A good DM screen? [Archive] - Wizards Community

A good DM screen? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
jaelis
06-16-07, 09:17 PM I need to get a new DM screen. I was looking at the Paizo one (that originally came with Dragon), but does anyone have one they really like? Or good advice on making one for yourself?
StoneStokes
06-17-07, 12:47 AM I made my own, and I love it.

Materials:

1 piece of matte board, or illustration board, at least 10"x30". You can get this at any art store, or any framing shop. Don't try to use posterboard, it is too flimsy; or foamboard, it is too thick.
An X-acto knife.
A metal ruler, preferably 36 inches, for making straight cuts.
A cutting surface. You can buy one of these, they are really nice, or you can use several layers of corregated cardboard as a cheap substitute. Just don't make any cuts on a nice table, it is surprising easy to let an X-acto go where it wants.
1 roll of electrical tape (optional, but suggested).
Photocopies or printings of any tables or diagrams from the rules that you want to include.
Glue or Glue Stick.

Directions:

Cut a rectangle of the matte board, at least 10"x30" (the first dimension is the height, the second is the width. I think 10" is just about the right height so as to not feel totally isolated behind the screen, but YMMV).
Score two vertical cuts in the board, dividing it into thirds. These cuts should not go all the way through, as they are only there to allow you to fold the board. The scoring should be done one whichever side you want facing the players.
Fold the board at the score lines, just to make sure it folds the way you want.
Cut and paste the tables where you want them. It may even be easier to create a Word document with all the tables, move them around so they will fit the dimensions of your screen, and print it as one single sheet.
Get the folds how you want them when you are playing, and put electrical tape along the players' side of the fold. The electrical tape will stretch more than other tapes, making it the best choice for this reinforcing.

If you don't have very many of the above supplies on hand, it may cost you as much as a published screen. But the advantages are: (1) you can put exactly what you want on the screen, and where you want it; (2) you can make more than one if you need to, without much additional cost; (3) it's fun.

Enjoy.
Optimized_Commoner
06-17-07, 09:45 AM Just as a note. Do you need a DM screen? I've never used one and haven't really felt the lack of it.
Kamin_Majere
06-17-07, 10:05 AM The best DM screen i've found is my laptop.

Not only does it give the "hidieness" (not a real word) but it also has complete access to all referance material that anyone could ever ask you about. And its alot lighter than a DM screen and 80 books
Ryusage
06-17-07, 10:11 AM I got the deluxe DM screen package from WotC, it's awesome, and includes a screen for d20 modern as well.
jaelis
06-17-07, 11:25 AM The best DM screen i've found is my laptop.

Not only does it give the "hidieness" (not a real word) but it also has complete access to all referance material that anyone could ever ask you about. And its alot lighter than a DM screen and 80 books

Kind of expensive though, you know?

Thanks StoneStokes, that's cool. I couldn't think of a good material to use, I'll check out the boards you mention.

I don't know, the WotC one seems kind of expensive for what you get. (Though admittedly a lot less expensive than a laptop :) )
Kamin_Majere
06-17-07, 12:19 PM Expensive, yeah i suppose it is (though you do get alot more than a DM screen out of it)

But i cant reasonably carry all of my books around. I have around 80 books just for 3.X and thats not counting Ad&d and various other materials. Its alot easier to justify 700 dollars (us) for a laptop and some time converting the books into PDF's. Expically when the other choice is toting around a book shelf that weighs 500lbs.

I continually work on my campaign and my world trying to get it more and more detailed. And its a good way to always have referance material for those odd ball situations when you really want to know a rule for something.

Everyone in my group now uses laptops for gaming. Even my wife who we've finally convinced to "go digital".

Its great sitting down at a table and the only thing you need is the laptop and a dice bag. We could use dice rollers as well i suppose though.

Though for just a DM screen the WotC one is pretty good. I used to use it. As long as you dont go too far from Core its got most of the tables you'll need for quick referance. Plus "pretty pictures" that your players can look at :)
Label
06-17-07, 07:33 PM The best DM screen i've found is my laptop.

So true.
And in addition to books, references and nice pictures, you can also use it to keep track of combat rounds and initiative (I use excel for it, with the wonderful "Sort Z->A" function to put the initiative in order).

I've made my own digital character sheet, and my players use it too on their laptops, and there is also the fact that we can connect in a LAN and share books, information and, if you use softwares like openPRG, have a battlegrid.

