even playing online now, i still set up my DM screen by my computer and use character tents. Whether i'm playing online or back in the good ol' days when people played D&D at tables, I always struggle with keeping track of conditions. For awhile I was using paperclips with tags - especially for concentration as i was always overlook that one. ...but that led to way too many paperclips and the little tags falling off (i tried stickies too, but they turned into a consumable). so i've made a character tent that puts categories of conditions at the top, where i can then just pop regular paperclips over to remind me.
looking for thoughts - any large condition categories you see that i'm missing (i've got one empty slot where i can add another category - I know there's a bit of overlap when you think about some spells and curses)? the idea is that the general category would then remind me or at least trigger me to ask:
concentration
out. this includes conditions that a character has pretty much no options until they overcome the condition and includes:paralyzed, petrified, stunned, unconscious, incapacitated, death saves
controlled. this includes conditions where the character can still do things, but is influenced/controlled and includes: charmed, frightened
hindered. this includes conditions where the character can still act on their own free will but is somehow hindered and includes: blinded, deafened, exhausted, cursed, madness, grappled, restrained
DOT: includes poisoned and diseased
Invisible: includes invisible and hidden
-AC/opponent advantage: this includes any debuff where the player either has a negative to their noted AC or any creature attacking them has advantage.
+AC/opponent disadvantage: this includes any buff where the player either has a bonus to their noted AC or any creature attacking them has disadvantage.
there's a lot on the tent, which i wouldn't use in many games i think, but i'm playing with my son and his friends so having all those stats in front of me helps me more with the story and character development vs. combat.
also, once you print it out 2.5" wide, some of the words are too tiny for many to read without leaning way in, but the symbols/locations hopefully make it obvious.
I think alignment shouldn't be in the player character tent
only the dungeon master sees the tent. i've had plenty of scenarios where a character's alignment determines the actions of an NPC or monster and it doesn't come up often enough that I'd have their alignments in my head - which is the whole point of the tent, to allow me to not worry about trying to remember data points so i can focus on other things since they're right in front of me.
I think alignment shouldn't be in the player character tent
only the dungeon master sees the tent. i've had plenty of scenarios where a character's alignment determines the actions of an NPC or monster and it doesn't come up often enough that I'd have their alignments in my head - which is the whole point of the tent, to allow me to not worry about trying to remember data points so i can focus on other things since they're right in front of me.
I know that tent is for DM. But, Wow, that something new I heard. Usually the NPC or Monster action is due to their own will and doesn't relate to player, this kind a new to me.
I know that tent is for DM. But, Wow, that something new I heard. Usually the NPC or Monster action is due to their own will and doesn't relate to player, this kind a new to me.
uh, numerous monsters and NPCs can sense alignment of players...some dragons, undead...GODS...its a common concept in pretty much ALL the lore and in many 5e modules - just a few weeks ago we ran an AL module where a silver dragon would approach good-aligned characters only and the charisma checks of the entire party were influenced by the alignments within the party.
IMO, if the DM doesn't know a character's alignment, the mechanical/design value is zero as you can't design an encounter around something a DM can't determine or just has to guess at. and since a character can behave however they want, regardless of their alignment, there'd be no point in it all.
read the lair actions of a demilich...some of its actions are dependent on the alignment of the character....you can't even properly play some monsters unless you know the players' alignments.
again, if the DM doesn't know a character's alignment, it becomes as important as a character's hair color....irrelevant.
Thanks for the information, I just start DM for couple of weeks, this is new to me.
no worries at all, when i first started using tents i wanted the ones with just a few data points - HP, AC, the basics...but the more i play the more info i want at my finger tips because it helps with both storytelling and fight mechanics. you can't weave in all the pieces of a player character - making it more fulfilling for the player - unless you know all the pieces.
even playing online now, i still set up my DM screen by my computer and use character tents. Whether i'm playing online or back in the good ol' days when people played D&D at tables, I always struggle with keeping track of conditions. For awhile I was using paperclips with tags - especially for concentration as i was always overlook that one. ...but that led to way too many paperclips and the little tags falling off (i tried stickies too, but they turned into a consumable). so i've made a character tent that puts categories of conditions at the top, where i can then just pop regular paperclips over to remind me.
here's the tent: https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uIeYiYz23Ag/XvyQcbJMEnI/AAAAAAAAB8A/e1JoaL7nLQcJoiMDbUOyqvySvcW8AZEzQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/tent.png
looking for thoughts - any large condition categories you see that i'm missing (i've got one empty slot where i can add another category - I know there's a bit of overlap when you think about some spells and curses)? the idea is that the general category would then remind me or at least trigger me to ask:
there's a lot on the tent, which i wouldn't use in many games i think, but i'm playing with my son and his friends so having all those stats in front of me helps me more with the story and character development vs. combat.
also, once you print it out 2.5" wide, some of the words are too tiny for many to read without leaning way in, but the symbols/locations hopefully make it obvious.
Guide to the Five Factions (PWYW)
Deck of Decks
I think alignment shouldn't be in the player character tent
only the dungeon master sees the tent. i've had plenty of scenarios where a character's alignment determines the actions of an NPC or monster and it doesn't come up often enough that I'd have their alignments in my head - which is the whole point of the tent, to allow me to not worry about trying to remember data points so i can focus on other things since they're right in front of me.
Guide to the Five Factions (PWYW)
Deck of Decks
I know that tent is for DM. But, Wow, that something new I heard. Usually the NPC or Monster action is due to their own will and doesn't relate to player, this kind a new to me.
uh, numerous monsters and NPCs can sense alignment of players...some dragons, undead...GODS...its a common concept in pretty much ALL the lore and in many 5e modules - just a few weeks ago we ran an AL module where a silver dragon would approach good-aligned characters only and the charisma checks of the entire party were influenced by the alignments within the party.
IMO, if the DM doesn't know a character's alignment, the mechanical/design value is zero as you can't design an encounter around something a DM can't determine or just has to guess at. and since a character can behave however they want, regardless of their alignment, there'd be no point in it all.
read the lair actions of a demilich...some of its actions are dependent on the alignment of the character....you can't even properly play some monsters unless you know the players' alignments.
again, if the DM doesn't know a character's alignment, it becomes as important as a character's hair color....irrelevant.
Guide to the Five Factions (PWYW)
Deck of Decks
Thanks for the information, I just start DM for couple of weeks, this is new to me.
no worries at all, when i first started using tents i wanted the ones with just a few data points - HP, AC, the basics...but the more i play the more info i want at my finger tips because it helps with both storytelling and fight mechanics. you can't weave in all the pieces of a player character - making it more fulfilling for the player - unless you know all the pieces.
Guide to the Five Factions (PWYW)
Deck of Decks