Muddyboots
Apprentice Douchebag
Posts: 83
Preferred Game Systems: Callofsavagetoon 5ERPS
Currently Playing: Pla-Ying, wazzat?!?
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Post by Muddyboots on Nov 20, 2014 16:43:55 GMT -8
My friend, Vic, is one of the most natural GM's I've ever seen. He took to it like a duck to water. We ran a shared super sandbox campaign for many, many years, swapping the GM duties. We often played at his house, or at his brother in law, George's. When Vic GMed at George's, we would have to move four to six boxes of "extremely important and useful things." George had a dedicated room for gaming and it would take four guys working eight hours to move HIS GM stuff. Me, I'm a nomad I fit everything in one day pack. I can still run AD&D with NOTHING. Not a thing.
What do you bring? What do you Like to have provided? What are others responsible for? What is your minimum? What is the Sky-is-the-limit dream set up? If you are a long time gamer, has the computer helped?
Edit to add: on the computer question, I mean AT the table. Discuss!
Muddyboots
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Post by archmagezemoc on Dec 1, 2014 7:49:19 GMT -8
I personally have a "core" bag which I always carry to my games and then sometimes I take extras, I'm currently running 5e so it contains PHB/MM, my notebook and campaign binder + whatever temporary books I need. Last week I used my "Forgotten Realms 'All things magical'", I don't even know what edition, I think 2e or 3e. I'm working on a new custom DM screen but until then not much. It depends on the system, some editions I can run bookless off the cuff and others I need my whole shelf, depends on how well I know the system and story I wanna run.
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tomes
Supporter
Hello madness
Posts: 1,438
Currently Running: Dungeon World, hippie games, Fallout Shelter RPG hack
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Post by tomes on Dec 1, 2014 21:21:15 GMT -8
For my current campaigns, which have been Dungeon World or Savage Worlds, I have: - Music: my iPhone, a small speaker I plug it into, a few RPG music playlists
- Dice: including some boxes to roll the dice in, so they don't go all over the place; i have at least one friend who rolls HARD... even the box does little to stop the dice from flying
- Writing things: pencils, pens, paper and sticky note pads, which generally don't get used (but that way the players can pass notes if they want to
- Deck of cards for SW
- GM screen: For DW it's just a summary of moves; for SW it's a summary of mostly combat modifiers
- Index cards: If I prep anything it is cards for NPCs; Each big (i.e. pre-planned) NPC gets a name, 3 adjectives for their physical appearance, and 3 for their personality; Maybe index cards for monster stats for the 2-5 types of monsters I expect to come up... anything else you can just make up on the fly.
- Name tents: you know, the paper tents you use to put your name on when in new training class, so everyone else knows your name... I have one for each PC, so they will remember each others name and not have to do that "what's your name again?" thing, and I have ones for the main NPCs that I put up on the GM screen so that when I'm talking to them in NPC voice, they know immediately who they speak with
- Miniatures: even if we don't use them, I like to have them there as their avatars
- Combat scenery: often not needed, but I run from a large sheet of paper with quick hand-drawn objects, to little paper buildings, to crap made out of Lego, to using Heroscape stuff to make a more elaborate scene
All of this is normally at my place, so I don't need to take anything with me, but I have been putting together a little travel kit for if I want to travel and GM, which has little bits of most of those things (minus minis and maps). I like the idea of DIY GM screens either with plastic inserts, or that are really binders stuck together, so you can just flip pages inside them to change which game system or set of stuff you need, so I've been tweaking that model. I also like how simple Dungeon World is in that you simply have the playbooks / character sheets, and then the 2 pages of moves, and you're pretty much done. OK, you do need a few dice. Because I like these rule light systems, I find that if I have character sheets for DW or SW, I'm pretty much set, no need for rule books. Maybe a few printouts of things like the summary of Edges and Hindrances. I also like to have a copy of The Quiet Year question sheets, cause that's a quick one you can play with just a deck of cards and a large piece of paper, in case you are missing people for a session, or just run into folks willing to try something out (I've used this a few times with non-RPGers, and found that having a few RPG-ish games like that is nice for the back pocket)
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Post by greenonme on Mar 2, 2015 11:51:38 GMT -8
My GM baggage has changed a lot over time. I used to bring every book I had. Core, splat, notebooks and a ton of dice and everything I could think of and then a little more. Mostly just because I loved the STUFF itself, not really that I needed to refer back to it often. Lately, because of a need to really economize the table space with an expanded group of players, I've cut back to just having a notebook, some index cards, minimal dice, and maybe one rule book to quick reference.
The evolution of a GM style is always interesting to think about, luckily I've had the opportunity to watch two others in my group also take up that internal debate of maximum or minimal at the table.
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SirGuido
Supporter
Drizztmas Santa
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Posts: 2,127
Preferred Game Systems: L5R, Traveller, Fate Accelerated, Masks
Currently Playing: Nothing.
Currently Running: Nothing.
Favorite Species of Monkey: Anything in a Cage.
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Post by SirGuido on Mar 2, 2015 12:07:35 GMT -8
My GM kit consists of the main book for the system I'm running and maybe a splat book or two, a big bag of dice in case players need some, usually a few folders with extra sheets, maps, etc, a notebook, some index cards, pencils/pens/etc, and usually a laptop in case I need access to other splat books or whatever. I generally try not to use the laptop unless I absolutely have to I'd prefer to make written notes and transfer them later.
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Post by uselesstriviaman on Mar 2, 2015 14:15:50 GMT -8
I used to carry a TON of crap when GMing 3.5E - two bags full of reference books, 3 tackle boxes full of minis, GM screen, dice, Chessex maps, etc.
