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Oh, Man, Do I Need Some DM Tips. . .
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<blockquote data-quote="MNblockhead" data-source="post: 7038221" data-attributes="member: 6796661"><p>So much good advice here. As a relatively new DM, I appreciate it. I don't have much to add, except for the resource tracking. This is something I struggled with as well. I'm got at keeping story elements in my head, but found it challenging to track combat. The evolution of my combat tracking over the past two years has progressed from:</p><p></p><p>1. Initiative tents with a picture of the character on one site and a few key stats on the other (passive perception, AC, etc.) </p><p></p><p>These would hand on the DM screen. I learned of the idea from a WoTC recorded-play session and then found DM David's template. </p><p></p><p>2. Paizo's Combat Pad</p><p></p><p>I learned about this at a convention where the DM of one of the games used it. It is magnetic and wet erase. Great for tracking initiative, HP, readied actions, effects, etc. </p><p></p><p>3. Hero Lab</p><p></p><p>I have the SRD and the community-created content, which is pretty darn complete for 5e now. Hero Lab has been a life changer as the party has advanced in level and monster powers have become more complicated. It is nice to have all the NPC and PC stats right in front of me. The combat tracker makes it easy to track initiative. I especially like the spell slot tracking. </p><p></p><p>I've since ditched the DM screen and initiative tents and I mostly use Hero Lab, but I do still continue to get a lot of use out of the Paizo combat pad. Some combats are so mechanically simple, that it doesn't make much sense to prepare the encounter in HL. Also, for random encounters or encounters that occur becuase the PCs do something you didn't expect, I'll often just open up to the adversaries statblock in the relevant monster manual and run it from the combat pad. </p><p></p><p>I also use various physical items to indicate status. I have a bunch of brightly colored, rubber bands that are circles a bit thicker and bigger than dental binders that I can put on a miniature. Gale Force 9 has nice status tokens, but it would be expensive to buy enough sets for use with all NPCs in a battle. Litko and Alea Games sell other status and area of effect markers that can be helpful in a game.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="MNblockhead, post: 7038221, member: 6796661"] So much good advice here. As a relatively new DM, I appreciate it. I don't have much to add, except for the resource tracking. This is something I struggled with as well. I'm got at keeping story elements in my head, but found it challenging to track combat. The evolution of my combat tracking over the past two years has progressed from: 1. Initiative tents with a picture of the character on one site and a few key stats on the other (passive perception, AC, etc.) These would hand on the DM screen. I learned of the idea from a WoTC recorded-play session and then found DM David's template. 2. Paizo's Combat Pad I learned about this at a convention where the DM of one of the games used it. It is magnetic and wet erase. Great for tracking initiative, HP, readied actions, effects, etc. 3. Hero Lab I have the SRD and the community-created content, which is pretty darn complete for 5e now. Hero Lab has been a life changer as the party has advanced in level and monster powers have become more complicated. It is nice to have all the NPC and PC stats right in front of me. The combat tracker makes it easy to track initiative. I especially like the spell slot tracking. I've since ditched the DM screen and initiative tents and I mostly use Hero Lab, but I do still continue to get a lot of use out of the Paizo combat pad. Some combats are so mechanically simple, that it doesn't make much sense to prepare the encounter in HL. Also, for random encounters or encounters that occur becuase the PCs do something you didn't expect, I'll often just open up to the adversaries statblock in the relevant monster manual and run it from the combat pad. I also use various physical items to indicate status. I have a bunch of brightly colored, rubber bands that are circles a bit thicker and bigger than dental binders that I can put on a miniature. Gale Force 9 has nice status tokens, but it would be expensive to buy enough sets for use with all NPCs in a battle. Litko and Alea Games sell other status and area of effect markers that can be helpful in a game. [/QUOTE]
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