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Message: <blockquote data-quote="DMFTodd" data-source="post: 1333473" data-attributes="member: 1202">You've admitted you haven't used any of these programs but you know exactly who they benefit? Interesting. I understand what you mean about not looking up rules at the table. Bogging down the game with rules lookups is no fun. There are 3 solutions to this problem that I can think of:1) The DM memorizes everything so no lookups are needed. I'm sure there's some people who can play that way.2) The DM just makes it up as he goes. I'm sure there are some people who can play that way successfully.3) The rule gets looked up. If you're a category (1) or a category (2) DM, then yes I agree, a laptop isn't gong to help you. If you're a category (3) DM, or partially a (3), then a laptop is a great aid. A laptop and a good program can let you look up things very quickly to minimize the distraction to the game. That's the important point. A good combat management program is going to make combat go much faster. That leaves more game time for whatever you want - whether it be storytelling, roleplaying or more combat. I think it can speed up combat more than the 33%. Another very good point. Each thing the laptop can do for you is one less thing the DM has to think about. Which means the DM can use that part of his brain to do other things. I found the same thing you did - with the laptop doing all the math for me, my brain was freed up to provide more narrative for the combat and to think more about the monsters tactics.Actually, the 3 main combat managers (DMF, RPM, DM Genie) take different approaches. (Hoping I don't step on Luke or Janik's toes, but here goes):Roleplaying Master, as Luke's screenshots show, tries to do everthing for you. It tries to do all of the math and handle all of the modifiers. My program, DM's Familiar, does not try to do everything. I try to handle the 20% of things that a DM spends 90% of his time doing during combat. If the PC is flanked, I leave it to the DM to add +2 to the attack rolls whereas in RPM, you check a box for "flanked" and it does the math for you. DM Genie comes in somewhere between the two but leans towards the RPM side of things rather than the DMF way. So, depending on your game style, you may find one or the other program more approriate. All of the programs have free demos. Take a look and decide what works best for you. The sure thing is that a laptop is a great aid at the game table. Find software that matches your style and you'll run faster, more organized, more interesting games.</blockquote>

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