"Hidden Unit App?" Topic

This came up a while ago, and some TMPers talked about doing one. Here was my idea:

The app loads on one device, and players hand it back and forth. There is a "set up" phase where the GM loads the map. It is a grid and you simply "code" each square for whether it blocks LOS or not, and maybe indicate height (defined as 3 or 4 levels).

Each player names his units so unit 1 is "Heth's Brigade" or "2nd Squad." Units move 1 (infantry, towed guns) or 2 (cav/recon/vehicles) squares while hidden.

Player A sets up and assigns his units to squares per the scenario. He taps "next", his info is stored, and PLayer B now sets up.

Player A moves each unit. Player B moves. Now the computer determines which units can see which units. LOS is unlimited unless stated otherwise during set up (you could limit ti to, say, 6 for fog or rain).

A screen shows which units are spotted to BOTH players, and these are put on the table. Units on the table are tracked on the app but otherwise follow the rules of your game.

Once all units are "spotted" you just turn the app off.

Any takers out there?

I think it is a great idea.

That is a great idea…

You could always do it with nothing but the phones camera. Take a picture of the board for player A. Remove his stuff and repeat for B then keep pulling stuff on and off till contact is made and visible units remain on the table. bulky but usable. At least until something better is developed.

The genius of the app is you don't need a judge…otherwise I just use a clipboard and paper map…

There is a new augmented reality thing called CastAR that would have great promise for something like this but it only works on special reflective surfaces. They are working on some stuff targeted at RPGers but that more virtual dungeon stuff. They do have a way to register figures with it. It's neat because its basically a big pair of glasses that project the stuff out. The material only sends light directly back to towards the projector so everyone looks at the same thing but gets a different view point. It's useless without the material but I did have visions of remote game play over the internet with a table full of terrain and your opponents figs remotely projected onto the table. It might still work for stuff like space games were you can just project a starfield background and stick the figures on the table. Boring for anyone else to watch but whatever.

I'm thinking more in the $10 USD price range…

I was working with a guy last spring/summer when this conversation first came out, on a homebrew beer bottle calculator app.

We talked about the hidden movement app and we were set to get started on it. Start with a simple app for cheap and develop it further for paid addons.

The ideas was to take a picture of the board with the ipad camera, stretch it over a grid and use the grid segments to figure out LOS and block it with hills/buildings by grid.

BUT as it usually goes, he's now getting married and moving 4 states away. He's not a wargamer so he's unlikely to develop it himself later.

As I read this now, it doesn't really add much to the conversation, but I'm going to hit submit as I've taken the time to write it. :)