I seem to be doing most of my playing at Cons or at stores these days. Lugging 5+ books is getting tedious.
I've been considering going the paperless route. Either a small laptop or a tablet (like the Samsung Galaxy Note 12) for reading PDFs and storing my character sheets.
I've seen some folks use a tablet, but they seem to be just using it to browse the PRD. Then I see 17" laptops in their unwieldy glory.
How many folks have found a well-tuned setup and does anyone have any tips?
a computer with internet access let's you get to the wiki rather easily.
confession time, I haven't bought a single book for pathfinder because of this.
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Our group has gone the full laptop route and we have a mix of items.
We all use Hero Lab for our characters and the DM uses it for the monsters. We can email or IM the pictures of things from the DM to the players and passing notes is very easy.
We can journel the adventure notes and treasure in excel, or word or whatever as well.
On occasion we will use D20 Pro or some other virtual table top but we still like to use the battlemat and minis most of the time.
PDF's work well on most items.
Our group has 2 people with the large 17 inch laptops, 4 people with the netbooks, and one person with an iPad. The mini's work OK, but the small screen size is an issue. The large laptops work great but sometimes we have to plan on making those two sit close together and they have to share dice rolling space. iPads are fine for reading a PDF or something and it is usually used by the DM to hold the module info. He can then show pictures pretty easy while hiding the main game items on his netbook running Hero Lab for the combat portions.
The major issue is making sure everyone is patched and not having anti-virus run on game day as well as being careful with power cables so no one trips and drinks so no one damages a laptop. Finally you need a mature engaged group to avoid someone playing a video game or watching videos or whatever on the internet and not ignoring the game.
We have been going this route for a good 4 or 5 years and are very happy with it.
I use the web stuff but own the books too. They're great books.
As for paperless, kind of. Got the last few years I have tracked my character sheets completely in customized, formulated spreadsheets, but record all hp and journal entries on paper. When I am brainstorming to GM, I have to do it all on paper, but then I type it all out. I'm a hybrid I guess.
I had to get use to not using books, but it does make looking up rules faster, once you own X number of books. I still print out NPC's, but using pdf's, and the internet makes life a lot easier. Those books are also heavy once you get to a certain amount.
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I still advocate useing real dice and a paper character sheet or at least a reasonable sized screen device. I really love useing my iPad 2 with the free version of PDF-notes for the Paizo PDFs and an PFRPGrd app(both iTunes and android) with all the PRD info very easily searchable and linked, and available offline(subway, con with no WiFi).
In time, buying the PDFs saves you enough money that it may cover the cost of the tablet, especially.if you go with a cheaper one.
If you go to cons, I might be worried about battery life for the day. Laptops have poor battery life, netbooks often have better battery life. I live the battery life on my iPad 2, even now after buying it several years ago. A small android tablet might not work the whole day at a con, especially if you judge off the thing and have to keep the screen on most of the day. Though you might be able to buy to cheap androids for less than one iPad.
I recently bought a super cheap android 7" tablet with case and 32 gig memory card all for a total if $52 bucks via a coupon a friend had for the.New Micro Center stores in NYC, just to get people in the door. They had to be taking a loss on those sakes but they ot people to visit the new store! At such a cheap price for all of tbat, I really cannot complain. I really bought the stuff just to have as a backup portable PDF reader incase my iPad gets list, stolen, broken. The mire I use it though, the mire I realize my old iPad 2 is so much better. I am sure there are android tablets better than my iPad 2 but I doubt I could find one in a super cheap, seller takes a.loss price.
Again, while I love them for PDFs, I still encourage real dice and a paper character sheet.
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Make sure that everywhere you take the laptop has a power point (and is happy to let you use it). I made this very expensive mistake when I bought mine.
Also check battery life. You can probably buy more batteries, but changing them out mid-game is likely clumsy and annoying.
Sometimes table space (or sometimes, other people's perception of table space) will be an issue too, so consider where you're playing.
I run off my laptop, for books and for all my DM things like NPCs and bad guy character sheets. Way easier, and a lot less work.
Also saves trees, money on ink, pencil lead, and cramped wrists.
RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16, Contributor
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I use the iPad + Hero Lab and Goodreader, works like a charm and I rarely have battery issues. If you are worried about batteries, there are inexpensive battery packs you can get to recharge on the go.
If you don't use hero-lab (it gets expensive), you can keep character sheets on PDF... Personally, I think you are better just going hero-lab and limiting your sources to keep the cost down though.
At our table, everybody has a laptop in front of them these days. Mine is the biggest, so I can't always see the munchies on the table. Not sure how I feel about this development. It is nice to have the PRD and PCGen ready.
On the other hand, I still map and keep notes on paper. Until I find a good tool to create and reorganize annotated maps, I guess.
All my non-Pathfinder games are still entirely on paper with no laptop in sight.
I use a combination of my iPad and my iPhone.
My iPad is used to reference most of my PF library that I have in PDF using Goodreader.
