MichaelSomething
Legend
Something to throw at the players when they upset you? I'm surprised no one mentioned it yet 
D&D 5E Most useful DM tools at the table? Please share
- Thread starter the_redbeard
- Start date
LearningDnD
First Post
Thank you for the feedback! I'm working on making it more usable while still being able to include all information I feel is useful. Work in progress!
L
lowkey13
Guest
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Davelozzi
Explorer
I haven't finished reading this thread yet but will later, however off the top of my head:
1. notecards for tracking initiative. I stress enough how key these are, I can't believe how many years I played without them. I prefer not to write anything other than the character/NPC/monster name on there. Everything else is better off noted separately so I don't mess up the orders trying to refer to someone's stats.
2. plenty of dice. I prefer to have a big pile handy as DM in case I need to roll a handful of any single type, and ideally each player has their own set with at least one of each type and a few extra d6s or whatever else they might need to roll multiples of
3. DM's screen - I think the 5e screen is one of the best I've seen, and has a good selection of charts and references, though I will admit that I generally use it mostly just for blocking dice and notes
4. the adventure at hand
5. miniatures, counters, terrain and other props for battles
6. pre-printed stat sheets pulled from the SRD and modified as needed (or created whole cloth) for the foes at hand
7. a notebook with shorthand details on the basics of the area most likely to come into play in that session. I usually go through the section of the adventure I expect us to cover a day or two before and jot down basic features of the dungeon, room #s with occupants and their likely course of action, traps, anything else I think I will want to be able to know at a glance without reading the page of the adventure.
8. PHB
9. MM
10. DMG
11. Any other books that might be useful, like the campaign setting, or anything that has optional rules that anyone is using, including Gary Gygax's Extraordinary Book of Names
12. printouts of other info likely to come up, for example, maybe a sheet with the spell descriptions for whatever spells a player has in his spellbook or commonly prepared. We just picked up a set of Bard Spell Cards and I assume these will hit the spot for this, looking forward to getting the wizard and cleric sets when they become available (again).
13. beer
14. pizza
1. notecards for tracking initiative. I stress enough how key these are, I can't believe how many years I played without them. I prefer not to write anything other than the character/NPC/monster name on there. Everything else is better off noted separately so I don't mess up the orders trying to refer to someone's stats.
2. plenty of dice. I prefer to have a big pile handy as DM in case I need to roll a handful of any single type, and ideally each player has their own set with at least one of each type and a few extra d6s or whatever else they might need to roll multiples of
3. DM's screen - I think the 5e screen is one of the best I've seen, and has a good selection of charts and references, though I will admit that I generally use it mostly just for blocking dice and notes
4. the adventure at hand
5. miniatures, counters, terrain and other props for battles
6. pre-printed stat sheets pulled from the SRD and modified as needed (or created whole cloth) for the foes at hand
7. a notebook with shorthand details on the basics of the area most likely to come into play in that session. I usually go through the section of the adventure I expect us to cover a day or two before and jot down basic features of the dungeon, room #s with occupants and their likely course of action, traps, anything else I think I will want to be able to know at a glance without reading the page of the adventure.
8. PHB
9. MM
10. DMG
11. Any other books that might be useful, like the campaign setting, or anything that has optional rules that anyone is using, including Gary Gygax's Extraordinary Book of Names
12. printouts of other info likely to come up, for example, maybe a sheet with the spell descriptions for whatever spells a player has in his spellbook or commonly prepared. We just picked up a set of Bard Spell Cards and I assume these will hit the spot for this, looking forward to getting the wizard and cleric sets when they become available (again).
13. beer
14. pizza
Something to throw at the players when they upset you? I'm surprised no one mentioned it yet
My players learned to duck when I reached for the paper towel roll. I could bullseye them in the forehead with it from from across the room if they weren't careful. (And it didn't actually hurt, so I didn't feel guilty about whipping it at them for being mouthy.)
Now days we play online via Roll20, so I'm left with verbally admonishing them, which is definitely less satisfying.
I made a wooden dm screen. I personally just use notes from the current session, so any treasure they have and the prices if they choose to sell it, monsters that will be encountered in the session, pc's main stats such as ac and mods, and rules for reoccurring conditions or spells
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Sent from my HTC 10 using EN World mobile app
MNblockhead
A Title Much Cooler Than Anything on the Old Site
If you like to use miniatures at the table, I recommend you make some measuring sticks. DM Scotty has a great video on how do this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTT1ZU5pDBg
It allows you quickly measure movement, especially helpful if you ware playing without a grid.
Also, for spell effects, Macrame Rings in various sizes to measure spell effects. DM David has good post about this:
http://dmdavid.com/tag/some-new-favorite-dungeon-masters-tools/
I found a cheap alternative to Macrame Rings. I got brass rings from CreateForLess: https://www.createforless.com/buying-guides/crafts/brass-rings.aspx
Flight Stands for miniatures. I really like Dr. Wizards Elevation Indicator: http://www.emeraldsemporium.com/Elevation_Indicators.html
For my homebrew campaign, I use RealmWorks and HeroLabs to run my game. When running published adventures, though, I just use the book and keep things simple. I have a sheet with the characters armor class and passive perception scores. I've stopped using initiative tents and the Paizo Battle Pad that I used to use. The Angry DM convinced me I was making things more complicated than I needed to and now I just use a sheet of paper to track initiative and hit points when not running combats from Hero Lab. See the Angry DM's post: http://theangrygm.com/manage-combat-like-a-dolphin/
If you are playing 5e and use the inspiration mechanic, I recommend having a physical object to give a player that represents inspiration. It help players remember to use it, either for themselves, or to give to other players when needed. You can buy them (e.g. http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1545591) but I just use some cheap, large, shiny plastic pirate coins from the dollar store.
Similarly, get some funky large or specially colored dice to represent buffs like Bardic Inspiration to remind the players that they have it to use and roll.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTT1ZU5pDBg
It allows you quickly measure movement, especially helpful if you ware playing without a grid.
Also, for spell effects, Macrame Rings in various sizes to measure spell effects. DM David has good post about this:
http://dmdavid.com/tag/some-new-favorite-dungeon-masters-tools/
I found a cheap alternative to Macrame Rings. I got brass rings from CreateForLess: https://www.createforless.com/buying-guides/crafts/brass-rings.aspx
Flight Stands for miniatures. I really like Dr. Wizards Elevation Indicator: http://www.emeraldsemporium.com/Elevation_Indicators.html
For my homebrew campaign, I use RealmWorks and HeroLabs to run my game. When running published adventures, though, I just use the book and keep things simple. I have a sheet with the characters armor class and passive perception scores. I've stopped using initiative tents and the Paizo Battle Pad that I used to use. The Angry DM convinced me I was making things more complicated than I needed to and now I just use a sheet of paper to track initiative and hit points when not running combats from Hero Lab. See the Angry DM's post: http://theangrygm.com/manage-combat-like-a-dolphin/
If you are playing 5e and use the inspiration mechanic, I recommend having a physical object to give a player that represents inspiration. It help players remember to use it, either for themselves, or to give to other players when needed. You can buy them (e.g. http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1545591) but I just use some cheap, large, shiny plastic pirate coins from the dollar store.
Similarly, get some funky large or specially colored dice to represent buffs like Bardic Inspiration to remind the players that they have it to use and roll.
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