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GM Gear
Mar 5, 2012 20:38:48 GMT -8
Post by inflatus on Mar 5, 2012 20:38:48 GMT -8
I have been thinking about what GM gear to buy for running my GURPS sessions. Over the years I have seen what other GM’s bring to the table besides the books. They bring battle mats, GM screen, clipboard, electronics, miniatures, something to roll dice in and so much more. The choices seem endless. Some GM’s swear by the office supply store and buy like they are kids in a candy store. All GM’s have their ideal kit to bring to the sessions. I am sure that most of you have a special kit and throw a fit if you forget to bring a piece of it. I understand the RPG system will dictate what to bing to the table. I want to share my GM experiences in GURPS. I would like to know what others use to GM. You may also want to include your reasons for the choice. Apart from the dice and system books I use only two things. I use the composition book because it is not very big and has a hard cover. Inside it contains the particulars of the adventure, notes and NPC’s. I also use it to write down how the players are reacting to the adventure and possible outcomes. Once the session ends I have a great deal of information to use for the next adventure. I am able to go back and essentially relive the session. This notebook has all I need. Maybe I won’t go out and buy anything else. Change my mind?.......maybe.
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GM Gear
Mar 5, 2012 21:41:12 GMT -8
Post by doctorlovecraft on Mar 5, 2012 21:41:12 GMT -8
I haven't GMed yet but my old GM, who was awesome, told me to always keep a list of random names in your notes In case your players do something unexpected and you need a name. If you look on the list to get a name, it looks like you're consulting your notes and that you had planned it all along. It keeps the illusion that you have a handle on things and aren't pulling things out of your ass, which can destroy the players' immersion in the game.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 6, 2012 5:10:55 GMT -8
I used to use a binder full of notebook and graph paper. In addition to dice and rulebooks, of course. Nowadays, it's dice, *maybe* a hardcover rulebook, and my laptop. Doubles as its own GM screen.
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Post by clockworkmonk on Mar 6, 2012 6:11:40 GMT -8
More and more, my iPad is becoming my hardcover book for rules at the table. I also keep a Moleskin notebook on me that I write notes in during and between sessions (my mind is always working on a story in one way or another). Actually, that's one of the most useful things I've done in my short GMing career--having a notebook to write ideas in wherever those ideas may strike me pretty much lets me think up sessions and entire campaigns ahead of time.
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Post by jazzisblues on Mar 6, 2012 7:23:11 GMT -8
My GM'ing Kit
1. Laptop (I cannot function without my laptop it's where my brain (such as it is) is kept) 2. GM Screen (I actually waffle back and forth about whether to use it or not) 3. Dice (I have my dice separated out by system, and have separate bags for each set) 1. Game Science Polyhedral 2. Chessex Polyhedral 3. Chessex d6 (This set is about to get revamped I think) 4. Notebook (I never go anywhere without a notebook and a sketchbook, well almost) 5. Battlemat(s)/Gaming Paper (Don't always use it but I always have it handy) 6. Mini's (Again, don't always use them but I always want to have them handy) 7. Scratch paper for notes to players 8. Gamebooks 9. Backup hard copies of all my notes for the game and copies of character sheets (Just in case my laptop goes T.U.) 10. Wet Erase Markers, Sharpies (do not get the two mixed up), squirt bottle, paper towels, pens, pencils and erasers. 11. Bennies, Status Markers, etc. (game specific)
I render everything (Game notes, Character Sheets, Character Summaries, Monster/Bad Guy Lists, etc.) to PDF and keep everything open in one instance of Foxit Reader (It does tabs and Adobe Acrobat does not) and then have all of that along with the pdf copies of any rule books that pertain to the current game open on my laptop. I often go the whole game without looking at it, but I have it if I need it.
If I'm running Pathfinder I have my combat pad as well though I'm actually of two minds about whether I like it or not. The best way to use it I've found (Would be interested to hear Sir Guido's thoughts) is to have a player run the combat pad and keep up with everyone's initiative.
So there you have it, my totally ocd anal retentive list of stuff for my gm kit.
Cheers,
JiB
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joegun
Journeyman Douchebag
Posts: 249
Preferred Game Systems: Savage Worlds
Currently Playing: Just GM'ing right now.
Currently Running: Rippers Resurrected, and Savage RIFTS!
