tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post1988427532591374560..comments2024-03-19T04:29:47.922-04:00Comments on GROGNARDIA: Retrospective: Dungeon Master's ScreenJames Maliszewskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00341941102398271464noreply@blogger.comBlogger48125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-11783816392283840472009-03-22T19:22:00.000-04:002009-03-22T19:22:00.000-04:00James, if you drank or had friends over for drinks...<I>James, if you drank or had friends over for drinks, you'd be loving that bar.</I><BR/><BR/>Alas, I'm pretty much a teetotaler when it comes to alcohol. My main exception is good champagne, which I'd drink in large quantities if I could afford to do so. Fortunately, I cannot.James Maliszewskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00341941102398271464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-74538164810172507872009-03-22T18:56:00.000-04:002009-03-22T18:56:00.000-04:00A question for the DMs who don't use screens: how ...<I>A question for the DMs who don't use screens: how do you prevent players from accidentally (or, depending on the maturity of your players, intentionally) seeing your maps and notes?</I><BR/><BR/>I hold my maps in my hand, as part of a small collection of notes, charts, and other pages I use in play. It's never really been an issue.James Maliszewskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00341941102398271464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-4798355720860770292009-03-22T18:55:00.000-04:002009-03-22T18:55:00.000-04:00I don't think that open dice rolling absolves the ...<I>I don't think that open dice rolling absolves the DM from squat nor does it provide any objectivity to the result. Who sets up the encounters? Who sets up the traps?</I><BR/><BR/>Perhaps but I can tell you from experience that my players are much more forgiving of TPKs and other misfortunes if they see the dice rolled before their eyes. Call it what you will.James Maliszewskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00341941102398271464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-50017889549369700252009-03-20T09:49:00.000-04:002009-03-20T09:49:00.000-04:00That is one awesome piece of art; captures all the...That is one awesome piece of art; captures all the magic and might of the game. Put me on the list of folks guilty of building their own screen... Still have it somewhere...El Willyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00905016365234891915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-33987617562845115902009-03-20T09:11:00.000-04:002009-03-20T09:11:00.000-04:00I have a great group. They look forward to the bi...I have a great group. They look forward to the big reveal when I put the monsters out. I'm careful not to peek when I play too. Though I'm not saying that there isn't a pause for oohs and ahs and occasionally some handling for closer admiration if a particularly nice or new figure comes out. <BR/><BR/>I like being able to glance down at my notes continuously during the adventure without either a)having to open a book or b) leaving my notes open for all eyes to fall upon.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-38800389421189436042009-03-19T20:51:00.000-04:002009-03-19T20:51:00.000-04:00>well as miniatures for upcoming expected encou...>well as miniatures for upcoming expected encounters, props prior to handout< <BR/><BR/>Heh heh, any old school player worth his salt (that still has the kid in them) shall somehow get around your paltry screen and get a gander at your monster figs!<BR/><BR/>Everything else I have no problem keeping well hidden in my notebook.Kevin Machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14122665488285424578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-48966384337721143332009-03-19T20:49:00.000-04:002009-03-19T20:49:00.000-04:00>basement of my current home has this enormousl...>basement of my current home has this enormously ugly bar built into it. When I say "enormously ugly," I do not exaggerate -- it's a monstrosity of faux green marble and "stonework" paneling that I have a hard time imagining that anyone in the 1970s (when it was undoubtedly constructed) finding the least bit attractive<<BR/><BR/>James, if you drank or had friends over for drinks, you'd be loving that bar. If you drank AND didn't do this blog, you would probably spend all your time down there putting up neon booze signs and dark boards. Have a few boys over on a weekend to watch the game (sports game, not geekery).Kevin Machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14122665488285424578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-62174010558945688862009-03-19T16:31:00.000-04:002009-03-19T16:31:00.000-04:00Justin Alexander has perfectly summarized the role...Justin Alexander has perfectly summarized the role of the Screen in the groups I’ve played with for the past ten years. The DM uses them mostly to keep notes, maps, monster HP totals (etc.) secret, as well as miniatures for upcoming expected encounters, props prior to handout, and dice rolls as needed. I’ve tried running without one and I can’t stand having to actually open my notebooks, look in them, close them again, etc. <BR/><BR/>I love the Tramp 1st ed screen, and own both portions. Its only true flaws are a) that it’s in Portrait rather than landscape, necessitating either a high seat or a standing DM, and b) that some of the charts (particularly on the second, non-Tramp portion) seem quite unneeded for quick reference. The 4th ed screen is the other top D&D screen. The art, while new-school, is among the better class of such. And the charts are obviously useless for old-school play. But the format (4 panel, Landscape) and the quality (heavy laminated cardboard, easily twice the thickness of the Tramp screen and more water-resistant) is unequalled in my experience. If I was in the market for an old-school screen I’d either use the 4th ed one and just paste old-school stuff over the rules on the back (easiest) or try to recreate its format using photocopied/scanned Tramp & Erol Otus art.