So that's my plan. I know some others have tried to do similar in the past and any input would be helpful. I am looking for advice on both the materials and what to put on it. So far I have decided that I am going to use 4 panels horizontally oriented and I want the XP table on it, everything else is dreams.
Making your own DM screen
- Thread starter Hodgie
- Start date
IamTheTest
First Post
A recent thought on the subject.
I have been toying with the idea of sections of corkboard instead of a DM screen. This way you could easily pin up things that you find yourself needing. Otherwise, I find sample DCs of things to be of good value.
I have been toying with the idea of sections of corkboard instead of a DM screen. This way you could easily pin up things that you find yourself needing. Otherwise, I find sample DCs of things to be of good value.
Quickleaf
Legend
I recommend the corkboard screen using 3 equal sized rectangular pieces bound together with duct tape. This way you have 3 sheet you pin up for each adventure: Story XP/treasure awards and summary of special rules that will come up, notes on major PCs and NPC, and perhaps some notes to yourself or maps. On the other side you put up a generic map of the region the PCs are adventuring in, a picture that represents the adventure in some way, and leave one panel blank for notes/maps/adventure logs/quotes.
I went with vertical side panels and horizontal front ones. Hides my notes and still lets me see the battlemat. That aside some of the things I've included on my latest screen include;
Grapple Summary
Actions List and whether or not they provoke AoO's from PH p141
40 random names for when I'm doing Npc's on the fly
Weapons chart of the 20 most common weapons
Chart of lingering Auras for Detect Magic/Evil
Detect Magic and Evil strength chart
Hardness and Hit Points for items charts
Space/reach templates
Random list of 20 things random encounters are doing (recovering from river crossing, setting up camp, dressing fresh kill, etc,)
Character info chart showing name, place of origin, primary plot hook and misc info
Chart of common DC's for skills
Grapple Summary
Actions List and whether or not they provoke AoO's from PH p141
40 random names for when I'm doing Npc's on the fly
Weapons chart of the 20 most common weapons
Chart of lingering Auras for Detect Magic/Evil
Detect Magic and Evil strength chart
Hardness and Hit Points for items charts
Space/reach templates
Random list of 20 things random encounters are doing (recovering from river crossing, setting up camp, dressing fresh kill, etc,)
Character info chart showing name, place of origin, primary plot hook and misc info
Chart of common DC's for skills
RandomPrecision
First Post
Has anyone else just not used a screen?
It's always amusing to read and write code, although that's usually not necessary. Just keep things that you don't mind PC's seeing on top of a stack of organized (or not) papers and books, whatever you need.
It's always amusing to read and write code, although that's usually not necessary. Just keep things that you don't mind PC's seeing on top of a stack of organized (or not) papers and books, whatever you need.
DaveStebbins
First Post
I'll be making one soon also. I will be using four portrait-oriented panels, with sheet protectors glued to both faces of each one. I'll be glueing cloth strips under the sheet protectors to allow the panels to fold up. Using sheet protectors allows me to rotate material in and out of both sides of the screen as desired. The player's side of the screen will have weapon damage charts and any visual aids pertinent to the session or adventure. The DM side will have material taken from some 3.5 DM reference sheets (actions lists, condition summaries, etc.).
I decided to use portrait over landscape orientation because we use a raised battlemat, which allows us to store stuff underneath it (papers, books, dice, snacks, etc.) and because one of my groups includes kids who just can't control their curiosity and like to peek.
-Dave
I decided to use portrait over landscape orientation because we use a raised battlemat, which allows us to store stuff underneath it (papers, books, dice, snacks, etc.) and because one of my groups includes kids who just can't control their curiosity and like to peek.
-Dave
wingsandsword
Legend
There used to be a wonderful product called Masterscreen, which was the ultimate make-your-own-screen, but the company that made them went out of business. If you can find one, good luck and grab the dang thing.
I've always made my own screens, the prefab ones never seemed quite right, and devoted loads of space to stuff you'll never use, or pay. Or they charge way too much for a few square feet of printed cardboard (with the rationale it includes some superfluous booklet or new artwork). Thus my screens are customized for the games I run, with the stuff I want on the back, and usually something relevant to the players on the front, like the calendar of the setting (and I mark off the days as they pass).
I've always made my own screens, the prefab ones never seemed quite right, and devoted loads of space to stuff you'll never use, or pay. Or they charge way too much for a few square feet of printed cardboard (with the rationale it includes some superfluous booklet or new artwork). Thus my screens are customized for the games I run, with the stuff I want on the back, and usually something relevant to the players on the front, like the calendar of the setting (and I mark off the days as they pass).
Woas
First Post
Why hello there.
I am one of the few who created his own DM screen and use it succesfully. In fact, and not to toot my own horn, but it has become so succesful, that when I am not running a game myself but playing in a friends game, the DM asks that I bring my DM screen for him to use since he loves it too.
Actually, I am not telling the whole truth. I did not make a DM screen. I made a DM CITADEL! My dm screen is 4 side panels of 8x11 cardboard stock on its side, and one 8x14 panel as the center. Plus two inch crenulations! It also sports my famous "Lock n' Load Dice Roller". Basically its just a little platformed tapped on the DM side of the screen that is stiff enough the hold up two d20s. But with a little flick, the dice roll out and PRESTO! two rolled dice ready to be used for any situation.
The interior of my screen sports custom charts of information copy and pasted right from the online SRD. Plenty of room for big charts such as: Rules for locating invisible opponents, status effects like being dazed, shaken, stunned, etc., diplomacy check DCs, Turn Undead Formula(s), Substance Hardness and Hitpoints chart/DCs to break or burst items, all the DCs for the various uses for Spellcraft checks, negative levels/energy drain effects... plus much much more.
So anyway, my home made screen has been a real big help over the years and it was really worth the $1.47 worth of heavy poster board paper and $0.33 worth of tape and about 45 minutes of my time. A real good investment.
I am one of the few who created his own DM screen and use it succesfully. In fact, and not to toot my own horn, but it has become so succesful, that when I am not running a game myself but playing in a friends game, the DM asks that I bring my DM screen for him to use since he loves it too.
Actually, I am not telling the whole truth. I did not make a DM screen. I made a DM CITADEL! My dm screen is 4 side panels of 8x11 cardboard stock on its side, and one 8x14 panel as the center. Plus two inch crenulations! It also sports my famous "Lock n' Load Dice Roller". Basically its just a little platformed tapped on the DM side of the screen that is stiff enough the hold up two d20s. But with a little flick, the dice roll out and PRESTO! two rolled dice ready to be used for any situation.
The interior of my screen sports custom charts of information copy and pasted right from the online SRD. Plenty of room for big charts such as: Rules for locating invisible opponents, status effects like being dazed, shaken, stunned, etc., diplomacy check DCs, Turn Undead Formula(s), Substance Hardness and Hitpoints chart/DCs to break or burst items, all the DCs for the various uses for Spellcraft checks, negative levels/energy drain effects... plus much much more.
So anyway, my home made screen has been a real big help over the years and it was really worth the $1.47 worth of heavy poster board paper and $0.33 worth of tape and about 45 minutes of my time. A real good investment.
Davmeister84
First Post
Woas, I don't suppose you'd be willing to post detailed construction guidelines, would you?
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