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The Dresden Files => DFRPG => Topic started by: Set Abominae on May 01, 2011, 05:04:09 AM
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Can we expect a GM screen for the game at some point ???
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Fred doesn't like them... so probably not.
I got my screen from hammerdog http://www.hammerdog.com/twgs/index.html (http://www.hammerdog.com/twgs/index.html)
I love it. It takes standard letter sized paper, so I have a list of all my characters' aspects on one of my inside panels. :)
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Fred doesn't like them... so probably not.
I got my screen from hammerdog http://www.hammerdog.com/twgs/index.html (http://www.hammerdog.com/twgs/index.html)
I love it. It takes standard letter sized paper, so I have a list of all my characters' aspects on one of my inside panels. :)
May have to get me one of those.
Fred doesn't like screens? Fred! Come back from the darkness before it's too late! :o
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Darkness? I don't use screens either.
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Darkness? I don't use screens either.
Yup, I agree. Screens have no appeal to me other than a compiling of info in concise manner.
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Yup, I agree. Screens have no appeal to me other than a compiling of info in concise manner.
This is what I use it for.
I don't hide anything from my pcs other than plot.
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Darkness? I don't use screens either.
Yup, I agree. Screens have no appeal to me other than a compiling of info in concise manner.
Yes the darkness! They are TRADITION you HEATHENS! :P
But in seriousness, I love them for two things. Usually the art helps to some minor degree to set the mood for people new to your game, and far more importantly and consistently they provide information at a glance in a concise manner like you mentioned.
I like not having to page flip for info. Granted if I had a good e-reader with a decent pdf soft' (capable of bookmarking and annotating), I'd probably have less use for them. But, I can get a screen for a boatload less than an iPad :-\
Been pondering the Savage Worlds customizable screen. I like landscape screens better.
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I now use a combination of a GM screen and a notbook that I've printed all my locations and NPCs out in.
If I need an NPC's stats, I just open the notebook. I have each NPC or enemy tabbed on the side for easy access.
I also usually game with a laptop, and I keep all of my info on my Obsidianportal.com game page.
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I now use a combination of a GM screen and a notbook that I've printed all my locations and NPCs out in.
If I need an NPC's stats, I just open the notebook. I have each NPC or enemy tabbed on the side for easy access.
I also usually game with a laptop, and I keep all of my info on my Obsidianportal.com game page.
Yeah, don't have a laptop at the moment :(
Pondering saving up for an iPad.
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Yes the darkness! They are TRADITION you HEATHENS! :P
But why would I want to shield the Players from what I've written down? It rarely has anything to o with their current plot and is usually designed to throw anyone reading it off the track. ;)
Okay, I'll admit for stupidly complex rpgs like D&D, Rifts, or [shudder] ChartRolemaster, I use a GM Screen. But only for the charts.
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But why would I want to shield the Players from what I've written down? It rarely has anything to o with their current plot and is usually designed to throw anyone reading it off the track. ;)
Okay, I'll admit for stupidly complex rpgs like D&D, Rifts, or [shudder] ChartRolemaster, I use a GM Screen. But only for the charts.
That was a joke you silly pixie. Keep this up and you won't get any pizza. >:(
Rolemaster (shudder), that game should come with a complimentary self-aware AI to run it for you.
Rifts (shudder) Paladium (twitch) no thanks...I'm done wasting days on absurdly convoluted characters and trying to get them to mesh well...
D&D...well...each version has its place...but it's like this: "That's the old passage to Ravenholm. We don't go there anymore."
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I personally don't use a screen for the DFRPG, but I've always appreciated them for other games that involved charts.
For my current DFRPG, I just have a single folder with attached notebook and the two-page cheatsheet from the back of the book for myself. That tends to cover what I need.
As for other games, if a GM screen didn't exist, or didn't match what I wanted, I would go ahead and make my own, each having a cost directly proportional to what I wanted to do.
For an old World of Darkness game I ran for a college club, I printed out typed up versions of the charts and glued them to a piece of poster board that I had folded to act like a GM screen. I then glued a variety of artwork to the other side to add some color and theme.
For that game in particular, I needed two tri-folded sheets, which basically summed up to one board cut in half, folded, and a bunch of charts glued on. Not including printing, this project set me back by a night and about $8 (needed scissors, tape, and glue as I had none of the above), but was only really viable for that particular game system and how I was running it.
A better option was a reusable screen I found from the forums. I took two three-ring binders, some clips, and transparent folder inserts. I clipped the two "screens" together by the ends, loaded the inserts with whatever information was relevant to the game (similar tactic to the above: printouts of the needed charts, story arc notes, etc), and filled the outer-sections with images relating to the game. This set-up cost a bit more, but proved to be useful for the three different game systems I ran with it.
I'd suggest looking at either of these options and just loading it up with whatever in-game notes or house rules you need, your player's Aspects and powers, and whatever shortcuts you need. Otherwise, just put them on paper (or index cards) and go from there.
