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<blockquote data-quote="perrinmiller" data-source="post: 5750554" data-attributes="member: 88649"><p><strong>DM Workshop #5: DM Notes and Combat Management tools.</strong></p><p></p><p><strong><u>DM Workshop #5: DM Notes and Combat Management tools.</u></strong></p><p></p><p><u>The DM Combat post:</u></p><p>I have gone through a few evolutions of this to refine it over the last year. </p><p></p><p>The essential elements are all listed; </p><p>1. Initiative order</p><p>2. Special Actions explained</p><p>3. The Tactical Grid (with notes on game mechanics as necessary)</p><p>4. The Player's Status (HP, Spells in effect, Abilities/Spells used)</p><p>5. The known Enemy status (Damage taken & conditions in effect) </p><p></p><p>I have seen other PbP DMs also provide the foes AC and current HP as well, but I think that provides a bit too much meta-game thinking.</p><p></p><p>Once I have developed the post once, I always quote the last one on the thread to ensure I have exactly the same information on the newest. The information contained allows tracking of the most important elements that frequently change and players can see the information to catch the discrepancies as well.</p><p></p><p>The player's combat spoiler block with mini-stats, helps ensure they are on the same page as you. It also serves as a reminder of what is in their hands as it can make a big difference on Round 1. Things like AC and HPs are dynamic and both the player and the DM should have the same numbers. It also provides a place to record the character's actions in terms of game mechanics with links to their dice rolls.</p><p></p><p>[sblock=Example]<strong>Move Action:</strong></p><p><strong>Standard Action:</strong></p><p><strong>Free Action:</strong></p><p></p><p><strong>Current AC:</strong></p><p><strong>Current HP:</strong></p><p><strong>Current Weapon in Hand:</strong> </p><p><strong>Conditions in effect:</strong></p><p></p><p><strong>Channel Energy:</strong> 5/5 remaining</p><p><strong>Seize Initiative:</strong> 7/7 remaining</p><p><strong>Sudden Shift:</strong> 7/7 remaining</p><p><strong>Smite Good:</strong> 1/1 remaining</p><p><strong>Rage Rounds:</strong> 7/7 remaining</p><p><strong>Breath Weapon:</strong> 1/1 remaining</p><p><strong>Arcane Pool:</strong> 4/4 remaining</p><p><strong>Spells Cast Today:</strong>[/sblock]</p><p>Here is the posts from WERE where we are doing it right: <a href="http://www.unlimitedrpgs.com/forums2/viewtopic.php?p=204004#p204004" target="_blank">WERE: Ch2 - Korvosa: Fortunes Beware</a></p><p></p><p>You will note that in WERE, I do include ACs and even HP for unnamed opponents. The only reason I did that was so the two players can write their own dramatic combat posts and they need to know the results ahead of time. I consider WERE a special case as the writing is more important than the gameplay. </p><p></p><p></p><p><u>The DM Encounter Tracking Sheet</u>:</p><p>Besides the on-line posts tracking things, the DM needs to have his own tracking sheet. Since you cannot recover numbers once you edit and save a post, you need to have accurate notes. I have developed an Excel file for PF games to include the numbers of important things to track. I usually print it out and fill it is by pencil.</p><p></p><p><a href="https://spreadsheets.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Au0qUcB-ExHKdHQ3VU5aa3g3dlByNTVCUWJrd3YwX3c&hl=en_US&authkey=COO5-8gO" target="_blank">https://spreadsheets.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Au0qUcB-ExHKdHQ3VU5aa3g3dlByNTVCUWJrd3YwX3c&hl=en_US&authkey=COO5-8gO</a></p><p></p><p>Here is a version that shows it in use so you can see how I fill it in for each encounter.</p><p><a href="https://spreadsheets.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Au0qUcB-ExHKdGZIQ0JhdE5vN0hud1JCOUkzX2ZkOXc&hl=en_US&authkey=COafkuwB" target="_blank">https://spreadsheets.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Au0qUcB-ExHKdGZIQ0JhdE5vN0hud1JCOUkzX2ZkOXc&hl=en_US&authkey=COafkuwB</a></p><p></p><p>I keep these hard copy records so I can always go back and look at treasure and XP totals to fix discrepancies.</p><p></p><p></p><p><u>Forum Structure to assist in Tracking Campaign details.</u></p><p>The DM should have this information recorded and visible for all the players to see. Either in the opening post of the game thread (if only one is used) or in a separate thread in the game's sub-forum.</p><p></p><p>1. Tracking XP awards.</p><p>That post with the linked character sheets and the character's XP is valuable. Since you cannot recover numbers after you change them, you need to log the individual awards so the numbers can be recreated easily.</p><p></p><p>2. Treasure Awards.</p><p>Around a table this is the responsibility of the players normally. But with PbP, the records need to be accurate and put into a post. I tend to make it the post right after the XP awards summary. Unfortunately, under normal circumstances, only the DM can edit posts in their game forum at URPGs. But with Admins and Global Moderators participating, they can edit as well so this burden can be shared. Ultimately the DM has to enter the treasure though.