Hi, I am trying to decide on some things and had a question. How many players use a digital device while playing, about what percent? Are the most popular phones due to most people already having one? Should they be encouraged or discouraged?
Hi, I am trying to decide on some things and had a question. How many players use a digital device while playing, about what percent? Are the most popular phones due to most people already having one? Should they be encouraged or discouraged?
Thanks
I'm trying to figure out what you are asking ...
Do some people play on their phones or tablets as a distraction while playing D&D? Yes.
Do some people use their phone or tablet to access electronic character sheets or rules references while playing? Yes.
However, these are completely different questions. Using electronic resources to make playing D&D easier for them is fine. Using devices that distract from the game so that the player doesn't know what is going on or isn't ready when their turn comes around isn't desirable. On the other hand, if the party is split and their character isn't supposed to know what is happening to the rest then using a device is a good way to mimic that effect.
If a player is using a device during play because they are bored then it is up to the DM to adjust the play style so that the player is more engaged.
Finally, what fraction of people use devices while playing for whatever reasons varies immensely from table to table, place to place, person to person, group to group, I don't think that there is any baseline situation that you could use as a reference.
If devices are disrupting your game then discourage their use if possible. Try to get folks engaged and interested in the game so that they pay attention and are aware of what is going on in the game whether they are using devices or not.
Very similar story. Playing DDO almost since launch but less regularly now. Started AL a few months back. I just got a tablet and use the D&D Beyond record sheets for everything.
Digital tools are fantastic. I don’t mind paper character sheets but they are limited. While I love rolling dice I do not think physical sheets can compare to digital management tools nowadays. I think anything that dissuades someone using digital Tools (unless you know they are not actually doing it and using it as a distraction) is a bad idea
About half my players now use D&D Beyond or another PC builder. Beyond on the phone is okay but sometimes slows down the game for some attack rounds but this depends on the person.
I'm a little confused as to why this is in the AL forum. I don't believe there's a specific AL policy about device use in play (other than maybe codifying the basic ettiquette that "distraction devices" should be minimized).
So as a non AL player, screens vs paper are six of one half a dozen of the other these days. I grew up on paper and books and pencils. It's still my preferred mode and I'll admit sometimes struggling to render things like maps online or on a screen instead of using a battlemap or rough sketch for the table. Many folks younger than me, so called "digital natives" are more adept at referencing screen based interfaces than printed material. One thing, say a D&D Beyond character sheet has as an advntage over paper is that, if properly maintained, it does the bulk of the math for the player, and will even roll the dice if the player doesn't have any on hand.
I don't feel "devices" are inhernetly more distracting. Attention span is attention span and if one zones out on their phone or just zones out, well the DM really needn't police that, thats more a whole table needs to ensure everyone's engaged. So in my games I have some folks working off paper, I have others working off screens. I don't think the medium their character sheet on makes either player worse or better.
Online games, having a character sheet in a digitally shareable format is an expectation. If I'm playing in such a game, I'll still likely take notes on a scratch pad and update the sheet as needed after session (aside from real time things like hp, spell slots, consumably inventory etc).
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Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
I was not worried about a specific policy or anything I was just thinking that it could get me the largest group of people who likely play in person. Playing in person is where the player station I was thinking of would shine.
There's always a market for "game accesories." I don't know the usage figures but I think folks who play D&D using D&D Beyond may skew more toward those who play on tablets than those who play on phones, so you might be thinking of a bigger product. Either way it sounds like you're talking about a "device" stand that may have some sort of D&D or TTRPG specific styling or maybe function built into it. There is a market for that stuff. I mean folks pay for bespoke game tables, some of which include support for devices (like actual stands or even integrated charging/power stations).
In other words, your idea may not be so much an innovation, so what you'd really want to focus on is the design and aesthetics of the concept, if I'm following you right. One of the biggest "fancy tools and furnishing for gaming" companies is called Wyrmwood, they do everything from dice holders to fancy gaming tables. You might want to give them a look to get a sense of the market I think you're thinking of.
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Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
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Hi, I am trying to decide on some things and had a question. How many players use a digital device while playing, about what percent? Are the most popular phones due to most people already having one? Should they be encouraged or discouraged?
Thanks
I'm trying to figure out what you are asking ...
