Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Crust 01-17-04, 09:32 PM	The ill-fated "Is 'this' or 'that' needed?" threads have stirred a curiosity in me... What do the DMs and players out there carry with them to the gaming table? Being primarily a DM, I'll start with an example of what I typically carry to every session, what I consider my "must haves" at the gaming table... -A notebook -My binder/portfolio -Dice bag (8 sets) -Plenty of mechanical pencils -Dry erase markers (for the board) -DM screen (currently the one with Bel pictured from a recent Dragon mag - I think the artwork is much better than the FR screen) -PHB/DMG/MM (obviously) -FRCS -Magic of Faerun -The Complete Warrior -Tomb and Blood -Defenders of the Faith -Songs and Silence *I imagine these last three will be replaced much like Sword and Fist and Masters of the Wild were replaced with The Complete Warrior. Of course, The Complete Warrior doesn't talk about druids and animal companions, but none of my players are druids or rangers, so I leave Masters at home. Of course, I'll carry certain misc. books when the need arises. Examples include: -Dragon #309 (for my Incursion/githyanki tidbits) -The Draconomicon -Lords of Darkness -The Underdark -MM 2 -The Fiend Folio -Savage Species -Book of Exhaulted Deeds -The Epic Handbook (none of my players are epic yet, but this book will soon be at every session) -Various 2E supplements, including Volo's Guide to the Dales, The Return to the Tomb of Horror box, and others As you can see, my backpack can get pretty heavy. I have to carry my binder along with my backpack due to its size, so I'm pretty laden while traveling to the session, whether it be huffing it across Pitt's campus, or just carrying it up my buddy's staircase. Please feel free to add your "must haves." What do you carry to the gaming table?
Wooly Rupert 01-18-04, 12:35 AM	I generally carry only what I need for that game, and maybe something else if someone else specifically needs it... Dice, paper, the character sheet, scribblesticks, the PHB... Those are my necessities. Other books and/or magazines are only carried if I specifically need something in them, like spells, magical items, or a PrC. That's from the side of a player. I've not had the opportunity to DM.
cowdragon 01-18-04, 02:31 AM	Well, I am the DM but we game at a friends house. I bring my 19 month old daughter with me. So my list of "must haves" gets pretty big. Here goes... DMG PHB MM FRCS DLCS BoED BoVD SS ELH Magic of Faerun Fiend Folio Book of Challenges Deities and Demigods Manual of the Planes Diaper bag My snacks(Mt. Dew, Pringles) Her Snacks(Gummi Bears, Sippy Cups full of juice, Cheese and Crackers) Diapers Wipes Dice Blanket(for when she falls asleep or for the wlak to the car) Pencils Paper Notes(on what is happening in the story) Ciggarettes Lighter Toys Teddy Bears That seems like everything. Hope this enlightens you. The Cowdragon :mage:
cowdragon 01-18-04, 02:31 AM	Well, I am the DM but we game at a friends house. I bring my 19 month old daughter with me. So my list of "must haves" gets pretty big. Here goes... DMG PHB MM FRCS DLCS BoED BoVD SS ELH Magic of Faerun Fiend Folio Book of Challenges Deities and Demigods Manual of the Planes Diaper bag My snacks(Mt. Dew, Pringles) Her Snacks(Gummi Bears, Sippy Cups full of juice, Cheese and Crackers) Diapers Wipes Dice Blanket(for when she falls asleep or for the wlak to the car) Pencils Paper Notes(on what is happening in the story) Ciggarettes Lighter Toys Teddy Bears That seems like everything. Hope this enlightens you. The Cowdragon :mage:
Kazaxe 01-18-04, 02:44 AM	Due to really limited budget, I as the DM bring DMG 3.5 Complete Warrior Arms and Equipment DM Screen Several spare mechanical pencils Binder full of maps Binder full of campaign info Plenty of Scratch paper (for those if/then situations) several cans of Pepsi Bag of Dice (3 sets) i run 3 campaigns atm, and have characters in several others, so my campaign info binder is massive and needs some stuff removed. I bring along the Quintessential Ranger as well when DM'ing, i normally only need a DMG, some graphing paper, pencil and scrap paper, DM screen, and the occasional Dragon/Dungeon magazine.
