As the title says, I can curious what device do some DMs run Beyond on? Currently, I am running the Curse if Strahd on my iPad. During a session, I might having the encounter tracker, character sheets, player's handbook, and the campaign book. Having all these things open can slow down or even crash my iPad. My iPad is kinda of old so I am in the market for something new. I was wondering what other DMs use. Should I get a new tablet or should I get a laptop instead?
Laptop. Specifically MacBook Pro with a monitor, mouse, and keyboard attached.
As a player I use Chrome on an Android phone, but it's not enough screen real estate for all my DMing tabs. Also I want to be able to go hands free when necessary to flip through print notebooks.
iPad, but I end up using the app only for quick reference. Unfortunately the bookmarking feature doesn’t allow use of folders for organization so it’s not ideal as a DM tool yet. The browser open with a character sheet works great for real-time play.
I use my Laptop to do the heavy lifting. During Covid times, I have as few tabs open as possible, using only Roll20, DnDBeyond and Zoom. I'll also have Word open with all my notes on it in the background in case I need to search anything.
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#Open D&D
Have the Physical Books? Confused as to why you're not allowed to redeem them for free on D&D Beyond? Questions answered here at the Hardcover Books, D&D Beyond and You FAQ
Looking to add mouse-over triggered tooltips to such things like magic items, monsters or combat actions? Then dash over to the How to Add Tooltips thread.
I use the older galaxy tab A, not the newer one and my phone. I have no problem having multiple pages and apps open and rolling dice, though in a tabletop gathering I always prefer real dice.
Run Zoom, and DDB tabbed to the adventure and the party's character sheets for reference on a MacBook Air. My notes for long term and in the moment (adversary hit points, initiative order) I keep in a sketchbook, occasionally embellished with doodles.
One thing I'm wondering. I've only been a Mac person for a year, and not entirely converted. Do people notice a difference in DDB between Macs and PCs? More importantly which browsers do you think work best? I know there are extensions for Chrome, but I'm leaning to Firefox. Chrome bugs me almost as much as Safari bugs me.
Also need a bigger monitor than what I have on my laptop, but that's just because my eyes are getting old.
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Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
Laptop, not with multiple browser tabs open to DnDB, but multiple browser windows, all in fullscreen mode.
This allows me to flip through views of the various views of the site - plus my Google Docs notes for the campain, simply by flipping through windows via alt-tab.
I find this makes it very fast to flip to the view I want.
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As DM (in normal times, around a table) : Laptop, multiple tabs open - Spell index, Equipment index, Monster index, general index page to search from, others with maps or scenario details, specific monster tabs. Generally running combat/initiave order from index cards (actually MtG cards with labels because they're easy to store and can be coded by colour type for PC/NPC/Monster. Real dice behind screen. May also have iPad and/or phone open with web browser or DDB app for searching or for another screen. Notepad open for note taking, second instance for tracking HPs, spell fx etc. in combat as a scratch pad.
As player (in normal times, around a table): iPad and/or phone with character sheet in web browser plus tabs for spells, searching for rules etc (frequently operating as secondary source for DM), real dice.
As player (in current times, with VTT): browser with character sheet and Beyond 20 plugin, other tabs for spells, rules lookup etc, second browser instance with VTT window - two screens on home PC. Virtual dice in R20/rolls passed through from DDB. Discord for voice minimised in background.
Not currently DMing in a virtual space (though that may change in the near future) - would expect that to be much the same as at the table, but with one browser window for the VTT of choice, and everything else as above - separate browser instance for all DDB content - indices for monsters, spells, rules lookup, plus any additional content needed by scenario. Might also use iPad as additional screen for reference/lookup/notes if needed.
Don't use DDB virtual dice as I find them intrusive and annoying to use, as well as slow to implement. Not a particularly slow PC or laptop, though not running extreme gamer video hardware on either.
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As the title says, I can curious what device do some DMs run Beyond on? Currently, I am running the Curse if Strahd on my iPad. During a session, I might having the encounter tracker, character sheets, player's handbook, and the campaign book. Having all these things open can slow down or even crash my iPad. My iPad is kinda of old so I am in the market for something new. I was wondering what other DMs use. Should I get a new tablet or should I get a laptop instead?
I run it on my laptop normally. Performance is fine as long as I don't roll any digital dice but screen real estate can be a pain.
For running online games I would love to have a desktop pc with at least two monitors.
