Writing - When do you use\not use computers?

[Ahnehnois]

I write campaign background, monster stats, and session reviews in word. I note hp damage and initiative and such on scratch paper. I don't generally produce any other writing.

 

[Stormonu]

I stopped handwriting some time back in the late 80's, and do all of my writing by computer. Mapping software, however, tends to still be enough of a pain that I initially hand-draw my maps and may then convert it to computer afterward.

When I do sit down to write, I find music to be the best inspiration for focusing my attention on what I'm doing. Often music will inspire me to create certain scenes, villains and whatnot.

 

[Aeolius]

Now I don't have the option: all my programs are obsolete and won't run on my iMac.

Bryce has a free version and Daz Studio is free... Have fun!

 

[steenan]

I rarely use paper when preparing my games - a computer gives me much more flexibility in editing text and my notes change a lot between a first concept and a game session. I only use paper when I don't have a computer on hand or using a computer would be too time consuming.

 

[Heathen72]

At the moment, in my game prep I do very little actual writing. .

What about Player handouts, and the like? One of my GM's would always give us out little handouts each session. They were filled with little clues about the world, the story or the session. Or were just fluff - sometimes I think we took his little handouts and and turned them into games, when they were originally merely flavour text.

I try to give handouts where I can, when I have the time. A computer helps for that, because I am a much quicker typer than I am a scriber, and when I make a mistake I can backspace backspace backspace! Also, a computer can print out things in lots of pretty fonts.

 

[chaochou]

I like handwritten notes, mainly because I often find a little doodle or diagram does the job of a lot of text. I've always found printed text easiest to edit, but hardest to use and refer to.

I like NPCs on index cards for quick reference without flicking through notes. I can make changes to attitudes or motivations on the card. And if you have a card for each PC as well you can shuffle everyone into initiative order for combat.

Handouts I do on a computer, with all the wizardry that some groovy fonts, InDesign and Photoshop and the like allow.

 

[Umbran]

What about Player handouts, and the like?

If and when I do player handouts, yes, then I'd probably use a word processor. But my sessions are a little on the short side, and I'd not want to take up lots of player-time with reading. So, handouts would be limited to maybe a paragraph. Still not what I'd call a lot of writing.

 

[kitsune9]

I use plain ol' paper when I'm usually at work and just use to jot down some ideas, nothing serious. I always use my laptop to flesh out what I'm writing though.

 

[Gilladian]

I start composing and do all my editing on the computer, and usually run the game from there as well. I have so much problem reading print anymore that I use mostly PDFs that I can zoom in on for reference and that's either my computer or my Ipad.

I prefer hand-drawing maps, so I'll either print out a map I find online and modify it, or I'll just draw from scratch. Often I scan them back in for game use, though. I prefer to be nearly paperless at the game, except for my scratch pad for HP and noting down things to remember for the next session.

 

[Rel]

What about Player handouts, and the like? One of my GM's would always give us out little handouts each session. They were filled with little clues about the world, the story or the session. Or were just fluff - sometimes I think we took his little handouts and and turned them into games, when they were originally merely flavour text.

I try to give handouts where I can, when I have the time. A computer helps for that, because I am a much quicker typer than I am a scriber, and when I make a mistake I can backspace backspace backspace! Also, a computer can print out things in lots of pretty fonts.

Yeah pretty much all my handouts are done on the computer. Recently I've been running a game where the players find notes on some of the bad guys, various factions of whom are communicating with one another. I've converted these into puzzles by using different runic fonts. I note that I wouldn't do this with every group but my wife in particular loves puzzling these out so I just type up the notes, change the font to runes and voila! Instant puzzle.

I also tend to grab graphics from online for various other handouts. And when I was running Deadlands I also made all my counters for the PC's and NPC's by getting various "old west style" pictures, printing them on cardstock and then punching them with a circular 1" punch.