I'm pretty new here & love the website as well as both apps (character builder / virtually active character sheet) & source books.
I think it would be an awesome idea for your developers to create an app exclusively for DMs which would contain all of these new features you're rolling out (i.e. encounter builder) etc. & make it so that it's optional for DMs to share their rolls with players within their campaigns.
Also content such as DM notes could be placed in this app instead of having to frequently visit the website for this & other inventive ways to bring DM tools to life. The upcoming rolling on monster stat blocks is extremely awesome & welcomed as I plan on being the type of DM who will roll for all HP instead of using the suggested average.
If this message comes across any fellow players & DMs viewing, please echo my sentiment on this if you feel it would be a great idea as well with a rating.
You can access all of these tools from your mobile device by using your browser on that device and logging into the website - the website is designed to work well on mobile devices.
The DM tools you mention are fairly reliant on being able to draw information from the website, so wouldn't really be able to work offline (which is the primary use case for building the apps - to allow offline access to content).
the website is designed to work well on mobile devices.
The website really does work well. However, I really wouldn't want to DM using just mobile devices, even with a dedicated app. Trying to flip between multiple character sheets and stat blocks, DM notes etc on a phone, or even a tablet, I can't imagine would be anything but horrendously slow and frustrating (for you and your players).
the website is designed to work well on mobile devices.
The website really does work well. However, I really wouldn't want to DM using just mobile devices, even with a dedicated app. Trying to flip between multiple character sheets and stat blocks, DM notes etc on a phone, or even a tablet, I can't imagine would be anything but horrendously slow and frustrating (for you and your players).
It can be, especially when the player app crashes a lot. That’s how I run things and if I have multiple tabs open to DDB then the server’s cache gets out of sync and the combat tracker crashes and then 🤬. As long as I use the app to run my NPCs and such then it’s not so bad. But when the app crashes it’s a pain. Not to mention that one of my NPCs is “public” in the party, another is “private” in the party and the rest are in an “NPC” campaign that I have to switch to. I don’t even keep m DM notes in DDB because that would require even more tabs open to this site, so I use Google Docs for those.
That's weird. I run multiple tabs all the time and I haven't had an issue with a sync crash... but yeah, that would be a pain!
Also, I vote for keeping all DM Tools on the website. More powerful and I'm never going to DM a campaign from a phone... I have enough trouble with two large screens and a laptop screen and at least 10 tabs open. I mean, unless I want to spend a lot more time memorizing things... yeah, that's just a path of frustration.
I hate computers. If I couldn’t do it from my phone and iPad, I wouldn’t do it at all I would just use pencil and paper like I prefer. I do everything on DDB from my iPhone, and iPad.
Thanks for all of the responses. Lots of good stuff here for me to take into consideration.
I've been studying the PHB, DMG & a skimming through a few other source books for the past 3+ months & haven't played a single game yet as a character or DM. I'm sure you'd all find this to be crazy as Hell. 😅
I'm now looking forward to running my first game as a DM. My knowledge is probably less than basic/novice level but I'm looking forward to learning along the way... Even at the "expense" of my players' patience. None of them have ever played before either so we're all in the same boat pretty much.
I'm now looking forward to running my first game as a DM. My knowledge is probably less than basic/novice level but I'm looking forward to learning along the way... Even at the "expense" of my players' patience. None of them have ever played before either so we're all in the same boat pretty much.
Yay! Great to hear a group new to D&D setting out to play!
I wish you the best of luck!
The single biggest tip I can offer is to just focus on having fun as a group, rather than worrying too much about the rules - you'll pick those up over time. 💖
I mean I live out in the country where the internet sucks. I like to use my phone to run encounters. It really allows me to get up from behind my screen and actually walk around the table. I’d love to have a DM app or add a bit of DM functionality to the app for the very reason that I have bad internet. Even if it is just the encounter portion. Also would love it if I could get a stat block when I select a PC on the initiative list like I can with the NPCs. That way I don’t have to look at my notes to see if something hits when I’m walking around the table. as it stands though, it’s a great website and a great app, love that everything is in one place. It’s perfect for what I need. These would merely be quality of life type changes!
The DM tools you mention are fairly reliant on being able to draw information from the website, so wouldn't really be able to work offline (which is the primary use case for building the apps - to allow offline access to content).
Well, surely the encounter BUILDER is what needs to be online. But the encounter RUNNER doesn't right?
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Good morning all. ☀️
I'm pretty new here & love the website as well as both apps (character builder / virtually active character sheet) & source books.
