EASILY display ANYTHING to your D&D players in person or online
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- čas přidán 10. 06. 2024
- Check out Improved Initiative, one of my favourite D&D tools!
improvedinitiative.app/powerw...
Easily display anything to your D&D players in person or online using OBS Studio! I'm going to show you how to use this free software to display maps, initiative, and anything else you want to your dnd (or any ttrpg) players. This can be used for games in person or online! I'm also going to show you a cheap little adapter you can get that will give you a virtual second monitor that you can output to and then use with a Chromecast for a wireless setup. I've found this is way easier than trying to drag windows around to show stuff to my players, and they really like being able to see more art!
OBS Studio:
obsproject.com/
DM Screen Art:
/ ocart_a_painterly_scen...
Free character and monster art
*I have since learned that these are AI generated images*
mythjourneys.com/
Virtual Display Adapters (Amazon affiliate links)
Display Port - amzn.to/3HVlae3
HDMI - amzn.to/4bLSvGf
IG: @powerwordspill
Patreon: / powerwordspill
the “ I appreciate you” is a top tier outro.
No stacking dice needed. Your presentation skills and content make it engaging to watch already.
A little thing for OBS :- OBS also has a "Virtual Webcam" mode that can be outputted to whatever chat software you're using. Might cut down on the number of screen shares and save a few CPU cycles. :)
Bro, you put me onto Improved Initiative a while back and it's changed my whole game! I can't stop talking about to my friends who DM. It imporved the flow of my combat significantly !
I would love more in person DnD idea videos!
Same. I've played online many times, and the vast chasm of difference between that and in-person is literally game changing. I know not everyone can do it, but in-person is just infinitely better. I'll never play online again unless it's against my will. xD
I used your guide to make the DM screen I've been dreaming off for years. Thank you for that! My players are loving it. Furthermore, I used the app Dungeon Alchemist to build a haunted mansion. With the first person walk-through feature, they have the ability to explore the mansion by themselves with a wireless keyboard and mouse from their places at the table.
Very cool!
I do in person VTT and it never occurred to me to use OBS. What a great solution! I appreciate YOU!
Holy moly can’t believe I didn’t know about dummy plugs, that’s amazing.
For online sessions, you can utilize the OBS virtual camera instead of a simulated monitor.
That is an insane amount of effort and understanding needed to play D&D.
Another option is to setup an incognito window (or another browser) for player view from the VTT and stream that window through OBS/discord. Still a separate window, but much easier to run off a laptop with limited output ports :)
This is honestly a top tier tutorial for using OBS for... basically *anything*. Bravo!
this is EXACTLY what I am looking for. I'm getting ready to setup this exact situation and am so greatful you made this video.
This is exactly what I needed! Great tutorial for D&D use for OBS! Thanks so much 😁
This is the perfect channel I've been looking for
great vid man. i run online with my own homebrewed system and this has given me some great ideas on how to increase immersion for my players! thank you!
You can just start the virtual cammera in OBS and choose this camera in Discord. This way you can easily "stream" your OBS output into Discord.
That's a great tip! And then I guess you could just add your actual webcam as a source in OBS
@@powerwordspill Exactly! And OBS can pretty well remove the background in your Webcam. With the Studio Mode you can build a nice scene and blend it over the live one. So you dont have to work in the streamscene.
love these tips! I've been trying to work out a way to use my Obsidian notes and also display stuff at the table. Never thought to use obs!
Foundry VTT Version:
The majority of the information in this video is applicable. The big difference is that Foundry has the module named Stream View that allows for automated camera movements as well as other handy VTT-in-Person settings you can adjust.
Make an additional user account that Stream View will use. Make sure that user is set to Observer of all PCs so that all PC Token vision will be shared to it.
In the Stream View Settings, there are a variety of things that you can use to better tune the experience to your needs. For my personal preference, I remove all HUD elements and leave the Initiative Tracker only when there is an active encounter as well as set up Dice So Nice! in the Stream View's User's settings to show VTT rolls while not having a massive chat log take up a good portion of the screen. Pan speed will dictate how quickly the camera moves when the players move, and the camera will zoom out to keep all players in view out of combat. In combat, the camera stays at an adjustable zoom level and centers on the current token's turn UNLESS no player can see it, in which case it defaults to the non-combat position. Clicking Show Players on any Journal or Image window will also show it to the Stream View User and you can set how long the window stays open for as well as where it's displayed.
Aside from that, following the same OBS Browser source works here, but might not be as necessary as all of the relevant information (Initiative, Art, etc.) is handled within the client if all you're doing is casting to a reference display. In that case, you'd be able to open the user in a dedicated Chrome window, cast it to the device, and Stream View will handle the rest.
Happy Gaming!
I think it’s cool to see how you put all this together.
The results look nice and the transitions are an improvement over what I do. Seems like a lot more work though for that extra bit of slickness.
I run two instances of fantasy grounds, one on the external monitor (wireless or wired) for the players and one on the laptop screen for me. Can do all the same things but in one place, but with less fancy transitions (but there’s lighting and line of sight).
It also means I can do all this without an internet connection (which is super important in one of the places where I DM….the internet is garbage at that location).
For virtual games I screen share the player instance for people that aren’t logged into the vtt directly.
Great video! This is going to be so fun and useful!
Instead of a Chromecast, I use a "Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter". It doesn't have any extra software on it, but allows my to wirelessly cast to a TV with an HDMI port AND it shows up as a second monitor.
I actually tend to use OBS’s virtual camera if I’m on discord instead of having to use an adapter and such. It can be a simple alternative to an online dm screen.
