Actually, I use a netbook as my DM screen. Usually have it open to d20srd.org for monster stats and one of the various Pathfinder reference documents for the rules.
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I've used SORD Plus for Pathfinder Beta, and I spoke with its author last week, and we should have a new SORD for the final Pathfinder in the September timeframe.
I also keep a PC next to me, and use several links including the aforementioned ones.
My quandry, however, is whether anyone has made their own? I'm looking for a suite of selected tables, preferably by someone who has a good sense of usability, and has refined his/her layout to a point of optimizing it?
Simply put, has anyone made their own.... or is this a dying art? I've got six or seven screens that have been published already, but the feel of a home-made screen is priceless.
Has anyone?
If I were making a printed DM screen, I'd go for the following:
Actions - Description/Type and if they provoke AoO
Hardness/Object Breaking and Damage cheat-sheet
Special Combat actions - Cheat Sheet for the effects of winning your CMB roll
Common Goods/Services/Items cost
Cheat sheet for commonly used skills, the requisite DC, and effects
Smaller version of the table that gives you Ability Score=Ability Modifier without the bonus spells part
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Thanks Veector.
I almost see some value in community sharing of fungible table prints. I kind of imagine a printable .pdf that allows the user to populate and move tables to their preferences in layout.
I had a dream last night that I received the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game GM screen, and was disappointed. I think its important, for example, that a GM have attack/combat info in the CENTER of the screen (not left/right/back).
In someways, I'm always surprise at how the community will spend 1000 posts discussing Cleric armor proficiency, but can't seem to recognize that good referentia allows a dedicated GM to both keep the game flowing but honor the ruleset at the same time.
*gets off soapbox*
On mine:
From left to right - skills and associated tables
Middle - combat related, including CMB actions etc.
Size - landscape, and I am currently designing a 6: high screen, but with six 8" horizontal tiles that folds like a Jacobs Ladder.
Addendums - Cleric turning/channeling, travel distances, item hardness & saves
And more....
I guess I am so very surprise that so little attention is historically given to "usability" testing for the GM. I've watched GMs use clunky, klugy, screens for decades.... I guess I'm just surprised that more folks don't make their own.
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On mine:
From left to right - skills and associated tables
Middle - combat related, including CMB actions etc.
Size - landscape, and I am currently designing a 6: high screen, but with six 8" horizontal tiles that folds like a Jacobs Ladder.
Addendums - Cleric turning/channeling, travel distances, item hardness & saves
I'm a big fan of the 4E's thicker cardstock materials (hopefuly, the PFRPG version is similar), but I like to cover it with a more campaign specific screen for the artwork using binder clips. Not really important, but nice for the players, nontheless. The clips also hold charts printed directly from the books on the GM side. Your logic is sound and has caused me to reconsider the arrangement of my charts for efficiency. Thanks.
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I use THIS as my screen but behind is my color-printed and bound SORD - I sure hope this gets some lovin' now that the real deal is out...
It will. I spoke with Steven Muchow last week. He's finishing up some items for War of the Buring Sky this month. He will have SORD Plus updated for Pathfinder RPG soon.
I keep SORD plus bound in a high end, diamond clear bound coversheets within a black obsidian folder (attached to the coversheets). There's nothing more beautiul than a full color SORD Plus page popping off the page to reveal a quick answer in seconds, not minutes.
I'm amazed at how quickly I can both adjudicate RAW ... and execute like an improvising GM should.
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Has anyone experimented in leaving a spot on the screen blank to place notes on your PCs there? Things like AC, Perception, Stealth, etc. so that if needed you could make the rolls in private without stopping to ask for mods and the like.
Seems very campaign specific but it could be extremely helpful in keeping play moving.
At GenCon I saw someone using a four-fold screen that was completely customizable, pockets both inside and out. I thought that was really cool. Saw it yesterday at a Chicago game store for $29.95 and my jaw hit the floor. Couldn't afford that as I don't do a lot of DMing. But for the constant DM, especially an older one who may want to use large print, or someone who want to put in outside graphics for the specific adventure, could be worth it.
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I use THIS as my screen but behind is my color-printed and bound SORD - I sure hope this gets some lovin' now that the real deal is out...It will. I spoke with Steven Muchow last week. He's finishing up some items for War of the Buring Sky this month. He will have SORD Plus updated for Pathfinder RPG soon.
I keep SORD plus bound in a high end, diamond clear bound coversheets within a black obsidian folder (attached to the coversheets). There's nothing more beautiul than a full color SORD Plus page popping off the page to reveal a quick answer in seconds, not minutes.
I'm amazed at how quickly I can both adjudicate RAW ... and execute like an improvising GM should.
Sounds a lot like my set up...hey tell Steven thanks and his fans are waiting!