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-87975949863525635842009-03-19T13:28:00.000-04:002009-03-19T13:28:00.000-04:00Akrasia;Typically, if there's no notes or maps to ...Akrasia;<BR/><BR/>Typically, if there's no notes or maps to see, players can't see them and hence it won't be a problem.<BR/><BR/>When I used a map that I decided to keep unknown to players I used a laptop and kept it on a table close by but not on the gaming table, where it would just eat space and visibility.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-34058321384626581232009-03-19T12:20:00.000-04:002009-03-19T12:20:00.000-04:00I use the landscape 3.5 screen with two additional...I use the landscape 3.5 screen with two additional portrait screens erected at either end to extend the screen completely across the table. The landscape format is fantastic, since it doesn't cut off my view of the battlemap nor the players' view of my body language.<BR/><BR/>I don't use the charts. And I rarely care if the players can see my dice rolls. My goal is strictly to block casual line-of-sight to my dungeon map and notes.<BR/><BR/>Not because I think my players are a bunch of filthy cheaters, but because my players are going to be looking in my direction. If I've got the maps laying out right in front of me in plain sight, their eyes are eventually going to inadvertently fall on them.<BR/><BR/>Actually, like Akrasia, it's not even about "ohmigod they'll cheat" -- given the angles of where people are sitting, there are plenty of people who (if they wanted to) could easily peer over the screen and look at the notes anyway -- it's about not wanting them to inadvertently spoil things for themselves.<BR/><BR/>I also like to spread out my material when I'm DMing: I actually use TV dinner tables to my left and right to hold my books, and then all of the material behind the screen are various notes: I can look simultaneously at my map, my map key, and a page of monster stats or general status information.<BR/><BR/>It's why I've never been able to run from a laptop. Trying to flip from one piece of information to another is a major flow-kill.Justin Alexanderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02227895898395353754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-18800447311949994732009-03-19T11:30:00.000-04:002009-03-19T11:30:00.000-04:00A question for the DMs who don't use screens: how ...A question for the DMs who don't use screens: how do you prevent players from accidentally (or, depending on the maturity of your players, intentionally) seeing your maps and notes? As a player, I prefer DMs who use screens simply so I don't accidentally ruin the adventure for myself.Akrasiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08734103159691571156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-80988119127425686702009-03-19T05:19:00.000-04:002009-03-19T05:19:00.000-04:00I always use a screen, but never for the charts or...I always use a screen, but never for the charts or anything... it's simply so I can have adventure maps and notes in front of me uncovered without the players peeking.JimLotFPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02992397707040836366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-51078624536376095182009-03-18T22:45:00.000-04:002009-03-18T22:45:00.000-04:00I like GM screens, but need them to be landscaped ...I like GM screens, but need them to be landscaped if at possible. Can move hands over minis and such in that kind of game, and they tend to cover more space.<BR/><BR/>Plus, lots of handy charts and such right where I can reach em. (Plus many are good to scan and give them to the players as rules cheatsheets!)<BR/><BR/>Best constructed screen I have is my New World of Darkness one, basically a set of hardback book covers connected. <BR/><BR/>Most useful in play is my 5th ed Call of Cthulhu. Literally has every single chart I could need for normal play. One panel is mostly generic Mythos info that would be better replaced with optional rules stuff like hit locations, but other than that one panel, its 3 other landscaped panels of greatness. (And that one panel is still useful to some degree. Sample poisons, "How sorcerers get that way", books of the Mythos, and all the creatures listed as what they are. I would much prefer their stats over what they are classified as myself. I guess the supplemental pages that came with it cover stats though.)Captain Rufushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00296697477771399357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-81200880230917212862009-03-18T19:22:00.000-04:002009-03-18T19:22:00.000-04:00I always use a GM's screen myself, whether I&#...I always use a GM's screen myself, whether I'm running D&D or Gamma World (my two favorite systems). I still have my copy of the 1979 DM's screen shown.Tetsubohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00339621610619347842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-62405505908976420262009-03-18T19:20:00.000-04:002009-03-18T19:20:00.000-04:00I don't think that open dice rolling absolves the ...I don't think that open dice rolling absolves the DM from squat nor does it provide any objectivity to the result. Who sets up the encounters? Who sets up the traps?<BR/><BR/>If you are interested in the issue of power and disciplinary gaze look up Foucault and the panopticon. Not unlike the DM screen (I too used that same TSR one for years. I now use the 3.5 landscape screen). Hmmm, I should write that paper :)Kiltedyaksmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03462341093016199620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-15898779944745372312009-03-18T18:14:00.000-04:002009-03-18T18:14:00.000-04:00I have never used a DM's screen. I bought the ...I have never used a DM's screen. I bought the official AD&D screen back in 1981, but I never had any use for it save to marvel at Trampier's wondrous piece of art.