Given the number of tools here at DDB and the wide range of play styles/DM approaches, I'm guessing that we DMs use DDB in a wide variety of ways. I thought it would be interesting to share the ways we use it, and might give me (and others?) ideas.
I run a weekly in person campaign; while my players don't use DDB, I still have a "campaign" here for that game. I use it to store the NPC I run If I've only got 2 players on a given week. More importantly, I use it for prep notes. I have links to the relevant NPCs from the adventure. Each week I add notes about the areas the players may visit and any random encounters. (I'm running TOA; I preroll encounters and then list out the possibilities depending on terrain). I use tool tips and url links as much as possible. (Beyond Help is great for quickly copying links for sections of the Adventure) I use spoiler blocks to separate each random encounter, and to hide (but still have available) recaps from earlier in the campaign. At the end of the session, I update the "log" and make notes about things I need to think about/know for next week.
I've found the monster listings (both official and homebrew) and the filtering abilities helpful to find monsters to beef up encounters.
During play, I have tabs up for the various NPCs, a spell list tab, and a tab for the adventure compendium. I do often have print copies of npcs with me as well.
I mostly use it for the monster listings. I can have an array of creatures/npc's ready at once and can sift through at the clickbof a button instead of sifting through pages and books. I only have to have my tablet in front of me instead of a dozen books.
To add to that, I just got done running a game at a convention. In the past I would be hauling the weight of all of my books that I would need, then keep an eye on them to make sure nobody was tampering with or taking my hoard of possessions. Today I only brought my tablet, pen, legal pad, dice, and dry erase grid. It was a life saver to keep everything in a small bag that weighs next to nothing. In fact, I spent the walk into the con paranoid that I was missing something, just for that something to be an extra...i don't know...20 pounds on my shoulders.
Interesting, I haven't thought of doing some of those things. I've just finished Lost Mine which I ran using the module on the website and then the app on my iPad, plus Game Master 5e for encounters (running these in split view means I can run the session off my iPad). I was using it to recap each session but hadn't thought of using spoiler blocks to help condense it. I think most of my players are now creating characters in DDB, and a couple of them are managing them in session as well - I'm pretty happy about that but don't require it as one of my players doesn't even have a smart phone.
Going forward I'll be running a homebrew campaign that I'm preparing in Google Docs and haven't quite decided how to manage it. I'll be away from home so portability is a must. I don't think I'll be using it as much until they implement an encounter tracker that's at least as good as Game Master. But still great for prep and rules lookup.
I use a campaign to keep my players’ character sheets, and share my purchased content with them.
the players all use tablets to view and work with their sheets right from the site during the game.
I run off a laptop, and I keep tabs open for each of their sheets, the PHB, MM, and anything I know I might need, such as specific monsters.
I keep all my notes for the campaign (it’s homebrew) in a onenote, but link to dndbeyond pages from there.
just ran a game today, and I realized that I don’t even miss the physical books. A year ago I wouldn’t have thought that possible, as I thought “getting off screens” was one of the most important things That I love about DND. But with Dndbeyond I’m spending less time shuffling papers and books, and more time interacting with players.
I would love it if dndbeyond had an encounter builder like kobold fight club, and functionality like onenote, as well as a few other nitpicks (like seeing other players sheets in campaign) but even as is it is amazing. Worth every penny.
Track player's characters, specifically spell casters so I can know what they have to prepare accordingly. Beast shape or conjure animals, it helps to have a variety of options on hand.
I've got my campaign notes typed into the private notes section for each of the two campaigns I am currently running, utilizing the editor tools (text styles and formatting) and tool-tipping everything that I can - and linking the home-brew magic items and monsters I've put into each.
When running, I have the campaign in one tab, the spell listing open in another tab for when players need more details, and I open other tabs as needed (like opening monster detail pages in their own tab, or opening up a tab to reference downtime rules).
Then I have a notepad open to track temporary stuff like monster HP during combat in, and a PDF of the Scarred Lands Player's Guide open because I haven't gotten around to inputting all the relevant bits as home-brew as of yet.
