The Dungeon Masters' Foundation Mk.II

[Dyne]

I've slinked to use ratty pieces of paper to represent creatures on the grid before. In any case, we've always used minis in some form or another.

 

[Nightcloak]

Just asking for opinions here,
What do people here think about DM's running PC's? Personally I disagree, but I'm entering a campaign where the DM wants a PC to stay interested. Just curious

I've only seen this done once is a situation I thought was acceptable in theory...

I played with a group who took turns DMing do to RL time issues to run a long term campaign. So when it was each DMs turn he would just "NPC" his character while running the game.

But in practice...

It still was bad IMHO. Either the DM didn't pay attention to the adventure (like combat!) enough to run things properly and eventually made mistakes. Or they ran the combats properly and ignored the "NPC" to much and accidently killed themselves. Nothing like the look on a DMs face who just off'd himself.

Different groups may very results, but I would avoid it personally. However, you are not the DM so it is a matter of how acceptable the game is to you under the circumstances.

 

[Nightcloak]

Yep, but I tend to cover it with clear plexiglass and draw on that with dry erase markers. Easier clean up, doesn't ruin my mat, and I can print out rooms and other areas and slide them under the plexi if needed.

Nifty idea. When I get some time, I'll have to try this.

Does everyone use minis or some other type of counter? I have taken to using Paint Shop and printing out counters for all my little creatures, and giving the players their choice of my collection of hand painted minis. (All my figures are the old lead kind, mostly Grenadier from the early eighties.)

I let the characters choose from some of my limited mini collection or get their own. I, however, use tokens - like the ones from Dragon and Dungeon magazine or the ones from Fiery Dragon. When I get time (always with the time) I scan odd stuff into the 'puter and photoshop it into a counter. I store and carry them in an organizer I bought from Michaels that was designed for beads or some-such.


Oh, and derbacher: glad to see you survived the meltdown and made it back!

 

[DarrenGMiller]

I have only recently begun to use mini's every session. They really help with battles in 3.x, way more than they were ever useful in 1E. I have an extensive collection of classic poison... errr, I mean lead minis and a growing collection of the new plastic thingies. I am nostalgic for my old hand-painted Ral Partha and Grenadier minis (circa 1978-1987), but when I have to transport literally hundreds of them (never know where PC's are going to end up really now, do we), I find throwing the plastic ones into a sealable plastic bag a whole lot easier, plus there is the whole lead issue.

DM

 

[Blade of Desecration]

About DMPC: It depends on the DM. In that "bloodlines" campaign I was talking about earlier, everyone gets to DM their own stuff and campaign arcs (though I'm MDM). Because of this, PCs often become DMPCs. For instance, I am currently DMing, and my bard is basically a DMPC. However, it doesn't matter in combat much, since his tactics are pretty straight-forward. I built the entire character around RPing, so that is the field in which he really shines. I don't give him special treatment, and I don't have him "accidentally" be the first one to know something. So long as a DMPC is played well, it can work.

 

[Aris Dragonborn]

On the DMPC: Currently, I'm going to be running a game with only two players, though they will be using Gestalt characters from the Unearthed Arcana. In this situation, if I'm missing a certain class (such as cleric), I'll stat up a quick NPC. He'll technically be a PC, but I'll run him as more of a henchman, where he doesn't make any decisions, or take any actions unless the PC's ask. This way, I won't be tempted to give away to much information (and yes, if I think that I've written a particularly good adventure, or found a good module, sometimes I want to share the coolness with my friends so much that I blurt things out).

On Minis: Limited funds and space. I do have a few of the D&D minis, and I hope that I'll be able to use them as something more than decoration in the future.

On Battlemats: Any good sites out there that carry any, preferrably dry-erase mats or something similar? Thanks.

 

[Mordmorgan the Mad]

So long as a DMPC is played well, it can work.

As is the way with all things. Unfortunately, very, very few people have the ability to play a DMPC well. Personally, I avoid using the DMPC at all costs. I'd rather adjust everything else in the game than attempt to sit on both sides of the table. Of course, the amount of detail and complexity in my games makes it difficult to even DM, let alone worry about what "my" cleric or fighter is trying to do. I dunno. Maybe I lack the ability or insight needed to effectively run one of these monsters. (but I doubt it)

 

[derbacher]

Well, the server move is over, and I seem to be the first one to check in here.

Did everybody survive the weekend without Enworld?

 

[siege72]

Well, the server move is over, and I seem to be the first one to check in here.

Did everybody survive the weekend without Enworld?

Having it offline was a blessing for me... because of a snow cancellation I'm running three games this week. A few minutes here and there add up...

 

[derbacher]

Originally posted by siege72
Having it offline was a blessing for me... because of a snow cancellation I'm running three games this week. A few minutes here and there add up...

Wow... I ran the normal sunday game for the kids (5 hours). I don't think I could write enough for three games a week!