Writing - When do you use\not use computers?

[Cyronax]

- Going on a run through DC parks and bridges. Mind wanders.

- Listening to heavy metal or classical ... brooding, running through NPCs' mindsets to help with plots, visualizing the game world.

- Reading randomness on wikipedia often leads to quickest inspiration. Today for example I randomly started reading about Napoleon III and the Battle of Sedan. Didn't know much about the subject, but I immediately started thinking of ways to tie it into D&D. What if the PC's had to rescue a ruler captured on the battlefield? What if in the ruler's absence, the PC's had to hold the court together?

That being said, wikipedia's becoming difficult to use, as I find pictures of Jimmy Wales (and his ever-presennt Personal Appeal) a bit creepy looking.

- I also love just playing around with the Monster Builder. De-level a god. Level up a goblin. See what happens. Combine random bits. Sometimes something awesome results.

C.I.D.

 

[Wiseblood]

Pencil and paper for me. I would perfer wooden pencil to mechanical. They have a smell that is nostalgic. I have many blank notebooks I use these when I sart a new campaign. Few things have as much potential as a blank piece of paper.

 

[Thondor]

I've always found just using some paper and pencil to be far easier. Especially if your just designing for your home game.

Course now that I've been doing some writing to get published, the computers become an unfortunate must. Still I usually write the initial ideas by hand, then expand them on the computer. This is usually followed by printing them out once or twice and expanding by hand again. The idea's just flow faster this way for some reason (plus its easier to notice errors/inconsistencies).

 

[MatthewJHanson]

For handouts, I also usually type it up then print it out. The exception is if I am giving them a map, which I usually draw by hand.

 

[TheAuldGrump]

I work it out on pencil & paper then transcribe it electronically later, it just seems right.

Pretty much - the first stop is generally Wendy's, Subways, or some other fast food joint. There I start doodling on the trayliner, or on actual paper, or even, if I remembered, so game design sheets. (I have a bunch, from the Phil Reed/Ronin Arts Campaign Planners to the Chase sheets from the old DMN Design Kit by TSR to the Storyteller's Notebook - I think that you may need a GMail or Google account to get this one).

I typically do a quick sketch map, planning on coming back to it with Campaign Cartographer or Dungeon Crafter.

Then, if I have time, I use Page Plus to create a decent looking document.

The Auld Grump

 

[pogre]

I do all of my writing on a computer. I draw maps and when I do handouts these days it is almost always by hand. I enjoy calligraphy and drawing when I get time.

 

[Psion]

Conception, laying out the scenario idea, and brainstorming npcs as all done in my campaign notebook. I hate trying to type on a computer while on the go, and find portable alternatives unsatisfying. For example, typing this post on my Droid while waiting for my tires to get changed seems excruciatingly slow.

I use my laptop and an online tool (the Fantasy Craft npc builder) to make npc stat blocks, but generally print them out. The only thing I use the laptop for during the game is reference (pdf rulebooks, maps, etc.)

I use campaign cartographer and fractal terrains for campaign maps, but rarely make my own dungeon/city/building maps, as I have so many products (electronic and otherwise) with great maps.

 

[Bacris]

I write most mechanical skeletons down on paper - I have a host of Composition notebooks with all sorts of ideas, outlines, etc. I'll even go so far as to jot down on paper the full table for a class and fill it in. I find pen to paper is a lot more conducive to writing.

Once I need to do the actual proper rules text, then I'll move it over to the computer, but the vast majority of my design work is done on actual paper.

Sometimes, this results in my character sheets having ideas for feats, powers, items, classes, etc on the back, if ideas occur to me around the gaming table, which makes for a very messy manner, but even with a smart phone, I just find that I prefer pen & paper.

 

[DragonLancer]

I always write my scenarios are notes up on the PC and then print them out. Working with penicl and paper takes me 3 or 4 times as long and hurts my wrist.

As a player though, everything is pencil and paper.

 

[Haltherrion]

For handouts, I also usually type it up then print it out. The exception is if I am giving them a map, which I usually draw by hand.

That's how I typically work.. especially since my handwriting sucks. I really need to go back to handwriting school...