Hi...I am looking to bring in a laptop/surface to run my game, and I am considering a few different options. As such, I am curious as to what some of the set ups are that y'all use as well as maybe some pros/cons. I am looking to be able to access my gaming notes, D&D beyond character/campaign, music, and control a projector...any thoughts?
What exactly are you asking? If you're asking what to bring along, or what technology to use, then it sounds like you answered your own question: laptop and projector.
If you don't own both of these, are looking for purchasing advice, that's a bit beyond the scope of this forum, and we'd need to know what your list of requirements ( outside of the using them for TTPRGS ), price range, what you might own already ( no point in telling you to get an Android based tablet, or a Windows based laptop if every thing else you own is Apple ), etc.
If you're asking for software or software services that people have used, then:
For notes I findGoogle Docs works well for making session planning notes and ongoing game notes. For longer term campaign world reference information, you could put something together in GM binder, for example.
D&D Beyond is a great digital reference for rules, although it's not the only one - Roll20, Foundry, ( I think? I don't use VTTs ), etc. - although adding the reference materials to those isn't free. If you're doing face-to-face then you're probably using dead tree versions anyway.
Dice can be done virtually in the D&D campaign logs now. Alternatively, Discord with the the Avrae dice rolling bot works well - and can even integrate with D&D beyond.
If this is a face-to-face game, then you might not be thinking of using digital dice rolling, although it's nice to have a dice log and everyone "rolling in the open". If you want to do both, and money is no object, you might have a look at Go Dice.
If you want to go VTT, there's a couple of options: Roll20, Foundry, or if you want to go quick, simple, and free, someone recently suggestedOwlbear Rodeo to me, which looks pretty bare bones, but the price is right.
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I use a combination of Laptop and notepad for DMing, the laptop contains all of my DM notes and plans, a list of random names, It has DnD beyond up ready to google rules (I also have all the physical books to hand), It also has a number of different random generating sites up for anything from encounters to NPC's to city maps and loot if needed.
I still have my DM screen up and everyone at my table still uses physical dice including me. Depending on the game and group I also might have my large monitor with me, this gets placed on its back on the table with a clear perspex screen over it to protect it from the miniatures I place on the Battle Map I pull up on the screen. This means that I can change, move, uncover and reveal maps as we go but is a bit more of a technical investment and I equally sometimes simply draw maps out on graph paper for other groups. Or the Monitor stays upright in the normal position and is used to point to the players to pull up maps or pictures to show what they are seeing, it depends on the group and what we are doing. I will say that if your using just a laptop you quickly can run out of space and spend half your time finding the right browser to open up hence I usually still lean on physical copies of the books for finding information.
Music I actually run from my phone separate to my laptop, the reason for this is that with so many screens up at various points its just easier to switch music on my phone as I am also pulling up the info I want. My phone browser is also always open on a spell reference site and is my automatic go to to clarify spell details.
In terms of Technologies I use, Inkarnate for maps, I Use World Anvil for a campaign that is mature, and google docs for one which is in it's early days, I very much run open sandbox worlds so the Notepad is key because I am constantly making stuff up on the fly that I then add into my electronic notes.
For my remote game, set up is identical, I don't really use a VTT because some of my players dial in on there tablet or phone but also I love Theatre of the mind and think it keeps me on my feet as a DM. I will say my home PC setup has 4 monitors so I have lots of real estate to open windows and place different information across my screens so playing remotely I use electronic information alot more BUT, I still have all my books to hand right next to my desk and at least 2 will be next to my keyboard. I also use real dice when rolling remotely, and leave it up to my players if they want to do the same.
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Hi...I am looking to bring in a laptop/surface to run my game, and I am considering a few different options. As such, I am curious as to what some of the set ups are that y'all use as well as maybe some pros/cons. I am looking to be able to access my gaming notes, D&D beyond character/campaign, music, and control a projector...any thoughts?
What exactly are you asking? If you're asking what to bring along, or what technology to use, then it sounds like you answered your own question: laptop and projector.
If you don't own both of these, are looking for purchasing advice, that's a bit beyond the scope of this forum, and we'd need to know what your list of requirements ( outside of the using them for TTPRGS ), price range, what you might own already ( no point in telling you to get an Android based tablet, or a Windows based laptop if every thing else you own is Apple ), etc.
If you're asking for software or software services that people have used, then:
Just some ideas off the cuff.
My DM Philosophy, as summed up by other people: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rN5w4-azTq3Kbn0Yvk9nfqQhwQ1R5by1/view
Disclaimer: This signature is a badge of membership in the Forum Loudmouth Club. We are all friends. We are not attacking each other. We are engaging in spirited, friendly debate with one another. We may get snarky, but these are not attacks. Thank you for not reporting us.
I use a combination of Laptop and notepad for DMing, the laptop contains all of my DM notes and plans, a list of random names, It has DnD beyond up ready to google rules (I also have all the physical books to hand), It also has a number of different random generating sites up for anything from encounters to NPC's to city maps and loot if needed.
I still have my DM screen up and everyone at my table still uses physical dice including me. Depending on the game and group I also might have my large monitor with me, this gets placed on its back on the table with a clear perspex screen over it to protect it from the miniatures I place on the Battle Map I pull up on the screen. This means that I can change, move, uncover and reveal maps as we go but is a bit more of a technical investment and I equally sometimes simply draw maps out on graph paper for other groups. Or the Monitor stays upright in the normal position and is used to point to the players to pull up maps or pictures to show what they are seeing, it depends on the group and what we are doing. I will say that if your using just a laptop you quickly can run out of space and spend half your time finding the right browser to open up hence I usually still lean on physical copies of the books for finding information.
Music I actually run from my phone separate to my laptop, the reason for this is that with so many screens up at various points its just easier to switch music on my phone as I am also pulling up the info I want. My phone browser is also always open on a spell reference site and is my automatic go to to clarify spell details.
In terms of Technologies I use, Inkarnate for maps, I Use World Anvil for a campaign that is mature, and google docs for one which is in it's early days, I very much run open sandbox worlds so the Notepad is key because I am constantly making stuff up on the fly that I then add into my electronic notes.
Dungeon Dudes do a great little video about there own DM set up one of them uses a laptop the other doesn't.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCUV5TJHOr4
For my remote game, set up is identical, I don't really use a VTT because some of my players dial in on there tablet or phone but also I love Theatre of the mind and think it keeps me on my feet as a DM. I will say my home PC setup has 4 monitors so I have lots of real estate to open windows and place different information across my screens so playing remotely I use electronic information alot more BUT, I still have all my books to hand right next to my desk and at least 2 will be next to my keyboard. I also use real dice when rolling remotely, and leave it up to my players if they want to do the same.