DM screen alternatives

#1

I know @Runehammer is typically against the idea of DM screens so I was wondering what alternatives some of the shield wall has come up with.

I’m sure some don’t use anything at all, but I kinda like to keep my notes/minis hidden. I do agree that the degree of separation that comes from using a full DM screen kinda sucks though.

I ran a game this past weekend for my daughter and 9 of her friends for her birthday an I used a small wooden desk organizer as my “DM control center”. It’s about 7x9, maybe 6 inches tall, has a small drawer you could stash some index cards and dice in, it’s got a small shelf that’s raised about the main part that I used to hold my TN card display and my Timer display. I’ll try and post a picture of it later tonight after I get home from work. I like it, but I wish it was a little longer. I might pick up a second one or build a bigger version down the road.

Anyway, what are some of your ideas?

Thanks,
Chris

#2

I use a dice box, that is actually a wooden dagger case…

10%20AM
Screen Shot 2023-07-25 at 10.55.10 AM.png896x678 931 KB

#3

As I use a ceiling mounted projector pointed down at my table to display my encounter areas, I tend to keep my PC monitor as my GM screen.

#4

@Runehammer love those skull dice.

#5

I have to say, the small DM screen over at the Arcane Library is wonderful. The part I like about it the most is the NPC name tables that can really help you in the moment.

#6

The dagger is strapped to his calf.

#7

For those “dicey” situations…

Ok…ok, terrible pun.

#8

I also like some mystery (I like props and I have a damascus dagger, so first time player always get to see it) and I found something that work for me : I put a GM screen on half my part of the table, letting the other open so I’m mostly there and the screen is really just to hide what needs to be hidden.

Not a direct answer, but you can also GM partly standing up. This way, you have your hidden stash when sitting and you are free to move and communicate when standing. I like this when I describe terrains or encounter in TotM fashion or when using Index Cards but adding details. I also do some martial arts so I flex when I can haha

You can combine both, having your part of the table split into 2 (hidden and revealed) and standing a lot. It can help to set the mood for horror or scary bits. I use a lot of psycho/bandits inspired by Borderlands 2 who will tell you stuff like “I want to eat your baby!” or “You’ll be my meat bicycle!”, so closing distance with a player ears or stuff like that can really tense them up in a good way.

#9

i use a notion based set of tables to run the game off a tablet, its more fun when i can see my players

#10

Yes! I ended up running out game this weekend standing up in large part because we had a big table (to seat 10 kids) and it was hard to direct things and make good eye contact from a seated position.

#11

I feel like a lot of discussion about screens assume that people throw behind them. I use a DM screen, but I don’t roll dice behind the screen except when it’s something for me specifically (like a random table or generator).

It’s just where I keep the stuff I don’t want out in the open. I also pace around a lot when I DM.

I’ve used two Ruby Tuesday specials-stands wired together as my DM screen for years, but I’ve recently purchased a big one from AliExpress.I haven’t given it a spin yet, it’s a little bigger than I expected.

#12

Here’s the picture of the “organizer” I used over the weekend.

20230725_160604
20230725_160604.jpg2268x4032 1.62 MB

I may try to attach some sort of clip to the front to hold the target number display, but I’ll have to play around with it a bit more.

#13

I think it’s fair to say that the Runehammer
Community is less anti-screen and more anti-rolling-in-secret. You can have a screen, but please roll in the open.

I don’t want to unearth a can of worms regarding fudging dice rolls, but to me, that practice literally robs the whole table of the one factor that makes a game a game: outcomes determined by chance.

When those dice tumble onto a result, and the whole table either groans or cheers, it’s the most powerful shared experience we have.

#14

One of the dads at the game we had this weekend was kinda shocked that not only do I roll in the open, but I had the Target Number on display! He made the comment after the game (after the first encounter had 15 turns without hits) that if the “DC” wasn’t known, I could have just started calling the misses hits. I told him I thought that cheapened the game.

I went so far after all of those failed rolls that I had the “teacher” NPC to do an attack roll to “show the party how it’s done”… he/I rolled a 1!

#15

I recently repurposed the small metal case my dremel tool game in to a portable GM kit for ICRPG. Once my cards, dice, etc are out it doubles as a dice box for secret rolls. The lid is held up by a line of ribbon, serving as a tiny DM screen and I plan on gluing a small reference sheet full of useful tables inside. I like utility of a DM screen, but don’t like to be separated from the players, so this has proven to be the best of both worlds

#16

I don’t subscribe to the modern anti-DM screen zeitgeist. I’m rocking it old school and took my useless 5E DM’s Screen which has a lower profile than ones we had back in the 80’s, and covered it with my favorite D&D artwork from the early days. Here’s what it looks like.

image
image.jpg1536x2048 1.02 MB

image
image.jpg1536x2048 1010 KB

image
image.jpg1536x2048 932 KB

image
image.jpg1536x2048 983 KB

image
image.jpg2048x1536 777 KB

#17

Looks awesome, I love it!

#18

Looks pretty cool, I think if I had one that size though I’d want to split it in half and have it open in the middle… like two L shaped screens open in the middle.

#19

Funny timing! Just recently I finished my DIY “GM Folder” as a more portable and less intrusive alternative to the DM screen. Some features:

  • Enough secrecy for my notebook, an A4 map, secret GM rolls, etc. when I need it.
  • Can be opened with one hand or propped open as in the photo.
  • Folds away quickly when I don’t need the secrecy (most of the time) or when the pizza arrives.
  • Works on very small tables like couch/coffee tables or even on my lap.
  • When closed, it provides a nice flat, stable, horizontal surface in front of me where I can make open rolls, open a book, put a tablet, etc.

I’m still planning to install a tiny LED light inside for low light situations.

Note: The sides look quite transparent in the bright light where I took the pictures but you really cannot make out anything through them at the table.

gm_folder_all
gm_folder_all.jpg3327x1000 959 KB

#20

I ended up buying a second, albeit different size/shape, desk organizer to complement the first one. Both have drawers and “storage slots” but the new one has a full top shelf. When I saw it I was reminded of the roll boxes @Runehammer had videos for on YouTube.

20230730_081150
20230730_081150.jpg4032x2268 2.03 MB