Do some people play on their phones or tablets as a distraction while playing D&D? Yes.
Do some people use their phone or tablet to access electronic character sheets or rules references while playing? Yes.
However, these are completely different questions. Using electronic resources to make playing D&D easier for them is fine. Using devices that distract from the game so that the player doesn't know what is going on or isn't ready when their turn comes around isn't desirable. On the other hand, if the party is split and their character isn't supposed to know what is happening to the rest then using a device is a good way to mimic that effect.
If a player is using a device during play because they are bored then it is up to the DM to adjust the play style so that the player is more engaged.
Finally, what fraction of people use devices while playing for whatever reasons varies immensely from table to table, place to place, person to person, group to group, I don't think that there is any baseline situation that you could use as a reference.
If devices are disrupting your game then discourage their use if possible. Try to get folks engaged and interested in the game so that they pay attention and are aware of what is going on in the game whether they are using devices or not.
See for me ..
I've been away from tabletop D&D for nearly 20 years. I moved away and all my friends continued playing,
I really got into Dugeons & Dragons Online over the last 15 years and still play to this day.
Well last weekend I got to play with my old friends ( 5e now ) and I found it very difficult to get into. Maybe I'm more of a " digital " person now.
D&D Beyond has definitely helped peak my interest a little more.
Very similar story. Playing DDO almost since launch but less regularly now. Started AL a few months back. I just got a tablet and use the D&D Beyond record sheets for everything.
I was asking about as a gaming aid. I would not promote the idea of distraction at the table. Side conversation and joking does that enough.
I had an idea for a player's station that would help hold a phone etc and looking at what kind of market there was.
I am sorry for being confusing.
Digital tools are fantastic. I don’t mind paper character sheets but they are limited. While I love rolling dice I do not think physical sheets can compare to digital management tools nowadays. I think anything that dissuades someone using digital Tools (unless you know they are not actually doing it and using it as a distraction) is a bad idea
About half my players now use D&D Beyond or another PC builder. Beyond on the phone is okay but sometimes slows down the game for some attack rounds but this depends on the person.
No Gaming is Better than Bad Gaming.
I'm a little confused as to why this is in the AL forum. I don't believe there's a specific AL policy about device use in play (other than maybe codifying the basic ettiquette that "distraction devices" should be minimized).
So as a non AL player, screens vs paper are six of one half a dozen of the other these days. I grew up on paper and books and pencils. It's still my preferred mode and I'll admit sometimes struggling to render things like maps online or on a screen instead of using a battlemap or rough sketch for the table. Many folks younger than me, so called "digital natives" are more adept at referencing screen based interfaces than printed material. One thing, say a D&D Beyond character sheet has as an advntage over paper is that, if properly maintained, it does the bulk of the math for the player, and will even roll the dice if the player doesn't have any on hand.
I don't feel "devices" are inhernetly more distracting. Attention span is attention span and if one zones out on their phone or just zones out, well the DM really needn't police that, thats more a whole table needs to ensure everyone's engaged. So in my games I have some folks working off paper, I have others working off screens. I don't think the medium their character sheet on makes either player worse or better.
Online games, having a character sheet in a digitally shareable format is an expectation. If I'm playing in such a game, I'll still likely take notes on a scratch pad and update the sheet as needed after session (aside from real time things like hp, spell slots, consumably inventory etc).
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
I was not worried about a specific policy or anything I was just thinking that it could get me the largest group of people who likely play in person. Playing in person is where the player station I was thinking of would shine.
I am thankful for all the feedback and input.
There's always a market for "game accesories." I don't know the usage figures but I think folks who play D&D using D&D Beyond may skew more toward those who play on tablets than those who play on phones, so you might be thinking of a bigger product. Either way it sounds like you're talking about a "device" stand that may have some sort of D&D or TTRPG specific styling or maybe function built into it. There is a market for that stuff. I mean folks pay for bespoke game tables, some of which include support for devices (like actual stands or even integrated charging/power stations).
In other words, your idea may not be so much an innovation, so what you'd really want to focus on is the design and aesthetics of the concept, if I'm following you right. One of the biggest "fancy tools and furnishing for gaming" companies is called Wyrmwood, they do everything from dice holders to fancy gaming tables. You might want to give them a look to get a sense of the market I think you're thinking of.
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.