Favorite Species of Monkey: Baboon
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GM Gear
Mar 6, 2012 11:57:45 GMT -8
Post by joegun on Mar 6, 2012 11:57:45 GMT -8
My GM'ing Kit 1. Laptop (I cannot function without my laptop it's where my brain (such as it is) is kept) 2. GM Screen (I actually waffle back and forth about whether to use it or not) 3. Dice (I have my dice separated out by system, and have separate bags for each set) 1. Game Science Polyhedral 2. Chessex Polyhedral 3. Chessex d6 (This set is about to get revamped I think) 4. Notebook (I never go anywhere without a notebook and a sketchbook, well almost) 5. Battlemat(s)/Gaming Paper (Don't always use it but I always have it handy) 6. Mini's (Again, don't always use them but I always want to have them handy) 7. Scratch paper for notes to players 8. Gamebooks 9. Backup hard copies of all my notes for the game and copies of character sheets (Just in case my laptop goes T.U.) 10. Wet Erase Markers, Sharpies (do not get the two mixed up), squirt bottle, paper towels, pens, pencils and erasers. 11. Bennies, Status Markers, etc. (game specific) I render everything (Game notes, Character Sheets, Character Summaries, Monster/Bad Guy Lists, etc.) to PDF and keep everything open in one instance of Foxit Reader (It does tabs and Adobe Acrobat does not) and then have all of that along with the pdf copies of any rule books that pertain to the current game open on my laptop. I often go the whole game without looking at it, but I have it if I need it. If I'm running Pathfinder I have my combat pad as well though I'm actually of two minds about whether I like it or not. The best way to use it I've found (Would be interested to hear Sir Guido's thoughts) is to have a player run the combat pad and keep up with everyone's initiative. So there you have it, my totally ocd anal retentive list of stuff for my gm kit. Cheers, JiB Crap JIB I didn't know Foxit Reader did TABS!!!!! you just made my day! Downloading now!
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joegun
Journeyman Douchebag
Posts: 249
Preferred Game Systems: Savage Worlds
Currently Playing: Just GM'ing right now.
Currently Running: Rippers Resurrected, and Savage RIFTS!
Favorite Species of Monkey: Baboon
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GM Gear
Mar 6, 2012 12:04:41 GMT -8
Post by joegun on Mar 6, 2012 12:04:41 GMT -8
Oh as for me:
1) Laptop that contains core books, google doc gaming notes, char sheets, maps, ect 2) Dice 3) Poker Chips for bennies (yup Savage Worlds) 4) A couple decks of cards 5) Physical copies of the core rule books to pass around the table. 6) Benny Box ( which also holds 2-4 for travel ) 7) physical Notebook ( that goes with me everywhere ) 8) HDMI cable (to throw up quick google images of the battlemap on the big screen if need be ) - I usually don't use minis if I can avoid it
New additions: a) Tablet - got it for my 10 year at work, it's a little generic 8inch android, but it is rocking dropbox (will all my rpg books), a pdf reader, and so far it seems to work ok. I haven't tried it in a session yet, but that could replace the core rulebooks being carted around.
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GM Gear
Mar 6, 2012 13:08:12 GMT -8
Post by jazzisblues on Mar 6, 2012 13:08:12 GMT -8
Yup I got so totally torqued off with Acrobat because I needed to have multiple pdfs open at once and was sick to death of having to move between windows because Acrobat was f'ing stupid so I did a little poking around and found that Foxit did what I wanted. Well worth the price (oh wait it's free, even better) of purchase.
JiB
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GM Gear
Mar 6, 2012 14:24:01 GMT -8
Post by uselesstriviaman on Mar 6, 2012 14:24:01 GMT -8
My GM Kit is similar to JiB's except I haven't yet entered the digital age.
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Deleted
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GM Gear
Mar 6, 2012 22:01:25 GMT -8
Post by Deleted on Mar 6, 2012 22:01:25 GMT -8
I really am a minimalist GM when I run. I personally hate have computers, cellphones, even GM screens (blocks eye contact when I am sitting and I get tired of standing). I normally walk in with: notebook Dice players guide small whiteboard (for any quick map jots or temp info) flashcards with creatures info In my notebook I have the list of names, story bubbles, and big name characters with persona blurb.
The only time I came with more then just simply this is when I DM 4E. Then I make sure to bring a battlemat and multicolored markers. I am cheap so I collected soda bottles and took the little plastic ring off and use them, then it is a contest always to see who can be the hula champion at the table.
I keep telling myself that one day I will buy a tablet and move to the new age but I like my notebook with crazy drawings on the sides I do for the maps and rolling the dice myself. If I need a secret roll all I do is cup my hands when I roll.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2012 4:25:21 GMT -8
GMing online from the edge of a developing nation makes things a little more difficult. I've had to streamline my process quite a lot and rely on the necessities. This is my baby: I've used this one graph notebook for every single campaign and one shot game I've been in since college. All of my notes as a GM and player are in here. Page 1 is ideas for a Necessary Evil campaign, my first GMing after college. Dozens of character stats are in here, several pages of tracking XP in a brief Rolemaster campaign I played in, campaign ideas that never happened, every monster stat for every fight for two D&D campaigns, hundreds of sketches, and so on. It's a complete mess and almost full but I'll never throw this thing out. It's been around the world. I've taken notes on Vietnamese beaches and Philippine mountaintops. This notebook, my Savage Worlds Explorer's Edition book, and dice are all the gaming supplies I brought with me when I joined Peace Corps. If I don't have a lot of prep time before a game because I'm busy with work or there's no power then I use it for maps, too. A pen, maybe some colored pencils, and my camera. Take a picture, throw it in Maptool, and I've literally got a quick and dirty map. My notebook and Maptool are the most important things. I still use the old offline D&D Monster Builder for my D&D campaign. It's a terrible program, slow and crashy, but it does what I need. I used to be a pdf addict. Like Jib I would load up the tabs in Foxit and bounce between them. I don't do that anymore because I'm on a netbook and because I've passed many of the rules duties to the player in the group who knows rules really well and has all the books. She's my most reliable resource. I trust that if she says a rule does something, she's right.
