Hi everyone. Any advice on how to physically construct a DM screen? I have 10 pages of notes and I hang the most relevant 2-3 pages of notes on my one-inch 3-ring D&D binder with bulldog clips. I open up the binder and use it as a screen. This works ok. I can only put up 2-3 sheets of 8.5x11 paper though and they overlap. Also, I can't flip through my binder to look at notes and references that I use less frequently.
Anyone have a better idea?
I thought about printing out the files at FedEx on heavy cardstock but my local store does not print anything bigger than 11 x 17 on heavy paper. I also thought about pasting papers to a trifold poster board that you might use for a science project in school. I don't love any of these ideas.
My craftsman skills are limited so nothing too elaborate please.
Thanks in advance.
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Velstitzen
I am a 40 something year old physician who DMs for a group of 40 something year old doctors. We play a hybrid game, mostly based on 2nd edition rules with some homebrew and 5E components.
Oh yeah, our house rules are a hodge-podge of rules and definitely not 5e. So I can't buy anything pre-made.
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Velstitzen
I am a 40 something year old physician who DMs for a group of 40 something year old doctors. We play a hybrid game, mostly based on 2nd edition rules with some homebrew and 5E components.
A lot would depend on your budget. Cutting up a cardboard box is always a choice ( I know you said you weren't into posterboard, but, well, it's a popular option for a reason: It works. It's certainly the cheapest, and would offer the best for customization, as you can make the dimensions be exactly what you want. Of course, it will also be the least attractive. (Though maybe an exacto knife and straightedge can at least make it look more square). You could always get a little crafty and print out some art to paste/glue onto the player-facing side (generic scenes, or portraits of the PCs, maybe) and then some more paste/glue on the you-facing side for the parts you need. It also has the advantage of placing the different little bits where they work best for you, instead of where a graphic designer thought they fit best. Even if your crafting skills aren't great, you can type up the information, and print in color in a way that you'll find appealing. There's also foam board, which can be pretty sturdy, comes in lots of colors and is easy to cut to size. It doesn't fold, however, so you'd need to join the parts together, basically make some duct tape hinges or something similar.
Or you can always buy an "official" store-bought screen and put your stuff onto it. Just tape (or back to the glue/paste) the important papers over what's there.
Another option could be to visit an art supply store and just stroll the aisles looking for inspiration. Or ask the people there. With as popular as D&D is getting nowadays, you might not even need to explain any more than homemade DM screen. They may direct you to things that we won't think of here.
A lot would depend on your budget. Cutting up a cardboard box is always a choice ( I know you said you weren't into posterboard, but, well, it's a popular option for a reason: It works. It's certainly the cheapest, and would offer the best for customization, as you can make the dimensions be exactly what you want. Of course, it will also be the least attractive. (Though maybe an exacto knife and straightedge can at least make it look more square). You could always get a little crafty and print out some art to paste/glue onto the player-facing side (generic scenes, or portraits of the PCs, maybe) and then some more paste/glue on the you-facing side for the parts you need. It also has the advantage of placing the different little bits where they work best for you, instead of where a graphic designer thought they fit best. Even if your crafting skills aren't great, you can type up the information, and print in color in a way that you'll find appealing. There's also foam board, which can be pretty sturdy, comes in lots of colors and is easy to cut to size. It doesn't fold, however, so you'd need to join the parts together, basically make some duct tape hinges or something similar.
Or you can always buy an "official" store-bought screen and put your stuff onto it. Just tape (or back to the glue/paste) the important papers over what's there.
Another option could be to visit an art supply store and just stroll the aisles looking for inspiration. Or ask the people there. With as popular as D&D is getting nowadays, you might not even need to explain any more than homemade DM screen. They may direct you to things that we won't think of here.
This is the one, however, if it’s too much effort (it was for me, I’m lazy, my bad) you can get an official screen, get some paper clips and tape. You can then attach the paper clips to the paper (I broke my clips in half, worked well) with whatever notes you need and just slide it on. This is *VERY* flexible, you can just have a stack of these papers with clips and different themed styled rules, one for food/service prices one with conditions another one with conditions because there’s a lot of conditions. One with some of your combat rules, an initiative tracker. Very handy dandy.
