3.5 DM screen [Archive] - Wizards Community

3.5 DM screen [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Zachary The First
05-26-05, 12:16 PM For a long time now, I've just used my Forgotten Realms DM screen or a homebrew screen for DM purposes. The main reason I haven't bought the "Deluxe" 3.5 DM screen is that I've heard it's a very shoddy product--one of the reviews on amazon says it's too short and players can look right over it, whereas another says it's actually inferior to the Dragon magazine one they issued when 3.5 came out. IYHO, is this baby worth getting or no? And is it getting a bum rap? Thanks.
Arrowhen
05-26-05, 02:02 PM Yeah, it's crap. I chucked mine on the floor ten minutes into the first session I tried to run with it.
Flakster
05-26-05, 02:10 PM As far as I'm concerned, if you've got players who actually try to look over the screen, you're playing with the wrong people. The DM screen is there so that players don't accidently see something they shouldn't.

Besides that I also think it is a little too short, I like it though, lots of cool useful garbage on the inside with a nice picture on the outside. I took two and taped them together long ways so it would wrap all around 3 sides of my DM table.

Why are you buying them? I have like 5, no idea where I picked them up, but I know they were free. Want one? PM me.
Archangel_James
05-26-05, 06:57 PM I've got (had*) one, and it's really not that bad. People say that it's too short, but I think it's really just fine, provided the table is wide enough. If the table is short, or you're playing on the floor, the players can see the concealed area without any trouble. But if you're playing on a broad table where the players are a good distance from you, they can't see over the wall, and you can see their rolls better as well.

*The physically-superior** mean-tempered DM has mine, and I don't know when/if I'll get it back.

**Not that I'm shrimpy; he's just really big.
MerricB
05-26-05, 07:35 PM Many times I've preferred the landscape format of the 3.5e DM screen - it really depends on what the table arrangements are.

Being able to see the battlemap in the centre of the table has been a great advantage.

Cheers!
Arrowhen
05-26-05, 07:53 PM The shape was part of what bothered me--it takes up far too much room on a round dining room table--but mostly it was the content. It's been a long time since I looked at the thing, so I don't remember the specifics, but it seemed there was too much space taken up by things you wouldn't use too often, such as weapon and poison charts--how often are you going to need that information without having it readily available in a stat block or your adventure notes?

I've found I prefer not to use a DM screen at all. I keep a three ring binder in my lap containing my notes and a couple pages of important tables and charts. If I need to make a secret roll I'll do it in the handy little tupperware miniatures bin I keep on the chair next to me. It keeps my notes out of view (my players wouldn't cheat, mind you, but we gamers are a naturally curious lot) without anything coming between me and the snacks. (And less important gaming supplies, like miniatures and dice.)
Seeker95
05-26-05, 08:35 PM I like the screen, although I don't use it for its tables all that much. This is not because of a flaw in the screen, but rather, because my farsightedness and my nearsightedness are now in open combat, and in the evening hours, they fight to a draw. I can't see the fine print because in order to focus on it I have have to hold it too far away to be able to see it. Waiting to save up enugh money for Lasik so I can do away with the nearsightedness correction, and just use reading glasses when I play.
Zachary The First
05-27-05, 10:11 AM Why are you buying them? I have like 5, no idea where I picked them up, but I know they were free. Want one? PM me.

Done, and done.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Zachary The First 05-26-05, 12:16 PM	For a long time now, I've just used my Forgotten Realms DM screen or a homebrew screen for DM purposes. The main reason I haven't bought the "Deluxe" 3.5 DM screen is that I've heard it's a very shoddy product--one of the reviews on amazon says it's too short and players can look right over it, whereas another says it's actually inferior to the Dragon magazine one they issued when 3.5 came out. IYHO, is this baby worth getting or no? And is it getting a bum rap? Thanks.
Arrowhen 05-26-05, 02:02 PM	Yeah, it's crap. I chucked mine on the floor ten minutes into the first session I tried to run with it.
Flakster 05-26-05, 02:10 PM	As far as I'm concerned, if you've got players who actually try to look over the screen, you're playing with the wrong people. The DM screen is there so that players don't accidently see something they shouldn't. Besides that I also think it is a little too short, I like it though, lots of cool useful garbage on the inside with a nice picture on the outside. I took two and taped them together long ways so it would wrap all around 3 sides of my DM table. Why are you buying them? I have like 5, no idea where I picked them up, but I know they were free. Want one? PM me.
Archangel_James 05-26-05, 06:57 PM	I've got (had) one, and it's really not that bad. People say that it's too short, but I think it's really just fine, provided the table is wide enough. If the table is short, or you're playing on the floor, the players can see the concealed area without any trouble. But if you're playing on a broad table where the players are a good distance from you, they can't see over the wall, and you can see their rolls better as well. The physically-superior mean-tempered DM has mine, and I don't know when/if I'll get it back. Not that I'm shrimpy; he's just really big.
MerricB 05-26-05, 07:35 PM	Many times I've preferred the landscape format of the 3.5e DM screen - it really depends on what the table arrangements are. Being able to see the battlemap in the centre of the table has been a great advantage. Cheers!
Arrowhen 05-26-05, 07:53 PM	The shape was part of what bothered me--it takes up far too much room on a round dining room table--but mostly it was the content. It's been a long time since I looked at the thing, so I don't remember the specifics, but it seemed there was too much space taken up by things you wouldn't use too often, such as weapon and poison charts--how often are you going to need that information without having it readily available in a stat block or your adventure notes? I've found I prefer not to use a DM screen at all. I keep a three ring binder in my lap containing my notes and a couple pages of important tables and charts. If I need to make a secret roll I'll do it in the handy little tupperware miniatures bin I keep on the chair next to me. It keeps my notes out of view (my players wouldn't cheat, mind you, but we gamers are a naturally curious lot) without anything coming between me and the snacks. (And less important gaming supplies, like miniatures and dice.)
Seeker95 05-26-05, 08:35 PM	I like the screen, although I don't use it for its tables all that much. This is not because of a flaw in the screen, but rather, because my farsightedness and my nearsightedness are now in open combat, and in the evening hours, they fight to a draw. I can't see the fine print because in order to focus on it I have have to hold it too far away to be able to see it. Waiting to save up enugh money for Lasik so I can do away with the nearsightedness correction, and just use reading glasses when I play.
Zachary The First 05-27-05, 10:11 AM	Why are you buying them? I have like 5, no idea where I picked them up, but I know they were free. Want one? PM me. Done, and done.