TOPIC: TDCC Needs YOU!!!!

Wayne Rhodes wrote: Pax south was my first time volunteering, so did assistant coach but ended up basically doing the job of coach most of the con (not a complaint at all).

I understand the math but I definitely like the idea of this. If for no other reason then to check my math when I’m in a rush due to late arrivals.

Next year coaching will be harder at pax since there will be a lot more players with that odd middle ground collections. Not enough to really feel the app is worth it, yet just enough to have a hard time deciding what to use and chewing up a lot of clock.

I will say I’m not going to be much help on tokens for your program, but I would be willing to help test it if you want that help.

always push the app and spread sheet. I even say it to new players. I push the forums too. So if they forget that, maybe they see it on the forums

I don’t disagree at all. And I did push the app reasonably while I was there. I was definitely a fast adopters myself of the app. I just needed someone to tell me it existed.

First person to post 50 token pictures into Google Drive gets an "I Participated" sticker with custom artwork mailed to their house. First person to post 100 gets a puppy.

lazlo_hollyfeld1985 wrote:

Wayne Rhodes wrote: Pax south was my first time volunteering, so did assistant coach but ended up basically doing the job of coach most of the con (not a complaint at all).

I understand the math but I definitely like the idea of this. If for no other reason then to check my math when I’m in a rush due to late arrivals.

Next year coaching will be harder at pax since there will be a lot more players with that odd middle ground collections. Not enough to really feel the app is worth it, yet just enough to have a hard time deciding what to use and chewing up a lot of clock.

I will say I’m not going to be much help on tokens for your program, but I would be willing to help test it if you want that help.

always push the app and spread sheet. I even say it to new players. I push the forums too. So if they forget that, maybe they see it on the forums

Beyond making life easier for coaches, the app is a marvelous marketing tool. Once people start playing around with what is possible with various tokens, their desire for tokens increases.

Wayne Rhodes wrote: Next year coaching will be harder at pax since there will be a lot more players with that odd middle ground collections. Not enough to really feel the app is worth it, yet just enough to have a hard time deciding what to use and chewing up a lot of clock.

Just FYI. There is a coaching app to help with the calculations. Essentially it is a calculator for TD. It's not that helpful for players building characters ahead of time, but in the coaching room, it's a lot faster than building one in the app.

Coach Minion for True Dungeon

It's limited to iPad for now. I have though about expanding to iPhones, but it may get clunky with the limited screen. I need to do an update before Gencon, so I may look at it before then to see if it can work on a phone.

Just a thought.

Mauve Shirt wrote: First person to post 50 token pictures into Google Drive gets an "I Participated" sticker with custom artwork mailed to their house. First person to post 100 gets a puppy.

So, I will post exactly 99?

I like this idea... will be nice to help train coaches and speed up things when running under pressure... newbies won’t realize a mistake... no reason to not picture all tokens, the app can filter out non-stat card affecting tokens, maybe give “hints to remind players about situational.

So I am just a little curious about the logistics. So is everyone required to have an iPhone or does it work on android as well? And then is there a printer in each room or a central location that they print to? And obviously then it’s going to require good Wi-Fi signal right? What is the time lag for printing? Did I read that it prints the party card? What about late arrivals?

Just to be clear I’m not attacking I am just curious. I’ll reserve judgment until after I see the answers to the questions above.

MasterED wrote: Yes, I have considered building an image detection system which would have various uses. I have also spoke with Fiddy who was doing the same but based off of moving video rather than still frame. I see the technological offering as an improvement in some areas and there are clearly some cases where it is not needed.

Any advanced group knowing how to setup a party card using an existing tool would not need this. These tools didn't displace coaches they make the coaches job easier and likely provide a more accurate result.

There are a number of newer players joining TD - look at PaxSouth. If they had a tool where they could go up and lay down their tokens and it would print out a player sheet (which the coach could use) it would certainly help.

If that same tool can be used by the coaches I am sure it would make their job easier. Is it a replacement for knowledgeable coaches - no. No computer (or token) yet can replace the human mind!

I see this as a valuable tool and with all tools we should just be careful where and how we use it. Having said that if people want to volunteer their time to scan images to make the tool better they certainly shouldn't be discouraged from doing so.

Relating to scanning I would suggest to just scan the token once and then automate the rotation of it so it is more productive. Also I am sure the scanned tokens would be desirable for the existing token resellers so they don't have to put up 'sample' ones. Lastly, I would suggest controlling access to that site to minimize nefarious people from pulling 'non-sample' images off.

Ed

Well put Ed.

Acherin - This has the potential to be a game changer for TD in a very very big way. I'm excited to see how this will pan out.

Mongo wrote:

Mauve Shirt wrote: First person to post 50 token pictures into Google Drive gets an "I Participated" sticker with custom artwork mailed to their house. First person to post 100 gets a puppy.

So, I will post exactly 99?

Very well! Thank you!

Bob Chasan wrote: So I am just a little curious about the logistics. So is everyone required to have an iPhone or does it work on android as well? And then is there a printer in each room or a central location that they print to? And obviously then it’s going to require good Wi-Fi signal right? What is the time lag for printing? Did I read that it prints the party card? What about late arrivals?

Just to be clear I’m not attacking I am just curious. I’ll reserve judgment until after I see the answers to the questions above.

This has nothing to do with the response to your questions but I would like everyone following this thread to know that staying "the app" is no longer representative as there are 4 character creators so we really need to start specifying what you are talking about.

As for answering the questions above. This is web based so there is no restrictions on OS. There will be a central printer plus however many backups along with a server to host the application locally (obviously with a WiFi router). This will print party cards that look identical to the party cards we have currently and if a late player shows up you can hit print again or fill in the players stats by hand.

I think this method would make the stats for correct, stop the "The other guy has the token but I am using it" and some other "fraud" type issues where one doesn't have the token but it is on their cards as being used. If one comes in with a party card the coach doesn't check each and every token. Good idea if the software can work well. .

This looks really cool, i can see this as a training tool for someone like myself. I can and have coached but admittedly i know i can be a bit slow. In my scenario this makes it easier to practice making the cards/doing math and then using the app/camera as a quick 'did I do it right' backup vs manually adding each token into a verified app to see if my math is right.

I also see this as a tool for people in the sense like a calculator. While one doesn't have to be an expert in party cards this app far more useful/safe in the hands of someone who understands the basic math before using it. Example being that way a coach can catch a potential error or miscalculation in the app or least understand how the app arrived at a given set of #'s.

-sidewise related thought:
Will this app be able to handle multiple images into a character? Or this going to require players to lay everything out in front of them for a single image? Example, players who use various binder pages and coin wallets to hold builds or players who hold high value tokens who dislike having to pull them out for inspection. Example, players who hold the party's set of urte's.

Have to look when i get home but i can likely work on adding some images to the collective, always amazes me the creativity/effort those in this community is willing to do for our hobby.