Streamlining PC buffing

[jaults]

One option would be to have a grid (or spreadsheet ) with PC's along the top and modifiers down the side - a fat column for each PC with four sub-columns each (hit, damage, ac, saves).

My friends and I are working on something like this. It will be an at the table, on the laptop dealio...
In Excel, you can do MAX(ColumnA), so you only get the maximum value for any given bonus type. Of course, you just change that to SUM(ColumnB) for things like Dodge and circumstance bonuses that stack with each other. Our final version will have mini character sheets, with a "database" spreadsheet with spells and their effects. Then there will be a main sheet that we can reference that shows which spells/items/etc any given character has active at a time, and their total modifiers.

Jason

 

[Ferox4]

Oboy.......

 

[Plane Sailing]

For full-on automation, doesn't "Role Playing Master" have something like this as a facility?

 

[Liminal Syzygy]

I am assuming you haven't tried it yet, yes?

No I haven't. I hope to start next session--Feb. 1.

 

[shilsen]

Am I the only one here who just juggles the numbers in my head and scribbles a couple notes on a piece of paper? I expect the players to keep track of their own PC's buffs and their benefits, but at the same time I'm keeping track of it in my head. Works perfectly fine for me, though I may miss some effect every dozen combats or so. I'd find it incredibly slow and painful if I tried some of the things people have suggested here. The minimalist approach works just fine - brain + paper + pencil.

YMMV (and apparently does, according to this thread ).

 

[Ferox4]

Am I the only one here who just juggles the numbers in my head and scribbles a couple notes on a piece of paper? I expect the players to keep track of their own PC's buffs and their benefits, but at the same time I'm keeping track of it in my head. Works perfectly fine for me, though I may miss some effect every dozen combats or so. I'd find it incredibly slow and painful if I tried some of the things people have suggested here. The minimalist approach works just fine - brain + paper + pencil.

YMMV (and apparently does, according to this thread ).

Probably, not. Hey, if you can do it then more power to you. (I'm not being condescending).

I like to have it documented to prevent any dissent among players and DM, and so that I can work on other aspects of the game. You may think, "ah, details," but this entire game is sometimes a giant detail in and of itself.