D&D 5E To Screen or not to Screen

[Giltonio_Santos]

I use a screen for reference, and I also believe it helps setting the mood for a nice RPG session. I roll 90% of my dice in the open, though, and keep behind the screen only those rolls that refer to knowledge also hidden from PCs.

 

[Nagol]

I use a screen* for my notes/maps. Rolls are made in the open.

*Typically, the back of a laptop these days; in olden times just a binder back. I never bothered with a purchased version; I though the artwork distracting and the tables mostly unnecessary.

 

[AaronOfBarbaria]

For me, whether I use a screen or not depends entirely upon how many rules are in the game that are accompanied by tables I'm not going to ever memorize the details of.

I lean toward not using a screen because I don't hide dice rolls (even if they are made behind a screen, my players are welcome to look at the results at any time), and it makes it easier for me to see whatever maps, minis, art, or other visualizations are out on the table so I can answer questions the players might have that require me to take a look at things.

But for some game systems there are just enough tables or reminders that help me keep the game moving forward at a fast pace that I put them on a screen (almost always making custom inserts) and set it up, at least until I get the hang of the game and find myself no longer actually looking at it standing there in front of me during a session.

 

[jasper]

I roll in the open, and the players can generally see my monsters notes. But I dm adventure league. But I made my own either retyping charts, photocopy the page, or download pdf from net.
Outside player side Spell Cost sheet runs 1 and 1/4 panel. Level and stat chart. Arms and armour chart with sword coast changes. Photocopy of the shopping list.
Inside download a nice 3 panel pdf which conditions, exhaustion, etc. Max age chart (only useful in season 4 )

 

[Warmaster Horus]

Always have. Use the tables occasionally but it's mainly so my dice don't fall all over the place and so that my 'monster accounting' isn't in the clear. It also serves as a spot to hang initiative cards in combat in a way that's a little more secure than the table top.

My main beef with it is the visual 'dead zone' right behind it for me, making me place the battle mat off a distance.

 

[Charles Rampant]

My main beef with it is the visual 'dead zone' right behind it for me, making me place the battle mat off a distance.

I've noticed that many modern screens are much lower than the ones from the 90s, such as my Planescape one. This is presumably why?

 

[iserith]

I haven't used a screen in a long time. At least since 4e.

 

[KahlessNestor]

I don't like that it gets in the way of the mat and minis, but I like the useful charts, so I keep it folded up nearby for quick flipping open when I need to reference it.

Sent from my SM-G900P using EN World mobile app

 

[Jer]

I use a screen flat on the table for the reference charts in it for my regular group, but I haven't had an upright screen in front of me for a long time. I roll my dice out in the open but frankly I could cheat on my die rolls and my players likely wouldn't notice unless it was an outrageous cheat (like claiming a crit or something like that). Likewise they don't try to look at my maps or notes or anything even though they're sitting right out where people can see them. We're all a fairly trusting group.

However in the group I run for kids, I have to use a screen. The kids like to peek at notes and generally haven't figured out yet that most of the fun of the game is NOT knowing what's coming next and being surprised by it. So for them a screen and more of the rolls are hidden instead of in the open (mostly because I just roll right in front of myself and that's blocked by a screen, not because I'm taking care to keep the rolls hidden).

 

[WarpedAcorn]

I use a DM screen. I *rarely* use it a reference though, I use it to obscure vision from my notes, books, and rolls.

Since I do not use any Tablet or Laptop, I rely on my old traditional composition notebooks, graph paper, mini spiral notepad, and spiral notebook. So all my checks, monsters, encounters, etc...are all listed and could be potentially seen by the players whether they are trying to peek or not.

I also lay the monster manual or NPC sheets out behind the screen. Without it, the players would see the enemies and their stats pretty easy.

Lastly, I like having my rolls hidden. This way I can fudge my rolls, usually to keep from TPK'ing the party if I failed to design an encounter properly. I have fudge things in favor of the enemies, but that is more rare. Basically I feel by hiding the dice I can keep the game more interesting.

The only thing I could see myself easily changing is rolling in the open since I fudge rolls incredibly rarely. But I would still like a screen to hide my physical notes and whatnot.