My end of the gaming table has a PC set up, with my DM screen set up for reference, and my dice, with plenty of room to roll them.
In the future (I have no idea how far in the future) I intend to replace my battle mat, dungeon tiles, poster maps, and map packs with a high-definition display that I can put flashy digital maps on (and still use physical miniatures on top) - and when I do that, I'll also add using D&D Beyond to show art of creatures and items (and other hand outs, if working them into D&D Beyond is more efficient than just opening them in an image viewer) to my ways I use D&D Beyond while DMing.
I use it in prep in conjunction with my hardcopy books and OneNote for campaign notes. At the table, it is mostly for quick reference. All of my players in one group are 1e/2e players, and they sometimes accidentally apply those editions to their spells inadvertently. A quick look up of the spell on my end confirms questions I might have. We just finished a heavily modified Tomb of Annihilation, and being able to have the adventure up on my Chromebook along with tabs for monsters, PCs, maps, and OneNote where my adjustments are noted has enhanced table play for my people.
I've tried Roll20 and I went in with one of my players and split the cost and bought a ton of Fantasy Grounds stuff before DDB appeared, but I just never could get into using them. If we played anywhere but face-to-face at the table weekly, I am sure I would see the necessity. DDB has been about enhancing our game play face-to-face first and foremost. Now three other players are thinking of DMing 5e for the first time, one of which was adamant about hating everything after AD&D 2.5.
All of my players have ddb so that helps me keep track of certain numbers and such. In private notes I have several links to google docs documents where I have written out short quests and dungeons that link monsters, items, weapons and such back to dnd so if I need to run one impromptu, I have it. If they encounter an npc or trap, I can make a note with personalities, dc, general stuff so it's nice and tidy. Also within private notes I have several concepts for my players's backstory and how it links back to the major arc.
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You only lose if you die. Any time else, there's opportunity for a come back.
I'm currently using DDB for the player character information and then using roll20 for the grid and rolls. My group has a lot of players new to D&D so using DDB is the least confusing option. It handles everything for them, and works wonderfully :)
I use OneNote and/or regular paper for my encounters and other information, just like I'd do at the table.
I use a campaign to keep my players’ character sheets, and share my purchased content with them.
the players all use tablets to view and work with their sheets right from the site during the game.
I run off a laptop, and I keep tabs open for each of their sheets, the PHB, MM, and anything I know I might need, such as specific monsters.
I keep all my notes for the campaign (it’s homebrew) in a onenote, but link to dndbeyond pages from there.
just ran a game today, and I realized that I don’t even miss the physical books. A year ago I wouldn’t have thought that impossible, as I thought “getting off screens” was one of the most important things That I love about DND. But with Dndbeyond I’m spending less time shuffling papers and books, and more time interacting with players.
I would love it if dndbeyond had an encounter builder like kobold fight club, and functionality like onenote, as well as a few other nitpicks (like seeing other players sheets in campaign) but even as is it is amazing. Worth every penny.
I'm the kind of DM who has just about everything possible open at once. I'm running a version of Tyranny of Dragons which I have home-brewed a lot of sections and made edits left right and centre. We also use roll20 for maps as I can have up to 7players, which means it can get complicated for everyone to remember exactly what is near each player. Plus, I really like the line of sight/visibility tools.
I will have my pc screen split into two panels, one 1/3 width, which has the bulk of my tabs and one 2/3 width with maps. I will have open the adventure in DDB plus any monster tabs I need. I also have my Onenote which has any modifications and more detailed notes of what is going on. As for NPC's recurring ones are set up as characters on roll20 with backstory/personality notes. Roll20 manages my actual fights, but requires an awful lot of prep time. Before a game I will set up initiative rolls, HP rolls etc for all enemies. I did write attack macros for most until I found the Chrome extensions for DDB which can roll attacks from the monster page, which means playing is actually a lot smoother.
