What level of technology WON'T you go beyond with your tabletop gaming?

[joethelawyer]

I was going to do this in a poll, but there were way too many options and combinations.

Granted, nobody can predict the future, but given the state of technology today, and the way things are trending with:

Laptops
Chat programs
.pdf's
Virtual tabletops
Electronic dice rollers
Kindle
Electronic character sheet creation and update programs
DDI

etc.

What level WON'T you go beyond in your tabletop gaming?

For me, with a 3.5 game its nice to have an electronic character sheet generator/updater, but I print out the sheets. Core rule books and setting books are hardcover. I use the laptop at the game table for .pdf's of rarely used or referenced books. Everything else is pen and paper. Even my adventures I design. The DM notes are by hand, with reference to books if need be.

That's pretty much how I see myself playing until I die. I mean, there might be some technology on the horizon which I can't envision right now, that totally blows me away. But with what we have today, and with how those things look like they are going to develop, here I stand, pen and paper in hand.

How about you guys?

 

[Festivus]

My friend was saying he's committed to using technology when it's his turn to run the group (in about a month). This will include the use of skype and maptool, a projector and probably at least two laptops. I was saddened a little when I heard this as I liked having the laptop there for only one thing, record keeping.

Personally, I prefer a little technology at the table as possible. The highest tech thing I have had is a calculator to help the poor druid and her 15 attacks she has to add up when they all hit.

 

[Aberzanzorax]

For me, it's not about what I'll stop at, but what low level technology I see as a must.

I've used all kinds of gadetry to play (especially because right now I'm playing with people across the country).


BUT, I'll never abandon books, paper, pencils, etc. I'll use PDFs, but I'll always want a book as well.

I could easily get rid of actual minis for virtual minis and a shared screen. I'd like that screen to be horizontal, though (however that is achieved).

 

[Hippy]

I was going to do this in a poll, but there were way too many options and combinations.

Granted, nobody can predict the future, but given the state of technology today, and the way things are trending with:

Laptops
Chat programs
.pdf's
Virtual tabletops
Electronic dice rollers
Kindle
Electronic character sheet creation and update programs
DDI

etc.

What level WON'T you go beyond in your tabletop gaming?

For me, with a 3.5 game its nice to have an electronic character sheet generator/updater, but I print out the sheets. Core rule books and setting books are hardcover. I use the laptop at the game table for .pdf's of rarely used or referenced books. Everything else is pen and paper. Even my adventures I design. The DM notes are by hand, with reference to books if need be.

That's pretty much how I see myself playing until I die. I mean, there might be some technology on the horizon which I can't envision right now, that totally blows me away. But with what we have today, and with how those things look like they are going to develop, here I stand, pen and paper in hand.

How about you guys?

I use a program called GM Genie to run my homebrew 3.5 game. It makes running combat so much easier to track and allows myself and players to enjoy the story of the combat (i.e. BBEG comments during the fight,etc.) I also use to level characters and NPCs. I use my laptop to show artwork of scenes and npcs. My own art as well as fantasy art from modules, etc.

I would love to have an overhead projector to be able to use minis with generated topography from Neverwinter Nights or another program, but I cannot afford the projector right now. If I had any distance gamers I would consider using Skype or a webcam program, but have no need at the moment. Beyond this I have no desire to expand the technology use. Part of the charm of tabletop gaming for me is the non-tech aspect you get from it vs. a game console or computer game.

Just my two coppers,

Hippy

 

[weem]

I'm all about technology.

Work for a tech company, first to buy all the gadgets, etc.

But when it comes to playing, I'm old school. I'm making my own character sheets (ok, I use Illustrator for this), and a pencil. I have a laptop, but for me, it's about dice, a pencil and your character sheet on paper.

As far as running a game, it's the same. I have a notebook. I take notes in it, and plan games with it - no computer needed - I feel much more creative with a pencil and paper in hand.

 

[Hereticus]

I was going to do this in a poll, but there were way too many options and combinations.

Laptops
Chat programs
.pdf's
Virtual tabletops
Electronic dice rollers
Kindle
Electronic character sheet creation and update programs
DDI

Laptops - Minesweeper, while the newbie figures out what he's doing.
Chat programs - Not during the game.
.pdf's - Not during the game.
Virtual tabletops - No.
Electronic dice rollers - No.
Kindle - WTF?
Electronic character sheet creation and update programs - No.
DDI - WTF?

 

[Scribble]

I was all ready to answer, but then I realized it's a weird question to answer for me... There's not really a "line" that I can draw...

I mean off the table I do all my prep work (except maps) on the computer writing my notes/adventure stuff in word. I use pdf books, the compendium, and online/offline tools to do it. I then print it out, so that at the game, I use paper, real dice real DM screen etc...

I don't really like using a laptop to run the game off of, or using to view character sheets etc.... I don't know though - if they get epaper good enough I might switch.

I think the real answer is that I like gaming because it's a social, we're all "here" playing a game together type of thing. Anything that detracts from that wouldn't feel "right."

 

[Lord Mhoram]

Laptops
Chat programs
.pdf's
Virtual tabletops
Electronic dice rollers
Kindle
Electronic character sheet creation and update programs
DDI

I use none of this at the table. I use books, paper, pencil and real dice.

A couple of the group uses laptops (character sheets on the campaign wiki, electronic dice rolls, and a few PDFs for reference). I don't mind that - I just won't do it myself.

 

[Fallen Seraph]

I use a fair amount of technology:
Laptop: I keep all my game files on there. From my monsters and encounters, plotlines, NPCs, session writeups, etc. Also to present images and sound/music.
DDI: Well I use some much gonna sub-divide that:

• Character Builder: I use this all the time for fun. My players always update/make their characters.
• Compendium: It has almost completely replaced the books for me. I am much more likely to look things up in the Compendium then books. Both pre-game and during gaming.
• Dragon and Dungeon PDFs: I use tons of stuff from my Dragon and Dungeon, and I vastly prefer it online.
• Campaign Tools: I most likely will use it. Especially if the Monster/Encounter Builder is a more advance one.

Virtual Tabletop: If I ever get my hands on a projector I will definitely use one.

 

[Aus_Snow]

Laptops
Chat programs
.pdf's
Virtual tabletops
Electronic dice rollers
Kindle
Electronic character sheet creation and update programs
DDI

etc.

What level WON'T you go beyond in your tabletop gaming?

None of that stuff, at the table. For GM prep, I'll quite regularly make use of the computing machine, with the interweb attachment attached. But all this means is PDFs, maybe bits of the SRD, some forums even. I stat things out by hand, whatever the medium. And yeah, I make my own character sheets these days, with InDesign. But everything that will be used from the computing machine or interweb gets printed out for the table.

Otherwise, it's pens, pencils, paper, books, maps, markers, minis. Oh, and dice.