DM Screen

[Nytmare]

I want Pick Noise and Detect Walls!

"Find and Remove Languages" was always my favorite.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

"Find and Remove Languages" was always my favorite.

Haha. That's really good.

As for the thread, I've never in 22 years of DMing used a DM screen because I find it restrictive. It gets in my way. I have to peer over it. I like to stare down my players.

Plus I've found they contain very little info I need at the table. I've seen 'em with XP charts. Does any DM do XP mid-session?

However, a single-page crib notes on very, very useful info is nice.

Fitz

 

[catsclaw]

I want Pick Noise and Detect Walls!

Trust me, it's all about Hide in Languages and Find and Remove Pockets.

 

[dervish]

Though honestly, Hide in Walls sounds like a pretty nifty ability.

OT I'm considering getting rid of the screen. It kinda goes hand in hand with using miniatures; the screen constantly gets in the way, and I have to look over or around it. Would be nice to have reference sheet of certain rules, though. Useful for those pesky things like spot distances and situational combat modifiers.

Flowchart for grappling, anyone? But if we had one, there would be no room for anything else . Don't grapple the troll.

 

[Xorn]

I actually would keep a TV tray next to my chair, and my screen was on that. I never really used it though, just liked having it there. (Though my screen was just the cover for "X1 - The Isle of Dread")

 

[FitzTheRuke]

Though honestly, Hide in Walls sounds like a pretty nifty ability.

No way, you want COOL?

Climb Shadows.

Fitz

 

[spontaneuscombustion]

Hide in Pockets is for me!

I think that Hide in Pockets is the most useful ability there. If you had, for example, a list of monsters for the Heroic Tier on one panel, then that would make it very easy to set up a quick encounter if you needed one.

 

[Nytmare]

I have never actually found the information on printed DM screens to be particularly useful. All the ones that had passed me by never seemed to have the right information or had it laid out in a way where it was easy to use. But I always used them cause it was the easiest way to hide my notes and the books (and shh... I'm a roll-fudger)

I always ended up cobbling together screens out of three-ring binders. I'd put clear plastic folders inside and just slip in the notes and charts and maps that I needed. I was always surprised that no one ever put out a simple three flap screen with clear insert pockets so that people could make their own customized charts and whatnot.

On the last version of my game table I made a wooden DM screen with a flatscreen monitor built into either side. The "flaps" to either side of the screen were angled with a catch at the bottom so I could prop up notes or have an open book without having it eat up table space.

 

[Firebeetle]

I have never actually found the information on printed DM screens to be particularly useful. All the ones that had passed me by never seemed to have the right information or had it laid out in a way where it was easy to use. But I always used them cause it was the easiest way to hide my notes and the books (and shh... I'm a roll-fudger)

I always ended up cobbling together screens out of three-ring binders. I'd put clear plastic folders inside and just slip in the notes and charts and maps that I needed. I was always surprised that no one ever put out a simple three flap screen with clear insert pockets so that people could make their own customized charts and whatnot.

On the last version of my game table I made a wooden DM screen with a flatscreen monitor built into either side. The "flaps" to either side of the screen were angled with a catch at the bottom so I could prop up notes or have an open book without having it eat up table space.

That last one sounds very, very cool.

I currently use the Kindoms of Kalamar screen with all the flaps and tables and I love it. It's just real handy once you get used to looking at it.

For 4e, I plan on making my own. I want to take the castle wall sections (weighted with aquarium gravel) from the WotC archive (used in the 3D map folio) and make the back sides into screens. I'm considering making them "foldable" so I can have adventure info on the outside and combat info inside the fold, which attaches with velcro. When combat occurs, I pull the folds down for battle mode. The walls will be attached (again with the velcro) to towers made from heavy cardboard tubes, kitbashing tower covers from the same archive. These I picture being used and dice towers so players can give me secret rolls, and perhaps even storage.

It's quite a dream, but I've already started.

One thing I plan to include is the "master table" (there is a pdf out there with this one.) It gives the % success for any roll vs. any DC.

Break DCs are always good
Skill DCs are handy
I like the "monster adaptation" info.
Poison DCs and info are handy
spell templates
a list of all the various formulas (attributes, melee and missile equations, spell ranges, etc.)
Weapon info, pared down to basics needed for combat (no price or weight for example)
A list of names for different races
Turn order is a good idea
avg rolls
avg damage table
I'm sure I'll come up with more

Someone mentioned the chart for grapple in 3E, I've made such a chart and it's in a freebie product called "Quick Sheets" that should be released this week (I'm waiting on an artist's permission) It's pretty funny and functional. Look for it soon, I'll be posting it here on ENWorld

 

[Nytmare]

Someone mentioned the chart for grapple in 3E, I've made such a chart and it's in a freebie product called "Quick Sheets" that should be released this week (I'm waiting on an artist's permission) It's pretty funny and functional. Look for it soon, I'll be posting it here on ENWorld

Stuff like combat cheat sheets I always stuffed into the players hands instead of having it on the screen. Insted of having character sheets I always gave the players a little 1" binder with as much "need-to-look-up" information in it as possible.