I started running a campaign through dnd beyond and sure with the campaign dashboard had a DM screen that had basic rules, common DC and other regularly used info. I ended up pulling out a DM screen to sit next to me while I am zooming.
I looked through threads and saw DM Screen was in the works back in 2019, but have not seen anything on it.
what are you looking for in a DM screen? Currently there are two places something like a DM screen shows up:
-in the mobile app, under "campaigns," if you tap on a campaign DM, you have the option of "Game Log" or "Characters." The "Characters" tab shows you a batch of stats from all the characters in the campaign, all on one page. If you are the dm, there is also a dice roller there.
-in the encounters tool, when you run an encounter, you can set initiative and see certain character data. (Once initiative order is set and combat started, you can see character HP as well).
A good DM screen has quick reference items that might be useful (in fact make this screen configurable, we all have different wants/needs).
The one I have has a lot of great things: 1) Basic DC setttings (easy 10, moderate 15, hard 20 etc... 2) Object hit points (tiny (bottle/lock), small (chest, lute) etc..)
3) Object AC (see #2) 4) Skills mapped to ability 5) travel pace 6) cover and obscurity rules
Thanks for saying what you are looking for. I know one of the challenges with creating a "DM screen" here is that there are almost as many definitions of what a DM screen should be as there are DMs. The character stats I mentioned above are what some posters here have meant by a DM screen, others are looking more for what are suggesting.
At this point, there's no real way to know where DDB is on any of their plans. The Dev updates have stopped, WOTC hasn't really said anything about direction, and improvements (other than fixes to Avrae) have been exceedingly slow.
Thanks for saying what you are looking for. I know one of the challenges with creating a "DM screen" here is that there are almost as many definitions of what a DM screen should be as there are DMs. The character stats I mentioned above are what some posters here have meant by a DM screen, others are looking more for what are suggesting.
At this point, there's no real way to know where DDB is on any of their plans. The Dev updates have stopped, WOTC hasn't really said anything about direction, and improvements (other than fixes to Avrae) have been exceedingly slow.
This is absolutely true and why the open notes section of the campaign page (private and public notes) are so useful for capturing links to hard to find rules, notes about key NPC's etc. However, it is also true that DM screens have been offered many times in the past in printed form and the "almost as many definitions as DMs" argument obviously wasn't an impediment to offering those products. Certainly there are a number of tables that are almost universally useful to collect together in one place for the DM that this is a worthy request. What might be even more interesting to see is a feature that could build a campaign specific DM screen out of *any selected sourcebook tables dynamically.
Sorry to necro a post but as someone also genuinely interested in this, with a GM screen being a collection of useful rules, a digital DM screen should allow the GM to pull rule snippets from the digital books they own and combine them together on the digital GM screen. There should also be options to present info about players in your campaign.
"The past is a tapestry, each thread a whisper of what was—pull one, and the whole unravels. With Hope's End, nothing remains hidden; your dreams, your fears, they are but tributes to the Raven Queen, guardian of all that was."
"Cut me down, and I'll rise again—stronger, faster, with Whackus Bonkus at my side. When the darkness falls, you'll never see the storm that bears my name."
So, if I was DnDB, I would basically have a character sheet pre-loaded to every campaign that of course only the DM can see.
Its tabs, however would consist of:
Same Check/Save and Skill tabs as any player, for rolling.
List of maps. (If you use maps. If not, it's there, just blank. Like Extras is most of the time.)
List of Encounters you create, with creature list embedded for said creatures in encounters.
List of creatures you are employing in the whole campaign. Complete with rollable attacks and spells. Maybe it opens a generated pseudo-sheet for the monster. And the list has a few check boxes for Slain/Banished/Charmed/Feared/Poisoned/etc. to keep track of status.
List of NPCs, with notes section. Maybe if you need to make a whole sheet for them, quicklinks there for them. Connected to the campaign, but invisible to players. Still using the same game log.
List of PoI (Places of Interest). Towns, shops, Raidable buildings, Named places, etc., and what items are listed inside. If there's keepers or items for sale, menu box. Think: Bulbapeadia route/city pages.
