Laptops at the gaming table

[Corsair]

I've always been a paper and pencil player. Random number generators always lose out to dice. Despite always using lots of pdf for references between sessions, I generally bring everything I need to play in paper form.

That being said, I just got a new laptop primarily for eventual use at school next fall (and for screwing around in the meantime, because I can!) and I've been contemplating making use of it for gaming (as a player, not a DM). It's approximately the same weight as two hardcover rule books, so even if it only replaces the PHB and one splatbook (say, Complete Arcane or Spell Compendium) and I just use it for pdf/SRD reference, then I'm already coming out ahead.

As players though, how do you use laptops when you game?

I've found a couple more positives, as well as a couple more negatives.

Positive:

• Good for referencing. The Sage and Sovelior SRD is my friend.
• Good for pdfs, especially things like Complete Psionics for my thrallherd who is using a grand total of two powers from the book. Seems silly to carry the extra hardcover with me for two powers.
• Good for taking detailed organized notes (such as tracking major in game events, tracking calendar for long overland travel, writing an in-character journal as we go, taking notes for eventual story hours if you are so inclined)
• Having access to storage for obscure reference material which you may, or may not need at a later date (such as that 10 page character background you wrote up a year ago and promptly forgot the details of)

Negatives (also just some areas where it isn't helpful as I thought it would be):

• Reference can be slow for some players. I can flip through a hardcover copy of the Spell Compendium to find a specific spell faster than I can wait for the pdf to load.
• Distraction. Especially bad if you are on a wireless network and get internet, the temptation to check email and the like when your character is not involved in a scene can be there.
• Combat notes. Despite the plethora of things I could be using to record things on the computer, I still am faster and more accurate tracking things in combat when I just use the scratch paper in my spiral bound notebook. If I had a tablet instead, I might change my mind, but pencil and paper is just easier than typing and deleting when it comes to things like tracking HP, PP, buff spells, etc.

Does anyone else have any thoughts on the use of laptops by players to make the game day experience go smoother? Also I'm looking for suggestions for how to better economize my laptop usage for some of the uses I mentioned above. (Right now I just keep MSWord open for detailed sequential notes, a notepad window open for quick jotting thoughts down, and Acrobat open for pdfs) If someone can come up with a better way to track initiative, hp/pp, buff spells, etc in combat, let me know. (I generally am the "initiative bitch" in our group)

Edit: Also general thoughts are welcome, but if you have nothing to add beyond "players aren't allowed to use laptops in my game", try not to derail the thread.

 

[Michael Silverbane]

I prefer using a laptop when I game, whether I am running the game or playing a PC in it. It is mostly for the referencing... And for the reduced need to carry around a billion pounds of books.

Some folks don't like for me to use my laptop to game... So when I am playing in a game that they are running... I don't use it.

I find that they make my life (and the lives of my players) easier... So I have no problem with them. Also, if someone is not enjoying my game and they want to use their laptop to do something else rather than participate... I am okay with that, as well... As long as they are not distracting the players who do want to participate.

Later
silver

 

[I'm Cleo]

Laptop

When I DM, I use a laptop to keep track of initiative by maintaining an Excel Spreadsheet with each player's name and "Them" in a column, and then each member's initiative count in an adjacent column. I just re-sort descending by initiative count at the start of each round. It makes keeping track of changed numbers (e.g., holding for a +4) much easier.

Elsewhere on that spreadsheet I have characters' important data, current hps (in case I have to cheat to keep them from being killed), and save modifiers (so I can make secret save rolls). I still keep a lot of paper notes, but the computer helps with those.

I'm Cleo!

 

[Corsair]

Anyone bother with things like AIM to send secret notes to the GM?

 

[Prince of Happiness]

In my experience, I've found it ok when the person running the game is using it, but when it's a player, I've always found it obnoxious.

 

[I'm Cleo]

Re: AIM -- yeah, in one group I play in, three of the players have notebooks, and we've used AIM to send private notes. It's easier than writing by hand and passing, but there's the inevitable wisecracks sent to make the DM giggle during an important bit of exposition.

I'm Cleo!

 

[pogre]

Theoritically, it would be great as a reference. I would worry about players getting distracted, but you seem to have the right attitude about it. The only other thing I personally would ask was that everyone else at the table be able to see your face. I've seen groups with five or six laptops set-up and nobody can see each other.

 

[Seeten]

I am a player of D&D, and GM of M&M, and I use my laptop for both. I have literally hundreds of pdf's and in many cases do not own the hardcover at all, and thus it is my portable library. As well, I do track initiative, hp, do notes, etc, but I roll real dice on the table(I'd rather use dice roller, but no one else could see it, so I dont) and use character sheets in pdf. Making calc changes on the fly is a huge strength, as is having all my spells, and abilities and all weird rules easily at hand.

 

[Corsair]

With the exception of the exel suggestion, is there any other specific software or utility that anyone would suggest?

 

[GlassJaw]

In my experience, I've found it ok when the person running the game is using it, but when it's a player, I've always found it obnoxious.

+1

Although I would probably replace obnoxious with distracting or unnecessary for players.