So you want to become a PlayDip GM?

[Pedros]

As several newer GM's have found out, GIMP and Paint (not paint.net) are hard to use, but they cant get paint.net.

What's the problem here? I wasn't aware of any major obstacle?

[asudevil]

Paint doesnt let you use layers.

And Gimp is harder just because no one I know uses it. So newer people have no one to ask questions too.

They dont get paint.net because either their parents wont let them download it...or their only access to a computer is a school computer that they cant download more software to (but paint is already on it.)

[Pedros]

Ah. Wretched parents again! Limited amount we can do about that one I think.

[Zack L1ghtman]

I can't remember, did I start as a GM back as R.I.D and abandon the game when I suddenly left?

If I did I am terribly sorry.

I have been GM in many FtF games and multiple times in email games. I want to praise ANYBODY who does it. For one, knowing the rules is very hard work, and even after this many years I am still not 100% knowledgeable. In the most recent game I hosted, I actually got asked a question I'd never been asked before, and whilst I thought the answer was obvious I had never looked it up, so I had to turn to the rule books. (Question was, can you voluntarily disband one of your own units in the build phase and if you can, can you build a replacement unit in the same turn? To me it seemed obvious that you couldn't voluntarily disband, but I did have to turn to the rules to check... I was right.)

I use Adobe Photoshop to manage my games now, but I used to use GIMP which was just as good for the job.

I haven't read all the 'becoming a GM' articles so this may of already been mentioned (probably has)

• it is SO important that the map you start with is a good quality image, and it is so much easier if it has no breaks in the border outlines (hooray for the magic wand tool).
• Also important to have a good grasp of using layers.
• And to dedicate an entire folder to the games images.
• Never delete maps of phases from an ongoing game.
• And for the love of everything holy, use a sensible naming convention for your images of maps - I saw a friend trying to GM a game and it took him 20 mins to find the right map because he used really long names that weren't particularly informative.

I use a folder for each game with the title of the map and a unique number (counting up from 1 each time that map is played).
Inside the folder I have 'the_board.psd'. This is my main PSD that gets updated every time. At the end of each phase I save a .jpg copy as 'year_season_phase' for example '1901_Winter_Build' or '1902_Spring_Retreats'. You get it.

Finally, and the real reason I am posting here, is to praise all of you GM's here that do a fantastic job of maintaining games in your spare time! You are awesome. THANK YOU.

I may get involved in a forum variant sometime soon, but I doubt I'll be GM'ing anytime soon. Maybe one day though, I would like to GM, when I'm less busy

Penguin.

[Zack L1ghtman]

Paint doesnt let you use layers.

And Gimp is harder just because no one I know uses it. So newer people have no one to ask questions too.

They dont get paint.net because either their parents wont let them download it...or their only access to a computer is a school computer that they cant download more software to (but paint is already on it.)

Hey, I am more than happy to be the go-to guy regarding GIMP.
I haven't used it much the past 2 years, but I used it for 6 years before that, I still use it for the the occasional piece.... and it's really not that complicated at all

Penguin.

[Pedros]

You're retard-in-denial!!! You'll be hearing from me - that's two of the original Battle Isle cast back in circulation

GhostEcho uses GIMP and has provided some advice, but there's always room for more.

[Zack L1ghtman]

You're retard-in-denial!!! You'll be hearing from me - that's two of the original Battle Isle cast back in circulation

GhostEcho uses GIMP and has provided some advice, but there's always room for more.

I am indeed... and I have indeed

That's cool, just thought I'd shout out and say I'm here to help.

I'm not likely to put any resources or materials together for use, but if anyone has questions, I can answer them.

Also, if anyone want's there map 'sexified', I'd happily put my hand to that task.

[Pedros]

"Sexy" probably equates to more detail. That always tends to push it over the site limit. Simple and functional is best!

[Morg]

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[Morg]

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