D&D 5E DM Toolbox

[Soul Stigma]

This would be a good candidate for a wiki thread.

I also use RealmWorks and HeroLab to run my games.

I've started to use DnD Beyond for looking up rules. Now that it has universal search it is amazingly helpful. Much easier than searching PDFs, flipping through books, and does away with the need for quick reference tables.

I used to use Inspiration Pad for random name and place generators, but now I just use sites like fantasynamegenerators.com

I started using Alea Tool's magnetic status markers. I really like them, but it does requires a not insignificant cost in money and time.

Measuring sticks for gridless play or just to help you quickly measure movement and show line of sight grid or no grid. I used DM Scotty's instructions (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTT1ZU5pDBg) to make mine.

Felt battlemaps. I have a number of felt battlemaps from different companies. They are all gridless and have different terrains. you can fold them up and they still will lay flat. They don't move around the table and help keep terrain and minis from sliding around.

But I still have my trusty Chessex battlemap and wet erase markers.

Just checked out D&D Beyond and signed up/bookmarked! Very handy!

Used to love DM Scotty's advice when I ran 4e. I don't use grids/minis for 5E though.


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[Henry]

On the other hand I don't want to pressure people because I don't want to take away their fun.

But that should probably be another thread.

If you're successful at communciating that you're doing it for the good of the group, usually people are on board in my experience. An old phrase I heard stuck with me: people don't mind change so much as they mind BEING changed." If everyone is brought on board, explaining why a given change, even if you're pulling DM privilege, being up front ahead of time, and expressing it as a trial, say for six games or so, might help it go more smoothly.

If it's one session, it's too easy to drop it at the first time of hardship, but trying for a month of two means people get used to it, and if it genuinely saves time and preserves momentum, then people may settle in easier once it's commonplace. These days, we're so used to keeping it running we've pretty much stopped using the timer, we do it instinctively.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

back during 4e I found MasterPlan, it doesn't fully work anymore (too much changed) but I still use it for my campaigns.

 

[DemonSlayer]

Laptop, paper notepad, pencil, dice, Pathfinder's Combat Pad, DM Screen (customized with sticky notes), Ipad, Pathfinder Pawns (for smaller minis) and figures for larger creatures, sh*t sheet, RPG roller (dice app), and an assortment of dungeon tiles (with a whiteboard battlemap for backup). I will occasionally resort to asking Siri a question, but it's usually fact checking and not game related...

I want to make a measuring stick and spell area effects templates, but we get by easily enough without them. I don't use a physical timer, but if someone starts to take too long, I warn them they will be skipped.

On the laptop I have several tabs open. I find Google Docs invaluable. I keep all my game notes in one ever-evolving document and archive it after each session. I use it to store detailed descriptions of encounters, to recap the last session, and track the time in game. I keep all unique NPCs and creatures in another document. If it's a stock creature, the tab is open to it on Orc-pub.

Use my ipad to load pictures of the creatures and NPCs the party faces so they can actually see them.

I use the sh*t sheet to track important character information (AC, HP, Perception, Saves, etc) and as a backup character sheet if the player can't make a session and get me their character. This also helps me gauge the party's capabilities.

Prepping for game I use donjon.bin.sh for encounter and treasure generation, for NPCs rpgtinker.com, or http://www.digitaldungeonmaster.com/dd-5e-character-sheets.html. I also use Magic Items Rarity.pdf, and Monsters by CR.pdf quite frequently.

We use proboards for game announcements, the quote book, rules clarifications, game setting notes, and session 0. This way it's all in one place for everyone to reference.