My phone controls music/atmosphere and I have the DDB app for quick reference for sections I need.
I mainly use it to track my PCs and let the players be able to update their own info instead of writing everything down perfect. Also like to use it for the monsters, I should get the DM pack so I could utilize more but our group doesnt meet up quite enough to justify the price. The campaign notes and DM notes is great too, ive been able to keep up the storyline per session, whilst keeping some ideas and my step by step session notes for myself. The toolbox download is pretty sweet for smaller notes and initiative trackers!
I pretty much just use it as an e-reader for the books and to share the books with my players. Unfortunately, most of the other character management software is better, and given how slow Curse is to update D&D Beyond, I expect it won’t overtake the other options anytime soon.
I pretty much just use it as an e-reader for the books and to share the books with my players. Unfortunately, most of the other character management software is better, and given how slow Curse is to update D&D Beyond, I expect it won’t overtake the other options anytime soon.
Uhhh, mate I'm no Curse fanboy but their development is going bloody fast given the resources they're working with. Not to mention their character sheet update isn't that far out and is already better than Roll20 for sheets anyway.
I use both Mission Control and Spaces in combination with Touchpad gestures and Full Screen windows on a Macbook to control multiple Chrome windows and tabs.
In one Chrome window, I'll have reference information for the adventure, like with Tomb of Annihilation I have a tab each for Dramatis Personae, ToA Contents, Introduction, Port Nyanzaru, Land of Chult and in another window I'll have tabs for Conditions, Monsters, Spells, Random Encounter Table and a custom calendar that prerolls encounter chances and the encounter, along with the DM's version of the Chult map. A third window usually has general reference tabs like the PHB, DMG, XGtE, SCAG and Volo's open.
With the Touchpad gestures, three finger swipes right or left switches between windows while three finger swipe up switches to Mission Control so I can select a window. I also cast images, mostly monster pictures and player versions of maps, to a TV setup at the other end of the table, via Chromecast.
All of this enables fairly quick referencing and a quick 'logic' to knowing where certain information can be found during play. For instance, most of the game I'm looking at the adventure references window, while if the crew are travelling, I'll be looking at the travel/random encounters/combat window, and can quickly and easily switch between them.
One player has created a nifty initiative tracker that he casts to the TV when we're in combat. That's such a massive help since it means I don't have to spend brain power on managing it.
I would like a one window solution via a dedicated "DM Screen" function on DDB but that seems like it's going to be a long while off. I'd love integrated random encounter calculators as well, but again, probably going to be awhile. An initiative/monster tracker would also be a huge time-saver but, once more, us poor DM's are last to be catered to because our precious snowflake players are in the majority and have a louder voice...
...grumble, grumble, grumble.
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"Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else's opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation."
I am fortunate that I have a set up of three monitors. I have Roll20 open on my center monitor, with some DDB tabs open in that browser window for quick lookups. On my left monitor I have a browser window open with multiple DDB tabs: PHB, DMG, MM, and a tab quick searches. On my right monitor is Roll20 NPC/Monster sheets, and Discord.
When I am out of game I am always using DDB to work on my campaign planning, to set up monsters in Roll20 (Copy/Paste) and to read the forums. When I'm doing my campaign prep I use OneNote, and often link my OneNote notes directly to sections of DDB (ie Monsters or magic items) so that in game I can click on the links in my notes to go right to the page/section in DDB.
On mobile I use DDB for my character sheet when I'm a player (and have a reliable internet connection) or use the app for quick lookups.
I'm using it for the adventure books and monster listings. I've created a personalized magic item for each player. I can track player's character sheets but they don't use it while we game, except for one player. I also use the Chrome extension D&D Toolbox which integrates with DDB and adds an encounter builder, initiative tracker and a dice rollers. I can't wait, DM wise, for the DM screen, encounter builder and dice roller updates to roll out so I can rely less on the extension for running my games.
