Web RPG tutorial
Web RPG is a java based program for playing RPG games on the internet. It does not have a high learning curve, but it can be tricky at first. This tutorial will show you the basic functions, while showing you how to play Battletech online using it.
Installation
To install you will first need JRE. http://www.sun.com. JRE is a set of system files, that you need before WEBRPG will run. You can see if you have a JRE by going to Control Panel>Add/remove programs> . Look for a listed JRE or Java Runtime Environment
1. Install JRE first and then WebRPG. Get WebRPG at http://www.webrpg.com.
2. Make sure you are online the first
time you run it. The first time you run WEBRPG, the program will self update, so do not worry
if loading takes a while.
3. Two windows should be opened now. A DOS window, and the main window. I suggest minimizing and/or hiding the DOS window in the corner because it must stay open, and this way it does not get in your way.
4. Enter a username. This does not have to be the name you will be using during a game, because this is just your login name. Once inside you will get a character name as well.
The button that says "off-line" should say log-in if you are connected to the internet. If it does not you are having a proxy problem that I can not help you solve :) Click that button. Note: Sometimes the box to the right will say could not connect, but give it a try even if it does say that.
5 The tracker.
The tracker is where all the games going on are listed. They are listed by the host's name, so if the host was Apo you would find the game near the top of the list. If you could not find my game you could type Apo in the filter box and then hit update. That would return rooms containing the word. "Apo". Note: The tracker updates about every 15 seconds, or can be updated with the update button.
6. From here you have two options, join and host. You also see the tutorial. That is good to know. Most of it is advanced things you won't need to know for battletech, but trying it down the road would be a good idea. For now stick to my tutorial.
People don't like when you come into a D&D game just to fool around and learn the interface, so I suggest you host your own room. Click "Host".
A good room name is always battletech. Now here is some aspects to note. If
you are getting ready to play a game you don't want random people coming in your
room. Because that slows you down. (See performance section at the end.) Maybe you might want another battletech player to come in and watch. I left a
hint in the notes as to what the password was and any battletech player would
know the correct answer. passwords are case sensitive. Click host and get ready.
This is a room. We are going to start from top to bottom.
On the right you will see a bunch of dice boxes if you click on one it will role that dice. Try hitting d4. You will see that a dice role appears in the chat window. You can also put a "custom role" in the text box. As you can see I put 2d6. After putting 2d6 I hit enter and it roles that for me.
The left box you have the workbench folder. This is where you will set up the
game preferences and load object like counters called "minis", maps,
and dice macros. The first thing you want to do is double click My Preferences.
The first thing you want to do is shut all sound off! The sounds on web RPG cause a lot of problems, and they don't really have a use. I suggest you check the boxes I have checked in the picture. Also do not forget to pick a color that best represents you as a person :) for your chat text. Web RPG has one semi-annoying feature, whenever you are changing something you have to hit the save at the bottom of the window. If you close it does NOT prompt you with a question like "You have made changes. Save?" It simply closes. (notes on this in the end section)
Now lets move onto Game Settings. looks familiar huh? The only option here is
to change the GM. In battletech this is not that useful. The exception is when using
hidden units, because you cant hide a piece from the GM. (See later section)
The next step is loading a maps and minis and dice macros.
Now on web rpg to load a map you don't just load a JPEG onscreen. ((The way it actually works is you make images for every hex type and have a map file which is a collection of link locations to the hexes)) What you need is Justin Xiang's Master folder.
The master folder is a zip file that points to JX's server. He has done incredible work making Mech Mini's, maps, and dice macros. Download this file and save it locally on your hard disk. After opening the archive you will see a set of files like, Master Map Folder.rpg and Master Mech Minis.rpg UNZIP THEM ALL INTO A NEW FOLDER IN THE WEB RPG FOLDER.
There is one other thing, the address of the master folder has changed
recently, so instead of
WEBRPG downloading the files as you need them, we are going to cheat and get
them all right now. Go to my computer and the WEBRPG folder. Extract the
contents of this zip folder to the userdata directory, do not forget to
check
the box for include directory info. This should make a directory WEBRPG>USERDATA>WWW.ISERV.NET>~jeffkwrb>
that directory should be filled with files. Now Copy the www.iserv.net
directory to www.novagate.com and change the
~jeffkwb to ~warhammer and now you will never have to wait for those question
marks.
Go to the Workbench folder and right click. Select Load and open the MASTER
MAP FOLDER. It should load a directory full of maps. Find the BT standard map and open
it.
Now at first you will see many question marks as the map loads. (Remember each section of the map is really a gif that gets downloaded) click the TOOLBAR and a window pops up. Now when moving pieces YOU MUST USE THE CLOSE MAP (the biggest chess piece). Using the smaller maps will not place minis in the center of the hex. Set the check boxes like I have.
Now one thing you do not want to do is load a bunch of stuff in a room full of people. You also do not want to load things before your opponent has came in. That will lag the game out. The map folder is big so it is better to have a few of your favorite maps saved individually.
To do that Right click on the name of a map and hit SAVE. A standard save dialog will pop up. Simply save the file. Now right click on the entire folder and cut or delete it. Note delete will not delete the folder from your hard drive, just from your temporary memory.
Now right click and open the file you just saved. The BT standard map should be the only map you see.
Now you need a mech to fight with. We follow the same process by opening master mech minis.rpg. Find a few of the minis you like and save them individually.
Here is how to put a mech on the map.
Double click the mini and a window should pop up that shows a mech facing all
hex directions. Again they will start out as question marks
Clicking on one of these pictures will automatically COPY that
direction of the mini. All that is left is to paste it on the map. Right click in
the area you want to paste and select paste. Walla! You are on the map. To move
you may have to cut this mini and paste one in another direction, though some
players may use just one mini and rename it to keep track of facing and other
"important" details. To rename right click and object and hit
"RENAME" Note: to paste a mini on a hill, first paste off on
flat land and then move on the hill. Sometimes a mech may fall under the hill,
or get "buried" to correct this check all boxes in the toolbar and
drag a box over a set of terrain. Right click and use the Set Layer command and the terrain as
either terrain or backdrop.
You know how to role dice, but included in the master folders is a set of Dice
Macros. They print out to the chat window in a nice format and make chat logs
and keeping track of big forces a lot easier.
Performance info
The Java language has performance issues. Before going into web rpg it is best to shut down all unnecessary things. Stop downloading that napster song! Remember everyone in the room can see your ping so you can't blame it on anyone else.
Don't load a master folder if it can be avoided. Don't load anything that is too big, tell people before you are going to load anything.
Prepare ahead of time. Get the map ready, get the minis you want ready. Rename them if you can't find the match to your mech.
Disable all sounds.
Don't boot anyone. Unfortunately booting someone messes up your game. You have to ask them nicely to leave. Or password the room so the idiots don't get in.
Use the dice macros otherwise its confusing, for the other player. Also if you don't use it you disrupt the game flow, its a good pattern to get into and its less error prone.
That ends the tutorial. If you have any comments or questions you can access
the message board http://anexa.com/aponet
to leave it with the site.
Also ICQ users can join the WEBRPG active list# 95577006
Or you can e-mail me the site SiteOperator
.
http://www.edwardcapriolo.com
http://www.solaris7.com
http://www.webrpg.com
http://www.sun.com