With the amount of books and other supplies needed to run a game (maps, minis, markers,etc), I need to find a new way to transport my gear for DMing. What do you use to transport your stuff to DM?
I used to travel to the local university to run games. I took all my stuff in a wheeled toolbox, similar to the following. It was great when it was raining, meant I could wheel it instead of carrying piles of books, and the rigid sides protected my boxes of minis.
Honestly, this is one of the reasons I so much appreciate D&D Beyond. Only thing beyond a laptop / tablet you need is a mat or graph paper. As a note, I too was traveling with armloads of supplies (including miniatures) between my place and either a friends house or a local FLGS. And this was by public transit. I appreciate the digital availability so much. If I couldn’t do that these days, I’d likely have to abandon the hobby entirely.
I got a backpack I use for gaming, when not playing at home. For D&D it easily holds the core + XGtE, 2-3 more books if I want to have them on hand and/or a GMs screen, a notebook, pencils, pens, scratch paper, folder with maps and campaign notes, and enough dice sets for at least eight players, and my laptop and power supply, and a phone charger. If there's some book I don't have on hand that I need to consult I can pull up D&D Beyond or my PDF library as most of my 3rd party stuff has pdf copies in there. I'm don't really play with miniatures a lot, so my needs are a bit more compact. If I was a mini person I'd probably do some sort of rolling toolbox like described above, they seem to work well. The only other complication would be a boxed set. Slipcases are fine in the backpack, I'm talking about actually boxed sets where maintaining the integrity of the box is key to not losing counters or other accessories. I'll just use a canvas tote bag for the boxed set if I'm taking it with a pack of books.
Backpack's a GoRuck, I had a government issued backpack top/pull strap tear right off on me with what I thought was a pretty modest load so found them googling indestructible backpacks. The basic model I think is rated for something like 45-50 lbs but I've managed to heft about 70-75 in it on occasion, and it's still going strong for almost ten years. Some folks can get similar and more mileage out of a Jansport which are lot less expensive, but they show their wear and tear where mine kinda looks like new luggage when I remember to dust it off.
Pilots bags might be another option for you, folks will carry two layers of body armor vest with all their kibble and velcro stuff in those, so game night supplies should be an easy carry for things that aren't miniatures (I think minis really need an organizer and more care).
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Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
I bring a massive backpack lined with something soft at the bottom, and that fits around 6 books or so plus my other stuff (DMG, 2 PHBs, MM, XGTE, TCE, plus my maps in a folder folded in half (yes I know it's bad), my campaign journals and notes, my laptop, and then my dice inside its bag (inside a ziploc because they spill) at the top. One of my players brings the player's minis and a whole bunch of generic bad guys, and I just bring any big ones I'm using for the session. I generally walk to my sessions which are from 10-30 minutes away by foot (or try to host as much as I can) so being able to put it on my back is very needed.
My Bag of Holding is an inexpensive leather satchel that can hold about six sourcebooks, my dice, a pad, about two dozen minis, pencils, pens, markers and some tokens to represent monsters. I have a large laminated grid in a "plan tube" that I can stick under my arm too.
I just like old school sit down face-to-face and draw it on a grid gaming. If I had more time to devote to the hobby, I'm sure I would use more digital assets.
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Cum catapultae proscriptae erunt tum soli proscript catapultas habebunt
I've always used a wheeled toolbox when I'm running a road game. You can price around your local hardware stores and find a winner that really suits your needs!
I went all digital for my books so I don’t have to transport anything but my iPad.
It's boring :) I can't imagine the game without all the maps, books and notebooks I carry.
Well said, Melisandrav3. I am not against e-books, but the absolute pleasure of reading is feeling the pages with your fingers and seeing the printed illustrations. That may be why I like children's books more. Now I'm working on a big project for large publishing and realize I need professional help. After getting advice from writer friends, I contacted https://penfellow.com/childrens-book-editor/ for help formatting my text and proofreading a future book. I hope everything works out for me in this project, and I will continue on my writing path as I plan to write fan fiction about DnD.
I carry my tablet, my dice bags and a tarot deck that I use as a prop or for inspiration. (I actually do read tarot, though so any chance to use them helps me with that.)
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With the amount of books and other supplies needed to run a game (maps, minis, markers,etc), I need to find a new way to transport my gear for DMing. What do you use to transport your stuff to DM?