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-69638107690185052002009-03-18T17:29:00.000-04:002009-03-18T17:29:00.000-04:00I'm using that old screen currently but it does de...I'm using that old screen currently but it does detach me a little from the game. I could live with the rolls out in the open (and I have been moving towards that) but if you don't have a screen how do you hide the maps and other info from prying (innocently or not) eyes?ligehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00652431558688176341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-6998972907004131982009-03-18T16:59:00.000-04:002009-03-18T16:59:00.000-04:00The power of the lecturn.When I was running my now...The power of the lecturn.<BR/><BR/>When I was running my now-defunct 3.5/Pathfinderish game, I used a grey, pocketed vinyl thing in portrait orientation, and it did leave me feeling disconnected from the game, as if I were the computer, and the online players were looking at their monitors in synchro.<BR/><BR/>In my Old School playtest game, I just use my hand to shade the few rolls I feel need to be blocked, and roll the rest in the open.<BR/>---<BR/><BR/>* Gotalit: Buzzed, Mellowed, Tweaked.<BR/><BR/>"No thanks, I'm already gotalit."Timeshadowshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09952601433965644275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-37572841372060033372009-03-18T16:29:00.000-04:002009-03-18T16:29:00.000-04:00I have great respect for all the people who make t...I have great respect for all the people who make their own screens. I'd do the same, but my Savage Worlds landscape customizeable screen saves me most of the hard work.Jeff Rientshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17493878980535235896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-76018890752581352692009-03-18T16:25:00.000-04:002009-03-18T16:25:00.000-04:00I had the DM screen pictured years ago, loved it, ...I had the DM screen pictured years ago, loved it, then replaced it via ebay... and found my original... now I have 2! Mine has 1 large screen with the artwork pictured above, and another smaller one with the illo from the cover of the 1e PHB. I actually rarely stand them up, just keep them nearby to quick-find info. <BR/>Most of the rolls I do in the open (like attack rolls) but I roll some things in secret (like secret doors, wandering monsters, etc., as well as the occasional dice roll for no particular reason to keep the players nervous (Player: "He's rolling dice again --- why is he rolling dice?")<BR/><BR/>Word verification: 'Crant.' A detached dried dingleberry.<BR/><I>"To my embarrassment, a crant rolled down my pantleg ond onto the floor as I introduced myself to the President of Bolivia..."</I>Stefan Poaghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08192911890556534923noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-67110903581422774712009-03-18T16:01:00.000-04:002009-03-18T16:01:00.000-04:00I always liked how thick and sturdy the 1e screen ...I always liked how thick and sturdy the 1e screen was. Most modern screens, with a few exceptions, are way too thin - the slightest breeze will tip them over. The 1e screen, by comparison, was something you could use to smack an unruly player with for 1d3 damage (1d2 vs large players).<BR/><BR/>Word verification: 'ograin' (sounds like a tantric breakfast cereal)Knightskyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08397391662639446678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-29897715714535708042009-03-18T15:44:00.000-04:002009-03-18T15:44:00.000-04:00I usually play via AIM, but when I play in real li...I usually play via AIM, but when I play in real life I just don't feel right without a DM screen.<BR/><BR/>Thanks, tendrils, I'll have to check that out. (Despite it beign a very different animal from any previous D&D, I have found 4e to be a fun experience and am looking forward to getting more out of it if I can ever find anyone else to freakin' play it. That's really the trouble when half your gamer friends are such great old-schoolers, and the others cling to the bloated monstrosity that is 3.5)<BR/><BR/>Verification word: Cates<BR/>Definition: the dust left over after filing or sandpapering something.Rachel Ghoulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04765944479141792643noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-32987377227751252372009-03-18T15:37:00.000-04:002009-03-18T15:37:00.000-04:00My friend's mom's basement has a similar 70s dry b...My friend's mom's basement has a similar 70s dry bar that we used to use for DMing. I often used a screen in addition to that. It was the judge's fortress!MtbDMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03308561716045085035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-35203668756814353242009-03-18T15:33:00.000-04:002009-03-18T15:33:00.000-04:00Say what you will about 4e, their DM Screen is the...Say what you will about 4e, their DM Screen is the best by *far* of any I've ever used for any game in any system. Constructed of heavy cardboard and encased in another layer of thinner posterboard, all with a glossy finish and four panels in size, it's a great product.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12412531855619474442noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-84764984362081227152009-03-18T15:12:00.000-04:002009-03-18T15:12:00.000-04:00(I look at the big fighter on the right as my idea...<I>(I look at the big fighter on the right as my idealized image of the D&D fighter; wary, charismatic, bold, a bit grizzled, well-protected, clever).</I><BR/><BR/>The hobby lost a lot when Tramp decided to move on, didn't it? That man was a genius.James Maliszewskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00341941102398271464noreply@blogger.com