My iphone is used to quick reference rules stuff using PFR an PFRPG RD apps. Granted I only use the phone version if I already have something open and am using it on my ipad and dont feel like fast switching between apps.
This has worked out great for my group and I for the past few years. Especially when almost everyone has access to the PFR and PFRPG RD apps on their phones/devices.
mcv, have you taken a look at Realmsworks by Lone Wolf?
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Android phone for quick rules reference, "Masterwork Tools" Pathfinder Open Reference app.
I use this to access to character sheets from Google Docs sometimes, but I don't like having to zoom in all the time.
Nexus 7 tablet for character sheets / internet / rules. It's quick and just the right size to not get in the way on the table.
Mophie Powerstation Pro makes it run all day if I can't get it recharged. Running a .pdf reader doesn't eat up the battery like some other apps.
I take notes and track HP/spells/treasure on a notepad. I can write faster with a pen than I can type on a touchscreen keypad. Really, it's just because I've always done it that way.
At Gen Con every year, I bring printouts of everything, write on a paper notepad, and use my electronics only sparingly.
I own a ton of .pdfs but no books.
A lot of the people I game with only use pen + paper with printed character sheets. GMs in my groups almost always have a laptop open.
mcv, have you taken a look at Realmsworks by Lone Wolf?
I hadn't. But $50 means I'll be quite a lot cheaper off mapping on paper for the time being.
RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32
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I was having the back-breaker issue with all my books, and was considering investing in paperless options in light of the fact I'll be going to my first GenCon this year. Then my desktop and laptop at home both died, so I went ahead and got a Microsoft Surface to both satisfy my home computing needs and also be a mobile device for PDFs.
I can still scatter my books across the living room floor when building a new character, but when it's a matter of just having things on hand while traveling to a game store or whatever, it's really nice not to have to bring them all.
I liked it so much, in fact, that it wasn't long before I designed a custom Excel character sheet for use on my Surface. This really cuts down my use of table space, as all I need to actually have out on the table is my little tablet and some dice. Super happy with it. :)
I prefer to use a paper character sheet, traditional dice, and paper to keep notes with; but I use my Galaxy Tab 10.1 for rules lookups to keep me from havign to pull out books all of the time.
Make sure that everywhere you take the laptop has a power point (and is happy to let you use it). I made this very expensive mistake when I bought mine.
Also check battery life. You can probably buy more batteries, but changing them out mid-game is likely clumsy and annoying.
Sometimes table space (or sometimes, other people's perception of table space) will be an issue too, so consider where you're playing.
^ This! Especially at cons, where table space can be challenging, I print out my electronic character sheets. I use a very small physical footprint at the game table because I can have my dice, minis, and character sheets within a flat 8.5"x11" space.
It also makes it easier for GM auditing when they need to see something on your character sheet. (I've needed to do this on PFS games where the scenario specifically calls something out on the character sheet.) This is much easier than passing a laptop or tablet and hoping that the GM can find whatever they're looking for on whatever tool you use (electronic PDF vs hero lab vs pcgen).
Since the OP specifically mentions gaming at public venues, I think you have to me mindful that there is typically a limited amount of time and space available (vs home games, for example). If everyone needs space for a laptop, it can get very unwieldy at the table. I've seen laptops get knocked off the table, drinks spilled, and other unfortunate accidents.
That said, I use a tablet for rulebook reference only. It stays in my bag until I need to reference a rule or clarify something for the GM / another player.
My $0.02.
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I've played since 1e and how I've played the game has evolved as much as the game itself. Even five years ago I would have found it unlikely that I'd be playing in a forum-only game, now I find pbp to be a brilliant medium.
Similarly, I went from full paper and books in an enormous plastic storage box to designing custom character sheets in excel and printing them off to just running Hero Lab on my laptop. All the guys at the table now use a laptop or ipad and I agree that the biggest danger is making sure everyone is engaged in the game and not checking Facebook every five minutes.
But once we finish ROTRL in about a month, it's back to my turn as table GM and I'm really excited to try the next level again with this.
I honestly don't know how it will work out but I'm more than willing to give it a shot!
I use herolab on my notebook. It is so useful that I can't play without it now.
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I seem to be doing most of my playing at Cons or at stores these days. Lugging 5+ books is getting tedious.
I've been considering going the paperless route. Either a small laptop or a tablet (like the Samsung Galaxy Note 12) for reading PDFs and storing my character sheets.
I've seen some folks use a tablet, but they seem to be just using it to browse the PRD. Then I see 17" laptops in their unwieldy glory.
How many folks have found a well-tuned setup and does anyone have any tips?
I've got a Galaxy NotePro 12.2" Bought specifically for this purpose.
Using Repligo Reader, when you zoom so you skip the page borders, text is basically exactly the size of a hardcover book. You definitely get a full page view in. Zooming this way is a double-tap action.
Opening/closing/switching PDFs is easy and it remembers recently used PDFs so you don't have to crawl your structure over and over.
That said, I wouldn't want to do character sheets this way, just compressing hardcovers into one portable device.
