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I've read that Maptools (an open-source virtual tabletop for RPGs/etc.) currently is non-functional under Java 7, presumably due to an incompatible library.

Mentioned elsewhere up above.... MapTool. Free interactive virtual tabletop with scripting, etc.

That sounds a lot like MapTool. It's a free, community built (OSS I think) game mapping program. It supports macros written in a JavaScript like language to automate many things (though I don't think it will draw new features on the map for spells and the like). It too is rule-set agnostic, and many people have written Frameworks (large collections of inter-related macros) to enforce rules for various systems.

We use it with Skype to play 3.5e and 4e, and it work like a charm. We don't actually make use of a lot of the functionality, like auto-map reveal based on lighting sources, etc. You can use it bare bones, or if you have the time, really embrace the power of it.

not really. I can think of a few uses.

The open source Gametable http://rptools.net/ rptools could use this to translate tabletop real minnatures to virtual for distance gaming or as a UI to move your object and it moves the token on screen for a top down projection.
etc.....

IF I actually spent time on it, I could come up with a lot of them. Gesture door lock, alarm sensor that can reliably distinguish between a human and an animal, etc....

Try Fantasy Grounds first though. It's got realistic dice, tools, maps the works for pretty much any major pen & paper RPG since there are quite a few rulesets available.

Why try proprietary software when there's an excellent Free Software option that you can customize to your needs?

I don't really want the whole damn game embedded. I just want MapTool with multitouch.

Well, I wasn't even considering multitouch in my plans yet, so the pieces of software I had in mind were MapTool and ViewingDale.

This list is old, but I originally found both of those applications here.

There are already programs for playing PNP RPGs online, and they would probably be better suited for such games than a general purpose communication program.

Speaking of open development and community publishing, I am curious about how the online tools will support enterprising dungeon-crafters. I have contributed some code to OpenRPG, and I am an avid fan of MapTools. Both programs are currently very popular among virtual table-top (VTT) gamers, partly for their continual development, but mostly for their generous communities of gamers looking to bring their games past simple IRC chat and random dice roll commands. Here are my questions for the 4th Ed guys/gals:

1. How have various VTT programs (like OpenRPG and MapTools), as well as commercial games with customizable content (such as Neverwinter Nights and its elaborate world-creation tools), influenced the development of the online D&D tools?
2. Will there be any way to bundle together an adventure/dungeon with the online D&D tools and sell it to others? Or will there be very restrictive use when it comes to distribution of created content?
3. Will there be virtual expansions included with/purchased alongside adventure books? For instance, if I buy Return to Castle Ravenloft, will there be an option to load up Count Strahd's fortress with the online D&D tools too?
4. As far as customization goes, how much will there be? So far, I believe characters, monsters, and tile maps can be saved and exported, but what about entire campaigns? DM aides and room descriptions? Where can we get new content? Must we buy all new content, or can we rely on the community to help us model and import locales, monsters, and player models? Will the program have any 3rd-party plugin support?
5. If community expansion is as elaborate as I hope it will be, will there be ways to distribute and rate this content for quality? Community forums to organize games, and directories to organize user content, and so forth? Would such a service be centralized, like Steam or X-Box Live, or would it be community-controlled, as witnessed through the literal thousands of fan-sites that painstakingly categorize maps/mods/models/etc. of various computer games?

I am really excited about D&D 4th edition, because many of the previews have left me optimistic about the direction of the game's design. However, I am somewhat skeptical of their online tools, and many have ridiculed the simplistic 3D graphics shown in the presentation as simply eye-candy with no substance behind the veil. I hope the online tools are powerful enough for the creative community; otherwise, I might be sticking with the open-source VTT alternatives.

MapTool - virtual tabletop
DiceTool - powerfull dice rolling
InitiativeTool - Encounter management
TokenTool - easily create avatars from any image

All tools are written in Java and are completely free. Development is very active and new feature requests are always welcome.

Here's a list of all the virtual tabletops I know of
http://gametable.galactanet.com/
http://rptools.net/doku.php?id=maptool:intro
http://trisrpg.bronzeforge.com/index.htm
http://users3.ev1.net/~mem5000/
http://www.battlegroundsgames.com/index.html
http://www.codemonkeypublishing.com/index.php?modu le=htmlpages&func=display&pid=21
http://www.enworld.org/RolePlayingMaster/
http://www.fantasygrounds.com/
http://www.geocities.com/trainz_ca/ID/
http://www.ghostorb.com/
http://www.kloogeinc.com/
http://www.nbos.com/products/screenmonkey/screenmo nkey.htm
http://www.openrpg.com/
http://www.opnpw.com/
http://www.tabletopmapper.hpg.ig.com.br/
http://www.travellerrpg.com/Catalog/software.html
http://www.triaxe.co.uk/dnd/index.php?page=Online% 20Chat
http://www.viewing.ltd.uk/viewingdale/index.htm
http://www.webrpg.com/gamesystem/

Another option for just sharing the tabletop is MapTool. Like Gametable, it is a program designed to simply address replacing the tabletop without all of the fluff.

Check it out at: http://www.rptools.net/maptool.html
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