Now you can run your games completely in Metacreator! Its new Game Sessions feature can completely automate your tabletop game: set stats, make actions, track damage, all without paper and pencil. If other players have laptops they can connect to your computer and track their stats in real time and make their own action choices. With the appropriate configuration of your broadband modem, you can make your Game Session server accessible on the Internet. You can run gaming sessions with players across the world!
To use this feature you must purchase the Game Session activation key. Without the key you will be able to try out game sessions for several minutes before you are prompted for the key. All users connected to the game session server must have their own activation key. Purchase the Game Sessions activation key.
Basic features include:
Display multiple characters in a tabular format (screenshot).
Display and change statistics for characters, including attributes/characteristics, current hit points/wounds, armor, attack/defense penalties, etc. Exact capabilities vary by game system.
Characters open in Metacreator can be added directly to the session, or you can add characters by selecting a group file or single character sheet file.
Position characters on maps (see below for more details on maps)
Commands for selecting and removing NPCs make moving on to a new encounter easier.
Select actions for characters. Depending on the game system, actions may inflict roll dice, inflict damage, deduct magic points, etc.
Actions include skill rolls, weapon attacks, healing, spellcasting and power usage, and standard actions common to all characters (falling damage, recovering from injuries, etc.).
Results of actions can affect stats directly (depending on the game system), while text describing them is recorded in the global chat channel.
The GM can approve and modify dice rolls (dependent on game system). You may override rolls the computer generates, or enter values from rolls the players make themselves.
Actions can be made private so that only the GM sees the result (and the player if the character is assigned to a networked client session), and the target of the action (if appropriate).
Full-featured undo support -- all changes to all characters due to an action are revoked when that action is undone. Actions can be redone. An Undo History dialog allows any action still in the history to be undone or redone.
Preferences: select the colors used to display PCs, NPCs, highlighted characters and initiative; size of undo and chat histories; etc.
Create your own custom sessions: game session templates can be included by custom templates to allow for customization (adding new stats, actions, etc.). The Deadlands and Rippers supplements are examples of additional stats and different rule implementations based on the core game session template.
The current state of the game session can be saved and restored, allowing you to pick up where you left off.
The exact commands and features will vary for each game system. Due to licensing restrictions game sessions for certain game systems may not be as full-featured as others.
Network game sessions across local area networks or the Internet (usually requires configuration of your modem or router and firewall).
Assign characters to players running client sessions. Changes automatically appear on client sessions. Players can select actions for their own characters.
Players can add their own characters to the client session and they are automatically transferred to the server.
Maps and character information automatically transferred to client computer.
Other types of files (HTML files, documents, etc.) can be included in the session for download and display on the client workstations using the standard applications (these applications are not included and must be provided by the users). For example, HTML files are displayed by the selected browser, word processing documents are displayed by the word processor associated with that file type, etc.
Global and private chat channels. Each connected player has a separate tab for private discussions.
Session scripting. GM can load prepared text files describing NPCs, locations, background information, etc., and send selected sections to players in the chat window.
GM can control which characters are displayed on client sessions.
Characters can be "invisible" (they can be targeted but don't appear on maps, penalties are automatically assessed for some game systems)
GM can choose to approve or reject player actions.
Host registration and lookup with the Alter Ego Software site makes connecting across the Internet easier (you can also enter the server IP address directly).
Connecting to the server requires a password.
Define multiple maps for a game session.
Active map can be selected by GM on server.
Objects that may be included on the map include: text, images, rectangles, ellipses, lines (with optional arrowheads), regular and irregular polygons and freehand drawings.
Objects may be framed, or filled with a solid color or a background image.
Commands provided to resize and align objects.
Background of map may be colored or tiled with a background image.
Fog: the GM can specify areas on the map that aren't displayed on player maps. During play the GM can reveal sections as the players move into them.
Image types: JPEG, BMP and PNG
Images may have transparent color, and may be rotated, flipped, or resized.
Two object layers: static and dynamic. Dynamic objects may be moved, hidden and revealed during play.
Hidden objects may be revealed on client maps with single command. Hidden objects are indicated by translucence, graying, crosshatching or dotting of lines, depending on object types.
Objects may be grouped for linked selection.
Drag and drop characters to position them on the map.
Players can click and drag their own characters on the map on their client computers.
Use custom icons for characters on map.
Specify elevation of characters.
For some game systems distances on maps automatically determine range modifiers for weapons and actions, if the involved characters are all present on the map. Area of effect may also be computed.
The Game Sessions feature is included in the core Metacreator application, but purchase of an activation key is required to use the sessions for more than a few minutes. Each player accessing the game session server requires their own activation key. Purchase the Game Sessions activation key.
Metacreator Game Sessions has the following system requirements:
Operating system: Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows 7.
Memory: 512MB RAM.
Disk space: 30MB free.
CPU: 1GHz or faster Pentium or equivalent
Screen resolution: 800x600 minimum; 1200x1024 or greater recommended.
Local Area Network connectivity for LAN gaming sessions.
Internet connectivity for Internet gaming sessions.
Broadband Internet access recommended for hosting gaming sessions (DSL or cable modem).
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