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SirGuido
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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 7, 2012 8:22:48 GMT -8
My kit is as follows: 1. Laptop 2. Screen(only used about 10-15% of the time) 3. Gaming Paper/Mat 4. Dice 5. Wooden tokens for minis(in multiple sizes) 6. Poker Chips(useful for marking conditions on minis if needed, and other things) 7. Pens, pencils, wet erase markers, sharpies, scissors, tape, small binder clips, notecards, etc 8. Combat Pad (with extra magnets)
I use these tools for both Pathfinder AND Savage Worlds(the two systems I GM most often at the moment), but I can see them being useful for other things I have GM'd in the past. A lot fot times I will use the d20pfsrd.com for reference and when I prep my games I set up a bookmark folder with bookmarks to all the important material and just open all the bookmarks at once before the game. I prefer the tokens over minis because they are more portable and reusable. I have tons of dice and I think I've talked about that before, I have them seperated into smaller bags now though for different uses(one in the car just in case, one in my boardgaming bag, one at home, and one in my GM bag). I also always have a bunch of extras for Pathfinder Society since I am the coordinator(extra character sheets, log sheets for games, sanctioned Pre-gens, my own pre-gens, extra society numbers, etc).
JiB: I usually don't give my Combat Pad to another player, mostly because I keep notes on it. It might not be a bad idea to toss in a small notepad though and hand it out. Would let me concentrate more on the descriptions in the game, and keep the game moving.
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Post by hoseirrob on Mar 7, 2012 8:31:31 GMT -8
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SirGuido
Supporter
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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, 2012 8:36:39 GMT -8
I saw that, and am very interested... just can't afford it. $59 to back a project and get some chips is just not in the books at the moment.
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Deleted
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GM Gear
Mar 7, 2012 11:57:23 GMT -8
Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2012 11:57:23 GMT -8
While not vastly different from what others are sharing, my equipment would be: Notebook: it's just much easier to keep track of some things on paper, and while you might want to learn to do something different, sometimes the time it takes you while learning is just too much, and paper and pen/cil wins at everything Clip Board: sometimes when I float from place-to-place, or if we are blessed/cursed with a setup that requires me to move a bit, having some written notes (about the adventure, about PC statuses, whatever) is much more manage-able w/ a clipboard. I use to use one w/ a customer GM screen on top, but now I go screen-less. Page Protectors: more for my players, they can put their character sheets inside them and use a dry errase marker to make note of combat buffs and statuses, ammo expenditures, power usage, and even protect from the dreaded spilled drink. Dice: for throwing at people. Sometimes I roll them to get a random result in a game ;D Battle Mats: pre-printed maps of combat scenes. I use to turn my nose up at these things, but now that I have less time during my week to plan, having a battlefield in an instant is nice. Also, it saves you time from drawing maps infront of players while they roll initiative (of course, Gaming Paper might be able to help you there). New Rulebooks: I do mostly 4e, so 2 weeks after the book is published it's uselss so I just stick with new ones, or ones that I lean on for fluff. Laptop: This is sorta a cop-out; the computer is useless w/o software. Some things are PDFs, so you could just as easily print them, but once you find a critical app that makes your gaming easier, keeping everything digital is awesome. Remember, I play 4e mostly, but here is what I like having on-hand. * PowerTool - power2ool.com: this is what 1) sold me on using a laptop and 2) makes me keep my DDI subscription. It's basically a Flash-based pin-up board, but it links directly to DDI and lets you pull down monsters, items and powers to pin up. You can also adjust the stats of monsters easy enough. Helps me make impromptu encounters quickly, which is a feat in 4e. * Master DM Sheet - slyflourish.com/master_dm_sheet.pdf: mostly just a table that shows you average HP/AC/Damage for monsters/traps for all 30 levels. Nice for improvising when you arn't too sure what power level you want something to be based on. * Kingdom Events - www.redturtlegames.com/eraven/rules/KingdomEvents.htm: When my players mill about, it's nice to have something to generate some background noise for them to pay attention too, even if the event rolled doesn't generate any immediate interest (there are always auxillary events occuring around any major region event). * Random Generators - I'm not going to throw down all of my links for these; you trip over them in Google easy enough. Random generators for names, plots, dungeon rooms, tavern menues, numbers, everything. I use to keep tons of dead trees with lists of names and other stuff with me in a binder - and it was too cumbersome to use. Now, when you need something because the players have pulled something on you, it is a lot more with the flow of the game to look at a random generator and read a name/town/event from it (where the rest of your adventure notes are I assume) than to leaf through pages of lists and pretend you keep all your game notes in one or two-word long sentences. (which you might)
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