I'm one of two DMs in my group and we have very different ways of running a game. The biggest thing is he uses a laptop for nearly all things DM while I use good ol' pen and paper. Granted I do use my computer for prep but I don't use it during game. The main difference is for initiative. I use cards while he uses his laptop with a program or just plain old notepad. I have stats on individuals initiative cards for all PCs along with the each enemy they may come across.
Question I have for everyone is what do you use? Are you with me with the cards or do you go the way of electronics or maybe something in between or even totally different.
When playing D&D, the computer is off and I use paper to keep track of everything, such as initiative, time remaining for spells, monster hp's, etc. I use the computer to do all of my work in between games but then I print out my encounter tables, maps, etc. Sometimes I wish with maps I would use it to save on ink, but as far as D&D is concerned, that where the computer stops while playing.
With Top Secret/S.I. it was the same thing, although I was getting to the point of using a computer to include mission briefing presentations or perhaps to show clues found on a computer. The difference being that the technology was easier to use in a modern game, but only then as a prop.
For me, RPG's and computers don't mix at the game table.
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I use computer for prep as well, but anything that is needed in game is printed out. I also have reference sheets for the PC's since we only have one PHB among all of us. Rather than pass around the book, we can pass the sheets to whoever needs them. The computer is a great tool, but it often detracts from the experience, and I don't trust dice programs.
EDIT: Also, we use a Dry-erase board, it makes everything go smoother. The PC's can draw the map as they need, and they can keep track of turns and how many rounds are left in an effect right on the playing surface. It's pretty big, so we use it as a table as well.
My one DM uses pen/paper. For init, he uses the GMM dry erase board (at least when he's not being an anal pr*** about not letting us know how many different kinds of monsters he's going to overwhem the party with. Granted he still hasn't figured out that the thing is magnetic and he can remove some if he doesn't want us to know about them. He's not exactly the swiftest man in the world.
I haven't played in a while, sadly, but when I do I use MapTool or Photoshop to run the map on a projector. I keep some notes on paper or the adventure margins, but mostly I'll use notepad, excel, and a random number generator instead of pencils, paper, and dice. As much as I prefer dice, a magazine or Pathfinder plus a laptop already use up all the space behind the screen, so computerized notes put everything where I can see it and the players can't.
...a magazine or Pathfinder plus a laptop already use up all the space behind the screen, so computerized notes put everything where I can see it and the players can't.
This is one argument my DM uses as well, and I do understand that line of thought and have seen the problem with it at a few places I've played there is no lack of space in our area, I have two side tables that are used for DM things. But again I believe it is only preference.
This is one argument my DM uses as well, and I do understand that line of thought and have seen the problem with it at a few places I've played there is no lack of space in our area, I have two side tables that are used for DM things. But again I believe it is only preference.
It's as much a matter of easy reach as actual space.
I'm one of two DMs in my group and we have very different ways of running a game. The biggest thing is he uses a laptop for nearly all things DM while I use good ol' pen and paper. Granted I do use my computer for prep but I don't use it during game. The main difference is for initiative. I use cards while he uses his laptop with a program or just plain old notepad. I have stats on individuals initiative cards for all PCs along with the each enemy they may come across.
Question I have for everyone is what do you use? Are you with me with the cards or do you go the way of electronics or maybe something in between or even totally different.
I've been using my laptop during games but I'm seriously considering stopping the use of laptops at my table. It can be distracting (especially for one player who kind of gets screen hypnosis sometimes). Laptops are great for prep work but I don't think that they work that well during play, especially for the player's use.
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For Initiative I use the Combat Pad. Seriously, its awesome. Give it a try. /endcommercial
Several of us at the table bring laptops for rapid reference of information. And if the DM is having trouble finding stats for a monster, there's the SRD to find it.
Although, when letting your players use them, you do have to keep an eye on their actions...
"Dave..."
"Yes?"
"About that attack roll you just made."
"What?"
"Did you just roll one d29?"
"Oh, yeah, I guess I did."
"I can't let you do that, Dave."
(True story.)
For Initiative I use the Combat Pad. Seriously, its awesome. Give it a try. /endcommercial
This is the Combat Pad, by the way. Great product. Cards are the next best thing in my opinion. I can usually take care of writing down initiatives and sort them before the guy that uses a laptop can collect all the values. But YMMV.