I haven't GM'd anything but convention games for the last year or two, but those have their own requirements.
My Dread games are by far the easiest: The (paperback) Dread book, a Jenga tower, character sheets, and a few props/handouts.
My Savage Worlds games: GM screen, character sheets, bennies, cards, handouts, player mats.
I'm still toying with the possibility of adding a laptop to my at-the-table GMing tools. I tried it a bit once or twice, but that was before I discovered the joy of OneNote. I'm thinking it would be totally worthwhile to include it for note-taking, but I haven't tried it out yet.
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Post by Forresst on Mar 2, 2015 19:12:39 GMT -8
Ever since I got my tablet, my GM bag has gotten considerably lighter. I have a LOT of my system books in PDF format now, so the tablet holds all of that. I usually have my character sheets, fight blocks, etc in either a word document or more often a OneNote... thing, so that happens on the tablet too. If I have pictures to show people, I'll put them either on the tablet or on my ipod and hand that around.
I have all my dice in a little hobby box, it has sections that are almost exactly perfect size for a dice set. I have 2 complete dice sets, one is orange and one is blue, with the 7 polys, a brick of d6, and 10d10 for each colour, and then I have some custom made Base 9 dice, a bunch of red d6 in case someone needs some, a set of FATE dice, and this neat combination magnifier/height-showing base for a mini I got.
If I'm running SW or some other game where I need to hand out tokens of any kind, I have a little box of assorted poker chips, tiddlywinks, and other small nondescript tokens. I also have a deck of cards but that lives in my briefcase 100% of the time, whether I'm gaming or not.
Anything I'm handing out must obviously come with me. Pregen characters always get their own little report covers, because I hate loose paper in my bag. Table presents will usually get put in a shopping bag or something since I only have to think about them going TO the game, and not FROM.
I usually try to bring either some cookies or a small snack item of food, because I get hungry and I don't like imposing on other people to feed me unless that's explicitly part of the deal. I also usually bring my own soda because I like Diet Coke and nobody else does.
I also bring a lot of little paper pads, whether they're sticky notes or just those free ones the realtors sometimes leave in your mailbox, or the ones you get from hotels or things. I like having a ready-made note pad for jotting transient details or doing math.
The last thing I bring is a whole box of pens and pencils because omg I hate not having a writing tool at hand.
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Post by lowkeyoh on Mar 2, 2015 19:53:07 GMT -8
We play a pretty casual game, and so I really only bring dice, books, and a notebook for writing things down.
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Post by lowkeyoh on Mar 2, 2015 19:55:43 GMT -8
My Savage Worlds games: GM screen, character sheets, bennies, cards, handouts, player mats.I'm still toying with the possibility of adding a laptop to my at-the-table GMing tools. I tried it a bit once or twice, but that was before I discovered the joy of OneNote. I'm thinking it would be totally worthwhile to include it for note-taking, but I haven't tried it out yet. I'm a HUGE fan of tech at the table, which you would have seen if my computer wasn't dead during Gamicon. I'm a HUGE fan of digital notepassing. It's just easier and more discrete to type a message to someone than to hand write a note, fold it, and pass it across the table. Also having all the prep done in Onenote is beautiful.
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Post by Kainguru on Mar 3, 2015 4:07:40 GMT -8
Onenote on laptop which is set up beside - not in front of - me. I also print my most immediate OneNote entries and have them in front of me - so I can note changes and then update Onenote itself after the session. A tablet or smart phone that has a playlist and sound effects on it which link up to Bluetooth speakers. My newest is a small Bluetooth speaker that can go under the table before the players arrive - this is used for sound effects eg: drums, monster roars, thunder etc. A minimum a half screen - cause, like Stu Venable, "I cheat" (in favour of drama/interest/player goals). A sheet of 'random' encounters - basically a pre-generated set of 'wandering monsters' ready for insertion when needed/appropriate. Eg: a detachment guards patrolling a complex. I find it easier than using those wandering encounter tables on the fly. Beer Pizza More Beer Aaron
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Post by mook on Mar 6, 2015 16:23:05 GMT -8
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Post by Kainguru on Mar 7, 2015 7:15:34 GMT -8
Only if AWESOME is a problem - my mild OCD tendencies are envious. Aaron
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D.T. Pints
Instigator
JACKERCON 2018: WITH GREAT POWER COMES GREAT RESPONSIBILITY June 22-July 1st
Posts: 2,857
Currently Playing: D&D 5e, Pathfinder, DUNGEONWORLD, Star Wars Edge of the Empire
Currently Running: DUNGEONWORLD, PATHFINDER
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Post by D.T. Pints on Mar 7, 2015 8:08:25 GMT -8
I now understand why stork mentions "The Mook" like you're some sort of super hero...holy shit sir. That is an impressive approach to just about any aspect of life. You could do Tony Robbins style demos off of that. "How to GM games and rule the world." Very impressive indeed and a very helpful post. Why haven't you been on the podcast yet ? Cheers, Curt.
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SirGuido
Supporter
Drizztmas Santa
Ask me about the Drizztmas Exchange!
Posts: 2,127
Preferred Game Systems: L5R, Traveller, Fate Accelerated, Masks
Currently Playing: Nothing.
Currently Running: Nothing.
Favorite Species of Monkey: Anything in a Cage.
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Post by SirGuido on Mar 7, 2015 8:17:54 GMT -8
Wow, I used to think my old organization method that I posted a video about was over the top.
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Post by ayslyn on Mar 7, 2015 10:30:46 GMT -8
/whispers. My God... It's full of win.
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