I think it would be an awesome idea for your developers to create an app exclusively for DMs which would contain all of these new features you're rolling out (i.e. encounter builder) etc. & make it so that it's optional for DMs to share their rolls with players within their campaigns.
Also content such as DM notes could be placed in this app instead of having to frequently visit the website for this & other inventive ways to bring DM tools to life. The upcoming rolling on monster stat blocks is extremely awesome & welcomed as I plan on being the type of DM who will roll for all HP instead of using the suggested average.
If this message comes across any fellow players & DMs viewing, please echo my sentiment on this if you feel it would be a great idea as well with a rating.
Kind regards,
88-Keys of Keys Open Doors LLC
You can access all of these tools from your mobile device by using your browser on that device and logging into the website - the website is designed to work well on mobile devices.
The DM tools you mention are fairly reliant on being able to draw information from the website, so wouldn't really be able to work offline (which is the primary use case for building the apps - to allow offline access to content).
Pun-loving nerd | Faith Elisabeth Lilley | She/Her/Hers | Profile art by Becca Golins
If you need help with homebrew, please post on the homebrew forums, where multiple staff and moderators can read your post and help you!
"We got this, no problem! I'll take the twenty on the left - you guys handle the one on the right!"🔊
Ahhh okay. Thank you for your expedient response.
And here's to wishful thinking... 🍻 ("honey mead")
Apple juice in my mug because I don't drink alcohol. 😉
The website really does work well. However, I really wouldn't want to DM using just mobile devices, even with a dedicated app. Trying to flip between multiple character sheets and stat blocks, DM notes etc on a phone, or even a tablet, I can't imagine would be anything but horrendously slow and frustrating (for you and your players).
It can be, especially when the player app crashes a lot. That’s how I run things and if I have multiple tabs open to DDB then the server’s cache gets out of sync and the combat tracker crashes and then 🤬. As long as I use the app to run my NPCs and such then it’s not so bad. But when the app crashes it’s a pain. Not to mention that one of my NPCs is “public” in the party, another is “private” in the party and the rest are in an “NPC” campaign that I have to switch to. I don’t even keep m DM notes in DDB because that would require even more tabs open to this site, so I use Google Docs for those.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
That's weird. I run multiple tabs all the time and I haven't had an issue with a sync crash... but yeah, that would be a pain!
Also, I vote for keeping all DM Tools on the website. More powerful and I'm never going to DM a campaign from a phone... I have enough trouble with two large screens and a laptop screen and at least 10 tabs open. I mean, unless I want to spend a lot more time memorizing things... yeah, that's just a path of frustration.
I hate computers. If I couldn’t do it from my phone and iPad, I wouldn’t do it at all I would just use pencil and paper like I prefer. I do everything on DDB from my iPhone, and iPad.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
Thanks for all of the responses. Lots of good stuff here for me to take into consideration.
I've been studying the PHB, DMG & a skimming through a few other source books for the past 3+ months & haven't played a single game yet as a character or DM. I'm sure you'd all find this to be crazy as Hell. 😅
I'm now looking forward to running my first game as a DM. My knowledge is probably less than basic/novice level but I'm looking forward to learning along the way... Even at the "expense" of my players' patience. None of them have ever played before either so we're all in the same boat pretty much.
Yay! Great to hear a group new to D&D setting out to play!
I wish you the best of luck!
The single biggest tip I can offer is to just focus on having fun as a group, rather than worrying too much about the rules - you'll pick those up over time. 💖
Pun-loving nerd | Faith Elisabeth Lilley | She/Her/Hers | Profile art by Becca Golins
If you need help with homebrew, please post on the homebrew forums, where multiple staff and moderators can read your post and help you!
"We got this, no problem! I'll take the twenty on the left - you guys handle the one on the right!"🔊
Thank you kindly. 🙏🏾
I'm really excited! 😊
I mean I live out in the country where the internet sucks. I like to use my phone to run encounters. It really allows me to get up from behind my screen and actually walk around the table. I’d love to have a DM app or add a bit of DM functionality to the app for the very reason that I have bad internet. Even if it is just the encounter portion. Also would love it if I could get a stat block when I select a PC on the initiative list like I can with the NPCs. That way I don’t have to look at my notes to see if something hits when I’m walking around the table. as it stands though, it’s a great website and a great app, love that everything is in one place. It’s perfect for what I need. These would merely be quality of life type changes!
Well, surely the encounter BUILDER is what needs to be online. But the encounter RUNNER doesn't right?