Does your group use a DM Screen?

[Iced Tea]

my dm also uses 3 dm screens even though we have abou 5 i think in the house. i think for those who are closterphobic you should try multiple ones because it gives you more space.

 

[MikeWilliams]

Since there was no "sometimes" choice, I voted yes. If I know that I've got some stuff that I need to keep concealed from my players, then I break out a DM's screen. Usually, though, my DM's notes are in a cryptic script known as my terrible handwriting, and that's often more than enough to keep me from needing a screen.

 

[Numion]

I actually use 3 screens most of the time.

Do the AC bonuses on those babies stack?

 

[Grishnak]

No screen is the best, watch the players heads droop to their hands as the criticals blitz into them and the roll to determine who gets to save vs the disintergrate.

 

[heimdall]

I do, because I don't roll my dice out in the open. I've had the experience of having a player so unlucky with dice that even when he played flawlessly, his character was close to death if not already dead. Actually, make that two players.

First player rarely survived a game session if the dice were rolled out in the open. I got in the habit of "fudging" the dice rolls for him to try and put some balance back into the game. It didn't matter if it was Shadowrun, D&D, Rolemaster, Vampire, Werewolf, Battletech, Trinity, or CoC.

Second player had a 3rd level fighter go down to a normal kobold (1E) where the player had max hit points and an 18 con. No crits were being used, either. This wasn't the first time his dice cursed him.

Also, I'm more interested in my players focusing on the story I'm unfolding than on my magical green 20-sider of death.

 

[John Crichton]

Yes, but not all the time. I usually use it for hiding monster stats, notes & maps. But when it's time to just RP I take it down so I can converse as the NPC more freely.

I have a separate area to put those things like a side table I usually won't even bother with one. But since the question was a yes or no I chose 'yes.'

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

Nope, not since 1E, and only about 50% even back then. I don't like the barrier between me and the players (and between me and the battlemat).

I also roll everything in the open.

Now, if I had a custom-designed table that would allow a DM screen on a recessed area that kep the screen out of my line of sight, I might go for it.

 

[shilsen]

No screen. I'm too short to see over one, I don't like having one between me and the players (and battlemat), and rolling behind it prevents me seeing the terror in their eyes as I roll a set of criticals.

 

[Ampolitor]

to hid or not to hide!

Well I use one always have, BUT not as a shield, I lay it on the table for reference only, If its up the Players really cant see you and sometimes get distracted.!

 

[Ycore Rixle]

I use a screen, but I do all combat rolls and saving throws in the open. I use the screen for reference, for hiding notes, hiding maps, for rolls involving searches for secret doors and traps, etc.