I have a laptop that is hooked up to a projector projecting the players map down on to a table top where the players have their miniatures. This way everyone can see where their players are at any given time. The detailed maps help with player immersion in the game. The laptop is hooked up to a speaker so I can put on the background music/sounds. I have it hooked up to DDB as well for module pictures, magic items the characters might find etc. Other things I might want the characters to see are also on this computer such as important/dramatic dice rolls with an online dice roller.
I have another computer with two screens open for the DM. One screen is the DM map and the other has multiple tabs open to the DDB dungeon/module, monsters, spells, items, initiative tracker, and whatever else I need.
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Given the number of tools here at DDB and the wide range of play styles/DM approaches, I'm guessing that we DMs use DDB in a wide variety of ways. I thought it would be interesting to share the ways we use it, and might give me (and others?) ideas.
I run a weekly in person campaign; while my players don't use DDB, I still have a "campaign" here for that game. I use it to store the NPC I run If I've only got 2 players on a given week. More importantly, I use it for prep notes. I have links to the relevant NPCs from the adventure. Each week I add notes about the areas the players may visit and any random encounters. (I'm running TOA; I preroll encounters and then list out the possibilities depending on terrain). I use tool tips and url links as much as possible. (Beyond Help is great for quickly copying links for sections of the Adventure) I use spoiler blocks to separate each random encounter, and to hide (but still have available) recaps from earlier in the campaign. At the end of the session, I update the "log" and make notes about things I need to think about/know for next week.
I've found the monster listings (both official and homebrew) and the filtering abilities helpful to find monsters to beef up encounters.
During play, I have tabs up for the various NPCs, a spell list tab, and a tab for the adventure compendium. I do often have print copies of npcs with me 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;
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I mostly use it for the monster listings. I can have an array of creatures/npc's ready at once and can sift through at the clickbof a button instead of sifting through pages and books. I only have to have my tablet in front of me instead of a dozen books.
To add to that, I just got done running a game at a convention. In the past I would be hauling the weight of all of my books that I would need, then keep an eye on them to make sure nobody was tampering with or taking my hoard of possessions. Today I only brought my tablet, pen, legal pad, dice, and dry erase grid. It was a life saver to keep everything in a small bag that weighs next to nothing. In fact, I spent the walk into the con paranoid that I was missing something, just for that something to be an extra...i don't know...20 pounds on my shoulders.
Interesting, I haven't thought of doing some of those things. I've just finished Lost Mine which I ran using the module on the website and then the app on my iPad, plus Game Master 5e for encounters (running these in split view means I can run the session off my iPad). I was using it to recap each session but hadn't thought of using spoiler blocks to help condense it. I think most of my players are now creating characters in DDB, and a couple of them are managing them in session as well - I'm pretty happy about that but don't require it as one of my players doesn't even have a smart phone.
Going forward I'll be running a homebrew campaign that I'm preparing in Google Docs and haven't quite decided how to manage it. I'll be away from home so portability is a must. I don't think I'll be using it as much until they implement an encounter tracker that's at least as good as Game Master. But still great for prep and rules lookup.
I use a campaign to keep my players’ character sheets, and share my purchased content with them.
the players all use tablets to view and work with their sheets right from the site during the game.
I run off a laptop, and I keep tabs open for each of their sheets, the PHB, MM, and anything I know I might need, such as specific monsters.
I keep all my notes for the campaign (it’s homebrew) in a onenote, but link to dndbeyond pages from there.
just ran a game today, and I realized that I don’t even miss the physical books. A year ago I wouldn’t have thought that possible, as I thought “getting off screens” was one of the most important things That I love about DND. But with Dndbeyond I’m spending less time shuffling papers and books, and more time interacting with players.
I would love it if dndbeyond had an encounter builder like kobold fight club, and functionality like onenote, as well as a few other nitpicks (like seeing other players sheets in campaign) but even as is it is amazing. Worth every penny.
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Track player's characters, specifically spell casters so I can know what they have to prepare accordingly. Beast shape or conjure animals, it helps to have a variety of options on hand.
