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Message: <blockquote data-quote="evildmguy" data-source="post: 478248" data-attributes="member: 6092">Other questionsCrothian posted a good question.  What can be done for a modern feel?First of all, and while YMMV, I have found that having a computer at the table is not worth it.  I have used a laptop while DMing, players have used laptops for characters or for neat effects.  This overall, hasn't worked well in my opinion.  The computers end up being more of a distraction than anything.  While it worked great for me to take notes, as I type faster than I can write, otherwise, I didn't see the use of it.  It is faster and usually more efficient, unless you wish to have them tracked on the computer, to do most things by hand instead of by the computer.  Again, I would avoid it at the table.  Ideas:  I was printing out the local paper's front page on the web and using the headlines for my own ideas.  As it was a D*M campaign, conspiracies are great!  So, I would take a headline, make up an adventure around it, and then pass that web page to the players.  It gives them a handout and it is from the web, pretty modern.  They also gave me great ideas with the other headlines.Set up a yahoo group, or some such, and use that as a way to contact people.  Keeps a lot of things centralized and somewhat organized.  Set up and maintain a web page with information.  I once had web pages for the shops in town (DND campaign) so that we wouldn't have to worry about mundane stuff at the table.  I even had them have minor magical items.  (I would love to be able to do what I could do now, which is to populate the shops via a database and let the PCs buy it but track how much they spent and what they bought.  I could do this easily now if I had the time.  That's always the issue, isn't it?)  This can be time consuming but it does allow for some good opportunities.Use email.  Write quick emails to the characters.  If you have the time, maybe you write non mission related, like emails from family and friends.  (Perhaps they become more relevant later)  Write "down time" stuff in email.  It is so much fun to see my players talk about what has happened to them from an email to the surprise of other players.  It is also more fun when they have the information they need at the table rather than needing to ask me.  Again, from experience, DON'T set it in your own home town!  If you are in a big town, move the action to another town entirely.  I made the mistake of setting my D*M campaign in the town we all lived in and it didn't work.  We would end up arguing the best route from one character's house to where their office was.  That isn't needed!  By generalizing it, and using a different city, the DM is able to make what he needs be there, instead of trying to force the real things to do what he wants.  There is lots of information on modern weapons.  One message board had an mpeg of the automatic grenade launcher!  It was pretty sweet.  If everyone has access to the web, again, sending these items out for visuals can be helpful.  Some of these might seem contradictory.  While some yield a lot of details, other seem to be shying away from detail.  The point is to have the right amount of detail for your campaigns and what is needed.  If you have too much, the group can get caught in the detail and not move anywhere.  With too few details, it is tough to set anything up.  Hope these help!edg</blockquote>

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