Post by indy on Feb 18, 2010 17:19:22 GMT -6
Hey guys. I've got some free, web based tools up. They're very helpful for commanders.
The software is free, but usage does require some basic hardware.
To use it as a general, the bottomline is you need a netbook. A netbook is a laptop with a cell modem built into it. You get broadband access damn near anywhere. They're free to $100 at Sprint, Verizon, etc. Data plans run from $30 to $60/month. Thankfully, it is just a laptop, and you can use it for anything all the time, just bring it to the scenario with you, and some battery buddies or a generator for your bunker.
To get going, you just register an account at www.ndtoys.com. If you have a game coming up, click on "Factions", and create one for yourself. That's your side for any given event you want it to be. When you create it, you set a password. Any player can make an account and just join your faction.
For players, they just use their cell phone in a pocket on field. Any decent phone, like an iPhone, Blackberry, Android, Windows Mobile 6.x, PalmPre, etc can use the site. Just pull up the forum in your mobile web browser, login, and click "NDTrak". It's self-explanatory from there. It's just a map with links at the top to start & stop transmitting your position, and another to blank out your location by setting it to lat 0, lng 0 (african coast) for privacy.
Another tool called Command View is coming along. Players with high end phones, or vest mounted netbooks can stream web cam feeds back to their general, who can view up to 6 at once. It's like a modern version of the scene from inside the APC in Aliens.
Lastly, I'm showing off how to cheaply build your own land warrior system. It costs less than your marker, and I'm not joking.
A complete scenario game engine is being built on top of the software next. It will handle anything from simple to very complex games, stream live content, have full economies... it will make creating and executing high end games much easier for everybody... and it's all free software, just provide your own hardware.
All of this will be covered more in depth, personally with some exceptional players, and more widely in upcoming issues of Shooting Hot Magazine. Stay tuned! I may even be found lurking around the fringes of some upcoming Dark Horse games
The software is free, but usage does require some basic hardware.
To use it as a general, the bottomline is you need a netbook. A netbook is a laptop with a cell modem built into it. You get broadband access damn near anywhere. They're free to $100 at Sprint, Verizon, etc. Data plans run from $30 to $60/month. Thankfully, it is just a laptop, and you can use it for anything all the time, just bring it to the scenario with you, and some battery buddies or a generator for your bunker.
To get going, you just register an account at www.ndtoys.com. If you have a game coming up, click on "Factions", and create one for yourself. That's your side for any given event you want it to be. When you create it, you set a password. Any player can make an account and just join your faction.
For players, they just use their cell phone in a pocket on field. Any decent phone, like an iPhone, Blackberry, Android, Windows Mobile 6.x, PalmPre, etc can use the site. Just pull up the forum in your mobile web browser, login, and click "NDTrak". It's self-explanatory from there. It's just a map with links at the top to start & stop transmitting your position, and another to blank out your location by setting it to lat 0, lng 0 (african coast) for privacy.
Another tool called Command View is coming along. Players with high end phones, or vest mounted netbooks can stream web cam feeds back to their general, who can view up to 6 at once. It's like a modern version of the scene from inside the APC in Aliens.
Lastly, I'm showing off how to cheaply build your own land warrior system. It costs less than your marker, and I'm not joking.
A complete scenario game engine is being built on top of the software next. It will handle anything from simple to very complex games, stream live content, have full economies... it will make creating and executing high end games much easier for everybody... and it's all free software, just provide your own hardware.
All of this will be covered more in depth, personally with some exceptional players, and more widely in upcoming issues of Shooting Hot Magazine. Stay tuned! I may even be found lurking around the fringes of some upcoming Dark Horse games
