I Want a d20 DM Shield Like the One for HackMaster!

[ColonelHardisson]

I thought I might as well post what I'd love to see from the d20 publishers - a DM shield for generic d20 along the lines of what Kenzer is doing for HackMaster. I know Kenzer will do one for Kalamar, but I'm hoping to see one that is just for "plain vanilla" d20. And I want it to be just as big and comprehensive as the HM one. Anything smaller I won't buy, because I have the 3e shield WotC put out.

I absolutely guarantee I'd buy it.

 

[Matthias]

Please don't take this the wrong way, but why not make one yourself?

Go with the spirit of the OGL. Design the perfect d20 DM screen. Find a company who will publish it. Make lots of money. Why wait for someone else?

To paraphrase someone's sig from rec.games.frp.dnd, "the best DM's screen is the one you make yourself."

 

[Crothian]

What makes these screens so good?

 

[ColonelHardisson]

This isn't any ordinary screen...take the tour -

http://www.kenzerco.com/rpg/hackmas...hp?PHPSESSID=471cebd490bf36fb4f0af5201eba7375

I'd rather pay to have it than to do it myself. I mean, really, the time I'd spend doing something like that would be worth more than $20.

 

[ColonelHardisson]

By the way, the reason I posted was because I'm a consumer and I want a certain product to be made. I don't really want to make one myself - in 20+ years I haven't done it, and I doubt I ever will. I saw Kenzer's DM screen for HackMaster (which is causing quite a stir on the main board) and felt motivated to ask the d20 publishers directly for such a product. As I said, take the tour. It has I-don't-know-how-many panels, and is rather ingeniously made. I have never seen its like before. Its not your dad's DM Screen.

 

[Matthias]

From what I can tell, their mechanical design should be easy to duplicate with some posterboard and maybe some ducttape, for hinges and supports, wallpapered in graph paper or maybe computer printouts containing the vital tables and data.

Which tables and/or information would you most like to see included in a DM screen? (This is addressed to everyone in general.)

 

[ColonelHardisson]

True, but it won't be as pretty. I want a pretty DM screen.

Another thing about it, is that if it is so easy to do, why hasn't anyone done it before? DM screens have been made since RPGs began, so they must sell fairly well. It took Kenzer to actually do the innovating. They also will be rewarded for such innovation, if the buzz here at EN World and elsewhere is any indication.

Honestly, I would like everything that is on Kenzer's screen. I also want the one-inch clearance at the bottom of the flip up screens, so as to not disturb whatever is behind the screen.

Basically, I want a DM screen exactly the same as Kenzer's, but with d20 charts and stats replacing the HM charts and stats, where appropriate. Yes, I know I could attach said charts and stats to Kenzer's, but, again, it wouldn't be pretty.

 

[Hand of Evil]

I would pay for a good card stock D20 screen too.

Now I think you can build your own, just look at the DM sheets that are running around on the net.

 

[Hard8Staff]

Well, I doubt anyone will make the same kind of screen for D20, 'cept us. Mostly, it's a cost issue (we're morons that way...we try to stick to our cost structures and get proper margin, but with this one we clearly lost it and went overboard). The screens are gawd-awful expensive, even at HM-like print runs (which are big). Of course, we're pursuing patents all over this baby so there's that too (though we'd certainly be willing to license out our design and know-how so this isn't as big a hurdle as it COULD be if we wanted to be jerks).

Also, the Kalamar screen should be perfect for generic d20 useage. Perhaps we should organize the various sections with this in mind? Guys running Spycraft could use the Kalamar screen then!

Finally, I put the first one together by hand. it took me about 15 hours....and it kinda sucked from a stability-perspective (it was uneven and stuff). Although, at least half or more of the time was cutting out, arranging (and re-arranging) the various charts. Even after that we crammed another 35% more material on the screen due to Jiffy Burke's most excellent chart-smooshing/grouping skills.

Dave

 

[ColonelHardisson]

Also, the Kalamar screen should be perfect for generic d20 useage. Perhaps we should organize the various sections with this in mind? Guys running Spycraft could use the Kalamar screen then!

Yes, that would be perfect.