DIGITAL
- keep laptop off to the side (never between players, never as a "GM Screen")
- Multiple Firefox windows open to: the Compendium and Google (search/images)
- Bookmark the Compendium monsters/traps/hazards in folders for one click "open all" in multiple tabs in one window.
- flip between TABS as needed, even arrange them in initiative order
- close tab when monster is dead (you have them bookmarked for totalling xp later)
- do the same for any encounter including hazards or traps, bookmark it all "in order" of appearance (organize your bookmarks prior to game well)
- use Firefox's "Foxmarks" to sync every computer you own with the SAME bookmarks
- plug in my speak system to the laptop to play iTunes playlists, change out songs as warrented...
- use my desktop (that's cloned with my 42" LCD TV screen) to show maps, images of monsters, NPC pics, etc...
- have these tabs open: Google Images search, the Compendium, our Campaign Wiki
- have the DDI character builder open/ready for anyone to update/print PCs
- ready anything for wireless printing on the fly for props or magic items...
- I've made an extensive Google WIKI page that acts as our Campaign Bible. It contains EVERYTHING - from individual player pages (for background and notes), to world info, maps, xp/story tracker notes, NPC and location tracker notes, even breakdowns of the adventures I'm planning (on private DM ONLY pages). With hyperlinks to ANYTHING needed for the campaign/encounters.
- I also ask that all the players input to the "wish list" of magic item ideas on a chart page for all the items they want to aid my parcel selection...
- Using our Yahoo Group, we coordinate during the week, chit-chat about game and rules and I ask each player to post updated DDI Character Sheet files uploaded to the wiki, this allow me to look at them - and as a courtesy, I PRINT them all for the players prior to gametime.
- pre-game-prep, I also made a "LOOT Manikin" with the DDI Character Builder. This is a 1st level character made ONLY for tacking on gear, magic items, rituals, etc... that will be part of the treasure parcels. I do this each parcel level, saving the "Manikin" at each level.
- Then print ONLY the item card pages. (see below for analog continuation with these cards)
ANALOG
- DIE ROLLING is a must old-school style. I'm made several felt-lined die roller bins for each player if they want to sit back on the couch, rather than roll on the table...
- I use a triple sized, upgraded "Combat Magnet Board" for initiative. I've made/laminated individual name tags for each PC to attach/move around on the initiative board. I've also made 3-4 dozen blank magnet tags laminated - that I can write in monsters, etc... with dry erase markers to post initiative during game. The board is about 17x22" standing up so that everyone can see all the NAMES and order of initiative. This system has improved players knowing the NAMES of PCs and NPCs dramatically..... without calling them "uh.. that guy..." Makes role-play more fun...
- PROPS... even with the big screen for maps and such, I still make/print maps and props to go along with the screen shots. Holding stuff is fun.
- Tact-Tiles: the originals. I love my old-school Tact-Tiles. I use them constantly for any game, with dry erase markers they work hand-in-hand with the initiative board.
- BOOKS... I rarely use any PDFs I own for games DURING games. Sometimes it would be quicker, but in a way I enjoy the sensation of looking things up old-school DURING the game. In prep-time, online or PDF searches all the way.
- Printing item cards. As noted above I made a "LOOT Manikin" for all the magic item parcel treasure list... I then print them out, cut the cards out, slip them in clear card sleeve, find an image of the item to print and slip in the backside. I then hand them out as opposed to telling the players what they find on the monsters. I treat this like actual finding the loot. Tossing the cards (image up) on the table, in a little treasure chest even. Sidenote - I even made some fun gold/silver/copper coins to toss in the mix as well...
So...
it's a clear mix. But I use the computer as a resource and tool. It's never been distracting BECAUSE myself and the people I tend to game with are used to having tech in our lives constantly - so the "shiny" of the laptop effects no one negatively... It's like another tool at the table. More dice, a D&D book, pencils, a calculator, etc...
