Let's Talk Tokens
Added 2024-01-26 16:08:49 +0000 UTCFrom my 'additional content' poll (still open for votes) tokens seem to be a popular option. As I continue to explore the idea, I want to get feedback as to the style of token that you prefer in your vtt of choice.
[Note Style A & B roughly reflect what the final art style may look like - for now I'm just using some assets I already had from older maps for the poll - but the intent is that they will fit with the style of my maps.]
Style A: top-down / slight perspective (transparent background or minimal shadow)
Style B: top-down with base (like a physical mini)
Style C: framed portrait (this is for illustrative purposes - style would more closely match my maps...this just uses the WotC art + Token Stamp generator frame)
Comments
Appreciate all the comments and feedback! I tried to edit the poll to add a 4th option with a combination or art + top down but apparently I can't edit a poll once it's live, but the info has been very helpful and I agree with many of the points raised. Cheers!
Ian
2024-01-27 16:57:57 +0000 UTCBingo. Pog tokens are a waste of time to create. You just create them from art. There are literally tools (TokenTool) which can batch create POG tokens from art. If you are creating art only, and not token art, then yes, by all means, save somebody 30 seconds and deliver a pog. But, chances are, they'll need to recreate it anyway to match teir border style they use, which TokenTool allow syou do (it comes with dozens of premade border png's).
Ryan Rogers
2024-01-26 19:18:16 +0000 UTCThis is 100% the answer. 100%. Do this. :-) Trust me. It covers EVERYBODY. First, some background... I mix A and C all the time, but I ALWAYS create C on my own. Providing Pogs (style C) is of little incremental value add over just providing artwork of the creature in question for new monsters (for existing monsters, it's almost always readily available). Then, let people create their own pogs using TokenTool, or other tool. Using TokenTool, *I* control the border to fit my theme. This is important, otherwise bordering from umpteen creators won't match. Net result? I use none of them. In my games, all PC's, NPC's and Monsters have 3 pieces of art: - a square artwork image that shows most if not all of the creature (most of the time this comes from D&D Beyond or Pathfinder art) - a top-down token (from a creator here on Patreon) - a POG token that *I* create from the aforementioned artwork In FVTT, the artwork is used for the large Actor image. The Prototype token uses WILDCARD to pick up the other two, so that I can very quickly toggle between them. Bickety bam. Hasta Lasagna, don't get any on ya. When combat starts, I'll often toggle to the "combat" (top-down) token vs. the "theater" (POG) token, 'cause FVTT makes it so damned easy to do exactly that. This way, if you don't know if an encounter is going to turn into a combat, you start with the "theater" POG token, but if it gets messy, you switch. When I'm populating a dungeon with just mindless critters, they'll get the top-down by default, but I can ALWAYS toggle back. You never know...that Zombie may be a Revenant! This SIGNIFICANTLY avoids accidental (or purposeful) metagaming. Plus, you can even have Begin / End Combat toggle between the two, so you have "pog" style tokens for RP, and top-down for combat. I know not everybody does this, but trust me, once you start, players gush. So, my vote would be option D, 2 deliverables: - SQUARE Portrait Artwork which would be USED to create a POG style token (and also covers NPC image) - a Top-down Token That is 100% best solution that covers ALL needs, including POGS and STANDS! - People can POG-ify the Artwork to fit THEIR POG style - People can BASE-ify the Top-Down Token to fit THEIR BASE style In short, make AS FEW ASSUMPTIONS as possible. :-) If you deliver POGS, you are assuming a border style. This is bad, m'kay. If you deliver STANDS, you are assuming a stand style. This is bad, m'key. However, if you deliver Artwork+ Top-Down Token, it covers literally ALL THE THINGS.
Ryan Rogers
2024-01-26 19:16:33 +0000 UTCI prefer top down for monsters but I can see what Vas says about other NPCs
Justin McKenzie
2024-01-26 16:37:13 +0000 UTCThe "top down" tokens are great if you are playing a system in which "token orientation" is an important mechanic. Portrait tokens convey more personality and theme to the players.
Carl Swan
2024-01-26 16:21:33 +0000 UTCExactly this. I use topdown tokens for creatures if possible & bordered tokens for named NPCs, which I just make myself
danthebard
2024-01-26 16:18:56 +0000 UTCAlso, all of the monster manual and other official books have those type C tokens. Mixing them up with top down tokens would be a bad idea.
Funny Owlbear
2024-01-26 16:16:49 +0000 UTCIt seems like if someone wanted the token border or base, it would be super easy to do on their own, but it's way harder to un-token art.
Jerad Arteche-Prehn
2024-01-26 16:14:56 +0000 UTCDefinitely C, because only this option provides the best "theater of the mind" effect for players. WDH is full of "social encounters" and showing portraits and face expressions helps to tell the story with such a scene. As opposed to just random "citizen" top down figures. Imagine a cassalanters dinner with just top down images.
Funny Owlbear
2024-01-26 16:14:43 +0000 UTC