I used to travel to the local university to run games. I took all my stuff in a wheeled toolbox, similar to the following. It was great when it was raining, meant I could wheel it instead of carrying piles of books, and the rigid sides protected my boxes of minis.
https://www.bunnings.co.nz/tactix-mobile-tool-box_p5810325
I glued a bunch of soft foam to the inside to protect books and folders.
Honestly, this is one of the reasons I so much appreciate D&D Beyond. Only thing beyond a laptop / tablet you need is a mat or graph paper. As a note, I too was traveling with armloads of supplies (including miniatures) between my place and either a friends house or a local FLGS. And this was by public transit. I appreciate the digital availability so much. If I couldn’t do that these days, I’d likely have to abandon the hobby entirely.
I got a backpack I use for gaming, when not playing at home. For D&D it easily holds the core + XGtE, 2-3 more books if I want to have them on hand and/or a GMs screen, a notebook, pencils, pens, scratch paper, folder with maps and campaign notes, and enough dice sets for at least eight players, and my laptop and power supply, and a phone charger. If there's some book I don't have on hand that I need to consult I can pull up D&D Beyond or my PDF library as most of my 3rd party stuff has pdf copies in there. I'm don't really play with miniatures a lot, so my needs are a bit more compact. If I was a mini person I'd probably do some sort of rolling toolbox like described above, they seem to work well. The only other complication would be a boxed set. Slipcases are fine in the backpack, I'm talking about actually boxed sets where maintaining the integrity of the box is key to not losing counters or other accessories. I'll just use a canvas tote bag for the boxed set if I'm taking it with a pack of books.
Backpack's a GoRuck, I had a government issued backpack top/pull strap tear right off on me with what I thought was a pretty modest load so found them googling indestructible backpacks. The basic model I think is rated for something like 45-50 lbs but I've managed to heft about 70-75 in it on occasion, and it's still going strong for almost ten years. Some folks can get similar and more mileage out of a Jansport which are lot less expensive, but they show their wear and tear where mine kinda looks like new luggage when I remember to dust it off.
Pilots bags might be another option for you, folks will carry two layers of body armor vest with all their kibble and velcro stuff in those, so game night supplies should be an easy carry for things that aren't miniatures (I think minis really need an organizer and more care).
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
I bring a massive backpack lined with something soft at the bottom, and that fits around 6 books or so plus my other stuff (DMG, 2 PHBs, MM, XGTE, TCE, plus my maps in a folder folded in half (yes I know it's bad), my campaign journals and notes, my laptop, and then my dice inside its bag (inside a ziploc because they spill) at the top. One of my players brings the player's minis and a whole bunch of generic bad guys, and I just bring any big ones I'm using for the session. I generally walk to my sessions which are from 10-30 minutes away by foot (or try to host as much as I can) so being able to put it on my back is very needed.
I’m always curious about the size of the van Matt from Critical Role must need for his minis and Dwarven Forge maps.
Back in the day. Nowadays he's got roadies.
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
My Bag of Holding is an inexpensive leather satchel that can hold about six sourcebooks, my dice, a pad, about two dozen minis, pencils, pens, markers and some tokens to represent monsters. I have a large laminated grid in a "plan tube" that I can stick under my arm too.
I just like old school sit down face-to-face and draw it on a grid gaming. If I had more time to devote to the hobby, I'm sure I would use more digital assets.
Cum catapultae proscriptae erunt tum soli proscript catapultas habebunt
I went all digital for my books so I don’t have to transport anything but my iPad.
I've always used a wheeled toolbox when I'm running a road game. You can price around your local hardware stores and find a winner that really suits your needs!
Well said, Melisandrav3. I am not against e-books, but the absolute pleasure of reading is feeling the pages with your fingers and seeing the printed illustrations. That may be why I like children's books more. Now I'm working on a big project for large publishing and realize I need professional help. After getting advice from writer friends, I contacted https://penfellow.com/childrens-book-editor/ for help formatting my text and proofreading a future book. I hope everything works out for me in this project, and I will continue on my writing path as I plan to write fan fiction about DnD.
your username is misspelled. it's 'weird'
I'm a fan of e-books. Except dice. I have to have physical dice. I made my own dice bags using this pattern: https://greenfoxfarmsdesigns.com/dc-dice-bag-free
I carry my tablet, my dice bags and a tarot deck that I use as a prop or for inspiration. (I actually do read tarot, though so any chance to use them helps me with that.)