I've got my campaign notes typed into the private notes section for each of the two campaigns I am currently running, utilizing the editor tools (text styles and formatting) and tool-tipping everything that I can - and linking the home-brew magic items and monsters I've put into each.
When running, I have the campaign in one tab, the spell listing open in another tab for when players need more details, and I open other tabs as needed (like opening monster detail pages in their own tab, or opening up a tab to reference downtime rules).
Then I have a notepad open to track temporary stuff like monster HP during combat in, and a PDF of the Scarred Lands Player's Guide open because I haven't gotten around to inputting all the relevant bits as home-brew as of yet.
My end of the gaming table has a PC set up, with my DM screen set up for reference, and my dice, with plenty of room to roll them.
In the future (I have no idea how far in the future) I intend to replace my battle mat, dungeon tiles, poster maps, and map packs with a high-definition display that I can put flashy digital maps on (and still use physical miniatures on top) - and when I do that, I'll also add using D&D Beyond to show art of creatures and items (and other hand outs, if working them into D&D Beyond is more efficient than just opening them in an image viewer) to my ways I use D&D Beyond while DMing.
I use it in prep in conjunction with my hardcopy books and OneNote for campaign notes. At the table, it is mostly for quick reference. All of my players in one group are 1e/2e players, and they sometimes accidentally apply those editions to their spells inadvertently. A quick look up of the spell on my end confirms questions I might have. We just finished a heavily modified Tomb of Annihilation, and being able to have the adventure up on my Chromebook along with tabs for monsters, PCs, maps, and OneNote where my adjustments are noted has enhanced table play for my people.
I've tried Roll20 and I went in with one of my players and split the cost and bought a ton of Fantasy Grounds stuff before DDB appeared, but I just never could get into using them. If we played anywhere but face-to-face at the table weekly, I am sure I would see the necessity. DDB has been about enhancing our game play face-to-face first and foremost. Now three other players are thinking of DMing 5e for the first time, one of which was adamant about hating everything after AD&D 2.5.
All of my players have ddb so that helps me keep track of certain numbers and such. In private notes I have several links to google docs documents where I have written out short quests and dungeons that link monsters, items, weapons and such back to dnd so if I need to run one impromptu, I have it. If they encounter an npc or trap, I can make a note with personalities, dc, general stuff so it's nice and tidy. Also within private notes I have several concepts for my players's backstory and how it links back to the major arc.
You only lose if you die. Any time else, there's opportunity for a come back.
I'm currently using DDB for the player character information and then using roll20 for the grid and rolls.
My group has a lot of players new to D&D so using DDB is the least confusing option.
It handles everything for them, and works wonderfully :)
I use OneNote and/or regular paper for my encounters and other information, just like I'd do at the table.
I'm the kind of DM who has just about everything possible open at once. I'm running a version of Tyranny of Dragons which I have home-brewed a lot of sections and made edits left right and centre. We also use roll20 for maps as I can have up to 7players, which means it can get complicated for everyone to remember exactly what is near each player. Plus, I really like the line of sight/visibility tools.
I will have my pc screen split into two panels, one 1/3 width, which has the bulk of my tabs and one 2/3 width with maps. I will have open the adventure in DDB plus any monster tabs I need. I also have my Onenote which has any modifications and more detailed notes of what is going on. As for NPC's recurring ones are set up as characters on roll20 with backstory/personality notes. Roll20 manages my actual fights, but requires an awful lot of prep time. Before a game I will set up initiative rolls, HP rolls etc for all enemies. I did write attack macros for most until I found the Chrome extensions for DDB which can roll attacks from the monster page, which means playing is actually a lot smoother.
My phone controls music/atmosphere and I have the DDB app for quick reference for sections I need.
This is my exact setup as well. Makes everything so fluid.
This is almost word for word how I use it!
