The Ultimate DM Screen and carry all

[Asmor]

I like the magnet idea a lot... Especially if there were a metal strip along the top central edge so that you could stick papers up there easily. Alternatively, some alligator clips would work as well, but would be bulkier...

The circular opening for the dice roller seems like it would be a bit awkward. Why not have an opening at the top instead so you can drop the dice in?

Also, one idea might be to have the bottom of the dice roller elevated an inch or two, to free up a little bit of table space and make it a bit easier to fit things underneath...

 

[Stormonu]

perhaps you should rearrange the portion that holds the book, so you could place it in the screen area opened (with some sort of system to hold it open on the page you're looking for. It does make it taller, but perhaps more useful if it was holding a module (so you could see the encounter as a two-page spread).

Also, some sort of flip-down mat (that can hold a sheet of tables or other information) might not be a bad addition.

PS: Back in '94, TSR made a plastic case called a Player's Pack that could store a PHB, dice, pencils, character sheets and whatnot in what looked like a plastic briefcase. There was one for each of the major class divisions: Fighter (+Paladin & Ranger), Cleric (+Druid), Rogue (+Bard) and Wizard. It also came with a pad of graph paper, TSR pencil, set of dice, a set of 3 PC metal miniatures, character sheets and a mini-screen (showing XP needed per level, THAC0, saves, spells per day, weapon/non-weapon proficiencies per level and hit dice). Lastly, it came with an 8-page beginner's guide (with one page on painting the included minis).

http://www.waynesbooks.com/images/graphics/playerpackfighter.jpg

 

[Scurvy_Platypus]

One thing about doing a dice tower type thing is noise. It's going to make a horroriffic racket the way you've got it set up. Apply some green felt material (or anything else relatively smooth but sound deadening) to the parts where the dice hit as well as where the dice are landing.

For your shelves, I'd do one of those really thin bits of magnetic metal you can get in hobby stores. Cover it with felt or whatever so it looks nice and cuts down on the noise again. As well, by doing the metal strip with felt over it, you can then drop a small rare earth magnet into your figure's base and then it will "stick" to the shelf; it'll help prevent having multiple minis rolling around on a shelf and scratching each other's paint jobs. If you stick spare dice in there instead of minis, again the felt is deadening the sound of the dice bouncing around.

 

[pukunui]

perhaps you should rearrange the portion that holds the book, so you could place it in the screen area opened (with some sort of system to hold it open on the page you're looking for. It does make it taller, but perhaps more useful if it was holding a module (so you could see the encounter as a two-page spread).

Or you could leave the slot for the book and have a panel that folds out on the inside or something on which you can prop open a book or module at an angle. This would enable you to have the thing open in front of you without it making the screen any taller. And by making it foldable, you'd still be able to fold the whole thing up for carrying. I don't know if that makes any sense though.

PS: Back in '94, TSR made a plastic case called a Player's Pack that could store a PHB, dice, pencils, character sheets and whatnot in what looked like a plastic briefcase. There was one for each of the major class divisions: Fighter (+Paladin & Ranger), Cleric (+Druid), Rogue (+Bard) and Wizard. It also came with a pad of graph paper, TSR pencil, set of dice, a set of 3 PC metal miniatures, character sheets and a mini-screen (showing XP needed per level, THAC0, saves, spells per day, weapon/non-weapon proficiencies per level and hit dice). Lastly, it came with an 8-page beginner's guide (with one page on painting the included minis).

http://www.waynesbooks.com/images/graphics/playerpackfighter.jpg

Hey, I remember those! The thief's screen and the fighter's screen and that! I remember thinking it was kind of weird that they were offering screens for the players. I never knew they came with miniatures though.

 

[Silverblade The Ench]

Thanks folks!

various points:

dice roller needs a large round opening, in case folk want to use actual d100s or other odd larger dice like d30s, or as I have a huge d12 with crit hit locations

the dice roller is for fun!

