Monster Index Cards and other things...

[Breakdaddy]

I am trying to print stat blocks on paper and glue them to 3x5 cards, but getting them into the files is a little slow (and handwriting the statblocks on would be much too slow), especially for books that I do not have electronic versions of statblocks for. After a battle with some relatively complicated devils wherein I had to repeatedly refer to the MM for spell like abilities, I decided that stat cards are a good idea.

I already use "initiative order" cards.

Dude, print your stuff on precut cardstock. Then pull em apart and voila, 3x5 index cards.

 

[Davelozzi]

I use initiative cards but if I bother to add any other info it's only attack stats, since I'll have the card handy when they're attacking anyway. Putting the rest of the info on there isn't worth it, for the reasons mentioned above (having to flip through the pile).

Most of the time, I write the stat blocks on a piece of paper that I keep handy on a clipboard during battles, and the initiative cards just have the monster name.

 

[Mark]

I'll be adding some to the Plexus - SRD Revised Bundle in the not-too-distant future as one of the planned revisions. Lots of great stuff already in there. Get yours now well it's still relatively inexpensive...

 

[Angcuru]

woah, septuple posts! Alazar, you need to lay off the sugar and coffee.

 

[MarauderX]

I write down only the basics of what I am going to use. I either print it or copy it down by hand and keep it in a folder for easy reference. If there are varied bunches of critters it becomes easier as I have them all on one page. I have the players keep track of initiative by writing down the order, then just going through the list. It's easy, works for us, and I feel having to put down the monsters myself makes me more aware of their abilities and how to use them strategically in a fight. Sometimes DMs miss things, like automatic trip attempts for pooches, that can come in as handy reminders when writing it all out for the next session.

 

[mearls]

Does anyone have any better system to keep stat block info handy? I've heard of not only using index cards, but using them in initiative order (I use index cards for initiative - one for each player). I like that idea, except the only problem is that you again need to flip through cards, possibly losing the initiative order or who is up, to look up monter stats.

Usually, I use a separate set of cards for initiative order. Like a few other folks in this thread, when I put a creature's stats on a card I save it for later use.

When using cards for initiative, I arrange the PC's cards so that their long ends point upward. The monsters go in sideways relative to them, so they have a tab sticking out of the stack to the right. That's where I keep track of hit points and stuff. I can thumb through the monster cards, find the right one, and make any notes on it I need.

 

[deez32nuts]

man, people were useless even before reddit

 

[Malmuria]

hm

Would you guys mind posting some links where you found these monster cards?

Take a look at these:

DriveThruRPG

www.drivethrurpg.com

 

[overgeeked]

Never mind. Necro.

 

[Hand of Evil]

Use index cards for notes and such, have Tarot cards for Zweihander (found at DriveThruRPG) for spells and monsters.