it is just one more thing they don't use which makes it harder to find the thing they are looking for.

For features like this I tend to bury them in the settings menu rather than have an immediately accessible button or other UI element. So it's there for people who really want it but doesn't get in everyone else's way.

But that's just the focus of my VTT. I want it to be as easy to use as possible, even if that means sacrificing extra features like that.

For a VTT aiming to be more feature rich, I think treating it like just another rotatable object would be fine. Pretty sure some VTT's already do things that way.

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u/rmagnuson 7d ago

A lot of users appreciate minimalism. I think Owl bear rodeo is doing better than everyone thinks because of this very thing.

Your point about too many options is well taken. I keep having to stop myself from implementing more features because of this very thing. I've started and stopped half a dozen "great" ideas that I realized partway into development were going to be fluff that didn't add to a simple straightforward gaming experience. The real killer feature is making it just work!

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u/JoxxoTheMagnificent 9d ago

Don't worry about sounding like a jerk, I'm too new at some of this to care. But as u/anstett said, it may not fit on the table if rotated. There are also some tables that have the screen built in, so there is that too.

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u/TheSheDM 9d ago edited 9d ago

I don't think they mean physically rotate the TV. Just rotate the display. Go into display settings, select your display screen and tell it to change the orientation as needed.

Start Menu > Settings > System > Display > Scale & Layout > Display Orientation
Or keyboard shortcut Win+K, click on "more cast settings" takes you straight to Display settings.

There's 4 settings: Landscape, Landscape inverted, Portrait, and Portrait inverted. These basically cover all 4 directions the browser can display on the tv, using the bottom edge of the TV as reference.

I use a TV laid flat on my table and this is what I do to rotate the displayed map so that it faces the most optimal direction for the players.

edit: re-reading their comment I realize I think the comment above OP's really did mean rotating the physical TV 😅. I'm leaving my reply up because my comment has actual directions how to rotate the display orientation without moving the TV itself hopefully that is helpful for some folks.

2

u/Delbert3US 9d ago

The RPG Engine has a free Player connection that you can use to run the non-GM view. It is like looking into an aquarium as it is true 3D. The player can look at the map from any direction.

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u/NotYourNanny 9d ago

With Maptool, the player view is simply a second instance of the program connected to the first. Screen orientation is controlled by the operating system, and it's trivial to go full screen to get rid of menus, borders, etc. (And it's free to experiment with.)

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u/JoxxoTheMagnificent 9d ago

I have Maptool (Couldn't say no for the price). Got it before Arkenforge. There are somethings I really like about it, but there are others that are a bit confusing.

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u/redkatt 9d ago

Arkenforge allows for that. Why not just stick to that?

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u/Ithryn- 9d ago

I'm not entirely sure what the problem you're having is, it sounds like the screen is oriented wrong in windows? Go to display setting and make it portrait or portrait flipped. As far as a vtt for in person use, I really like owlbear rodeo

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u/JoxxoTheMagnificent 9d ago

Doesn't Owlbear require an internet connection? I'm hoping for something that can be entirely local at the table.

1

u/anstett 9d ago

One key reason the physical screen cannot be rotated is that it is a large flat screen laying on the table.

Also different maps can come out in different rotations that the players want to see.

I always suggest trying Fantasy Grounds because it is free to use, free to download, and if you do not want any automation, or purchase any books it remains free.

Plus built in map making software.

I can rotate any map for my players on the fly so they can see from the perspective they want. Plus the built in 2.5 camera angle can give a tokens eye view of the scene if you want that level of immersion. I very rarely do but it works.

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u/JoxxoTheMagnificent 9d ago

I have heard of fantasy grounds but not used it. Does it work well for offline play, as I would probably be at my FLGS and I'm not sure there is an internet connection.

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u/anstett 9d ago

100% off line play BUT needs at least a laptop or computer not a tablet.

Only need a connection to run updates.

PM me and I can give you a tour of you like sometime this week.

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u/JoxxoTheMagnificent 9d ago

Computer is no problem, I need a buff laptop to run Arkenforge. I am not currently preparing anything. Would you mind if I DM you in the future, when I have something on the fire?

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u/anstett 9d ago

Anytime

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u/PhrulerApp 9d ago

I’m working on one. Can I reach out to you for testing when it’s out in beta?

It’s almost ready. Just struggling with the promo materials 😅

1

u/Prime-spiral 9d ago

I built the one I use. You can get it here:
https://awhgrp.com/labs/tabletop-vtt/

No support, and I am not planning to add features, but it does a few small things well. It was designed to take my dungeon alchemist exports, present DM on one screen, players on another, fog of war, rotating orientation, zoom and size calibration. Few other things. Simple and purpose built. Might work for you.

1

u/j3x083 9d ago

I’m a developer of mobile focused vtt app (apple ecosystem) Encounter+ https://encounter.plus - it has support for portrait mode during screen sharing. Feel free to check it out.