I loved the video though! Def going to use some of these tips
another fire video Kelly!
Omg... ive been using OBS for years! Using it to record calls, dnd, book club anythint and i had no idea about the making a scene with urls ugh!!!!! What a live saver.
I’m glad the CZcams algorithm lead me to your channel! Cheers
Aww yes, great video. So much info to do this. Thank you very much! Appreciate your content.
It's funny you're making this video now, as I have been doing exactly that for a while now with my "digital battle mat" aka flat lying, modified TV 😅
I am usually showing some atmospheric pictures during "normal" play and my Maps whenever one is needed plus Improves initiative player view next to the map during combat. Also to display the maps, I use Owl ear rodeo, as I can easily navigate it and place enemy tokens if I don't feel the need to craft something physical. Those I can move easily from behind my dm screen... 😊
Yeah I'd love to add a TV into my table, that sounds really cool!
@@powerwordspill Do it, it's really cool, as I am more of a "use a Programm" than a "draw by hand" kinda guy, and printing maps in large is just a pain... I bought an old used TV, stripped it out of it's casing and built it a wooden enclosure, now it can just sit on top of any table and is portable 😊
@erica.9431 I actually do something very similar to everything you're saying! 😂 I use a flat TV for all my batylemaps, using owlbear rodeo to run it all. I used to use paper maps, but you're right, printing was an absolute PAIN (and also expensive)! I also put up pictures as sort of a "scene setter", but instead of putting it on the map-TV, I have a monitor set up in from of me as part of my DM screen. I actually made a whole video about my setup if you wanna check it out!
Ahh this is exactly what I have been thinking about lately
Thanks for the content.
That's perfect thanks 🔥
You can actually use command prompt to create a virtual second monitor in Windows, so you don't need to buy an adapter. Tutorial can be found on CZcams! Maybe helps someone, it's what I did 😊
Very cool, I didn't know that!
7:26 a solution for casting your screen but keeping things private or editing things behind the sence is virtual desktop. Both windows and linux has this. Use 1 for the stream labs preview and the other for to edit your VTT or take notes. This is even usful for the steam deck which is the pc I run my D&D game off of because linux lacks any casting features that isnt direct connecting an HDMI
I have been looking for this for so long, I even started to build my own. (I must be googling wrong or something)
And we appreciate you!
It should be noted, you could instead use the Virtual Camera feature for online play! granted if you use face cam this will replace your own video camera, but you could add it in as a source if need be!
Love the tips! Hate the AI art.
As I am starting the build on my televised DM screen project this week, your timing couldn't have been better. The OBS part of the equation is by far the least obvious aspect, and I'm going to have to teach it to the others in my group who serve in the master role.
yes
Great video as always! However I don't really liked the dice stacking clip in the background I think it kinda lower the quality of the video, your content is great as it is. I don't think you need to use those cheap tricks to make your videos interesting!
That's fair, I appreciate the feedback!
Hey Kelly, thanks for the video. I'm trying to figure this out, my entire screen is being projected to the monitor instead of just a selection. The players will see everything on my screen, notes, etc. What am I doing wrong?
You're lucky your players pay attention to the initiative. We play in person and I have a TV that I put the initiative up on behind me. And they still don't know know when it's their turn.
Haha yeah they don't always pay attention, but it helps!
@@powerwordspill The worse is there are times I skip people on it because I'm looking over my shoulder at the TV and misread things. Not to mention I'm running like 15 bad guys with 4 initiative spots and I'm the cruel DM for getting mixed up!
Great video. I have a question...Say I had Photoshop open on my laptop. Could I make a OBS screen capture of the image in my open instance of photoshop? Let say I wanted to use it, instead of Owlbear Rodeo for maps, for example. Would it show it even if I minimized photoshop? Thanks!
You could make it capture the Photoshop window, so I think your players would still see the Photoshop UI, but you could scale it in OBS to get rid of the UI. Yeah it'll keep showing even if you minimize which is nice
you can 100% simulate a second screen through an application of some sort instead of having to buy a device for it. But still a good idea
I do not see my iPad and i don't understand how I share my screen with it
a few others have already pointed it out, but I just want to reiterate that MythJourneys uses AI to generate their images, and is not an artist! Ethical concerns aside, I think it's important to as least stay informed of when AI is involved. Use their images if you like, so long as you're aware of where it all comes from
What cord do you need to display from laptop to tv?
Depends on how old the TV is. I would say a HDMI should be fine :) If not you'll need some adapters, especially if you are using a Mac.
Feels kind of weird to watch a video recommending an AI art website followed up a couple minutes later with a recommendation of commissioning an artist to create portraits of your PCs
I was going to say the same thing, it's sad too because it feels like D&D is having a massive AI issue. Can't even find good hand made art (and thus, artists) anymore because image searches/browsers are just flooded with generic AI slop.
“Use a low cost customizable tool for creating background content, use an expensive expert for high quality, important references”
Different tools for different purposes.
Did you and your group get portraits from Mth Journey's?
No, our friend is an artist and we hired her to draw our portraits
did my comment about MythJourney using AI get deleted???
AI is here, lets just learn how to use it. Its not going away
@@rickprocure6321that is so far from the point
This one at least hasn't. It's unfortunate he didn't notice it was AI (at least, I'm giving the benefit of the doubt he didn't notice).
👻
Oh my god, please don’t do the dice thing! I had to hold my finger over it so I could pay attention to what you were saying.
TL;DW for people playing online, use a VTT and don't do any of this lol