I'm highly distracted by any kind of brightness, moving images, etc. So a laptop is right out. Even if the page is static, I'm conditioned from work to see the mail icons popping up, and am thus subconsicously checking for it.
Add in the practised reader effect, and it can be a problem. I've ended up turning my laptop away from the players as it distracts some of them, and they don't want to have all the monster's stats visible.
Myself, all I do is copy stuff from the compendium into a word document and use that as an encounter.
Generally, I set is up as A4, landscape, three columns, 8-point text for most things. Bring the defences up to 12-point to aid in finding them quickly, and highlight stuff like reaction powers and auras. I track all the HP, status effects and initiative order on a post-it note, mind.
__________________ Obama resurrected a man in Reno, just to watch him live. - Matthew Gabbert
DIGITAL
- keep laptop off to the side (never between players, never as a "GM Screen")
- Multiple Firefox windows open to: the Compendium and Google (search/images)
- Bookmark the Compendium monsters/traps/hazards in folders for one click "open all" in multiple tabs in one window.
I tend to be of the thinking that digital screens tend to be distracting and make the game session feel more disjointed. If I want to play everything over a screen I will go play an MMO or something.
I do have a laptop though, and use it minimally. I have three tabs open currently in the game we are in:
I keep the laptop pointed away from other players and unless I am actively using it I keep the face closed on it. If I'm not using it, there's no point in keeping the screen up.
My main reasoning, personally, is that while digital tools help speed things up, the personal aspect of organizing and interacting is a vital part of the game session, at least for me. I don't want to risk losing any of that, so our dice rolls, maps, visual representations, etc. are all done old school style.
Laptops just aren't designed to be used for this purpose.
When I DM I have the DM screen which permits instant access, no clicking, no tabbing, to a huge array of critical information covering about 90% of what I need over the course of play. A laptop can't do that.
In addition to that, I have all the player's cards spread out in front of me, along with all the monster cards.
This allows me to, again, instantly determine anyone's abilities or defenses or anything.
My players use a Whiteboard to run Initiative so I don't have to do anything and they can all see who goes when and no one's waiting for one person to say "Ok, it's Dave's turn."
That's as efficient as it's going to get.
__________________
This Week On SquareMans: The Open World: Red Faction and PowerPoint Presentations on Mars.
I went digital about 5-6 months back and I haven't regretted it since. The one thing that I use that hasn't been mentioned is a program called Masterplan. It's a free program that has everything you need to run a game. It even has a combat tracker and it will actually download the entire compendium so that you can just add monsters and go.
It has seriously made my life easier on the DMing front. Now I have everything I need in one program and combats are run at the touch of a button. It's well worth checking out.
I went digital about 5-6 months back and I haven't regretted it since. The one thing that I use that hasn't been mentioned is a program called Masterplan. It's a free program that has everything you need to run a game. It even has a combat tracker and it will actually download the entire compendium so that you can just add monsters and go.
It has seriously made my life easier on the DMing front. Now I have everything I need in one program and combats are run at the touch of a button. It's well worth checking out.
I wish I knew how to get that thing working on a MacBook.
__________________ Fighting the Hivemind since 03-14-2007
"I say with no disrespect to J. McGuffin here, but remember he's mostly a silicon-based lifeform and finds your attachment to oxygen 'quaint.' " - jamasiel
"Marriage is obsolete. Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated by the Homoborg." - Cultist of Sooty
One Wise Observation point - Mrigashirsha; One Nice Pic point - Kremlin KOA
I went digital about 5-6 months back and I haven't regretted it since. The one thing that I use that hasn't been mentioned is a program called Masterplan. It's a free program that has everything you need to run a game. It even has a combat tracker and it will actually download the entire compendium so that you can just add monsters and go.
It has seriously made my life easier on the DMing front. Now I have everything I need in one program and combats are run at the touch of a button. It's well worth checking out.
I hated Masterplan it felt really awkward and never seemed to have everything I wanted.
Linear Mode