I am a 40 something year old physician who DMs for a group of 40 something year old doctors. We play a hybrid game, mostly based on 2nd edition rules with some homebrew and 5E components.
Three ring binders with the D rings pulled out and/or folders made the same sort of vinyl they make the binders out of. Duct tape two of them together over a pair of overlapping panels, and that's a three panel structure, attach two more for a five panel job. I only put "hard" game data on the screen, action economy, conditions, common weapons and hazard damage or cover values, etc. That's all on paper I simply tape to the inner panels. I might decorate the outside, but usually that's only if I have an artist at the table who's providing illustrations of the party or environs. Things like initiative trackers and encounter info I never put "on" the screen, though I know that's a trend these days, rather I just keep all that on a notebook or pad or board and simply run it behind the screen, sorta what the screen's designed for. Since you're just taping paper for the inner panels, you can trial and error it until you got a heads up display the suits your game running.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
I think so. I may go by a local hobby shop and see what they have to offer as well. I have never done that before.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Velstitzen
I am a 40 something year old physician who DMs for a group of 40 something year old doctors. We play a hybrid game, mostly based on 2nd edition rules with some homebrew and 5E components.
If you're up for some crafting I made an instructables a couple of years ago (and placed in a contest, was well chuffed) to make a wood & leather DM screen!
Thoruk, your screen looks great! Is this something you sell or did you just make it for the contest?
I ended up going to a local teacher's supply store, buying a large trifold piece of cardboard (12 inches tall x 34 inches long) for $3. I think teachers use it to prevent kids from copying. The middle section hold is large enough to hold two sheets of letter sized paper. Using bulldog clips, I clipped relevant artwork to the outside and five pages of charts etc to the inside. It works pretty well for $3 although I would still love something a little more polished.
Thanks to everyone for your ideas.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Velstitzen
I am a 40 something year old physician who DMs for a group of 40 something year old doctors. We play a hybrid game, mostly based on 2nd edition rules with some homebrew and 5E components.
Another option could be to visit an art supply store and just stroll the aisles looking for inspiration. Or ask the people there. With as popular as D&D is getting nowadays, you might not even need to explain any more than homemade DM screen. They may direct you to things that we won't think of here.
As an aside, the middle aged women who were working at the store knew about D&D and had relatives and friends who played. Different world now than just 5 years ago.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Velstitzen
I am a 40 something year old physician who DMs for a group of 40 something year old doctors. We play a hybrid game, mostly based on 2nd edition rules with some homebrew and 5E components.
Thoruk, your screen looks great! Is this something you sell or did you just make it for the contest?
I ended up going to a local teacher's supply store, buying a large trifold piece of cardboard (12 inches tall x 34 inches long) for $3. I think teachers use it to prevent kids from copying. The middle section hold is large enough to hold two sheets of letter sized paper. Using bulldog clips, I clipped relevant artwork to the outside and five pages of charts etc to the inside. It works pretty well for $3 although I would still love something a little more polished.
Thanks to everyone for your ideas.
Thanks! I tried selling it but got little interest sadly - it's still available! I may have another go now I'm setting up a workshop (at long last!) and see if I cant make a bit of a side-business from this sort of thing :)
I don't think I can post an image in this forum. If you send me your email, I will see you a picture.
It is a piece of carboard folded in three pieces measuring 12 inches tall x 34 inches long. I use bulldog clips to pen papers to it. You could make one with a straight edge from a large cardboard box.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Velstitzen
I am a 40 something year old physician who DMs for a group of 40 something year old doctors. We play a hybrid game, mostly based on 2nd edition rules with some homebrew and 5E components.