Bromabaz Silvertwister 01-18-04, 03:29 AM	When I DM, I normally bring: Dice bag (five full sets, plus two butchered.) Egg Timer (for the fights, as my PC are rather slow on tactics.) Notebook Plotbook Duct Tape (purely a warning device, never used it yet.) Spare copies of player sheets, 2 versions: one normal and the other one level lower. Pencils Counters Maps DMG PH parts of MM I need, as mine has fallen apart. FF BOVD MOTW CW those little menus you get when you order food.( foget the numbers too easily.) My DM Hat. and a beaver puppet named bob.
Tempus665 01-18-04, 05:11 AM	Originally posted by Bromabaz Silvertwister Egg Timer (for the fights, as my PC are rather slow on tactics.) What a great idea! :D I think the egg timer will be at my next session as well! The 3.5 core books. MM 2, often. My notes & maps. NPC records. Dice. Pencil & eraser. DM screen. Battle board + a few miniatures for large/difficult battles. I also have all the 3.0/3.5 FR books lying on a pile; I usually don“t need them, since I always make detailed notes. For my epic campaign I also have the ELH and the MotP with me.
Herr Doktor 01-18-04, 11:06 AM	Since I usually host game night in my own home I can usually move about all of my books and materials. Typically though, the following are what I consider "must haves": 1 gallon jug of water (we play so long and strange voices are harsh on the throat, plus it is entertaining to watch the DM chug water from a gallon container, apparently) Laptop (not mine, I don't own one, but my girlfriend's, handy for pdfs, notes, and this way I can type up all of my campaign material and not have to waste a ton of paper) A copy of each players character sheet at the table for my own reference. The three core books, along with the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting, Unapproachable East (my current campaign takes place in Damara and it has a nice little section on it), Races of Faerūn, Magic of Faerūn, Lords of Darkness (specifically the section on the Cult of the Dragon), Draconomicon, Monster Manual 2, Fiend Folio, and the Book of Vile Darkness (pesky Orcus worshippers). I also keep my entire supply of 2nd edition materials at the gaming table. Currently the most useful being Bloodstone Lands, Faiths and Avatars, Cult of the Dragon, and the Great Glacier. Tin full of random dice that other people have left here (seems to be diminishing in size), along with mechanical pencils and erasers. GRAPH PAPER (I do not use miniatures, and so graph paper makes an excellent grid. Sure there is a bunch of erasing, but that is what the erasers are for. Also useful for drawing maps) Two DM screens (To create a solid wall I use the one from Dragon Magazine and the Realms one) My own magical dice, pencil with far too much lead, and eraser-stick-thing. And plenty of scrap paper! I think that's about it... OH! And a sweater, as we currently play in the basement since sound doesn't seem to reach the bedroom from there and people can sleep while we game long into the night that way, and it is freezing.
Crust 01-18-04, 11:12 AM	This is giving me some great ideas.
mwbeeler 01-18-04, 02:41 PM	Laptop Post-it Notes and a pen Diet-Coke
Lashan 01-18-04, 04:43 PM	I like being the DM and owning a decent sized house. I usually just have to carry things downstairs. :D With that being said, I also have printed out that HUGE map of the Vast, which makes it downstairs to be posted on the wall during every session. I pretty much bring many of my FR books downstairs, even if they don't get used. They MIGHT get used, so I take them down. Well, I should change that. I bring the prime FR books, like LoD, MoF, RoF, FRCS, Faiths and Avatars, and the grey boxed set. There is also the module, notes, and campaign specific stuff. I should use my laptop more. I wish there was a progarm that could have sound effects available at a momment's notice. I would use my laptop more often. You know, hit a key and have a file of two swords ringing against each other, or something. I could queue the music easier if I did that on the laptop, but I just burn a cd with a bunch of .mp3 files on it. It's great when a perfect song queues up right at a quiet momment that fits. Everyone just kind of looks up and seems inspired. What other uses do people use their laptops for?