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Depends on side of the screen for me. When I GM I have gone completely paperless including dice. As a player though all I bring is post its, printed character sheet, dice and minis. I know my characters enough to have the rules I need memorized and if we need look up the GM is sure to have a lappy/tabby or the books in hardcopy. Putting away the PC when I play help me stay immersed and avoid distractions. As a GM I just have way way too much going on to be able to not use a paperless system.
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I seem to be doing most of my playing at Cons or at stores these days. Lugging 5+ books is getting tedious.
I've been considering going the paperless route. Either a small laptop or a tablet (like the Samsung Galaxy Note 12) for reading PDFs and storing my character sheets.
I've seen some folks use a tablet, but they seem to be just using it to browse the PRD. Then I see 17" laptops in their unwieldy glory.
How many folks have found a well-tuned setup and does anyone have any tips?
I carry all my source material as PDF's on my iPad.
My characters are managed in Hero Labs, which has a reader for the iPad.|
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^ This! Especially at cons, where table space can be challenging, I print out my electronic character sheets. I use a very small physical footprint at the game table because I can have my dice, minis, and character sheets within a flat 8.5"x11" space.
When you are required to have all character source material available as either watermarked PDF or hardcopy, tablets/laptops are far less space consuming than 100 lbs of books.
I am also less likely to dislocate my shoulder .... again.
Roll20, Roll20, Roll20.
Even when I GM with my friends all sitting in the same room, we use Roll20. It's a thousand times easier controlling what I can and can't do for my players.
Don't think anyone mentioned this little benefit: set up and breakdown of gaming sessions takes about 90 seconds.
I use a combination of various items. Herolab on iPad works fantastic. I do keep a paper copy of character in binder just in case I have issues with battery/iPad/etc. I also have regular dice. I sometimes use app and other times use real dice. Nothing like the feeling of rolling ten d6's when you throw down a fireball. Additionally, I keep a note pad next to me in a portfolio. I place my ipad on the left side of the binder and the pad on the right so I can right notes. My footprint ends up being about 17" x 12" of desktop space.
I keep my chronicles in a soft binder in clear plastic sheet holders with my PFS Folio in the front clear pocket for quick reroll access. The binder makes a pleasant sounding thud when slapped down on the table :) Hard copy books though can be easier to thumb through for quick reference (for me at least) when compared to PDF.
Character sheets on excel docs stored on Google Drive.
NPCs not kept there are in Word docs.
All books in PDF format.
Use MapTools for maps and character miniatures.
Keep a running Notepad file open during games for Initiative, enemy HP, XP calculations, and notes.
Yeah, paperless we are =) The only physical thing we use is dice, and some of us even use dice roller programs.
I've been paperless since I started. Get some cheap college kids together and you end up using d20pfsrd and Archives of Nethys more than books that cost real money. I think half the reason my GM started playing Pathfinder on my campus was because the source materials were free.
Gone a Hybrid route with the start of our Rune Lords game. I have my paper charactersheet, but my spells via perram are on the tablet. The books, if I need them are also on the tablet.
The GM has all of his important data on Laptop and tablet.
Because of some situations in the last game with people not paying attention because of tablets and such, we are thinking of implementing rules for people who play games and not pay attention.
Thanks for all the replies! I am halfway through deciding if I want to use my Nexus 7 for materials or just keep the Surface Pro 3 I just bought (2 week trial) and load Herolab on that.
As for dice, I'll always have a bag of dice. I said paperless, not dice-less! Hah!
I trying to test out battery life as well. I'm thinking that I might have to bring some paper to GenCon if I get a table that isn't near an outlet...
I tend to be the only one in my group who has really gone paperless, I use my laptop for everything gaming related that I can. I use the SRD when I have internet access, the pdfs when I don't and I have my character sheets and treasure in Libreoffice.
I intend to port my characters over from my prepaperless days so I can have a perpetual copy of them with me in case I want to create them in a new ruleset.
As for battlemats, dice and minis, I enjoy using those very much. If I do not have to write anything down I would just have a tablet with my PC and the rulebooks in pdf format.
I am all over redundancy and use both. Yeah...I pay paizo twice, I'm sure they're ok with that ;P
I am not a muscle girl and can't haul a huge lot of material with me like I can a laptop...AND I back everything up so I'm in no danger of losing it.
NOTHING beats the clatter of real dice hitting the table and where would gaming be if you didn't have paper character sheets and notes as well as hand scrawled maps????
Old school AND new school.
I like technology but have been biased against by one player... he gets on his phone and tablet and completely disconnects from the group.
I trying to test out battery life as well. I'm thinking that I might have to bring some paper to GenCon if I get a table that isn't near an outlet...
I have a friend with his iPad 1 and he got an extra long cable since Apple only gives those little cables.
I don't really use my iPad 2 that much but it is 2 years old now and it can stay on for many hours. Our typical game only lasts 3-4 hours.
Because I want the battery to last as long as possible, I would only plug it in when absolutely needed. If it was a laptop, it would be different.