When I was running games in person I would have probably preferred a tablet to a laptop just because it is easier to hold and takes less space.
I do think part of the problem is the digital dice. We play in person but our space is small, so the digital dice helps.
iPad. Works great for me.
What iPad do you have? Is it a newer one?
2019 iPad Air.
Laptop. Specifically MacBook Pro with a monitor, mouse, and keyboard attached.
As a player I use Chrome on an Android phone, but it's not enough screen real estate for all my DMing tabs. Also I want to be able to go hands free when necessary to flip through print notebooks.
iPad, but I end up using the app only for quick reference. Unfortunately the bookmarking feature doesn’t allow use of folders for organization so it’s not ideal as a DM tool yet. The browser open with a character sheet works great for real-time play.
I use my laptop and phone. I also use physical books and booklets too to supplement Beyond if I have them and there is enough space.
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I use my Laptop to do the heavy lifting. During Covid times, I have as few tabs open as possible, using only Roll20, DnDBeyond and Zoom. I'll also have Word open with all my notes on it in the background in case I need to search anything.
#Open D&D
Have the Physical Books? Confused as to why you're not allowed to redeem them for free on D&D Beyond? Questions answered here at the Hardcover Books, D&D Beyond and You FAQ
Looking to add mouse-over triggered tooltips to such things like magic items, monsters or combat actions? Then dash over to the How to Add Tooltips thread.
My iPad and my phone.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
I use the older galaxy tab A, not the newer one and my phone. I have no problem having multiple pages and apps open and rolling dice, though in a tabletop gathering I always prefer real dice.
Run Zoom, and DDB tabbed to the adventure and the party's character sheets for reference on a MacBook Air. My notes for long term and in the moment (adversary hit points, initiative order) I keep in a sketchbook, occasionally embellished with doodles.
One thing I'm wondering. I've only been a Mac person for a year, and not entirely converted. Do people notice a difference in DDB between Macs and PCs? More importantly which browsers do you think work best? I know there are extensions for Chrome, but I'm leaning to Firefox. Chrome bugs me almost as much as Safari bugs me.
Also need a bigger monitor than what I have on my laptop, but that's just because my eyes are getting old.
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
Laptop, not with multiple browser tabs open to DnDB, but multiple browser windows, all in fullscreen mode.
This allows me to flip through views of the various views of the site - plus my Google Docs notes for the campain, simply by flipping through windows via alt-tab.
I find this makes it very fast to flip to the view I want.
I have never used to online digital dice.
My DM Philosophy, as summed up by other people: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rN5w4-azTq3Kbn0Yvk9nfqQhwQ1R5by1/view
Disclaimer: This signature is a badge of membership in the Forum Loudmouth Club. We are all friends. We are not attacking each other. We are engaging in spirited, friendly debate with one another. We may get snarky, but these are not attacks. Thank you for not reporting us.
Laptop...
I am the DM though so I tend to be running multiple pages/tabs on mine as the Laptop is integrated into my DM Screen.
Right, I use physical dice too unless for some I'm traveling with out my dice.
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
As DM (in normal times, around a table) : Laptop, multiple tabs open - Spell index, Equipment index, Monster index, general index page to search from, others with maps or scenario details, specific monster tabs. Generally running combat/initiave order from index cards (actually MtG cards with labels because they're easy to store and can be coded by colour type for PC/NPC/Monster. Real dice behind screen. May also have iPad and/or phone open with web browser or DDB app for searching or for another screen. Notepad open for note taking, second instance for tracking HPs, spell fx etc. in combat as a scratch pad.
As player (in normal times, around a table): iPad and/or phone with character sheet in web browser plus tabs for spells, searching for rules etc (frequently operating as secondary source for DM), real dice.
As player (in current times, with VTT): browser with character sheet and Beyond 20 plugin, other tabs for spells, rules lookup etc, second browser instance with VTT window - two screens on home PC. Virtual dice in R20/rolls passed through from DDB. Discord for voice minimised in background.
Not currently DMing in a virtual space (though that may change in the near future) - would expect that to be much the same as at the table, but with one browser window for the VTT of choice, and everything else as above - separate browser instance for all DDB content - indices for monsters, spells, rules lookup, plus any additional content needed by scenario. Might also use iPad as additional screen for reference/lookup/notes if needed.
Don't use DDB virtual dice as I find them intrusive and annoying to use, as well as slow to implement. Not a particularly slow PC or laptop, though not running extreme gamer video hardware on either.