Darth K'Trava 01-18-04, 05:48 PM	As a player, I take: Dice Paper Pencils Big box o' miniatures PHB Masters of the Wild Defenders of the Faith Clipboard Zip folder with many pockets with ALL my character sheets currently in use. Epic Handbook (for the epic campaign) Faiths and Pantheons
Wooly Rupert 01-18-04, 07:06 PM	Originally posted by Lashan I wish there was a progarm that could have sound effects available at a momment's notice. I would use my laptop more often. You know, hit a key and have a file of two swords ringing against each other, or something. I could queue the music easier if I did that on the laptop, but I just burn a cd with a bunch of .mp3 files on it. It's great when a perfect song queues up right at a quiet momment that fits. Everyone just kind of looks up and seems inspired. If you could find .wav files of appropriate sounds, you could simply queue them into Winamp...
Knightcrawler 01-18-04, 07:22 PM	As for the game in the Forgotten Realms that I DM I usually bring. DMG PHB MM FRCS FR DM Screen Book of Vile Darkness 3 Ring Binder With Campaign Notes, NPCs, etc, etc Washable Markers (For mat) Mechanical Pencils Graph Paper Several CDs containing various pdfs of books (the persons house we game at has a laptop that I use) Dice Bag (5 complete sets and about 20 random dice) 2 liters of Mt. Dew Then if people are leveling up I make sure I have the books with the PrC that they are going up in/taking. And then perhaps 3-4 other books that i think I might need.
Bromabaz Silvertwister 01-18-04, 11:13 PM	Forgot a few. :blush: When I DM at my own house, I have avalible: The Bookcase: Since it holds all of my created monsters, it has become (by far) the most feared thing in my bag of tricks, just walking over to it causes fits to my players. A giant corkboard glued onto a lazy susan. (pins act as the counters, and the board has the printed map on it.) before this, we'd have to play musicial chairs or circle the table like sharks. It's HUGE so I can't really bring it to other houses... and an office water cooler. god bless that thing. :weep:
MarathSaeryn 01-19-04, 12:09 AM	What I bring to the table for running a game varies quite a bit but in general the average list over the years would be... PHB, DMG, MM FRCS and MoF (Or 2nd Edition equivalents) Any other pertinent books or issues of Dragon Magazine Dice bag (Crown Royal bags rock) 8 complete sets of dice Notebook or binder with current notes for the campaign Tablet of blank paper for notes Washable grid mat and markers Pencils Battery-operated pencil sharpener (Traditionally I use wooden pencils, often of the Black Warrior brand) Water or Mt. Dew Some kind of non-messy candy A timer for crucial player decisions Possible sound effects CDs if necessary I think that's about it.
Dragonfey 01-19-04, 06:16 AM	I dm in the Silver Marches. I usually bring: Beer PHB DMG MM an additional monster book (MM2, FF or Monsters of Faerun) Silver Marches Volo Guide to the North FRCS MoF T&B Complete Warrior Draconomicon FIGS pen & dice (a lot of dices) 2 DM screens notes Beer See ya
Darth K'Trava 01-19-04, 10:09 PM	Our FR DM owns ALL the books and he brings ALL of them to every session! :eek: That's alotta books to lug around! :OMG!
Shemeska the Marauder 01-19-04, 10:57 PM	I DM in the planes, set in Sigil, but two characters are from Toril, and we've had several stops in parts of Faerun (Halruaa, the Rawlinswood, the Dire Wood) All of the WotC monster books The PHB Manual of the Planes All the Planescape Box Sets Assorted Planescape books in pdf on a cd, or in the paper format for reference if needed. (the books don't get used too terribly much, my notes are usually pretty darn comprehensive.) My notebook of the past month of game notes (there a stack of paper several inches thick for the previous games' notes compiled together. And a cd burned with the past year of game notes) Whatever pencils I can snipe from my players Paper for map making as requested by players Dice A squirt bottle of Febreeze to hit players with The off topic beating wrench (you think I joke?) A case of Diet Mountain Dew Code Red (all for me) Whatever random snacks myself as DM and other players bring to share. We've in the past had everything from oreos to wasabi coated roasted soybeans brought to the gaming table. $3 a person for dinner for the evening cooked by one of the players since its the apartment for him and one other player A bottle of 'Daves Ultimate Insanity Sauce' (for last night's game. Trust me and never consume 1/3 of a bottle of something that says 'Not for direct human consumption' on the back. The capsaicin high will rival that of a dose of demerol, but the agonizing afteraffects are miserable.)
