How do you keep track of everything? - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

How do you keep track of everything?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
archwolf
Jun 17, 2008 15:01:40 The new DnD has many, many temporary bonuses. Thanks to the team-oriented approach, many powers provide temporary bonueses to other party members when those party members do specific things. In 3.5e people had enough trouble remembering who their "Dodge Buddy" was, let alone their temporary +2 to hit from a cleric attack that only lasts one round. How is everyone tracking the bonuses that go flying around a typical 4e combat?

I should mention that I have not yet actually played 4e, just read the books, but remembering who gets what bonus when seemed like the biggest hassle in the new rules. Anyone have a good solution?
#2
gargs454
Jun 17, 2008 15:45:24 The best I can think of is to grab a bunch of different colored "markers". i.e. Some type of material that can be placed on or under the minis to indicate various states. Could be little discs, etc.

There do indeed seem to be a number of different bonuses and penalties that get tossed around in 4th Ed.
#3
transit
Jun 17, 2008 16:15:25 Poker chips. Different colors. And they stack!
#4
dragonsblood
Jun 17, 2008 16:20:49 I've read the color marker idea in many places, but I don't think anyone has suggested the most accessible way to do this: poker chips. They're multicolored, plentiful, cheap, and stack well.
#5
kouk
Jun 17, 2008 17:57:56 Mini poker chips if possible, the big ones get tough to position when using adjacent minis (though they work on large-sized minis pretty well).

I actually have not found much trouble keeping track of effects like that as compared to 3rd edition. For me, keeping track of multiple-round effects was much more difficult, having to tick off when a new round started, whether I was Concentrating etc.

Most bonuses in 4e are either "Until the end of the next turn" or "Until the end of the encounter."

Obviously the encounter one is marginally easier to keep track of (it doesn't matter if you had to leave the table as long as the same fight is going on).

Other than tokens to mark the minis, for certain effects that perhaps affect all allies or such, make a little card with that effect and place it near the action on the battlemat, or make a little standing thing for the middle of the table to remind everyone.

Another option is to have the person causing an effect to just remind everyone until the end of the next turn. I know it can get hard to remember when/what the Bard's singing did in 3.X sometimes, but the guy producing the effect probably knows all about it :P "I attack the wolf." "Remember to add +2 to your damage rolls!"
#6
mycroftb
Jun 25, 2008 21:24:35 I've used index cards for a while to keep track of initiative. For temporary statuses, I've just been writing a note down on the appropriate player/enemy's index card. For other things like defender marking and bloodied, I use tiny colored clothespins I got from a craft store. They clip pretty easily onto the prepainted plastic minis I have, but I'd be cautious on hand-painted ones, and probably stick to the multi-colored mini poker chip suggestions above.
#7
cryptor_00
Jun 30, 2008 12:46:04 Our group, like many others, uses a combination of paper and pencil for odd bonuses, and colored stones for regularly-used modifiers (the warlock's temporary hp fitting into that category)
#8
pmurray%40bigpond.com
Jun 30, 2008 21:39:36 Post-it notes. They're free if you pinch them from work. You can use them sticky-side up to attach them to minis - just put the mini down on the sticky bit.
#9
josheva
Jul 08, 2008 13:45:56 In my group, each player remembers bonuses and penalties affecting himself, and every penalty he is imposing on monsters. When I make rolls for monsters I can usually remember everything that's going on, but when I don't I can simply ask the players to clarify the situation. If your players are tactically sound, they will probably notice if you forget anything anyways.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 archwolf Jun 17, 2008 15:01:40	The new DnD has many, many temporary bonuses. Thanks to the team-oriented approach, many powers provide temporary bonueses to other party members when those party members do specific things. In 3.5e people had enough trouble remembering who their "Dodge Buddy" was, let alone their temporary +2 to hit from a cleric attack that only lasts one round. How is everyone tracking the bonuses that go flying around a typical 4e combat? I should mention that I have not yet actually played 4e, just read the books, but remembering who gets what bonus when seemed like the biggest hassle in the new rules. Anyone have a good solution?
#2 gargs454 Jun 17, 2008 15:45:24	The best I can think of is to grab a bunch of different colored "markers". i.e. Some type of material that can be placed on or under the minis to indicate various states. Could be little discs, etc. There do indeed seem to be a number of different bonuses and penalties that get tossed around in 4th Ed.
#3 transit Jun 17, 2008 16:15:25	Poker chips. Different colors. And they stack!
#4 dragonsblood Jun 17, 2008 16:20:49	I've read the color marker idea in many places, but I don't think anyone has suggested the most accessible way to do this: poker chips. They're multicolored, plentiful, cheap, and stack well.
#5 kouk Jun 17, 2008 17:57:56	Mini poker chips if possible, the big ones get tough to position when using adjacent minis (though they work on large-sized minis pretty well). I actually have not found much trouble keeping track of effects like that as compared to 3rd edition. For me, keeping track of multiple-round effects was much more difficult, having to tick off when a new round started, whether I was Concentrating etc. Most bonuses in 4e are either "Until the end of the next turn" or "Until the end of the encounter." Obviously the encounter one is marginally easier to keep track of (it doesn't matter if you had to leave the table as long as the same fight is going on). Other than tokens to mark the minis, for certain effects that perhaps affect all allies or such, make a little card with that effect and place it near the action on the battlemat, or make a little standing thing for the middle of the table to remind everyone. Another option is to have the person causing an effect to just remind everyone until the end of the next turn. I know it can get hard to remember when/what the Bard's singing did in 3.X sometimes, but the guy producing the effect probably knows all about it :P "I attack the wolf." "Remember to add +2 to your damage rolls!"
#6 mycroftb Jun 25, 2008 21:24:35	I've used index cards for a while to keep track of initiative. For temporary statuses, I've just been writing a note down on the appropriate player/enemy's index card. For other things like defender marking and bloodied, I use tiny colored clothespins I got from a craft store. They clip pretty easily onto the prepainted plastic minis I have, but I'd be cautious on hand-painted ones, and probably stick to the multi-colored mini poker chip suggestions above.
#7 cryptor_00 Jun 30, 2008 12:46:04	Our group, like many others, uses a combination of paper and pencil for odd bonuses, and colored stones for regularly-used modifiers (the warlock's temporary hp fitting into that category)
#8 pmurray%40bigpond.com Jun 30, 2008 21:39:36	Post-it notes. They're free if you pinch them from work. You can use them sticky-side up to attach them to minis - just put the mini down on the sticky bit.
#9 josheva Jul 08, 2008 13:45:56	In my group, each player remembers bonuses and penalties affecting himself, and every penalty he is imposing on monsters. When I make rolls for monsters I can usually remember everything that's going on, but when I don't I can simply ask the players to clarify the situation. If your players are tactically sound, they will probably notice if you forget anything anyways.