The Extras tab. For keeping track of things that you have lined up/have ready but can't give out, yet.
Should be good to go, for any campaign, with that much?
Any additions or tweaks to any of that, I welcome the discussion.
I started running a campaign through dnd beyond and sure with the campaign dashboard had a DM screen that had basic rules, common DC and other regularly used info. I ended up pulling out a DM screen to sit next to me while I am zooming.
I looked through threads and saw DM Screen was in the works back in 2019, but have not seen anything on it.
Bump
what are you looking for in a DM screen? Currently there are two places something like a DM screen shows up:
-in the mobile app, under "campaigns," if you tap on a campaign DM, you have the option of "Game Log" or "Characters." The "Characters" tab shows you a batch of stats from all the characters in the campaign, all on one page. If you are the dm, there is also a dice roller there.
-in the encounters tool, when you run an encounter, you can set initiative and see certain character data. (Once initiative order is set and combat started, you can see character HP as well).
Trying to Decide if DDB is for you? A few helpful threads: A Buyer's Guide to DDB; What I/We Bought and Why; How some DMs use DDB; A Newer Thread on Using DDB to Play
Helpful threads on other topics: Homebrew FAQ by IamSposta; Accessing Content by ConalTheGreat;
Check your entitlements here. | Support Ticket LInk
A good DM screen has quick reference items that might be useful (in fact make this screen configurable, we all have different wants/needs).
The one I have has a lot of great things:
1) Basic DC setttings (easy 10, moderate 15, hard 20 etc...
2) Object hit points (tiny (bottle/lock), small (chest, lute) etc..)
3) Object AC (see #2)
4) Skills mapped to ability
5) travel pace
6) cover and obscurity rules
7) Food/lodging costs
8) Conditions
9) Concentration
You get the idea, something you reference often
Thanks for saying what you are looking for. I know one of the challenges with creating a "DM screen" here is that there are almost as many definitions of what a DM screen should be as there are DMs. The character stats I mentioned above are what some posters here have meant by a DM screen, others are looking more for what are suggesting.
At this point, there's no real way to know where DDB is on any of their plans. The Dev updates have stopped, WOTC hasn't really said anything about direction, and improvements (other than fixes to Avrae) have been exceedingly slow.
Trying to Decide if DDB is for you? A few helpful threads: A Buyer's Guide to DDB; What I/We Bought and Why; How some DMs use DDB; A Newer Thread on Using DDB to Play
Helpful threads on other topics: Homebrew FAQ by IamSposta; Accessing Content by ConalTheGreat;
Check your entitlements here. | Support Ticket LInk
This is absolutely true and why the open notes section of the campaign page (private and public notes) are so useful for capturing links to hard to find rules, notes about key NPC's etc. However, it is also true that DM screens have been offered many times in the past in printed form and the "almost as many definitions as DMs" argument obviously wasn't an impediment to offering those products. Certainly there are a number of tables that are almost universally useful to collect together in one place for the DM that this is a worthy request. What might be even more interesting to see is a feature that could build a campaign specific DM screen out of *any selected sourcebook tables dynamically.
Sorry to necro a post but as someone also genuinely interested in this, with a GM screen being a collection of useful rules, a digital DM screen should allow the GM to pull rule snippets from the digital books they own and combine them together on the digital GM screen. There should also be options to present info about players in your campaign.
Yes please!
DDB, take notes!
"The past is a tapestry, each thread a whisper of what was—pull one, and the whole unravels. With Hope's End, nothing remains hidden; your dreams, your fears, they are but tributes to the Raven Queen, guardian of all that was."
"Cut me down, and I'll rise again—stronger, faster, with Whackus Bonkus at my side. When the darkness falls, you'll never see the storm that bears my name."
So, if I was DnDB, I would basically have a character sheet pre-loaded to every campaign that of course only the DM can see.
Its tabs, however would consist of:
Should be good to go, for any campaign, with that much?
Any additions or tweaks to any of that, I welcome the discussion.