Kuje31 01-19-04, 11:09 PM	Since I DM mostly online my books are to long to list (especially since I have over 800 RPG books, box sets, and magazines.) :) But they are scattered all over my 'puter area. On the floor, on a table, on my desk, etc. As a player it depends on what type of char I am playing, but the PHB is a must. Some pencils w/ erasers, um character sheet, oh mini's also. My dice bag and my folder of maps and graph paper just to help the DM some times. :) If its a arcane or divine caster then splat books, if the DM allows the info in them.
Selcar Of Selendar 01-19-04, 11:40 PM	Well me being one of 3, well 2 FR DM's now in the group. But i'm the most comonly use DM so i got most of the book's. So i bring -Most #3.0 books mineus dietys and demigods, and all 3.0 and 3.5 Fr books. Yes we have all 3.0 and 3.5 books -my bag full of folders which hold maps, and campagin note books - Dm screen ( the FR one) -0-$15 for are food ( we have 8 players so at times we can get a lot of money) -dice 6 sets ( some not all together) -pencile which i gard from my unprepaird players - and soon i will bring back the whitebord - And some white-wolf books cuz i am a storyteller as well
Link182 01-20-04, 12:04 AM	Laptop All books except Savage Species, Deities and Demigods, and the ELH (which I have to carry soon). A binder with campaign notes and folders graph pad pencil sharpener dice Dm screen Food and water Coffee! It's alot, if I take everything in it's 2 backpacks, laptop backpack and the binder/folder thing. I usually leave some stuff in the car and get it when I need it.
Desies 01-20-04, 12:50 AM	MOUNTAIN DEW!!!
*Shimmergloom* 01-20-04, 09:55 AM	Three Cubic tonnes of Character sheets Pencils PHB What's left of my dice Coffee
Amoun 01-20-04, 11:00 AM	Well we play at my house but usually the following are always kept within arms reach: 2 PHBs 3.5 (one for the DM and one for players) DMG MM 3.5 FRCS BoVD LoD Psionics Handbook Epic level HB Tons of scattered notes over 4 notebooks (I'm a mess, still trying to find a replacement DM as I prefer playing although DMing can be fun) Dice... lots... random... not organized enough to tell you how many sets of dice I have 2 Maps of Faerun on wall (3rd ed and 2nd ed) Misc Maps on wall (eg map of Waterdeep, map of Sigil) At least 9 or so litres of misc. drinks... Its amazing how much my group drinks, everyone brings their own usually too heh Dungeon Set pieces Figurines We use tons of books but usually those are the ones that are most used. As a pretty veteran player I've gathered tons of material so I have a pile of books besides me while I DM... I really should get organized hmm... and find a good DM... Why are they so hard to find *sobs* WHY!!!! Sorry random complaining :)
Herr Doktor 01-20-04, 11:13 AM	Originally posted by Amoun I really should get organized hmm... and find a good DM... Why are they so hard to find *sobs* WHY!!!! Sorry random complaining :) I know exactly how you feel. I've been the long running DM in any group I've participated in, ever. I only get to act as a player every once in a while and the DM is always mediocre, at best. Players in my group have tried to DM, they've always given a nice variety of excuses ("I don't have the time to prepare," "My head is going to explode," et cetera). I mean, at least some of them are willing to wing it, even if it does end up feeling like an empty session (I can only put up with so many NPCs named "Bob" per session). That's all I get...
Crust 01-20-04, 11:30 AM	Originally posted by Herr Doktor I know exactly how you feel. I've been the long running DM in any group I've participated in, ever. I only get to act as a player every once in a while and the DM is always mediocre, at best. Players in my group have tried to DM, they've always given a nice variety of excuses ("I don't have the time to prepare," "My head is going to explode," et cetera). I mean, at least some of them are willing to wing it, even if it does end up feeling like an empty session (I can only put up with so many NPCs named "Bob" per session). That's all I get... I have the same problem. I honestly don't think I could ever be totally satisfied with anyone DMing but myself. I know what I want in a gaming session, and it really annoys me when a DM does something I'd never think of doing.