</p><p></p><p>The best way is to list the treasure gained together, sorted by encounter. At any time, the players can total it all up and sell it off to divvy up the gold. I cannot say that I have done this the best way in all my games, but as long as you have accurate records, then it gets the job done.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="perrinmiller, post: 5750554, member: 88649"] [b]DM Workshop #5: DM Notes and Combat Management tools.[/b] [B][U]DM Workshop #5: DM Notes and Combat Management tools.[/U][/B] [U]The DM Combat post:[/U] I have gone through a few evolutions of this to refine it over the last year. The essential elements are all listed; 1. Initiative order 2. Special Actions explained 3. The Tactical Grid (with notes on game mechanics as necessary) 4. The Player's Status (HP, Spells in effect, Abilities/Spells used) 5. The known Enemy status (Damage taken & conditions in effect) I have seen other PbP DMs also provide the foes AC and current HP as well, but I think that provides a bit too much meta-game thinking. Once I have developed the post once, I always quote the last one on the thread to ensure I have exactly the same information on the newest. The information contained allows tracking of the most important elements that frequently change and players can see the information to catch the discrepancies as well. The player's combat spoiler block with mini-stats, helps ensure they are on the same page as you. It also serves as a reminder of what is in their hands as it can make a big difference on Round 1. Things like AC and HPs are dynamic and both the player and the DM should have the same numbers. It also provides a place to record the character's actions in terms of game mechanics with links to their dice rolls. [sblock=Example][B]Move Action:[/B] [B]Standard Action:[/B] [B]Free Action:[/B] [B]Current AC:[/B] [B]Current HP:[/B] [B]Current Weapon in Hand:[/B] [B]Conditions in effect:[/B] [B]Channel Energy:[/B] 5/5 remaining [B]Seize Initiative:[/B] 7/7 remaining [B]Sudden Shift:[/B] 7/7 remaining [B]Smite Good:[/B] 1/1 remaining [B]Rage Rounds:[/B] 7/7 remaining [B]Breath Weapon:[/B] 1/1 remaining [B]Arcane Pool:[/B] 4/4 remaining [B]Spells Cast Today:[/B][/sblock] Here is the posts from WERE where we are doing it right: [URL="http://www.unlimitedrpgs.com/forums2/viewtopic.php?p=204004#p204004"]WERE: Ch2 - Korvosa: Fortunes Beware[/URL] You will note that in WERE, I do include ACs and even HP for unnamed opponents. The only reason I did that was so the two players can write their own dramatic combat posts and they need to know the results ahead of time. I consider WERE a special case as the writing is more important than the gameplay. [U]The DM Encounter Tracking Sheet[/U]: Besides the on-line posts tracking things, the DM needs to have his own tracking sheet. Since you cannot recover numbers once you edit and save a post, you need to have accurate notes. I have developed an Excel file for PF games to include the numbers of important things to track. I usually print it out and fill it is by pencil. [URL]https://spreadsheets.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Au0qUcB-ExHKdHQ3VU5aa3g3dlByNTVCUWJrd3YwX3c&hl=en_US&authkey=COO5-8gO[/URL] Here is a version that shows it in use so you can see how I fill it in for each encounter. [URL]https://spreadsheets.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Au0qUcB-ExHKdGZIQ0JhdE5vN0hud1JCOUkzX2ZkOXc&hl=en_US&authkey=COafkuwB[/URL] I keep these hard copy records so I can always go back and look at treasure and XP totals to fix discrepancies. [U]Forum Structure to assist in Tracking Campaign details.[/U] The DM should have this information recorded and visible for all the players to see. Either in the opening post of the game thread (if only one is used) or in a separate thread in the game's sub-forum. 1. Tracking XP awards. That post with the linked character sheets and the character's XP is valuable. Since you cannot recover numbers after you change them, you need to log the individual awards so the numbers can be recreated easily. 2. Treasure Awards. Around a table this is the responsibility of the players normally. But with PbP, the records need to be accurate and put into a post. I tend to make it the post right after the XP awards summary. Unfortunately, under normal circumstances, only the DM can edit posts in their game forum at URPGs. But with Admins and Global Moderators participating, they can edit as well so this burden can be shared. Ultimately the DM has to enter the treasure though. The best way is to list the treasure gained together, sorted by encounter. At any time, the players can total it all up and sell it off to divvy up the gold. I cannot say that I have done this the best way in all my games, but as long as you have accurate records, then it gets the job done. [/QUOTE]
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