laptops in-game?

[Vanye]

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?

Up until last week, when both of my old crappy laptops died, I was using a laptop w/wireless access to:

A) The SRD

1) For rules lookups in a fraction of the time I was looking them up in the books.
2) Item descriptions & prices for times the PC's were in town shopping
3) Creature stats for random encounters.​

B) Google Documents

1) NPC notes, stats, etc.
2) Town notes
3) Plot notes
4) Preplanned encounters​

C) Notepad/Wordpad

1) Initiative tracking
2) Buff notes
​

I managed to muddle my way through the rest of the ssession after the laptops died, but next game session is going to require a lot more prep time than I've done in the last six months...


As a player, I haven't seen a need to have it on hand...but on the other hand, have typed up my lvl 17 Wiz/Lor/Arch spells, magic items, etc into a binder folder, and have it all on hand. A laptop may be useful, but not needed for that.

 

[Oryan77]

I got my first laptop last year and I originally used it to play background music. Then I realized instead of printing off my notes, I can just read them straight from my Excel file on the laptop. Then I realized, instead of bringing a book just to use one page from it, I can leave the book at home and reference the pdf file on the laptop.

It's never been a distraction and it's helped me out dozens of times. I love using the laptop!

 

[nyrfherdr]

I'ved used a laptop at the table for several years as DM. DM Genie is a great tool for managing combat, complex NPCs and spell effects.

The players used paper.
One of the players started bringing a laptop and then a second. I have found both to disconnect from the game when the laptop was at the table. (But I also found that those two players disconnect from the game without the laptops, so I'm unsure whether it would matter a whole lot.

What I have is a very small ultralight off to the side of the table so I can see the battlemat/miniatures and low enough that I can see the faces of everyone at the table.

The games run smoothly and enjoyably.
I can see the benefit of not using a laptop, but for high level D&D play I find it is almost a requirement.

Thanks,
H

 

[sydbar]

I use a laptop as both a player and a dm, as a player it takes up less room than having my PHB, Barbarians handbook and tome of magic all open to important pages, especially since we usually have 7-8 players at the table. One of the other players also uses his laptop, to keep notes and for his character sheet, and another player who isn't currently playing would bring his laptop, but unless we needed to look something up, the laptops sit closed, and it hasn't affected interactions at all. when dm'ing a laptop weighs a lot less than the dozen books i need when running.

 

[Michael Silverbane]

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.

This is me, also. I usually set my open laptop on the floor next to me, or in my chair, if I'm not occupying it at the moment.

Some players or groups disapprove of using a computer during the game. So you might want to check with your group before you bring it.

Later
silver

 

[Boss]

Everyone in our group of 6 uses a laptop at the game. When it is my turn to DM, I use it for running my adventures as well as keeping track of combat with all relevant stats and initiative orders preset in a spreadsheet (enter initiative, click the sort micro, and everything in it's proper place).

As players, we use the laptops to access the SRD, discuss tactics privately through IM, and keep a running journal/private messages with the GM on our message boards. All of the laptops are off to one side (ie. on tv trays, laptops are not allowed on the main table so we have room for our map pads) excep the DM's which is usually set up on the bar away from the players. It means a lot of walking back and forth for the DM, but it has worked well for us so far.

 

[PhantomNarrator]

I have been struggling with this

I have a couple players in my group who bring them to the table. One of them uses it minimally, but the other is constantly chatting and multi-tasking between scenes his character is involved in. He's an excellent player, but it does contribute to the sensation that he's only half there with us. Finding players who can sit still at a table without suffering from an ADD attack is getting harder and harder. I blame water flouridation.

 

[hong]

The problem isn't the laptop. It's the internet connection. I blame wifi.

 

[Agamon]

I always use my laptop to DM. Speeds things up consideranly, much more effieicent. My players don't mind at all.

I just started using it as a player with the new HeroForge. It's not a hinderence. The only out-of-game surfing I do is for sports scores, which a few of the other players often insist upon. Otherwise it's just my sheet and the SRD. And, no, I don't use the SRD to look up monsters during play. For one, I find that kind of cheating is less fun for me, and 2nd, I'm usually a DM, and I really don't need to see a stat block to have a general idea what we're up against anyway (if it's an SRD monster, anyway).

 

[Agamon]

Everyone in our group of 6 uses a laptop at the game. When it is my turn to DM, I use it for running my adventures as well as keeping track of combat with all relevant stats and initiative orders preset in a spreadsheet (enter initiative, click the sort micro, and everything in it's proper place).

As players, we use the laptops to access the SRD, discuss tactics privately through IM, and keep a running journal/private messages with the GM on our message boards. All of the laptops are off to one side (ie. on tv trays, laptops are not allowed on the main table so we have room for our map pads) excep the DM's which is usually set up on the bar away from the players. It means a lot of walking back and forth for the DM, but it has worked well for us so far.

One thing I'd love to try is a LAN game. Basically the best of the tabletop and online rping worlds in one. Fanatsy Grounds is great software, but if I could use it during a tabletop game, that would rock.

No need for PC sheets, no needs for DM notes or screen, no need for mat and minis, and rolling actual dice would still be a feasable option. Everything is tracked on the PCs, but there no need to use the chat bar except to exchange messages privately. You're still getting together with friends instead of sitting by yourself in front of a PC, and don't need to rely on wonky speech software to speak with each other. Wonky internet connections are less of a factor, too. The LAN connection is most important.

Now if only I wasn't the only player out of the 15 I game with that has a laptop... :\