I’m running a game for the first time using DND Beyond, and I’m wondering what recommendations you all have to using a digital DM screen? What resources are useful on the site during game, and what should I provide in addition?
From running a couple different campaigns, I'd say it depends a lot on your setting and the type of game you're wanting to play. I've looked at the official screens and found them a little lacking for my needs, since they are weighed heavily in random encounter and npc generation. What I would recommend is a quick definition of the conditions for your own reference, and links to the most useful pages of the DMG and XgtE. Random loot tables are quite useful to have at your fingertips. If you are playing an adventure module it also makes sense to link to the tables or rules you might want in a pinch.
I made myself a 'screen' for the RotFM game I'm running, and I've found it to be very useful. You're welcome to look it over here.
I recommend a physical DM Screen, you don't need to buy the fancy one all you really need is something blocking you from the player. I'd just use google docs, I can locate all of my notes and documents of what's important to me. It's stupid but it keeps me organized and I don't worry about the information I don't need.
If you go with a physical one (I use a mix of physical and digital) then bulldog clips are a must you can clip your important additions over the top and are always there, effectively giving you double the screen space
I also use a small whiteboard for combat scratch notes, leaving my notepad for more permanent notes
I would recommend not using a screen. I keep my laptop and notebook handy, but otherwise I don't put anything between myself and my players (pre-COVID).
I can reference maps and draw them on a battlemat if needed, and do all of my rolling in the open. No fudging.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"Sooner or later, your Players are going to smash your railroad into a sandbox."
-Vedexent
"real life is a super high CR."
-OboeLauren
"............anybody got any potatoes? We could drop a potato in each hole an' see which ones get viciously mauled by horrible monsters?"
I would recommend not using a screen. I keep my laptop and notebook handy, but otherwise I don't put anything between myself and my players (pre-COVID).
I can reference maps and draw them on a battlemat if needed, and do all of my rolling in the open. No fudging.
These days I'm all digital and keep everything I need on my laptop. But since I'm an old guy I still enjoy a physical DM screen. There's something special about the DM being a keeper of secrets behind a screen. Or maybe I'm just nostalgic and old school :-) The revised DM screen is actually pretty ok imho.
There are lots of good DM screen/reference material for free online, just compile it to something that fits your needs. And with Beyond everything is just a few clicks away, so I find my need for own compilations is pretty much gone.
Hey all!
I’m running a game for the first time using DND Beyond, and I’m wondering what recommendations you all have to using a digital DM screen? What resources are useful on the site during game, and what should I provide in addition?
From running a couple different campaigns, I'd say it depends a lot on your setting and the type of game you're wanting to play. I've looked at the official screens and found them a little lacking for my needs, since they are weighed heavily in random encounter and npc generation. What I would recommend is a quick definition of the conditions for your own reference, and links to the most useful pages of the DMG and XgtE. Random loot tables are quite useful to have at your fingertips. If you are playing an adventure module it also makes sense to link to the tables or rules you might want in a pinch.
I made myself a 'screen' for the RotFM game I'm running, and I've found it to be very useful. You're welcome to look it over here.
I recommend a physical DM Screen, you don't need to buy the fancy one all you really need is something blocking you from the player. I'd just use google docs, I can locate all of my notes and documents of what's important to me. It's stupid but it keeps me organized and I don't worry about the information I don't need.
If you go with a physical one (I use a mix of physical and digital) then bulldog clips are a must you can clip your important additions over the top and are always there, effectively giving you double the screen space
I also use a small whiteboard for combat scratch notes, leaving my notepad for more permanent notes
---
Jay
I would recommend not using a screen. I keep my laptop and notebook handy, but otherwise I don't put anything between myself and my players (pre-COVID).
I can reference maps and draw them on a battlemat if needed, and do all of my rolling in the open. No fudging.
"Sooner or later, your Players are going to smash your railroad into a sandbox."
-Vedexent
"real life is a super high CR."
-OboeLauren
"............anybody got any potatoes? We could drop a potato in each hole an' see which ones get viciously mauled by horrible monsters?"
-Ilyara Thundertale
These days I'm all digital and keep everything I need on my laptop. But since I'm an old guy I still enjoy a physical DM screen. There's something special about the DM being a keeper of secrets behind a screen. Or maybe I'm just nostalgic and old school :-) The revised DM screen is actually pretty ok imho.
There are lots of good DM screen/reference material for free online, just compile it to something that fits your needs. And with Beyond everything is just a few clicks away, so I find my need for own compilations is pretty much gone.
I found this useful:
http://ceryliae.github.io/5edmscreen/mobile
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