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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Remus Lupin" data-source="post: 6324461" data-attributes="member: 12760">It's worth noting, while recognizing the down sides of technology at the table, which is a real problem, the positive aspects of tech as well, specifically from a gaming perspective. Again, I've had this thread in my mind while gaming the past several weeks. Last night, at our Savage Worlds Deadlands game, everyone had either a smartphone or tablet at the table, and I had my laptop (largely because Herolab for the iPad only runs Pathfinder characters at this point). Here are a few ways in which tech facilitated our game:1. Herolab. I have been using Herolab consistently for several years. When it only a windows-based program, I used to have to print out my sheets on paper, make notes on it in pencil, and then remember to update it periodically between sessions. Now that I can run it on my Mac, I can have it open at the table, using their in-play interface to keep track of math/resources, update my character sheet as I go, and minimize my between-sessions character maintenance. Since I keep my character sheets in Dropbox, I can open the exact sheet between any of a number of different computers.2. Books. By having almost all of my books in PDF form, or having an online SRD available, I have cut down massively on the number of relatively heavy books I have to bring with me to a session. When playing Pathfinder, I just bring my tablet, I have all of my books in PDF, have access to the SRD, and also have a rules app in there somewhere. I run my character on Herolab, and it's all contained in a very small package, as compared to when I used to have to bring a big 'ol notebook plus several hardback and softcover gaming books. This is a HUGE advantage.3. Note taking. I have a notebook app open at the table, either using Herolab's journal function or else just a normal world processing doc. Since I type much more quickly and legibly than I write by hand, I have a much greater incentive to keep notes, and I do a better job at it.4. Passing notes. My character has a secret backstory that I'm trying to keep from the other players at our table. Because of this, there are times when I want to pass information along to the GM without the other players knowing. Back when it was a question of writing something down on a piece of paper and passing it directly to the GM, everyone knew it, and from a metagame perspective, knew something was up. Everyone got instantly suspicious. Now, I discretely drop the GM an email or text. He gets it on his phone, writes me back unobtrusively, and no one is the wiser. It helps for the kind of stealthy play that works well with my character concept.I'm sure that others can think of other examples of the positive dimensions of tech in play, these are just the ones that occur to me off the top of my head. Once more, this is not to say that the drawbacks are not real, but I think they can usually be handled through common agreement and basic courtesy. Yes, I'm as guilty of anyone of checking Facebook, or even saying "Hey guys, check out this cool Youtube clip." But in the grand scheme of things, that sort of thing doesn't prove that disruptive (and is usually just me and my friends enjoying one another's company). When the DM says "OK, focus!" people focus and we play the game, and the same tech that is potentially disruptive provides us with other ways to improve and streamline our play.</blockquote>

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