Dice roller opening is best not be on the top, IMHO, as the "top" is the actual physical case that holds it all together, putting a hole that big in it, is a bad idea strength wise...though it shouldn't matter much with the bracing the "ramps" make, I guess?
however, it does leave an opening to the outside...what if folk had left dice inside the dice roller and they fall out?

dice tower castles as you note, work on exact same principle inside
however I do not want to make stuff sticking out of this: I want it all neat, easy to carry and smooth externally.

yes dice towers make noise :/ this is why I went with a roller instead originally
however, yes you could put rubber, cork or whtever on top of the rmaps, or make the ramps of softer plastic

The dice roller "tray" may need lifted higher, to stop it being so low books etc on table get in way
that is a good point, hm! since it hinges, and the area at back of it is also flat, dice would fall onto the flat area at back anyway, but your point is valid
i like the flip out tray as it's big enough to hold lots of dice if say you use 12d6 for some game systems
if the tray was much narrower and slid out through the side of the "wing/fly half" it would be much smaller and prone to falling out completely unless I put in a "Nub" (see below), where as the swivelling version is broad and cannot come off. hm, interesting idea though with next bit

make the drawers pull out through the narrow side
that has merit. it would let that big front on side stay soild in 1 piece, so you could put things on it.
need to put small "nubs" to stop drawer pulling out entirely though, you put a small block, above the drawer so back of drawer hits the nub when almost fully pulled out, you can rotate the drawer to pull it out though if need be.

the main area I wouldn't want criss crossed with metal, as that would ruin the benefits of transparency.
instead, having a frame, 4 strips, maybe +one up the centre, would be a good idea
and, if make the drawers on right hand side fly leaf come out from the narrow end/side, instead of "front", that would leave a nice big flat area to put a similar arrangement up for whatever you wish tostick on their with magnets, more tables, initiative markers etc.

I still have the Wizard's Player Pack!! bit worse for wear though, lol. really good idea, got one for pal as a present as well.

I've been using magnets on bases of my figures for a long time
originally it was the plastic stripping, now I buy tiny magnets as they are very thin, perfect for putting on bases of say the WOTC minis, as they are so damn light they get knocked aorund too easily.
I have the Dark Platypus magnetic mat, HOWEVER, it has problems, I thought it would be soft very flexible like a Chessex mat, instead, it's thin kind of rigid and very heavy, so IMHO, it's best kept as a permanent mat on a table, or if you don't mind carrying 4inch square x3' long box it's in and 2kg?? weight. (Players should remember, DM's have to carry a lot if they have to come to YOUR house...*cough*)
but, it is magnetic, gridded, and can use erasable markers on it, so, it is good otherwise
i have their wall sections, and an older magnetic based plastic wall system from another company, so having wall sections standing up on the grid is cool

thanks for all the input, folks!

 

[Mark]

Good stuff.

Rather than a drawer at the bottom of the dice roller, can there be a tray that hinges out when the shield is open, maybe with a last ramp at the bottom/inside of the roller to ensure the dice roll out into the tray?

 

[MadLordOfMilk]

I like it! The only problem I foresee is that it doesn't seem very friendly to posting more references than what'll fit in the middle panel - d'oh!

Though, FWIW, those drawers might be a pain to use unless you have enough space to keep the panel with them wide enough out, which means cramped space would be even more annoying. That is, if it's only exactly at 90 degrees, those drawers are gonna be moving right up against the edge of the other panel, that sort of thing.

Of course, IMO, little shelves would work just as well.

 

[Silverblade The Ench]

ta for all the ideas/thoughts!

yet more work...abotu finished IMHO

1) made the drawers come out the side of the right hand side "leaf".
cut the drawer pieces up so as they slot together for strength when building 'em.

2) added "magnetic strips" be it thin steel or plasticized magnet stripping
usign tiny thin magnets you can then stick DM sheets or whatevr, change as need.

3) like #2, on the right hand "leaf", inset it 2 mm.
can put card with magnets, or magnetic white card etc, characters name & initiative count written in dry erase marker, easy way to track initiative and change it each encounter.

big pic
http://www.silverblades-suitcase.com/rhino/2010/dmscreen8.jpg

 

[falcarrion]

with all the segestions you might want to concider 2 different ones.
Other wise you might get the swiss army knife of DM screens. Too many items and some items only used by a few people.

Like one versoin with out the dice roller and one with..etc...

 

[falcarrion]

heres another idea. Room for a small magnetic white board. you could use it as initative tracker and being magnetic you could pin notes on it with magnets.