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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Nytmare" data-source="post: 6111250" data-attributes="member: 55178">It's not for AD&D per se, but when I run E6, or 4th Ed, I go pretty high tech.I also use an Excel spreadsheet, but mine is a little bit more complicated than your standard computerized piece of graph paper.  It builds a database of the characters and pulls information from that database to populate information on each of the screens, and the players paper character sheets.Tab 1 is a single page DM screen with a list of popup windows for the rules I most frequently have to crack open a book to look for.  In the version pictured, there are also two charts, one with a list of DCs and damages per level, and a chart of skills cross referenced with each of my players' bonuses.  Having the numbers there in front of me, sidled right up alongside the skills, and what the average difficulties should be is a huge help and humongous time saver.[spoiler][ATTACH]56953[/ATTACH][/spoiler]The more current version has a slightly different DC chart (with average creature ACs, defenses, attacks, and hitpoints by level), and a handful of extra, setting specific pop up screensTab 2 is "The Initiator" a combat tracker that keeps track of pretty much everything I need numbers-wise so that I can focus on the rest of the game.  It rolls initiative for all the NPCs and players with a button click, and organizes them into combat order.  As with the DM screen, all the numbers are being pulled from the character, and encounter databases (everything you see on the sheet can be written in, but it's all automatically generated).  Monster stats are imported directly from Adventure Tools, including a mouse over for each monster that includes a write up of all of their special powers (I hate having to stop to open a book while I'm playing...)The buttons on the right roll and clear initiative, move a selected character up or down in the initiative order, and close and expand the "Dealt Damage" section of the program.  Below that is a single click die roller, that includes programmable buttons that are automatically generated by the attacks and damage of the creatures in the encounter.  Clicking on a die rolls that individual die whereas the "Roll Bones" button rolls all of them at once.  The "View Encounters" button opens the Encounters tab (explained below), while the individual Encounter buttons loads the individual, preset encounters into the Initiator.Damage entered into the "Damage" box is automatically moved to the first open square in the "Dealt Damage" section and deducted from a creature's hitpoint total.  The "Remaining" hitpoint box will turn red once a creature is bloodied.  In keeping with my DMing information philosophy, all of the pertinent character and creature stats are all i the same place and formatted the same way so I don't have to shuffle through other notes or books.XP gets imported automatically when I load an encounter and automaths my generic "you submitted a character log last week" and "you didn't show up" bonuses and penalties.[spoiler][ATTACH]56957[/ATTACH][ATTACH]56955[/ATTACH][/spoiler]Tabs 3-6 are character databases and character sheets (or cards if you prefer), in this case generated mostly automatically from the 4e Character Builder.  My players leave their sheets with me, and when they level up, or just ask for a fresh sheet, I'll input their notes into the program and print out fresh ones. [spoiler][ATTACH]56958[/ATTACH][/spoiler]Tab 7 is where I keep a list of NPCs and descriptions, along with truncated character sheets for NPCs who are likely to see combat.  The Initiator can call on information here as well.Tab 8 is the Loot tab.  This is where I keep everyone's wishlists, and try to keep a running tally as to what the party's wealth level is.  I find that I tend to drag behind the wealth guidelines by a good bit, and it's helpful to have a worksheet that clues me in to when I should maybe shower them with a fancy present or two.Tab 9 is a rough calendar where I can keep track of events from week to week without having to go through the player logs.  This also helps me refer to things with the appropriate names for days, months, and holidays without having to dig out a book.Tab 10 is the Encounter Database where I can stat up to four encounters ahead of time, so that I can input the names and numbers with a button click or two without making my players wait.  As I said above, at least when I'm running 4E, specific creatures can be imported directly from Adventure Tools.Tab 11 - 13 are additional character databases.  These are currently broken down into race, class, and abilities/powers/spells/feats.  And finally, tab 14 is my To Do List, so that I can jot down notes as to what I need to fix in the program, or finish for next week's game.I'm all for using books and paper between games, but come game night I want every scrap of information I know that I'm going to need in one place, and I don't want to waste any time at all getting to it.</blockquote>

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