laptops in-game?

[Birmy]

I've noticed that a lot of the character generator software (e.g. Hero Lab and PC Gen) have tools for use in-play. While I can see how this could be handy, it also strikes me as something maybe a bit unnecessary and possibly disruptive to other people at the table. I've been considering bringing my laptop to my next game and trying it out, since I've been using Hero Lab pretty exclusively for everything else but have yet to use that option. Does anyone who's done this find it worth it? Is it obtrusive to other players and/or the DM? Does it cause any problems?

 

[catsclaw227]

I use it as a DM and I wonder what I did without it. Some of my players use theirs for storing character sheets, taking notes, i can send images over IM, I can send secret messages, etc.

Also I use DM Genie, and it has made combat unbelievably easy.

I have my Adventures in PDF, I use the d20srd.org, I use online search, I can check a ruling on EnWorld.

It has really enhanced play for my group.

 

[S'mon]

I love my new laptop for PBEM play, but I'd be very very reluctant to bring it to a tabletop game. I know I flipped when a player did it many years ago; this big black lump on the table taking his attention. Maybe it's ok for GMs but not for players; I dunno though. I think it may detract from the human interaction that's the essence of RPGs.

 

[The Lost Muse]

I used to DM from a laptop, and I stopped because it put an obstacle for communication in.

 

[bento]

There's different ways of using a laptop at the table. While having one doesn't cut down on prep time, in can certainly speed some things up. I would never try to stat an NPC while gaming, but putting all the NPCs as stat blocks in a wiki can be a time and space saver.

I've also used wikis for adventures and encounters to cut down on shuffling papers. I'm sure there are other programs, like treasure tables and the like that would also cut down clutter. I've heard some people use dice-rolling apps, which could be good when you want to make a roll without having the players know....

 

[Umbran]

I have recently started experimenting with a laptop for GMing. I see how some might find it useful, but I myself find that there's not enough screen real-estate to make it worth the effort. I think I spend as much time flipping through windows and scrolling pages as I normally use to flip through pages of rulebooks.

My players and I all agree that as a resource for a GM, it isn't bad, but that if the players used them, they'd be a distraction, a barrier to personal interaction, and generally disruptive.

Plus, honestly, the players haven't seen a need.

 

[hong]

I use a laptop basically as a glorified calculator and substitute for a printed character sheet. In no way does it stop you walking around, making eye contact with people, gesturing dramatically, and in general showboating as much as you want. The times when I'm distracted by looking at the screen, I would have been distracted by looking at a character sheet anyway.

 

[el-remmen]

I bring a desktop to the game!

But seriously, since we play at my place in the living room, I set up on the side of the table nearest the desk and computer creating a little DM station. . . DM screen and game notes in front, gaming books on a dinner tray to the left and the computer with the Aquerra wiki as the homepage behind, and I just need to spin around to access any.

 

[Black_Swan]

My friends use their laptops at the table. Since we're all pretty high level they use a wiki to keep track of their abilities, spells, etc...

They also use die rollers as well. it used to kill me to wait for our archer to blow through his 5 or 6 attacks and add up all his bonuses each time.

Now..I love the sound of electronic rolling dice and laugh as he reads off the damage that he rains upon our enemies.

Hell..I like it so much that I use white raven tactics on him all the time. Now we just worry about him running out of ammo.

It has improved the game and if our DM would get into it, I think it would decrease his prep time and make combats easier for him as well.

 

[gnfnrf]

In my groups, half to all of the players and the DM have a laptop all the time.

Does it distract from play? A little bit. But every moment it cuts down on, it saves 10 because running the appropriate software, the complexities of tracking modifiers and adding things up are taken care of.

--
gnfnrf