What's in your DM binder?

[haiiro]

I've decided to try using a binder for my next game (instead of folders, the middle of relevant books, etc.). I'm hoping it will encourage me to prepare more for games, as well as keeping things more organized overall.

Thus far, I've got: house rules, printouts of bonus material for some of my books, some PrC design info, and a bit of general DMing advice. This is a good start, but it's only a start.

I plan on including all of my campaign material as it starts to accumulate; right now, it exists only on my computer. Copies of character sheets, notes about the game, etc. will also be added over time. If I start the game before 3.5 comes out, I'll include FAQs and errata for the books I plan to use.

Assuming you DM and use a binder (or several), what's in it?

 

[aurin777]

Index cards. You need index cards. I have two sets of PC index cards. The first set has each players stats, his saves, and a listing of important skills (hide, move silently, spot, etc). Sometimes you may need to check to see if the PCs are doing something correctly without them knowing the result, and that is the best way to do it. The second set of cards just has the PCs names on them. They are color coded, and these are used for iniative. Its quick and easy. People roll, I get their numbers, arrange the cards, I've got a few NPC/monster index cards, so I put them where they go, then keep cycling through the cards until all the actions are taken.
Index cards. They're helpful.
~~Brandon

 

[Ravellion]

Campaign maps, NPC sheets, Custom magic, a calendar, Monsters with extra HD/extra class levels etc. etc.

Rav

 

[EverDarkness]

I've just started keeping it all in my laptop... it's a peace of junk but binders and paper are too clumsy and things are easier to change if I find something I don't like very much

 

[dave_o]

I've gone all digital, too.

 

[Chauzu]

Death. Death for my players.

 

[Donatello]

I have one of those 5-Star binders.

In the front I have 3 pencils & pens, a 3.5" disk containing notes I worked on my laptop, a deck of playing cards (useful for instant Decks of Many Things, Past & Future Possibilities [thanks SKR], and Illusions), a few small pieces of paper from my players (in-game notes, wills, etc.) and my dice bag.

Then I have my 3 DM's screens folded, and a pad of graph paper (for note-taking, scrap paper, insta-map drawing, etc.) resting comfortably.

Then I have 3 folders. One contains adventure stuff, the next contains NPC sheets & blank character sheets, and the last contains maps (both printed out from "Map a Week" and hand-drawn).

Then 40 pages of looseleaf paper (which I have almost never used).

I bring this binder as well as my 3-ton backpack of books and my laptop to every game.

 

[grodog]

I use my old 1e DM's Log (I have a hole-punched and non-hole-punched edition of it), and write relevant info in there. If I'm running a module, it's in there, along with my various notes on how I've tweaked it.

I tend to keep lists of unused names in the binder, along with various mini-adventures that can be used at the drop of a dime. Also, maps, a complete and ready-to-go tavern/inn, stats on magic items the PCs don't know the full details about, wandering monster tables, etc., etc.

Non-gaming materials will often include color printouts of castles, villages, wilderness scenes, etc. to help set the scene, as well as other in-game handouts like treasure maps, placards, letters, royal writs, and such.

 

[WayneLigon]

Maps, of course.
Character sheets.
NPC sheets.
Notes for encounters.
Printouts for random encounters (God bless Jamis' generators)
Notes from previous games, including everyone they met.

I keep several sheet protectors in the notenook. These hold...
A few index cards.
The dungeon tiles from Dragon and Dungeon that I might need.
At least one foldout square grid/hex map, one of various floor plans or blank maps from Steve Jackson Games. A few Cardboard Heroes might be in this as well, but most are carried ina plastic fishing tackle container.

Stiff sheets from photo albums: these have pictures and drawings for NPC's or landscapes used for visual flavor.

 

[Bendris Noulg]

I generally have everything relevant to the current adventure and region in which the adventure is occuring.

The Players each have a binder with the House Rules (thus far written) in them.

I keep the other 2 gig-worth of my campaign on my computer.