What's going on backside that screen? It's a question that every player is spring to wonder when sitting downwards for their first game of Dungeons and Dragons. That being said, the modern era of the game has seen many dungeon masters question the usefulness of the DM screen, amidst other DM tools. Renowned dungeon master and game designer Chris Perkins has run live games where he abandons a screen altogether.

Every DM's tabular array is his or her own playground, and you should just utilise whatsoever tools you find helpful. Here'south 10 that we've establish have a huge bear upon on our games, whether by making a confusing mechanic straightforward or inspiring the imagination of our beloved players.

ten Initiative Tracker

Historically, the dungeon master keeps rail of initiative behind his screen. When it's a role player'south turn to act, the DM notifies them and they take their turn. An initiative tracker makes this entire procedure transparent by displaying the initiative order for all players to see. Beyond the added transparency, initiative tracker'due south also give players the opportunity to aid the dungeon master go along track of plow order. Information technology's easy to make a mistake about whose turn it is next when yous're running a game, only, using this tool, you won't have to worry nigh it e'er once again. For an easy, in-house solution, fold 3x5 alphabetize cards in half, write player and NPC names on them, and society the cards according to initiative on superlative of your DM screen.

9 Battle Maps

Theater of the mind combat is perfect for quick, impromptu battles. Simply when planning role of your session around a climactic encounter, a battle map brings the game to a whole 'nother level. Providing players and npcs with dynamic ways to use their motility makes combat much more exciting.

Boxing maps besides give you the opportunity to include difficult and dangerous terrain to the combat scene. Add a pool of lava, puddles of tar, a mountain slide, or a deadly autumn to the boxing. It gives players and npcs alike combat options one hundred times more interesting than the trusty attack action.

8 In-game Props

Are you planning on your players receiving a plea for assistance from the baron of a nearby township? And then why not typhoon an actual letter, put it into an envelope, address it to the party, and give it to them while roleplaying a courier NPC. It'southward the footling details like this that non simply make your players feel similar they've stepped into a fantasy globe, but also let them know how much you appreciate them and their passion for the game. Dungeons and Dragons wouldn't exist without a healthy community of players. Exercise something special for yours.

vii Miniatures

Speaking of little details that make players feel like they've stepped into a fantasy world. Appropriate miniatures are one of the best means to communicate the grotesque, crude, and imaginative features of the monsters in your game. The but trouble is that miniatures are frequently very expensive, particularly when investing in 1 for every monster your players confront. Instead of crippling your banking concern account, buy miniatures for a few selection encounters. Ideally, they are creatures that you enjoy throwing into your games. That way, you tin look forward to using the minis again quondam shortly.

half-dozen Laptop Or Tablet

Don't become us wrong. Having the physical copies of the Monster Manual, Dungeon Master'southward Guide, and Player's Handbook on hand is a necessity for whatever game. But it wouldn't be a proper game of Dungeons and Dragons without an obscure rules question or two.

If you're the type that needs to get to the lesser of these mysteries before continuing with the adventure, a quick google search can go a long mode. A phone can be used to the same effect, but any dungeon primary on his phone in the middle of a game is setting a bad precedent.

five Magic Item Cards

Why is information technology that adventurers put their lives at risk? For glory? For gold? For fame? In our experience, some just do it for the magic items. Creating physical cards, or purchasing them online, and giving them to players when they uncover a magic item makes the experience that much more memorable. When you catch a player absent-minded-mindedly fingering a magic item card, you know you've given them something that they dearest. Do your magic items the justice they deserve past giving them a concrete existence in our material plane.

4 Session Notes

Over the course of a game of Dungeons and Dragons, a lot of things happen. More often than not, many of those things y'all would've never expected to go down despite having written up the game beforehand. The unwritten and unplanned actions, conversations, and developments might be the ones that your players remember the most. As a result, a practiced DM is going to keep rails of them. Whether it'due south a notecard, an online certificate, or the open spaces on your printed entrada notes, proceed rail of the session somewhere, and yous'll have more to worth with when you sit down down to right the next game.

3 Inspiration Dice

Players and DMs alike have dice that they consider special. We've all seen it. Players angrily tossing a one time trusted die into dice jail. DMs taking an actress moment to discover the perfect d20 for a decisive open roll. Our love for our die manifests in a menagerie of indelible actions.

If you're using the inspiration house rule, it only makes sense to have dice for the special occasion. Arrive something noticeable if possible. Some examples nosotros've seen include gilt, oversized, or metal dice.

ii World Maps

As a dungeon master, you dream upwards an unabridged earth total of quirky characters, unforgettable sights, and haunting monsters. It would be a shame for that world to not exist drawn out for all to see. Giving your players a world map is one of the quickest means to make your game alive and exhale on its own. It allows them the freedom to cull where they want to get next, and provides you with an endless listing of places and people to foreshadow in the games to come. Drawing a globe map is no small feat, but it's i well worth the endeavour.

i Music Mood Playlists

Music is an expression of emotions. The adventures your players proceed and the experiences they face will undoubtedly feature moments of fear, heroism, happiness, sadness, and every other emotion nether the sun. Creating a playlist for each of these moods is the easiest way to drive them dwelling. You might not use a sorrowful playlist for a long, long time. Only when a player grapheme's luck finally runs out, the entire table will be moved by the sounds of sadness. Fueled by their memories of a friend that's now forever lost. Then again, there's ever resurrection.

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Chris Stomberg (98 Manufactures Published)

Chris Stomberg is an avid gamer of all kinds. Board games, card games, tabletop games, video games: if its a game, it will pique his involvement. Chris has written ballast stories for news broadcasts, modules for his D&D grouping, and is currently working on his first novel. His hobbies outside of gaming include yoga, reading, bar hopping, and spending fourth dimension with friends quondam and new.

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