I'm looking into buying a subscription. I'm a player I'll be dming around Christmas for a holiday one shot. But with limited table space I was wondering what is the best way to use DnD beyond. Do you prefer laptop, surface, ipad, or other tablets? Do you just use your phone? Is one version of the app more stable than another? Anything I should know before buying? Thank you so much!
Personally I, as DM, use a laptop that doubles as my DM screen, then each of my players either bring or borrow a tablet (or 2-in-1 laptop, used in tablet mode). I find a tablet’s lower profile is the perfect balance between a laptop - which takes up table space and cannot be as easily held in the lap while sitting at a table - and the rather inconvenient interface when trying to navigate on a small phone screen.
The big problem, of course, is going to be having enough tablets for everyone if someone at the group does not own their own tablet or when someone inevitably forgets to bring theirs with them to the session.
In terms of what tablet to use, I don’t think it matters. The browser version of the website is the best, easiest to use, and most stable, so it does not really matter which type of device you access the browser version from, provided the screen is big enough to easily read and navigate everything.
the handful of times we've met in person, i have the master sub to share stuff to a campaign another person DMs. He and i use the DNDB website and app on tablets and laptops while the players use smartphones or tablets to access their character. We just roll dice manually cuz it's more fun. Most bring paper copies of character sheets as well. The analogue/digital mix-up works fine for the most part.
For those just wanting an android tablet for DNDB, you don't need top of the line. I have a Vastking off Amazon and a couple of others have similar Chinese-style knock offs that work great. Just get at least Android 10 or 11 for best life-expectancy.
At our last session, one of the players observed we were all using different ways to access our sheets: a laptop, tablet, phone and paper. All of them work quite well, it really comes down to personal preference. I’d experiment with each and see which you like better. And, being the only one using actual paper, I’ve got to put in a plug for that. I concede tracking most abilities in general, and spells in particular, is way easier on a screen. But there’s something very satisfying about erasing and re-writing your hit points, etc. over and over. Also, I know myself, and if I have a screen open, I’ll end up getting distracted by the internet and otherwise straying off task.
- A tablet to display the map for my own use to track the party. It's Samsung and I have a Samsung TV so I can cast the map very easily if needed.
- My phone to look up the legend, I don't need to lose the map to find out what's in the room they just entered. I'll also use it to follow links to statblocks, if necessary.
- A Surface that has my character sheet up that I can just write on. I find it much easier to write quickly than using fields or whatever with a virtual keyboard.
- Physical dice.
If I'm a player, the phone and tablet are dropped but everything else is the same. My phone gets used to look things up if necessary.
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I'm looking into buying a subscription. I'm a player I'll be dming around Christmas for a holiday one shot. But with limited table space I was wondering what is the best way to use DnD beyond. Do you prefer laptop, surface, ipad, or other tablets? Do you just use your phone? Is one version of the app more stable than another? Anything I should know before buying? Thank you so much!
Personally I, as DM, use a laptop that doubles as my DM screen, then each of my players either bring or borrow a tablet (or 2-in-1 laptop, used in tablet mode). I find a tablet’s lower profile is the perfect balance between a laptop - which takes up table space and cannot be as easily held in the lap while sitting at a table - and the rather inconvenient interface when trying to navigate on a small phone screen.
The big problem, of course, is going to be having enough tablets for everyone if someone at the group does not own their own tablet or when someone inevitably forgets to bring theirs with them to the session.
In terms of what tablet to use, I don’t think it matters. The browser version of the website is the best, easiest to use, and most stable, so it does not really matter which type of device you access the browser version from, provided the screen is big enough to easily read and navigate everything.
Remember that a subscription does not grant access to content on its own.
The hero sub is to get rid of ads and have unlimited character slots
The master sub is to share content that you have already paid for.
Also, I prefer a Surface.
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the handful of times we've met in person, i have the master sub to share stuff to a campaign another person DMs. He and i use the DNDB website and app on tablets and laptops while the players use smartphones or tablets to access their character. We just roll dice manually cuz it's more fun. Most bring paper copies of character sheets as well. The analogue/digital mix-up works fine for the most part.
For those just wanting an android tablet for DNDB, you don't need top of the line. I have a Vastking off Amazon and a couple of others have similar Chinese-style knock offs that work great. Just get at least Android 10 or 11 for best life-expectancy.
We all have laptops, although some are pretty small chromebooks. I might use a tablet instead if I had one.
Our host has a few little folding TV-tray type tables that are great for having a laptop off to the side when the table gets too crowded.
My homebrew subclasses (full list here)
(Artificer) Swordmage | Glasswright | (Barbarian) Path of the Savage Embrace
(Bard) College of Dance | (Fighter) Warlord | Cannoneer
(Monk) Way of the Elements | (Ranger) Blade Dancer
(Rogue) DaggerMaster | Inquisitor | (Sorcerer) Riftwalker | Spellfist
(Warlock) The Swarm
At our last session, one of the players observed we were all using different ways to access our sheets: a laptop, tablet, phone and paper. All of them work quite well, it really comes down to personal preference. I’d experiment with each and see which you like better.
And, being the only one using actual paper, I’ve got to put in a plug for that. I concede tracking most abilities in general, and spells in particular, is way easier on a screen. But there’s something very satisfying about erasing and re-writing your hit points, etc. over and over. Also, I know myself, and if I have a screen open, I’ll end up getting distracted by the internet and otherwise straying off task.
My DM uses a laptop but the players range from their phones to paper. I use a tablet with a paper backup.
As DM, I usually have the following set up:
- A tablet to display the map for my own use to track the party. It's Samsung and I have a Samsung TV so I can cast the map very easily if needed.
- My phone to look up the legend, I don't need to lose the map to find out what's in the room they just entered. I'll also use it to follow links to statblocks, if necessary.
- A Surface that has my character sheet up that I can just write on. I find it much easier to write quickly than using fields or whatever with a virtual keyboard.
- Physical dice.
If I'm a player, the phone and tablet are dropped but everything else is the same. My phone gets used to look things up if necessary.
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.