Travelling Light to games

[Ry]

So the new weekly game I'm running is held several blocks from my work, and as I suffer frequent back pain at the best of times, I'd like to travel as light as possible to the game. Does anyone have tips on bringing the bare minimum, or suggestions of play aids that make other books unnecessary?

 

[Nifft]

Laptop + a downloaded d20SRD.org?

Works for me.

Cheers, -- N

 

[dragonlordofpoondari]

I'd recommend a roman chair if your problem is muscular. I spent $300 for a really nice one and my lower back pain has been a thing of the past for about a year (they can be had cheaply too). Careful squats and ab work also help tremendously.

DMing at home has it's advantages, huh? Well, I know you're a guy who does a fair amount of winging it, but I would put all my planned encounters (and then plenty of contingency encounters/npcs) on encounter cards/notecards all statted up. I'd bring the PHB + DMG + any minis previously handpicked and in a baggie (corresponding with the cards) + 1 set of dice. Alternatively, you could use Kenzer's 3.5 screen in lieu of the PHB + DMG. Lord knows every chart in all of creation is on that beast. The thing's amazing! Finally, insist that players who play non-core classes provide the splatbook or at least a printout of that class.

I also heard some kook made a spreadsheet with monster stats ...

 

[Ry]

Yeah, I know... I omitted mentioning that chart in hopes of getting fresh ideas. Also, although I use the chart a lot I'm also used to having the other books around as a reference if needed. But that Kenzer screen sounds smart.

 

[Doug McCrae]

That's the major problem I was having. I was carrying 6-8 books to each session and the single strap bag I had was putting too much strain on my shoulder. Had to switch to a backpack.

Leave books where the game is run?
Get your players to bring some?

 

[frankthedm]

Have a very gracious host who lets you keep some of you gaming stuff at their place.

 

[Ry]

Right now the venue is a summertime-abandoned cafeteria at the nearby university campus, and most of my players all come straight from work (Wednesday night game).

 

[Kid Charlemagne]

You might try to get a rolling case to put your books in if you don't have to carry it up flights of stairs when you get there... I cut way down on books when I started using a laptop for running games. I've got the SRD and E-Tools, and I prep most stuff head of time in a word document. I only take a couple of spiral notebooks along with my laptop most of the time.

It also helps that the two places I'm most likely to run have most of the books, too, but I could run off of what I carry 99% of the time.

 

[dragonlordofpoondari]

As Kenzer is licensed to use WotC-exclusive material, the screen has some charts that are lacking on any other OGL chart. They really went all out. I've never seen its equal. Even the Kalamar specific charts are, for the most part, useful. I really enjoy the charts for naming NPCs, Taverns, and Ships.

 

[Ry]

That Kenzer one - is it available in .pdf?