Behind the screen [Archive] - Wizards Community

Behind the screen [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Ariana Iriliel
07-03-04, 07:24 AM Questions! Do you use a DM screen? Which one do you like best? And what do you hide behind your screen? I am going out today to get one, have heard some are not so great, but noticed that there is a 3.5 one out there and wondering how good it is in regards to make and charts. I remember as a DM for 1st Ed. constantly making notes to myself and clipping them to the top of my screen, piles of manuals in front of me, and on the chair next to me, loads of dice, pencils, erasers and the adventure, plus copies of my PC's character sheets. On another chair I had a tape recorder (remember the days of tape recorders??) because when I made my own campaigns I would spice them up with a soundtrack of what they would hear when they listened at a door or walked through something. So, how is it behind your screen?
roguebfl
07-03-04, 07:36 AM I use a DM screen, the WOTC 3.5 screen I use it mian for the 'cheat sheets' not to hide...though it helps with dice rolls too

I fined the notes very usefull, Though it made one proble whill it lists DC for constration checks missing from the list is the DC for casting on the defencive.
pddisc
07-03-04, 08:20 AM I use a random D&D screen (don't know which one) and the DLDM screen, as I DM Dragonlance. I hide my dice rolls (because I cheat/fudge) and my notes (so the players don't always get how unprepared my sessions are). I sometimes hide snacks as well. Two DM screens is enough to hide pretty much everything.
Drone23
07-03-04, 10:10 AM I like the 3.5 screen. It has pretty much everything I need, and I like the way it's designed. The panels are lengthwise instead of widthwise. I've always had trouble with having enough room for my notes, dice, minis, etc. and I've had players sitting close to me that have crowded me, leaving me with less space. Since the panels are set up this way, I also don't have to crane my neck over the screen to see where everyone's minis are.
MinusInnocence
07-03-04, 10:24 AM Agreed. The v3.5 Screen is a great tool because it is lower in your field of vision, so your view of the Battlemat and the other players isn't obscured. Unfortunately, the only information it offers the DM are Skill DCs. You will be well advised to clip a few notes to the sides of it - preferably with index cards, as an unfortunate drawback to your style of DMing is that this Screen is too short for 11x8 inch sheets of paper.