I mainly use it to track my PCs and let the players be able to update their own info instead of writing everything down perfect. Also like to use it for the monsters, I should get the DM pack so I could utilize more but our group doesnt meet up quite enough to justify the price. The campaign notes and DM notes is great too, ive been able to keep up the storyline per session, whilst keeping some ideas and my step by step session notes for myself. The toolbox download is pretty sweet for smaller notes and initiative trackers!
Interplanetary Camo! Grow Metal!
I pretty much just use it as an e-reader for the books and to share the books with my players. Unfortunately, most of the other character management software is better, and given how slow Curse is to update D&D Beyond, I expect it won’t overtake the other options anytime soon.
I use both Mission Control and Spaces in combination with Touchpad gestures and Full Screen windows on a Macbook to control multiple Chrome windows and tabs.
In one Chrome window, I'll have reference information for the adventure, like with Tomb of Annihilation I have a tab each for Dramatis Personae, ToA Contents, Introduction, Port Nyanzaru, Land of Chult and in another window I'll have tabs for Conditions, Monsters, Spells, Random Encounter Table and a custom calendar that prerolls encounter chances and the encounter, along with the DM's version of the Chult map. A third window usually has general reference tabs like the PHB, DMG, XGtE, SCAG and Volo's open.
With the Touchpad gestures, three finger swipes right or left switches between windows while three finger swipe up switches to Mission Control so I can select a window. I also cast images, mostly monster pictures and player versions of maps, to a TV setup at the other end of the table, via Chromecast.
All of this enables fairly quick referencing and a quick 'logic' to knowing where certain information can be found during play. For instance, most of the game I'm looking at the adventure references window, while if the crew are travelling, I'll be looking at the travel/random encounters/combat window, and can quickly and easily switch between them.
One player has created a nifty initiative tracker that he casts to the TV when we're in combat. That's such a massive help since it means I don't have to spend brain power on managing it.
I would like a one window solution via a dedicated "DM Screen" function on DDB but that seems like it's going to be a long while off. I'd love integrated random encounter calculators as well, but again, probably going to be awhile. An initiative/monster tracker would also be a huge time-saver but, once more, us poor DM's are last to be catered to because our precious snowflake players are in the majority and have a louder voice...
...grumble, grumble, grumble.
"Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else's opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation."
― Oscar Wilde.
I am fortunate that I have a set up of three monitors. I have Roll20 open on my center monitor, with some DDB tabs open in that browser window for quick lookups. On my left monitor I have a browser window open with multiple DDB tabs: PHB, DMG, MM, and a tab quick searches. On my right monitor is Roll20 NPC/Monster sheets, and Discord.
When I am out of game I am always using DDB to work on my campaign planning, to set up monsters in Roll20 (Copy/Paste) and to read the forums. When I'm doing my campaign prep I use OneNote, and often link my OneNote notes directly to sections of DDB (ie Monsters or magic items) so that in game I can click on the links in my notes to go right to the page/section in DDB.
On mobile I use DDB for my character sheet when I'm a player (and have a reliable internet connection) or use the app for quick lookups.
You don't OWN your books on DDB: WotC can change them any time. What do you think will happen when OneD&D comes out?
I'm using it for the adventure books and monster listings. I've created a personalized magic item for each player. I can track player's character sheets but they don't use it while we game, except for one player. I also use the Chrome extension D&D Toolbox which integrates with DDB and adds an encounter builder, initiative tracker and a dice rollers. I can't wait, DM wise, for the DM screen, encounter builder and dice roller updates to roll out so I can rely less on the extension for running my games.
I have a laptop that is hooked up to a projector projecting the players map down on to a table top where the players have their miniatures. This way everyone can see where their players are at any given time. The detailed maps help with player immersion in the game. The laptop is hooked up to a speaker so I can put on the background music/sounds. I have it hooked up to DDB as well for module pictures, magic items the characters might find etc. Other things I might want the characters to see are also on this computer such as important/dramatic dice rolls with an online dice roller.
I have another computer with two screens open for the DM. One screen is the DM map and the other has multiple tabs open to the DDB dungeon/module, monsters, spells, items, initiative tracker, and whatever else I need.