Travelling DMs: What do you tote your game in?

[DaveStebbins]

I use a plastic storage tote meant for hanging folders. It has a hinged lid that completely covers the contents (important for when it's raining), and comfortable hand-holds on each end. Since hanging folders are about the same size as the hardcovers, they fit in nicely. The hanging folders organize the many items I have printed out. It also holds my dice, several plastic cases of minis, and anything else I need. Usually, I leave my house with everything in there, except the pan of brownies, which rests on top of the carry-all. I've been very happy with it.

-Dave

 

[IronWolf]

Usually, I leave my house with everything in there, except the pan of brownies, which rests on top of the carry-all.

Wait, you get brownies at your games?

 

[DaveStebbins]

Wait, you get brownies at your games?

I usually make a pan of brownies to take to every game night, since my place is too small to host. They're popular enough that everyone expects me show up with my magic brownies, so if I don't everyone's disappointed.

-Dave
Though occasionally, I bake a cheesecake instead.

 

[Kalendraf]

Duffle bag for the books (usually PHB, DMG, MM1-3, 4 Complete books, AEG's Toolbox, DM Screen, note books, campaign folder, etc), dice box, pencils, calculator and Vis-a-vis markers.
Battlemap slides in between handles of duffle bag.
Tacklebox for the metal & plastic miniiatures
Optional paper sack for munchies

 

[billd91]

I usually make a pan of brownies to take to every game night, since my place is too small to host. They're popular enough that everyone expects me show up with my magic brownies, so if I don't everyone's disappointed.

-Dave
Though occasionally, I bake a cheesecake instead.

Ahem. MAGIC(?) brownies? Hope the DEA isn't reading this thread...

Anyway, chalk me up for using a plastic milk crate. And once the campaign is done or on hold for a while, the milk crates for my games stack up into a modular bookshelf.

 

[Cthulhu's Librarian]

I have a Charon Productions Gamer's Satchel (http://www.battlepack2001.com/satchel.html) Which I use if I need to carry a few books and a small number of miniatures along with notes, etc., usually enough for a standard night of gaming. If I'm hauling a bunch of stuff, I have a freestanding duffel type bag (it has an open top and sides that stay up by themselves) that I use in addition to the satchel. The Charon bag is great, very well designed, I'd highly recommend it.

 

[Cthulhu's Librarian]

They're popular enough that everyone expects me show up with my magic brownies, so if I don't everyone's disappointed.

Some of us are going to be disappointed if you don't bring some of those Magic Brownies to GenCon...

 

[Voadam]

Generally when I travel I bring the module, the campaign setting book (if any), the MM for standard creature references, a second monster book with different stuff I plan on using that night, some scrap paper/notebook, dice, pencil, maybe a screen, some selected printouts, counters or minis. So generally five books, some odds and ends and dice. It all fits in a backpack. I then rely upon somebody else bringing the DMG and PH and our guy with a laptop having the srd on there. If I still had a PH that would be thrown in as well but it got lost after one of our last get together travel games and I have not replaced it outside of srds.

 

[KB9JMQ]

When I was a traveling DM I carried everything in two milk crates.

I think now a days if I wasn't the host I would just carry a few books in a satchel bag and my minis in a tackle box and that would be it.

Those crates were so heavy they killed my back.

 

[Kid Charlemagne]

This thread has inpsired me to try and cut back on my DM's bag. I spent some time Sunday creating a folder full of files that would all fit on a single CD so that I can burn it and take it to game on my (work) laptop. Pictures, PDF's, SRD, campaign files, etc. I even made a simple Excel Initiative worksheet to track initiative. Now, all I'll need to bring is the laptop, and two spiral notebooks (one of notes, one of maps), and my box o' minis.

It'll be interesting to see how it works.