"Dave..."
"Yes?"
"About that attack roll you just made."
"What?"
"Did you just roll one d29?"
"Oh, yeah, I guess I did."
"I can't let you do that, Dave."
Am I supposed to be hearing that in the HAL 9000 voice?
I use a dry erase board. It's maybe 8' x 24'. Just line numbers up one side with divider lines (in permanent marker) and jot down names in your erasable marker as you go. Problem was I topped it off with 25 as the highest initiative and there are two players who regularly roll at or around this amount (so if they rolled a 26 and a 27 then they're "off the board"). I tried using different colors for PCs and NPCs and stuff. Not so much now.
Oh, and really don't want to mix your markers up with the ones you use for your wet-erase battlemat. :0
Edit: I suppose this is just a sloppy looking combat pad. I should go get the GameMastery one. It's prettier (and no more panic moments when I find myself standing over the mat with a dry rease in my mitt).
One of the players keeps track of initiative on some unused part of the battle matt.
Owner - Johnny Scott Comics and Games
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Both DMs in my group (me and my buddy) use the tried and true notebook and pencil method for initiative. Write down each player and monster's initiative, and call 'em out as the round progresses.
We've tried the cards, and it never worked as smoothly for us as the notebook method. Never tried the combat pad. Do you think this could work with a group of 8 players?
Using a laptop has never been considered, as we don't have a lot of space at the table, and we've never seen any time-saving value in using it.
As for prep, I'll use my PC to create encounters, print player handouts, and to set up monster tactics, but that's it. Our other DM does the same.
For Initiative, I use 3x5 cards. One for each PC, and animal companion(s), and one for Major NPC's and then one - three for cannon fodder, and I keep track of HP's on a piece of paper.
For everything else, my laptop is at the table, with "Hypertext d20 SRD" up to display cannon fodder monsters, ie. out of the SRD, and Character Sheets & Spell sheets for stated (ie. Major) NPC's up (Preview from PCGen).
I also have my notes up in a file, and since I am running GameMastery modules right now, the PDF up so I can look at maps, text, etc.
When the group gets xp, either overcoming something or role-playing, I have a spreadsheet up and enter Name, CR and it auto calculates the xp and the current totals for each PC, so I know when they level (or are close).
-- david
Papa-DRB
Grognard
My better half and me
When playing face-to-face, I use dry-erase marker on one of my Tact-Tiles. When playing online, Fantasy Grounds takes care of it for me!
If I let players use laptop at my table, I'd have people playing DaoC or WoW instead of D&D. Or even just Internet surfing instead. Either way, that's bad.
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If I let players use laptop at my table, I'd have people playing DaoC or WoW instead of D&D. Or even just Internet surfing instead. Either way, that's bad.
yeah - I let my players have laptops, but can only use them if they are instant messaging me. This is useful for spot and listen checks (allowing them to use a /roll so the other players don't know their rolling a check), a thief PC stealing from another PC(thief uses /roll for slight of hand, target gets an IM to /roll spot/listen), its also very useful for pictures of what they are fighting (ganked from the PDFs), and other tools to emerse them into the game (the goblin songs that someone recorded) since I played on a school night at a college, on occasion people were working on reports at the table... and I couldn't allow them to have it and the other players not
Actually I do have a laptop that is almost entirely RPG related with NPC programs and sound programs as well. But before the game I print out all my info and burn a few mp3s with music and sounds spliced together.
As of rule checking I have made my own DM screen that has most of the things we need with a small part of it that has a rule index for all the books we use during play. This did take quite a bit however. Either way I can check my rules faster this way then the other DM checks his laptop or SRD.
We've tried the cards, and it never worked as smoothly for us as the notebook method. Never tried the combat pad. Do you think this could work with a group of 8 players?
It certainly could. But if index cards don't work better for you than notebook, I doubt the Combat Pad will do much more for you.
I still recommend the Pad, I am just trying to be honest about how useful I feel it would be for you.
In front of me
-My module photocopied with annotations
-GM screen
-dry erase pens and battlemaps, I write init on the maps
Behind me and to my right on a small desk:
-rulebooks
-minis
-coffee
-computer
All i have to do is turn my chair to reference stuff or grab minis.