What’s this platform like for a first time DM? I’m looking from the angle of campaign creation and character development. My concerns are that I have the physical books not the online resources and although I don’t mind writing my thoughts I feel an online management platform would help!
What kind of management tools are you looking for? Atm Beyond allows you to group your players in a campaign where you can leave notes et mc and check each others sheets and it has the character and encounter creators.
does that mean that the players in the campaign would need a form of digital device (ipad/computer etc) to interact with the content? or could i just 'write' and plan the story using D&D beyond and then run sessions from this? the people i play with as a player use hardcopies and notepads for stories. This is fine, but i was thinking of having more of an online based platform to write content, plan encounters etc?
Players can make characters on d&d beyond, access them on a phone or tablet, OR export and print out the character sheets. If you are writing your own adventures, then as a dm you could use compendiums for spells, items, monster etc. And the encounter builder to help plan out and track encounters.
D&D Beyond's actual campaign management tools are limited. BUT, if you want to use it for a homebrewed campaign (and not a published adventure) I'd suggest this:
Do your world-building, writing, etc. in something like Google Docs or OneNote. Create any custom magic items, races, feats, NPCs, monsters, other baddies, etc. with DDB's homebrew tools. Hotlink from your GoogleDoc (or OneNote) to useful places: location details when it's mentioned, NPC details when they are referenced, stat blocks for monsters when you have a set encounter, etc.
When you get into combat, just open all the relevant stat blocks in new tabs so you can access anything you need - track HP/conditions on a notepad.
It's handy because it means all you have to do is pop open a new tab for random generators, or to look anything up. If you';re running a pre-existing WotC module it's even easier - just pop the sourcebook open in a tab and most of the work is done for you, unless you need to re-balance for overpowered parties...
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What’s this platform like for a first time DM? I’m looking from the angle of campaign creation and character development. My concerns are that I have the physical books not the online resources and although I don’t mind writing my thoughts I feel an online management platform would help!
Unapologetic adult Nerd!
What kind of management tools are you looking for? Atm Beyond allows you to group your players in a campaign where you can leave notes et mc and check each others sheets and it has the character and encounter creators.
does that mean that the players in the campaign would need a form of digital device (ipad/computer etc) to interact with the content? or could i just 'write' and plan the story using D&D beyond and then run sessions from this? the people i play with as a player use hardcopies and notepads for stories. This is fine, but i was thinking of having more of an online based platform to write content, plan encounters etc?
Unapologetic adult Nerd!
Players can make characters on d&d beyond, access them on a phone or tablet, OR export and print out the character sheets. If you are writing your own adventures, then as a dm you could use compendiums for spells, items, monster etc. And the encounter builder to help plan out and track encounters.
D&D Beyond's actual campaign management tools are limited. BUT, if you want to use it for a homebrewed campaign (and not a published adventure) I'd suggest this:
Do your world-building, writing, etc. in something like Google Docs or OneNote. Create any custom magic items, races, feats, NPCs, monsters, other baddies, etc. with DDB's homebrew tools. Hotlink from your GoogleDoc (or OneNote) to useful places: location details when it's mentioned, NPC details when they are referenced, stat blocks for monsters when you have a set encounter, etc.
When you get into combat, just open all the relevant stat blocks in new tabs so you can access anything you need - track HP/conditions on a notepad.
It's handy because it means all you have to do is pop open a new tab for random generators, or to look anything up. If you';re running a pre-existing WotC module it's even easier - just pop the sourcebook open in a tab and most of the work is done for you, unless you need to re-balance for overpowered parties...