Players' screen notes

[Bullgrit]

I'm going to put some "notes" on the Players' side of my DM screen (for when I DM again). My DM screen has four panels, and I figure I should make the info in a very big font so the Players can easily see it. This is what I am thinking of putting on it so far:

Natural 1/20
Only an automatic fail/success with attack rolls and saving throws.

Take 10
Same as rolling the dice normally and getting a 10. Any skill, any time not distracted or threatened; same amount of time as normal.

Take 20
Same as rolling the dice twenty times, getting a 1, then a 2, then a 3, . . . and then a 20. Skills that allow retries and have no penalty for rolling a 1; takes twenty times as long (2 minutes for most skills).

Skill Difficulty Class
Very Easy 0
Easy 5
Average 10
Tough 15
Challenging 20
Formidable 25
Heroic 30
“Impossible” 40

What other common/often needed info should I have on the screen? I don't want to fill it crammed packed with info. The Players will just "tune it out". The above info is about 1.5 panels worth of stuff.

Bullgrit

 

[Chairman7w]

- Don't forget to name who your Dodge enemy is BEFORE the dice start rolling

- Point Blank shot only works within 30'

 

[Hodgie]

You could put some campaign specific information on there. Holy symbols of all the gods, the names of the other characters in the party, names of important NPCs, names of cities, an open spot where you put a picture of the BBEG before the final battle, and so on.

 

[Joshua Randall]

What I do is take a piece of paper, fold about 1/4 of it over, and hang it over the DM screen so that the 3/4 of it is on the PC's side. On that side I write down the initiative order so that the players don't have to keep asking me whose turn it is.

Although this isn't a permanent part of the screen, it's very helpful during combat.

I can easily lift up the paper and make additional notes if someone delays, readies an action, or if new combatants enter the fray.

 

[kenobi65]

What I do is take a piece of paper, fold about 1/4 of it over, and hang it over the DM screen so that the 3/4 of it is on the PC's side. On that side I write down the initiative order so that the players don't have to keep asking me whose turn it is.

We do something similar, only our notes are to remind the players of running spells that affect their rolls (e.g., Bless, Prayer, Inspire Courage, etc.). We call them the "Hot Donuts" signs, after the "Hot Donuts Now!" sign that Krispy Kreme lights up.

 

[sniffles]

We do something similar, only our notes are to remind the players of running spells that affect their rolls (e.g., Bless, Prayer, Inspire Courage, etc.). We call them the "Hot Donuts" signs, after the "Hot Donuts Now!" sign that Krispy Kreme lights up.

LOL! Great idea, and I like the name too. We need to do that. Every time we play someone has to keep repeatedly asking, "Did you remember to add +1 for Bless?"

 

[kenobi65]

LOL! Great idea, and I like the name too. We need to do that. Every time we play someone has to keep repeatedly asking, "Did you remember to add +1 for Bless?"

I often wear this t-shirt when we play, partially to tease the other players who keep forgetting...
http://www.cafepress.com/orderofthestick.13800277

The original comic is:
http://www.giantitp.com/cgi-bin/GiantITP/ootscript?SK=34

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

Not sure what they get by you posting the Skill DC ratings. You set the DC, not them.

Depending on the group, you might have procedures for grappling, the Turn undead table, or something similar.

 

[diaglo]

Not sure what they get by you posting the Skill DC ratings. You set the DC, not them.

Depending on the group, you might have procedures for grappling, the Turn undead table, or something similar.

yeah with our group one of the players would "Natural 20" every time to overcome Impossible DCs.

of course, he's missed the last few sesssions so it hasn't come up recently.

 

[MonkeyDragon]

Hear hear! When I played a cleric PC for the first time this past spring, I made a cheat sheet with the steps for turning undead, along with the charts. Turning undead to me is one of the most complicated and odd processes in the book. Even the players in my group with far more experience than me are befuddled by it.