Kazaxe 01-21-04, 03:38 PM	oh yeah, that is definately a shared pain. I first heard of D&D 4 years ago during my freshman year. DIdn't get to play til midway through my sophomore year. Starting DMing My junior year and have been the #1 DM ever since. In my group several others have attempted to DM but constantly find reasons to switch to my campaign if i even convince them to run theirs. If they can't think of a reason to switch it, they TPW asap to basically force it. Luckily for me they haven't managed to knock my character off yet (extremely annoying elven skirmisher type with many tricks up his sleeve) Either way they either lead you by the nose or funnel monster after monster after you, and never develop the story. Either way, DMing is fun, i just want a break to be able to wholeheartedly play every once and a while. /rant off I really need a laptop, got 4 out of commision binders holding old notes or tables just in case or for memories sake, including a 1/2 inch thick binder of fallen characters.
B4Real 01-22-04, 11:09 AM	Egg Timer (for the fights, as my PC are rather slow on tactics.) How much did the timer cost you? I think that is a great idea. ~B4Real
Bromabaz Silvertwister 01-23-04, 12:07 AM	Originally posted by B4Real How much did the timer cost you? I think that is a great idea. ~B4Real Well, if you have an old board game (trivial pursuit, win lose or draw, Picsanary<sp?>) they came with sand timers. They top out at either 30 secs or a full min. Or you can spend maybe two dollars at a dollar store(makes no sense, I know. :confused: ) And get one that can go five min. to an hour.
Dargoth 01-23-04, 12:41 AM	As we play at my house my list is some what short I have most FR stuff here but the following actually makes it to the gaming table 3.5 DMG 3.5 MM 3.5 Players Handbook FRC Several Note pads (Next session i may replace some of the notepads with a Laptop) Lots of dice 2 plastic crates full of Dragoneye and Harbinger minis (yes Im an addict) Large Chessex battle map Assorted markers and pens
ender 02-03-04, 04:12 AM	I am the DM for my group, and we keep all of the D&D related material in one gigantic green plastic tub. We play in one room in my house, drag the tub in, and basically splay out and take every available bit of space with all of our assorted crap. This includes nearly all of the FR books, but the ones we wind up using the most include: PH, DMG, FRCS (several copies of each), Magic of Faerun, Lords of Darkness, MM, MMII, Fiend Folio, Monsters of Faerun, Races of Faerun. Other must-haves include: 3 ring binder with the collected notes, especially regional info (we play in the Dales/Cormyr) random dice from dozens of sets that we keep in an old candy box a plastic basket with probably thousands of miniatures collected over the last 20 years several foam-lined boxes for the painted miniatures and props 1 ream of paper dozen mechanical pencils printout of my notes for encounters and such list of names for random npcs 3 DM screens battle grid 44 oz code red red bull, at least one and often more I'm really interested in the way some of you guys use the things you mentioned; they might be things that I want to use as well. How exactly do you use the eggtimer? I mean, I know you turn it upside down... :D but can anyone give examples in which it has seen use? Obviously the whiteboard is to illustrate certain elements... which ones? Sketches of NPCs? Keeping track of battles? Drawing scenery?
The Eye of the Cyclop 02-03-04, 10:03 AM	Since I live too far from them, I always play at the house of one of my friend. However, I am the DM and he has a very big table so I never argue. Here is what I bring: - Player's Handbook - Dungeon Master Guide - Monster Manual - Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting - Magic of Faerūn - a bag of dice - pencil & eraser - TI-83 calculator (for 10d6 fireball spells :)) Also, I'm now running the City of the Spider Queen campaign so I am bringing: - City of the Spider Queen (of course) - Underdark - Races of Faerūn My friend have at his home other sourcebook (like Faith & Pantheon, Lord of Darkness, BOVD) so I don't bring mine. Here are the things that It take absolutly (to have some fun at least...) - Pepsi - Cigarettes - Captain Black cigars (always needed)
Aran 02-03-04, 10:24 AM	I would have to say everything that the aboves mentions plus, Firewood and warm clothes. I live in New england and its damn cold here, we play in a shed type barn with the only heating coming from the wood stove, ghetto as hell, but we love it.
Lord Donnachie 02-03-04, 04:59 PM	I have been Dming 3e for almost a year now and all i bring is my notes. Of course thats because I don't own any 3e books:) Just a working knowledge of the d20 system and my imagination.