But for the OP, my friend has bought the Eberron deluxe DM Screen and he's very happy about it.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
jaelis 06-16-07, 09:17 PM	I need to get a new DM screen. I was looking at the Paizo one (that originally came with Dragon), but does anyone have one they really like? Or good advice on making one for yourself?
StoneStokes 06-17-07, 12:47 AM	I made my own, and I love it. Materials: 1 piece of matte board, or illustration board, at least 10"x30". You can get this at any art store, or any framing shop. Don't try to use posterboard, it is too flimsy; or foamboard, it is too thick. An X-acto knife. A metal ruler, preferably 36 inches, for making straight cuts. A cutting surface. You can buy one of these, they are really nice, or you can use several layers of corregated cardboard as a cheap substitute. Just don't make any cuts on a nice table, it is surprising easy to let an X-acto go where it wants. 1 roll of electrical tape (optional, but suggested). Photocopies or printings of any tables or diagrams from the rules that you want to include. Glue or Glue Stick. Directions: Cut a rectangle of the matte board, at least 10"x30" (the first dimension is the height, the second is the width. I think 10" is just about the right height so as to not feel totally isolated behind the screen, but YMMV). Score two vertical cuts in the board, dividing it into thirds. These cuts should not go all the way through, as they are only there to allow you to fold the board. The scoring should be done one whichever side you want facing the players. Fold the board at the score lines, just to make sure it folds the way you want. Cut and paste the tables where you want them. It may even be easier to create a Word document with all the tables, move them around so they will fit the dimensions of your screen, and print it as one single sheet. Get the folds how you want them when you are playing, and put electrical tape along the players' side of the fold. The electrical tape will stretch more than other tapes, making it the best choice for this reinforcing. If you don't have very many of the above supplies on hand, it may cost you as much as a published screen. But the advantages are: (1) you can put exactly what you want on the screen, and where you want it; (2) you can make more than one if you need to, without much additional cost; (3) it's fun. Enjoy.
Optimized_Commoner 06-17-07, 09:45 AM	Just as a note. Do you need a DM screen? I've never used one and haven't really felt the lack of it.
Kamin_Majere 06-17-07, 10:05 AM	The best DM screen i've found is my laptop. Not only does it give the "hidieness" (not a real word) but it also has complete access to all referance material that anyone could ever ask you about. And its alot lighter than a DM screen and 80 books
Ryusage 06-17-07, 10:11 AM	I got the deluxe DM screen package from WotC, it's awesome, and includes a screen for d20 modern as well.
jaelis 06-17-07, 11:25 AM	The best DM screen i've found is my laptop. Not only does it give the "hidieness" (not a real word) but it also has complete access to all referance material that anyone could ever ask you about. And its alot lighter than a DM screen and 80 books Kind of expensive though, you know? Thanks StoneStokes, that's cool. I couldn't think of a good material to use, I'll check out the boards you mention. I don't know, the WotC one seems kind of expensive for what you get. (Though admittedly a lot less expensive than a laptop :) )
Kamin_Majere 06-17-07, 12:19 PM	Expensive, yeah i suppose it is (though you do get alot more than a DM screen out of it) But i cant reasonably carry all of my books around. I have around 80 books just for 3.X and thats not counting Ad&d and various other materials. Its alot easier to justify 700 dollars (us) for a laptop and some time converting the books into PDF's. Expically when the other choice is toting around a book shelf that weighs 500lbs. I continually work on my campaign and my world trying to get it more and more detailed. And its a good way to always have referance material for those odd ball situations when you really want to know a rule for something. Everyone in my group now uses laptops for gaming. Even my wife who we've finally convinced to "go digital". Its great sitting down at a table and the only thing you need is the laptop and a dice bag. We could use dice rollers as well i suppose though. Though for just a DM screen the WotC one is pretty good. I used to use it. As long as you dont go too far from Core its got most of the tables you'll need for quick referance. Plus "pretty pictures" that your players can look at :)
Label 06-17-07, 07:33 PM	The best DM screen i've found is my laptop. So true. And in addition to books, references and nice pictures, you can also use it to keep track of combat rounds and initiative (I use excel for it, with the wonderful "Sort Z->A" function to put the initiative in order). I've made my own digital character sheet, and my players use it too on their laptops, and there is also the fact that we can connect in a LAN and share books, information and, if you use softwares like openPRG, have a battlegrid. But for the OP, my friend has bought the Eberron deluxe DM Screen and he's very happy about it.