Travelling DMs: What do you tote your game in?

Since I started using a laptop for DMing, I've dramatically slashed the amount of stuff I carry around. Now I just have a backpack with the laptop, my PH, some adventure notes and a dice bag. Oh, and a toolbox for minis and a black plastic art tube for the battlemap.
 

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I leave all my books at the house of my players that we game in each week. Outside of a notebook to keep notes in, I don't bring anything else but about 4-6 liters of diet soda with me.
 

I have an old soft leather attache case. Very, very nice. Very, very organized.
 

I use a laptop bag and that's it.

Besides the laptop I carry one small binder and 2-3 books in there. A PHB and War of the Lance. That's about it usually.

We always game at the same place. All the miniatures and projector is there, and Kevin, our host, buys literally every single WotC book as it is released and many other D20 system books for us to consult when we are there if we need to. It's an impressive gaming library. Very few stores have one as complete.

Between .pdf , the SRD and my player's memories (a few of which are formidable Rules lawyers) the need to go to the bookshelf is itself small in any event.

I do a lot of prep work. So my need to hit the books is something I fill between sessions - not during them.
 

I use my Army recruiting-issue Gorilla bag (kind of like a big, hard-sided laptop bag that's about 16"x6"x12"). Big enough to hold 5-7 harbound books, my 2" thick DM binder, two flats of minis, plus paper, dice, spare Dungeon magazines, etc, etc.
 

I use an aluminum toolbox that I bought at Home Depot for $20... the cat was extra...
 

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I currently tote el cheapo hobbystore backpack ($10) with handles for carrying on it's side, or for heavier weights, the normal backpack straps on the back. It also has a flap that clicks shut and inside the flap has places for penciles and pens. There's a net pocket on the outside that I put dicebag, dry-erase markers, and calulator in. I also usually carry 1 small ($7) or 1 large ($12) plastic gun case that I use to store miniatures in.

I carry with me the relevant source material I need for that game session. Last night it was: PHB, DMG, MM, FRCS, Libris Mortis, and Frostburn, along with my Campaign folder and all character folders (cheap manila folders with the name for each character, to hold char sheet + notes). Usually have my DM-screen but I forget to bring it the other night doh! Spilled a perfectly good beer when my DMG I was using to hide notes and die-rolls behind tipped over! :p

Can't wait till I get a laptop this summer!!
 

I have a sports bag I bought for the express purpose of carrying gaming stuff in it. Unlike most such bags, this one is slanted toward one side, for easier carrying - instead of having the shoulder strap come attach to the bag in the middle, it attaches along one side. I find it quite practical.
 


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