Hopefully that was at least somewhat useful.
--Crion
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I personally don't use a screen for the DFRPG, but I've always appreciated them for other games that involved charts.
For my current DFRPG, I just have a single folder with attached notebook and the two-page cheatsheet from the back of the book for myself. That tends to cover what I need.
As for other games, if a GM screen didn't exist, or didn't match what I wanted, I would go ahead and make my own, each having a cost directly proportional to what I wanted to do.
For an old World of Darkness game I ran for a college club, I printed out typed up versions of the charts and glued them to a piece of poster board that I had folded to act like a GM screen. I then glued a variety of artwork to the other side to add some color and theme.
For that game in particular, I needed two tri-folded sheets, which basically summed up to one board cut in half, folded, and a bunch of charts glued on. Not including printing, this project set me back by a night and about $8 (needed scissors, tape, and glue as I had none of the above), but was only really viable for that particular game system and how I was running it.
A better option was a reusable screen I found from the forums. I took two three-ring binders, some clips, and transparent folder inserts. I clipped the two "screens" together by the ends, loaded the inserts with whatever information was relevant to the game (similar tactic to the above: printouts of the needed charts, story arc notes, etc), and filled the outer-sections with images relating to the game. This set-up cost a bit more, but proved to be useful for the three different game systems I ran with it.
I'd suggest looking at either of these options and just loading it up with whatever in-game notes or house rules you need, your player's Aspects and powers, and whatever shortcuts you need. Otherwise, just put them on paper (or index cards) and go from there.
Hopefully that was at least somewhat useful.
--Crion
Yup, I've done my share of scratch built screens, but now I'm older and lazier :-[
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Rolemaster (shudder), that game should come with a complimentary self-aware AI to run it for you.
The best Rolemaster game I was ever in was run by a GM who had a program on his laptop that made all the rolls and tracked all the character's stats.
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The best Rolemaster game I was ever in was run by a GM who had a program on his laptop that made all the rolls and tracked all the character's stats.
I'm half surprised that didn't divide by zero and invoke SkyNet.
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Are the panels soft vinyl or are they rigid?
I am strongly eying the product, but would like some more information.
Fred doesn't like them... so probably not.
I got my screen from hammerdog http://www.hammerdog.com/twgs/index.html (http://www.hammerdog.com/twgs/index.html)
I love it. It takes standard letter sized paper, so I have a list of all my characters' aspects on one of my inside panels. :)
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Are the panels soft vinyl or are they rigid?
If it is the same one I have, it is padded vinyl with a solid core of (presumably) cardboard.
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As an aside - I have found memories of Rolemaster... That time the GM rolled open ended three times in a row and that squirrel killed the knight - priceless! And those critical charts - I always loved rolling a 66 on them.
But no single GM screen would have worked with that game - maybe ICE released one, maybe they didn't (I don't remember) but it would have needed 10 or 12 panels to really work - at least if you had all the supplements... And I always thought that it was terrible that MERP died right before the LotR movies were released.
This discussion over whether or not you need a DM screen, GM screen, Keeper Screen, etc really shows how the industry has evolved over the decades. At one time keeping the players in the dark was a big part of the GM's role, then the screen was needed so you could fudge dice rolls to keep characters alive, then for charts, and now charts are more or less leaving the systems.... DFRPG has maybe two pages of charts - that's it. And iPods, netbooks, etc are replacing the screens for that...
Richard
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This discussion over whether or not you need a DM screen, GM screen, Keeper Screen, etc really shows how the industry has evolved over the decades. At one time keeping the players in the dark was a big part of the GM's role, then the screen was needed so you could fudge dice rolls to keep characters alive, then for charts, and now charts are more or less leaving the systems.... DFRPG has maybe two pages of charts - that's it. And iPods, netbooks, etc are replacing the screens for that...
Richard
You have a good point here regarding the evolution of a GM screen, and I think that is something we should be taking into consideration here.
If you want the screen to just hide dice behind, take the advice of one of my former players from Germany: toss the dice into a cup (wooden or non-transparent plastic), shake them, then roll by leaving the cup on top and tilted for your view only. This way it removes the screen separating you from your players while still hiding your dice rolls.
If you are relying on the screen for charts, hiding rolls, setting the atmosphere, posting relevant information to the players, etc, then you may want to look at the options people mentioned and find what works best for you.
Again, just my two cents, do with it as you will.
--Crion
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This discussion over whether or not you need a DM screen, GM screen, Keeper Screen, etc really shows how the industry has evolved over the decades. At one time keeping the players in the dark was a big part of the GM's role, then the screen was needed so you could fudge dice rolls to keep characters alive...
I'm all for keeping characters in the dark. I just do it by only writting down false things on any papers I have out.
Also I don't like to roll dice when I'm running... I tend to just narrate NPC results. For DFRPG, I might for the first few games I run, but after a bit I'd be familiar enough to just wing it like I always do.