I ran at least half a dozen dungeons with my cardboard screen, paper clipping various notes to it. Aesthetically it was a C (even though I put cool pictures on the side facing out) but pragmatically it was an A- (slightly too tall, forcing me to sit up tall to see everyone well. Also a little wide). My players took pity on my and bought me a pre-fabricated one. It is very nice and holds four sheets of paper. If anyone is interested, it came from CZZY. It has pre-printed rules (5e? I dunno because I only use a handful of 5e ideas) but I put my custom notes in the slots easily.
I am a 40 something year old physician who DMs for a group of 40 something year old doctors. We play a hybrid game, mostly based on 2nd edition rules with some homebrew and 5E components.
Just using a laptop is.... deviously simply but a good option if you can do it.
Otherwise, I suggest just using trifolds from a craft store, and then using binders and notecards behind it.
The rules can be easy to find on the internet in 5 pages. If you want t, you can tape them to the boards, but if you play enough you'll remember the rules soon enough. The ones on the official screens aren't very legible and are the rules you'll learn and remember first, making them less and less useful the more you play. They DON'T have the rules you rarely use and are going to have to hunt down and look up. (unarmed attacks and improv weapons, for the new UA's feature fighter class, for example). Just avoid them
i’ve been having the same problem with no screens having my custom rules on them and no money to buy my own screen, i’m thinking of just connecting two school binders with tape to make a hinge then slotting my outside artwork into the binder covers. has anyone tried this, and if so could i see the pictures?
i’ve been having the same problem with no screens having my custom rules on them and no money to buy my own screen, i’m thinking of just connecting two school binders with tape to make a hinge then slotting my outside artwork into the binder covers. has anyone tried this, and if so could i see the pictures?
This is a great idea and stores like Walmart have cheap binders, boxes, and display boards.
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 am a 40 something year old physician who DMs for a group of 40 something year old doctors. We play a hybrid game, mostly based on 2nd edition rules with some homebrew and 5E components.
i’ve been having the same problem with no screens having my custom rules on them and no money to buy my own screen, i’m thinking of just connecting two school binders with tape to make a hinge then slotting my outside artwork into the binder covers. has anyone tried this, and if so could i see the pictures?
This works fine and I used it for a long time before my players bought me something better. I used bulldog clips instead of paper clips because they are much sturdier. I did not use two binders, just the one. I would clip extra papers on the edge of the binder to give me a little more room to display paper and a little larger screen.
I am a 40 something year old physician who DMs for a group of 40 something year old doctors. We play a hybrid game, mostly based on 2nd edition rules with some homebrew and 5E components.
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Hi everyone. Any advice on how to physically construct a DM screen? I have 10 pages of notes and I hang the most relevant 2-3 pages of notes on my one-inch 3-ring D&D binder with bulldog clips. I open up the binder and use it as a screen. This works ok. I can only put up 2-3 sheets of 8.5x11 paper though and they overlap. Also, I can't flip through my binder to look at notes and references that I use less frequently.
Anyone have a better idea?
I thought about printing out the files at FedEx on heavy cardstock but my local store does not print anything bigger than 11 x 17 on heavy paper. I also thought about pasting papers to a trifold poster board that you might use for a science project in school. I don't love any of these ideas.
My craftsman skills are limited so nothing too elaborate please.
Thanks in advance.
Velstitzen
I am a 40 something year old physician who DMs for a group of 40 something year old doctors. We play a hybrid game, mostly based on 2nd edition rules with some homebrew and 5E components.
Oh yeah, our house rules are a hodge-podge of rules and definitely not 5e. So I can't buy anything pre-made.
Velstitzen
I am a 40 something year old physician who DMs for a group of 40 something year old doctors. We play a hybrid game, mostly based on 2nd edition rules with some homebrew and 5E components.
