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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Randomthoughts" data-source="post: 5791138" data-attributes="member: 6681248">This describes me pretty well too. At the table, I have my adventure printed out, players bring their character sheets and we use Rules Compendium for reference (but only occasionally). Monster stats are printed and HPs are tracked on paper. I've used pipe cleaners made into circles (lol, yeah it's true) to track conditions. Initiative is tracked by pieces of paper hanging from my GM screen. Prep is a little different. I do subscribe to DDI but for a couple of months I did it the ol' fashioned way. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f600.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":D" title="Big grin    :D"  data-smilie="8"data-shortname=":D" /> As a GM, I use the classic Monster Builder extensively (online MB rarely), since I customize a lot of monsters and import them into an excel document. I look stuff up in the Compendium, but I also use the books - depends on my mood. I write the adventure up in word; mainly, I have to type out skill challenges, role playing scenes and plot. I can (and have) prep'd as a GM just using books. I would probably do a lot less customization though, and prep would just take longer. Well, in fact, GM prep would probably shift to 40% monster, 60% story prep versus the 10% monster, 90% story prep I do now with DDI. As a player, I use the CB. It works really well if you like tinkering with your builds and checking out options. I started off using the books, so I can see it as a viable approach - just takes longer than electronic. Practically speaking, I'd limit the sources for chargen to published materials - namely, the core books (whether original 4e or essentials or both). I would allow the splatbooks like Martial Power, Arcane Power, etc only if you could handle the increased complexity.  Your call. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f609.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=";)" title="Wink    ;)"  data-smilie="2"data-shortname=";)" /></blockquote>

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