I Want to Use a Laptop for Gaming... Any Recommendations?

Simply put, I want to use a laptop for gaming...

I'm looking for any insights that people might have on file structures, programs, or other items that will lead to ease of use during play...

I suppose I should add that I'm not looking for a debate on the best DM aid software there is... I see enough of that on other threads... just what is out there I suppose...

This is already a vague request...

Aluvial

I don't game with a laptop, but...

I'd want to have the d20 SRD at my fingertips -- I did this on my PC by making a simple locally stored website and downloading the various bits and pieces. I also have linked from there summoned monster stats.

You might want to come up with some sort of simple Initiative tracker maybe on a spreadsheet or something -- where you can put in the characters' names and their numbers and sort by number.

There are several computer programs (some free stuff) that might come in handy for tracking combat, reference, making characters, mapping, etc. Check out the Software & Computers forum.

laptop

word, excell, accrobat reader and a zip program are essential. as was mentioned there are a lot of good dm aids out there a lot of them are linked tothis site. I have found the character genorator to be usefull - but you will need a sound card to run it.

I used to use one, excel for initiative and HP, word for notes and stuff, DM screen program, etc. I stopped after I figured I was spending more time switching between programs and stuff than I was DM'ing.

If you are using a laptop at the gaming table I would really suggest investigating a free month with DM's Familiar. It's a good tool for making a game run smoothly. Lots of features.

Some neat items, you can link WAV files within the program to certain events so you can click the event when your players encounter it and they can hear a queued sound.

Same for images if you want to let them see the screen. Click the entry and the map pops up. Fairly cool.

Personally, I use the combat tracker the most. It's a great tool for managing combat and making life easy. I also like the spell/monster/feat/skill databases.

Check it out!

I've been using my laptop to run my games for about 6 months now.

Its a work in progress, trying new things to get the best for my self and my players.

I've checked out some of the DM utilities out their and haven't liked how they work for me so I've developed my own using excel.

To start with I type up my notes in Word.

For NPC and Monster stats I have an excel workbook with 3 types of work sheets. The first has a list of all the NPC's that are detailed in the workbook, with hyperlinks to the specific NPC's stats. The stat sheet(sheet type 2) has all the info I should need to run a combat/encounter with a NPC. Small amount of this info is linked to a sheet formated to print 4-6 flash cards. Once the info is entered I then print the cards (from sheet type 3) containing info need for init and such out.

I also have blank cards for the PC's that they fill out with basic info. (HP, AC, Saves, some skills, special notes) When combat starts we all roll init and note it at the top of the cards. (I too still like rolling the dice vs a comp die roller.) I then put the cards in order as the turn should progress. As play starts I just flip through the cards taking NPC actions or letting PC's have their turn. If someone delays I hand them their card and tell them to give it back when they want to take a turn. If some one is paralized or I need to track a spell duration I just turn the card over and make on back each time I pass them in the init order. The cards really help with tracking delays, and held actions.
(sorry this explanation got a little long)

If anyone would like to check it out, email me and I'll send it out.

I have templates for maps in photoshop sized to fit on a large battle mat, so if I'm drawing something I know it will all fit on the mat as long as I start in the right place.

I'm working on getting a second monitor so I can show maps that don't need to be drawn, or images on.

JDragon

I have a folder in my root directory with all my RPG stuff, and subfolders containing adventure material (and subfolders in that for each campaign), one for house rule, one for religion, one for monsters, one for maps, one for ESD pdfs, etc. Use whatever categories work for you.

I then make a folder on my desktop for the game. I include in it a link to the above gaming materials folder as well as the various utilities I use - PCGen (2.7.1. ), Jamis buck's utilities, campaign cartographer 2, fractal terrains, and so on, as well as a couple of spreadsheets I use for the game... primarily my xp tracking spreadsheet.

I can strongly recommend campaign sage - it has much of the d20 srd in it, and you can customise it thoroughly for your use. Plus tablesmith (by the same author) for randowm names etc.

they can be found here.

More importantly, you want to look at what you want to use your laptop for. Do you want it for rules reference? (instead of lugging all the books around) Do you want it for random generators ?(names and the like) Do you want to write up all your world notes and keep them with you, annotating as you go? etc. etc.

La Bete said:

I can strongly recommend campaign sage - it has much of the d20 srd in it, and you can customise it thoroughly for your use. Plus tablesmith (by the same author) for randowm names etc.

they can be found here.

Click to expand...

I really like the Sage thing...

Works well, I just have to see how to edit it...

Any other advice would be welcome...

I hope that this will solve some of my organization problems and will help speed up my play...

Aluvial