A lot would depend on your budget. Cutting up a cardboard box is always a choice ( I know you said you weren't into posterboard, but, well, it's a popular option for a reason: It works. It's certainly the cheapest, and would offer the best for customization, as you can make the dimensions be exactly what you want. Of course, it will also be the least attractive. (Though maybe an exacto knife and straightedge can at least make it look more square). You could always get a little crafty and print out some art to paste/glue onto the player-facing side (generic scenes, or portraits of the PCs, maybe) and then some more paste/glue on the you-facing side for the parts you need. It also has the advantage of placing the different little bits where they work best for you, instead of where a graphic designer thought they fit best. Even if your crafting skills aren't great, you can type up the information, and print in color in a way that you'll find appealing. There's also foam board, which can be pretty sturdy, comes in lots of colors and is easy to cut to size. It doesn't fold, however, so you'd need to join the parts together, basically make some duct tape hinges or something similar.
Or you can always buy an "official" store-bought screen and put your stuff onto it. Just tape (or back to the glue/paste) the important papers over what's there.
Another option could be to visit an art supply store and just stroll the aisles looking for inspiration. Or ask the people there. With as popular as D&D is getting nowadays, you might not even need to explain any more than homemade DM screen. They may direct you to things that we won't think of here.
This is the one, however, if it’s too much effort (it was for me, I’m lazy, my bad) you can get an official screen, get some paper clips and tape. You can then attach the paper clips to the paper (I broke my clips in half, worked well) with whatever notes you need and just slide it on. This is *VERY* flexible, you can just have a stack of these papers with clips and different themed styled rules, one for food/service prices one with conditions another one with conditions because there’s a lot of conditions. One with some of your combat rules, an initiative tracker. Very handy dandy.
I can use scissors, glue and tape! ;)
I was just trying to avoid wood, hinges, etc.
Velstitzen
I am a 40 something year old physician who DMs for a group of 40 something year old doctors. We play a hybrid game, mostly based on 2nd edition rules with some homebrew and 5E components.
Would my paper clip solution be effective?
Three ring binders with the D rings pulled out and/or folders made the same sort of vinyl they make the binders out of. Duct tape two of them together over a pair of overlapping panels, and that's a three panel structure, attach two more for a five panel job. I only put "hard" game data on the screen, action economy, conditions, common weapons and hazard damage or cover values, etc. That's all on paper I simply tape to the inner panels. I might decorate the outside, but usually that's only if I have an artist at the table who's providing illustrations of the party or environs. Things like initiative trackers and encounter info I never put "on" the screen, though I know that's a trend these days, rather I just keep all that on a notebook or pad or board and simply run it behind the screen, sorta what the screen's designed for. Since you're just taping paper for the inner panels, you can trial and error it until you got a heads up display the suits your game running.
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
I think so. I may go by a local hobby shop and see what they have to offer as well. I have never done that before.
Velstitzen
I am a 40 something year old physician who DMs for a group of 40 something year old doctors. We play a hybrid game, mostly based on 2nd edition rules with some homebrew and 5E components.
Using two ringbinders makes for a very stable screen.
http://clashofspearonshield.blogspot.com/2016/03/diy-dm-screen-with-thanks-to-jeremy.html
As a bonus it folds up neatly for travel.
If you're up for some crafting I made an instructables a couple of years ago (and placed in a contest, was well chuffed) to make a wood & leather DM screen!
https://www.instructables.com/Wood-Leather-Dungeon-Masters-Screen/
this could work for you?
Make your Artificer work with any other class with 174 Multiclassing Feats for your Artificer Multiclass Character!
DM's Guild Releases on This Thread Or check them all out on DMs Guild!
DrivethruRPG Releases on This Thread - latest release: My Character is a Werewolf: balanced rules for Lycanthropy!
I have started discussing/reviewing 3rd party D&D content on Substack - stay tuned for semi-regular posts!
Thoruk, your screen looks great! Is this something you sell or did you just make it for the contest?
I ended up going to a local teacher's supply store, buying a large trifold piece of cardboard (12 inches tall x 34 inches long) for $3. I think teachers use it to prevent kids from copying. The middle section hold is large enough to hold two sheets of letter sized paper. Using bulldog clips, I clipped relevant artwork to the outside and five pages of charts etc to the inside. It works pretty well for $3 although I would still love something a little more polished.
Thanks to everyone for your ideas.
