Suggestions on the Pathfinder GM Screen

[CharlieRock]

Please include that little box that has the "old skill/new skill" names. That is perhaps my most referanced "box" so far.

Oh, and consider making a DM/GM screen for Pathfinder, lol

[Chris Mortika]

Landscape orientation, if possible. That way, the DM isn't hiding behind her screen, more of her tabletop area is screened off, and there's just as much area for charts and suchwhat.

[MochiGohan]

The XP tables, the 3.5 and 4th edition DM screens don't have it on there, which makes you look into the DM Guide after each encounter...

[grrtigger]

I'd love a Pathfinder RPG GM screen, and also would like it in landscape orientation. Please include page numbers for included charts, and possibly a list of other important charts or references (also with page numbers) not included for space reasons.

[Iziak]

I think that all of the above are great ideas, but I also want to add a few comments (I own the Eberron DM Screen, so comments are based off of my experience with that):

• You should have the Influencing NPC Attitudes table, or something similar.
• Golarion-specific information might be nice, even if the screen is a "generic" Pathfinder RPG Screen. I'd like to see the "gods" table and information such as the months of the year.
• PLEASE have at least a partial table of conditions.
• I don't think need the "Actions in Combat" table that the Eberron screen has... I have never found use for it, myself.

[bugleyman]

As a general admonishment to anyone producing DM screens:

Use the True20 hardcover-like material (recently wisely copied by WOTC) rather than the older flimsy construction as seen in the D&D 3.5 screen (and just about every other screen ever produced). Having used the 4E screen, there is just no going back!

[Shem]

As I have mentioned in an earlier thread. I would like them to look over screen done for the Kingdoms of Kalamar. The material it is made of is great, it is very heavy. And it has sections that you can flip over for more information underneath. It is also a good example of mixing world specific information and game mechanics. One of the reaon I do not use it is there is a lot of information that is world specific that I am not interested in but if that information was Golarian I would love it. An example is the dieties of the world... Nothing I need for my game unless it is Golarian.

[Gorbacz]

I think the Eberron GM screen is a good starting point - I use it a lot and it really gets job done well.

What I would really want to have on my screen is:

- item/substance hardness
- AC modifiers
- Atk modifiers
- thrown scatter diagram
- Actions summary
- Skills summary
- Conditions Summary
- Combat Maneuvers summary
- DCs: Spellcraft, Perception, Acrobatics,
- Diplomacy table
- Movement table
- Visibility table
- Calendar
- Topless Seoni/Valeros (on the DM side - c'mon, gotta see something nice after staring at a bunch of dorks for 4 hours).

[CharlieRock]

a list of conditions and there game effects. Dazed means this and stunned means that.

[-Anvil-]

Iziak wrote:

Golarion-specific information might be nice, even if the screen is a "generic" Pathfinder RPG Screen. I'd like to see the "gods" table and information such as the months of the year.

I have to disagree. Golarion specific info would waste valuable space especially considering they are trying to market to a general audience. There is much more pertinent info that is needed on a screen to help speed up combat and keep the flow of game moving. Gods, months and Golarian info could all be looked up ahead of time by the DM and put into his game notes for the day.

A table of conditions(especially the new grappled condition) and common combat modifiers(such as cover and concealment) would be very handy however.

I also have to disagree with the person that wants XP charts on the Screen. Xp totals can be calculated ahead of time for each encounter and the DM can award RolePlaying XP and the like on the fly. Plus most DM's I know like to wait until the characters have down time before they hand out XP, even if the characters are above the goal for the next level. Otherwise the level up 'ding' feels too much like a video Game, especially if it happens between two close combats.

[Kyrinn S. Eis]

-Anvil- wrote:

I have to disagree. Golarion specific info would waste valuable space especially considering they are trying to market to a general audience.

+1 on that opinion. I'm not running Golarion-anything, and don't want it on a GM screen. I want Pathfinder rules data. Period. If it isn't generic PFRPG, I'm not going to purchase.

[Vernon Fults]

It must be landscape format. I'd find the Conditions Table, XP Table, and Combat Modifiers most useful. While I love the Pathfinder world, avoid putting setting specific data on the screen.

Regards,

V

[SirUrza]

CharlieRock wrote:

Please include that little box that has the "old skill/new skill" names.

How useful would that be in say.. 2011 when you've been playing Pathfinder RPG for 2 years?

Please don't include backwards compatibility charts on a GM Screen.. if one is ever made.

[grrtigger]

SirUrza wrote:

Please don't include backwards compatibility charts on a GM Screen.. if one is ever made.

I agree. It would be useful to us, but probably not to anybody new to the game (of which we hope there are many).

[SirUrza]

grrtigger wrote:

I agree. It would be useful to us, but probably not to anybody new to the game (of which we hope there are many).

It'd be useful for a VERY short period of time, then it would be wasting space.

[Krensky]

Laminate it like the flip mats, possibly even with some blank room for notes.

[Travis Cook 269]

I only ask for one think. If the GM Screen would have a pdf version, please, don't use non-free fonts.

In the PathFinder RPG Beta, Linux users can't see the letter A in the section titles. For example, in the page 3 my pdf viewer display "Gener ting a ch r cter" instead of "Generating a character"

Non-title text and table text are fine.

[Mikaze]

Harsk in a chainmail speedo tanning on the beach on the player's side of the screen, please.

[Iziak]

bugleyman wrote:

As a general admonishment to anyone producing DM screens:

Use the True20 hardcover-like material (recently wisely copied by WOTC) rather than the older flimsy construction as seen in the D&D 3.5 screen (and just about every other screen ever produced). Having used the 4E screen, there is just no going back!

YES!

[-Anvil-]

Vernon Fults wrote:

It must be landscape format. I'd find the Conditions Table, XP Table, and Combat Modifiers most useful. While I love the Pathfinder world, avoid putting setting specific data on the screen.

Regards,

V

I don't understand the desire for xp charts on the DM Screen. As a DM isn't it part of the job to decide the most probable encounters for the day and look up how much xp they garner ahead of time. Isn't that pretty much standard game prep?

A DM screen should be for quick reference notes on the fly to keep the pace of game and combat going smoothly. XP reward is NOT a part of combat. It can be done anytime and does not need to be on a DM screen.

Most DM's I know hand out XP at the end of game anyway.

[Emperor7]

Mikaze wrote:

Harsk in a chainmail speedo tanning on the beach on the player's side of the screen, please.

That's like seeing a dwarf get a Brazilian wax! You'll go blind! But it may keep the players from trying to sneak a peek at what's on the DM's side of the screen.

[SirUrza]

Iziak wrote:

bugleyman wrote:

Use the True20 hardcover-like material (recently wisely copied by WOTC) rather than the older flimsy construction as seen in the D&D 3.5 screen (and just about every other screen ever produced). Having used the 4E screen, there is just no going back!

YES!

While I've never seen the True20 screen, I HAVE both the 4e and the Star Wars Saga screens. I definitely would enjoy this format. :)