Running 5e published adventures

[BookBarbarian]

I don't have computers at the gaming table (we play at a Uni club with no wifi access).

I put monster and npc stats on 150x100mm index cards in a box. At the beginning of encounters I pull out the cards I need and clip them to the gm screen or lay them flat on the table.

One of these days I'll get around to printing a stock of monster cards and spell cards. One of these days.

 

[brehobit]

Thanks all. http://hardcodex.ru/monsters/ looks like a helpful site. I think I'll build a csv file for each encounter (most monsters are already done there).

Still more than a bit annoyed that WotC doesn't have something set up for this.

 

[robus]

I read the intro of the chapter then just read along as the PCs go where they go.

Have you tried that with the Gracklstugh chapter in OotA?! I got such a headache trying to figure that one out even when I had time!

 

[robus]

Thanks all. http://hardcodex.ru/monsters/ looks like a helpful site. I think I'll build a csv file for each encounter (most monsters are already done there).

Still more than a bit annoyed that WotC doesn't have something set up for this.

Dndbeyond would be happy to take your money

 

[abirdcall]

Have you tried that with the Gracklstugh chapter in OotA?! I got such a headache trying to figure that one out even when I had time!

I don't think we actually got to that point in that one.

There are cases where I will skim ahead if it isn't quite clear what is going on. Most of the time I find sufficient time at the table to read through the entries as the players decide how to handle the current situation.

There are times when I will just read it for fun too. It's just not necessary for my 'prep' of which there is little.

 

[LordEntrails]

Thanks all. http://hardcodex.ru/monsters/ looks like a helpful site. I think I'll build a csv file for each encounter (most monsters are already done there).

Still more than a bit annoyed that WotC doesn't have something set up for this.

Dndbeyond would be happy to take your money

Yea, WotC has several licensed products you can use to do what you want. I think DDB has an offline version, but you can still use it via a mobile device with data (wifi not required) and you can use FG totally offline. Roll20 is the only one that requires internet access.

 

[Horwath]

One of these days I'll get around to printing a stock of monster cards and spell cards. One of these days.

Don't forget 3D printer for all mini's

 

[MNblockhead]

The DM's Guild has some good resources for the published adventures, as do the various D&D blogs out there. For curse of Strahd I fond a PDF with the stat blocks of all the random encounter monsters that I printed out.

Hero Lab now has all the Curse of Strahd monsters in the Encounter builder which I didn't realize. It makes things MUCH easier.

I have D&D Beyond, which is good for quickly looking up a monster and putting it in its own tab, but for the most part, I don't find it that helpful for running adventures and setting up encounters.

 

[BookBarbarian]

Don't forget 3D printer for all mini's

I do have that small 3d printer sitting on my amazon wish list.

One of these days...

 

[jasper]

Room 1 Orc AC 13 HP 15 XP 100
Orc AC 13 HP 15 XP 100
Room 3 Orc AC 13 HP 15 XP 100
I have done the above. Now I add page numbers to the list
Orc AC 13 HP 15 XP 100 MM 246
And I bought some cheap ribbon and use that book marks.