D&D 5E DM Screen 'Wilderness Kit'

A 'Wilderness Kit' has appeared on WotC's website, which includes a DM screen, hex maps, ration tracker, wilderness rules references, and 27 cards. It comes out on 17th November (same day as Tasha's Cauldron of Everything) for $24.99.

Dungeon Master's Screen: Wilderness Kit | Dungeons & Dragons

Learn more about the Dungeon Master's Screen: Wilderness Kit from Dungeons & Dragons.

dnd.wizards.com

CHART A COURSE IN THE WILDS
Venture into the wilds with this kit for the world's greatest roleplaying game.

This kit equips the Dungeon Master with a screen and other tools that are perfect for running D&D adventures in the wilderness.

The Dungeon Master’s screen features a gorgeous painting of fantasy landscapes on the outside, and useful rules references cover the inside of the screen, with an emphasis on wilderness rules. The kit also includes the following:

• 5 dry-erase sheets, featuring hex maps, a food-and-water tracker, and rules references (wilderness chases, wilderness journeys, and the actions you can take in combat)
• 27 cards that make it easy to keep track of conditions, initiative, and environmental effects
• 1 box to hold the kit's cards

 

[Stormonu]

If you don't want art facing the players, it's easy enough to print out a page with the info you want the PC's to have and tape or clip it to the screen. To me, what's on the DM-facing side is far more important. Players have time to grab a book and look because they're only invested during their turn. DMs need info immediately because they're dealing with everyone at once.

I have a lot of old screens, but got a 5E one primarily because of the orientation - as noted, it still conceals information but doesn't block view of the players - as well as covering more table space.

 

[Li Shenron]

I make my own screens but the official ones with artwork look gorgeous.

 

[Green Onceler]

This might only be you. I'm sure 99% of people want art facing the players (creates atmosphere) and most people prefer landscape as it doesn't cover everything (you see the players). Pathfinder gives you the option to get a portrait one, but I would never want one.

I'll agree with him on the portrait orientation, but I do tend to stand (and pace,) a lot while GMing, so will accept I may be in the minority here.

Don't agree re: art on player's side. It may not be useful as such, but GM screens are an aesthetic choice for me as much as anything else. My main practical use for GM screens is paper clipping dungeon maps to them tbh.

 

[Zarithar]

This would be an insta buy for me if we weren't still on lockdown. Both of my groups used to meet at work physically - but since COVID, we've been playing via Roll20/Discord. Once things open back up again though... different story!

 

[Jeff Carpenter]

The curent rules in 5e doesn't make it particularly hard to find food in the wilderness, so I cant imagine a huge need for ration tracking cards.

Maybe if they revamp the travel rules and up the cruch it make sense.

 

[Orius]

Not mention there seems even to be lots of wasted space on the side with tables as things are spread out. I think comparatively 2E DM screens seemed to contain alot more information on 1 page than anything 3E or beyond.

IME, my players can't read either of the two 2e DM Screens from halfway across the table. So I don't see the problem with art.

 

[Espadadelaaurora]

Love the artwork, but not sure if I want to invest in yet another screen. They should made the cards more consistent with the ones released by Gale Force 9.

 

[R_J_K75]

IME, my players can't read either of the two 2e DM Screens from halfway across the table. So I don't see the problem with art.

I never thought of that as a factor in my gripe of having artwork cover an entire side of a DM screen. For me its always been that I can flip it over and have 3 or 4 more panels of tables to reference without reaching for a book or searching a website.

 

[Orius]

A decent DM screen should have most of the important tables for the DM on the DM's side to begin with. Also, 4 panel screens are better than 3, and the landscape format seems like an improvement over portrait; I've never used it myself though.

 

[R_J_K75]

A decent DM screen should have most of the important tables for the DM on the DM's side to begin with. Also, 4 panel screens are better than 3, and the landscape format seems like an improvement over portrait; I've never used it myself though.

Did you ever use the either of the 2e DM screens that were released? I very rarely had to open a book besides to look up a spell or magical item when I was using those. I even continued using them well into 3e.