Velstitzen
I am a 40 something year old physician who DMs for a group of 40 something year old doctors. We play a hybrid game, mostly based on 2nd edition rules with some homebrew and 5E components.
As an aside, the middle aged women who were working at the store knew about D&D and had relatives and friends who played. Different world now than just 5 years ago.
Velstitzen
I am a 40 something year old physician who DMs for a group of 40 something year old doctors. We play a hybrid game, mostly based on 2nd edition rules with some homebrew and 5E components.
Thanks! I tried selling it but got little interest sadly - it's still available! I may have another go now I'm setting up a workshop (at long last!) and see if I cant make a bit of a side-business from this sort of thing :)
Make your Artificer work with any other class with 174 Multiclassing Feats for your Artificer Multiclass Character!
DM's Guild Releases on This Thread Or check them all out on DMs Guild!
DrivethruRPG Releases on This Thread - latest release: My Character is a Werewolf: balanced rules for Lycanthropy!
I have started discussing/reviewing 3rd party D&D content on Substack - stay tuned for semi-regular posts!
I don't think I can post an image in this forum. If you send me your email, I will see you a picture.
It is a piece of carboard folded in three pieces measuring 12 inches tall x 34 inches long. I use bulldog clips to pen papers to it. You could make one with a straight edge from a large cardboard box.
Velstitzen
I am a 40 something year old physician who DMs for a group of 40 something year old doctors. We play a hybrid game, mostly based on 2nd edition rules with some homebrew and 5E components.
Hey everyone.
I ran at least half a dozen dungeons with my cardboard screen, paper clipping various notes to it. Aesthetically it was a C (even though I put cool pictures on the side facing out) but pragmatically it was an A- (slightly too tall, forcing me to sit up tall to see everyone well. Also a little wide). My players took pity on my and bought me a pre-fabricated one. It is very nice and holds four sheets of paper. If anyone is interested, it came from CZZY. It has pre-printed rules (5e? I dunno because I only use a handful of 5e ideas) but I put my custom notes in the slots easily.
All the best!
https://www.czyy.me/DND-Dungeon-Master-Screen-Faux-Leather-Embossed-Dragon-Mimic-Four-Panel-with-Pockets-DM-Screen-for-Dungeons-and-Dragon-Pathfinder-D-D-p1554032.html
Velstitzen
I am a 40 something year old physician who DMs for a group of 40 something year old doctors. We play a hybrid game, mostly based on 2nd edition rules with some homebrew and 5E components.
The official screens suck.
Just using a laptop is.... deviously simply but a good option if you can do it.
Otherwise, I suggest just using trifolds from a craft store, and then using binders and notecards behind it.
The rules can be easy to find on the internet in 5 pages. If you want t, you can tape them to the boards, but if you play enough you'll remember the rules soon enough. The ones on the official screens aren't very legible and are the rules you'll learn and remember first, making them less and less useful the more you play. They DON'T have the rules you rarely use and are going to have to hunt down and look up. (unarmed attacks and improv weapons, for the new UA's feature fighter class, for example). Just avoid them
i’ve been having the same problem with no screens having my custom rules on them and no money to buy my own screen, i’m thinking of just connecting two school binders with tape to make a hinge then slotting my outside artwork into the binder covers. has anyone tried this, and if so could i see the pictures?
haver of this weird idea
dark leader of the cult of tiamat
This is a great idea and stores like Walmart have cheap binders, boxes, and display boards.
"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
.
Velstitzen
I am a 40 something year old physician who DMs for a group of 40 something year old doctors. We play a hybrid game, mostly based on 2nd edition rules with some homebrew and 5E components.
This works fine and I used it for a long time before my players bought me something better. I used bulldog clips instead of paper clips because they are much sturdier. I did not use two binders, just the one. I would clip extra papers on the edge of the binder to give me a little more room to display paper and a little larger screen.
Velstitzen
I am a 40 something year old physician who DMs for a group of 40 something year old doctors. We play a hybrid game, mostly based on 2nd edition rules with some homebrew and 5E components.