Best Game Aids

[ShinHakkaider]

A Turn of Events

Your wish is granted.

I am happy to provide struggling publishers like Paizo ideas that they can use to make it in the tough RPG market. ; >

I actually already have these...

 

[ShinHakkaider]

Our system avoids this problem by making it primarily a player tool. DMs only get to draw from it occassionally (of course, Erik gave it the hard core playtest and drew a card for every NPC crit... nasty).

Jason Bulmahn
GameMastery Brand Manager

That's pretty much how I'd use them PC's only, except for climactic encounters with classed opponents and such.

 

[Agamon]

Game aids are much higher on my list than new books, adventures aside. I like to add effeciency and coolness to the game from game aids more than complexity from new crunch splats. When I DM, I use:

a laptop, with DM's Familiar, HeroForge, and the SRD.
Tact-Tiles (I used all 12 at once for the first time in my AoW game)
DDM minis, lots of em
Steel Squire's spell templates
Game Mastery magic item cards

When I play, I use:
a laptop, with my PC sheet in HeroForge
an 8x11 magnetic whiteboard w/magnetic tags for initiative tracking (the Staples version of the Combat Pad)

I have some Dungeon Tiles, but I haven't used them much because of my Tact-Tiles.

 

[Queen_Dopplepopolis]

I cannot begin to tell you how useful this thing has been! I used to run combat by using notecards and shuffling through the deck of them to go through initiative. It seems that nobody paid attention if their name wasn't called. Now they look at the Combat Pad, which I have on a typing easel, and start preparing for when their turn comes. It makes combat go a lot faster, and people even remember they can delay or ready actions. Can't say enough good stuff about this local company. One day I hope to meet them at a con and shake their hands. Hmm, wonder if they go to CONvergence?

Just another "YEAH!" The combat pad has really been helpful at our game table!

 

[Firebeetle]

Yeah, these things are great. One of the best products I've reviewed. My group loves them. They aren't too powerful but are good enough to make them covetted.

Thank you Don, I'm so glad you like them and that you use them. Glad to be able to add to your table and thank you for the review.

I actually already have these...

Then you've got what you need already my friend! Critical Hits (and fumbles too should you choose to use them.) In addition to all that other card goodness.

 

[Firebeetle]

I've been working on the game aid issue since 3rd edition came out.

I use
-Laptop, I've tried it all, I use multiple SRDs in HTML (Giovanni and Jensen are the best), some handy excel spreadsheets, and other programs. I've run whole sessions "paperless" before, although hard copy still helps for the actual adventure. DON'T use dice programs or a initiative spreadsheet, they slow things down. REALLY would like to see some WotC update to the SRD.
-My action and critical hit cards from A Turn of Events, naturally
-D&D minis, changed the way my table works
-Reaper minis, I liked minis so much my son and I started painting them
-laminated maps, every mini map I get my hands on I laminate (er, at the library laminator, NOT at work, no, no way at work.)
-Fiery Dragon's Battle Box, namely the rule cards. I laminated those and we've almost used them up. I'm making improved replacements.
-Steel Sqwire templates, I love these, they are perfect, all my other templates now have dust on them
-Steel Sqwire flip mats, I bought a range of dry erase markers just for them.
-Combat Pad, works well, I use it for the players so they can see when they go and what conditions they have. Very helpful
-Initiative Cards, after playing the Game Mechanics and ToGC cards, I made my own to print on business card stock. They have all the conditions with tick boxes so I can make what is happening, and have a place to note current hp. They work well for me.
-Stereo with ambient music, Dead Can Dance is our favorite
-beltclip ID card retractors, good for line of sight, buy in the office supply
-a miniature tape measure, helps find distances quickly, at your hardware store
-homemade dowel rulers, I have foot long square ones that I have marked in 10', 20', and 30' ranges to show range increments, including penalty written directly on them. I've got longer round dowels I'm using to show close and medium spell ranges that I am making this week.
-"Dragon tears" glass beads
-specialty dice, I can now randomly determine month, day, time, and weather at a go. My favorite is the scatter die for Q-workshop, originally made for GW products I believe.
-EN World/ToGC buff and condition cards. These are great. I use the spell cards when I play. I use the monster cards to paperclip to an adventure whenever it says "See Monster Manual"
-Dungeon tiles, I love these, but have problems storing them. I also use Skeleton Key tiles but they are too pricey to keep up with. Get them on their anniversary sale each year.
-2" washers, work for mounts and Enlarge spells
-index card boxes for all my D&D mini cards

What I'm working on:

-Alea tools magentic markers, these are way cool, just too pricey yet. I'll be redoing the color coding to match the aforementioned buff/condition cards
-The aforementioned spell ruler dowels
-Summon Monster counters from Fiery Dragons, I actually bought (and cut up) a prelim copy of their first set at Gen Con ages ago. They got dropped for minis quick. However, I NEVER have the right summoned monster at the right time (except the celestial hippogriff, I love that monster.) So I got the PDF files to print
-Item cards & fantasy money, I'm still hoping somebody will make a "basic commodites" card. This is for next campaign
-DM Screen, I've been through several, including the Kingdoms of Kalamar 3.0 screen. I currently have the Eberron and Paizo ones. I'm looking to make my own or pick up the KoK 3.5 screen
-I like the prior suggestion of a "map/mini stand" so much I plan to make one this week. (Spring Break at the hardware store, woohoo!)
-Lowering a podium to use as a book/library stand to my side, just need to come across one outside of work. A book stand would help too.
-The name cards from Tabletop, I just haven't gotten around to printing them. I've used name generators on the laptop before, but they take too long if I haven't loaded them already.
-notebooks with trading card pocket sleeves for my ToGC and perhaps D&D mini cards.

Yeah, I think that's it.

 

[TarionzCousin]

I've found having a small dry-erase board at the table very helpful. I can quickly sketch out locations or items that maybe can't be easily explained verbally, or write proper names to help them gel in players' minds. Add in a board with magnets and you have a handy initiative tracker. The one I linked above has a pen clip, and the pen has a built-in eraser.

Just don't use the pen on your wet-erase battlemat.

Now I read this! :\

Is there any way to remove dry erase pen marks from my wet erase megamat?

 

[Mark CMG]

Now I read this! :\

Is there any way to remove dry erase pen marks from my wet erase megamat?

Hope this helps -

http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=175755

http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=172492

http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=168698

http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=166948

http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=134419

 

[Zaukrie]

My 9 year old DM'd the family on two nights last week. He used the Combat Pad very effectively. This is one of the great products I've every bought (I know I already said this, but, c'mon, my 9 year old used this effectively).

 

[dragonlordofpoondari]

Now I read this! :\

Is there any way to remove dry erase pen marks from my wet erase megamat?

Classic. Everyone I know has a permanent wall or stairway or something staining their megamat. Don't feel too bad about it. Monte Cook (whom I don't know personally) has one that he jokingly refers to as his permanent wall of force in one of his blogs.