Incidentally, I use the Screen to hide the results of some rolls (I'm not actually intentionally hiding all of my rolls, but I see no reason to roll some of them in public and some of them in secret - like the results of Listen checks and the like), plenty of DMing notes and all of my dice. Whichever dice I have out at the time, I like to have all arranged by set and set with their highest number up. I'm obsessive.
Zairin
07-03-04, 11:45 AM When you say 3.5 screen, do you mean the one that comes packaged with the D20 Modern screen that's about 15 bucks? I have a 3.5 screen, but it's the one that came with an issue of Dragon (like 310 or so). The one I have is rather unimpressive. I love the pit lords and stuff on the front, but the charts inside leave a bit to be desired. It also blocks my view most of the time. I was planning on just clipping in all the stuff I need that's not on there, but if the other one is a lot better, I'll go get that one.
MinusInnocence
07-03-04, 12:41 PM Yeah, Zairin - that's the one we're talking about, the one that came with the d20 Modern screen. But it's not really better at all, except for the fact it makes it easier to see what's going on at the table. If hiding what you're doing behind it is all you use it for, go ahead and pick one up - but if you want charts and tables, you might as well just make your own.
lord_blackfang
07-03-04, 03:27 PM I *think* I'm using a Forgotten Realms screen... but only to hide my notes and dice rolls, I've never even glanced on all the tables and stuff that's on the screen. :eek:
Shapedoctor
07-03-04, 03:42 PM I like a screen that's large enough to be naked behind. Sometimes I just don't care for the way my players look at me, I think they're all really weird.
Ariana Iriliel
07-03-04, 03:48 PM Yep, got the 3.5 one that is a shorter version. I like that I can see people, but I sort of miss the height for privacy. Oh, well. The charts are just okay, I would rather have repeats of other things in the books so I can just look up at the screen instead of constantly diving into the manuals. That is when I make up my own charts and attach them to the screen, so I guess that is why I actually like the taller ones. I will just have to get creative about it! I, too, am obsessive about my dice, but more the colour than anything else. And it has to be just perfect. But that is another subject!
Duke Lupo
07-03-04, 05:02 PM The best screen out there is the "kingdon of Kalamar" screnn it's got every table you could ever need. If I remeber right it has 16 panels on it. I could be wrong, but it is HUGE.
Autosponge
07-03-04, 10:45 PM laptop = screen. nothing else to hide.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Ariana Iriliel 07-03-04, 07:24 AM	Questions! Do you use a DM screen? Which one do you like best? And what do you hide behind your screen? I am going out today to get one, have heard some are not so great, but noticed that there is a 3.5 one out there and wondering how good it is in regards to make and charts. I remember as a DM for 1st Ed. constantly making notes to myself and clipping them to the top of my screen, piles of manuals in front of me, and on the chair next to me, loads of dice, pencils, erasers and the adventure, plus copies of my PC's character sheets. On another chair I had a tape recorder (remember the days of tape recorders??) because when I made my own campaigns I would spice them up with a soundtrack of what they would hear when they listened at a door or walked through something. So, how is it behind your screen?
roguebfl 07-03-04, 07:36 AM	I use a DM screen, the WOTC 3.5 screen I use it mian for the 'cheat sheets' not to hide...though it helps with dice rolls too I fined the notes very usefull, Though it made one proble whill it lists DC for constration checks missing from the list is the DC for casting on the defencive.
pddisc 07-03-04, 08:20 AM	I use a random D&D screen (don't know which one) and the DLDM screen, as I DM Dragonlance. I hide my dice rolls (because I cheat/fudge) and my notes (so the players don't always get how unprepared my sessions are). I sometimes hide snacks as well. Two DM screens is enough to hide pretty much everything.
Drone23 07-03-04, 10:10 AM	I like the 3.5 screen. It has pretty much everything I need, and I like the way it's designed. The panels are lengthwise instead of widthwise. I've always had trouble with having enough room for my notes, dice, minis, etc. and I've had players sitting close to me that have crowded me, leaving me with less space. Since the panels are set up this way, I also don't have to crane my neck over the screen to see where everyone's minis are.
MinusInnocence 07-03-04, 10:24 AM	Agreed. The v3.5 Screen is a great tool because it is lower in your field of vision, so your view of the Battlemat and the other players isn't obscured. Unfortunately, the only information it offers the DM are Skill DCs. You will be well advised to clip a few notes to the sides of it - preferably with index cards, as an unfortunate drawback to your style of DMing is that this Screen is too short for 11x8 inch sheets of paper. Incidentally, I use the Screen to hide the results of some rolls (I'm not actually intentionally hiding all of my rolls, but I see no reason to roll some of them in public and some of them in secret - like the results of Listen checks and the like), plenty of DMing notes and all of my dice. Whichever dice I have out at the time, I like to have all arranged by set and set with their highest number up. I'm obsessive.
Zairin 07-03-04, 11:45 AM	When you say 3.5 screen, do you mean the one that comes packaged with the D20 Modern screen that's about 15 bucks? I have a 3.5 screen, but it's the one that came with an issue of Dragon (like 310 or so). The one I have is rather unimpressive. I love the pit lords and stuff on the front, but the charts inside leave a bit to be desired. It also blocks my view most of the time. I was planning on just clipping in all the stuff I need that's not on there, but if the other one is a lot better, I'll go get that one.
MinusInnocence 07-03-04, 12:41 PM	Yeah, Zairin - that's the one we're talking about, the one that came with the d20 Modern screen. But it's not really better at all, except for the fact it makes it easier to see what's going on at the table. If hiding what you're doing behind it is all you use it for, go ahead and pick one up - but if you want charts and tables, you might as well just make your own.
lord_blackfang 07-03-04, 03:27 PM	I think I'm using a Forgotten Realms screen... but only to hide my notes and dice rolls, I've never even glanced on all the tables and stuff that's on the screen. :eek:
Shapedoctor 07-03-04, 03:42 PM	I like a screen that's large enough to be naked behind. Sometimes I just don't care for the way my players look at me, I think they're all really weird.
Ariana Iriliel 07-03-04, 03:48 PM	Yep, got the 3.5 one that is a shorter version. I like that I can see people, but I sort of miss the height for privacy. Oh, well. The charts are just okay, I would rather have repeats of other things in the books so I can just look up at the screen instead of constantly diving into the manuals. That is when I make up my own charts and attach them to the screen, so I guess that is why I actually like the taller ones. I will just have to get creative about it! I, too, am obsessive about my dice, but more the colour than anything else. And it has to be just perfect. But that is another subject!
Duke Lupo 07-03-04, 05:02 PM	The best screen out there is the "kingdon of Kalamar" screnn it's got every table you could ever need. If I remeber right it has 16 panels on it. I could be wrong, but it is HUGE.
Autosponge 07-03-04, 10:45 PM	laptop = screen. nothing else to hide.