TYGRHobbes
Sneak
149 Posts
    
 | | 07/27/2006 12:05 AM |
| While shopping at Staples I picked up a few items to make my gaming session less painful. The players love it! You can get this stuff at any major office supply store.
Small dry erase tablet, a letter divider/holder, a vinyl car door magnet kit (includes white vinyl magnet sheet and vinyl lettering), and some wet and dry erase pens
Use wet erase pens on the vinyl (it comes off better) and dry erase on the tablet itself.
I have one for a buff chart as well so everyone knows what's up. If it's not on the board it's not up!
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kestrel.ca
Underboss
1687 Posts
| | 07/27/2006 2:51 AM |
| | Cool idea. For initiative I simply use cards with each PCs and monster's name on them, but I like magnet idea too. | |
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kyrin
Commander
3171 Posts
| | 07/27/2006 9:24 AM |
| That's a nice system. I use a table with 25 rows and as many columns as I can fit. The first column counts down from 25. I write in the appropriate rows who rolls what initiative. It works pretty well, when I remember to print out a sheet. [xx(]
In Ye Olde Days, when a low init was good, I would simply count up out loud, and people would chime in when their number came up. Built some anticipation:
Me: "5...6...7...8... OK, on 8 the giant swings..."
Player who had 9: "Argh!"
JIM
aka kyrin
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yack
Commander
3320 Posts
Gatineau Canada
| | 07/27/2006 10:43 AM |
| | Great idea, I have a huge white board at my parents place just sitting there maybe I should put it too use. | |
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Richard II
Commander
3663 Posts
| | 07/27/2006 11:26 AM |
| quote:
Originally posted by kyrin
That's a nice system. I use a table with 25 rows and as many columns as I can fit. The first column counts down from 25. I write in the appropriate rows who rolls what initiative. It works pretty well, when I remember to print out a sheet. [xx(]
What do you do if you have party rogues with improved initiative? | |
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zhanteel
Sneak
173 Posts
| | 07/27/2006 1:04 PM |
| Small white boards are a great boon for gaming. Our group uses them to keep variable pieces of information for their characters, like spells and hit points. It works really well. I tried using them for init stuff, but our space is so small that the board is too cumbersome in my little dm space.
The other thing we use alot are the plastic page sleeves, so you can write right over stuff on the character sheet. | |
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IanB
Commander
3112 Posts
| | 07/27/2006 2:35 PM |
| I just use index cards and put them in order (which is an idea I stole directly from proudft.) That way when someone delays or readies an action and their initiative changes, I can just move their card and everyone stays in the right order.
jgsugden uses the magnet board technique, which is basically the same idea, although I don't think it works quite as well personally. | |
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kyrin
Commander
3171 Posts
| | 07/27/2006 2:44 PM |
| quote:
Originally posted by Richard II
quote:
Originally posted by kyrin
That's a nice system. I use a table with 25 rows and as many columns as I can fit. The first column counts down from 25. I write in the appropriate rows who rolls what initiative. It works pretty well, when I remember to print out a sheet. [xx(]
What do you do if you have party rogues with improved initiative?
Yeah, we have a rogue who regularly rolls 29 for inititative. I just write his name at the very top of the sheet. [)]
"A 12? For Inititative? Are you not feeling well?"
JIM
aka kyrin | |
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TYGRHobbes
Sneak
149 Posts
| | 07/27/2006 4:19 PM |
| quote:
Originally posted by zhanteel
The other thing we use alot are the plastic page sleeves, so you can write right over stuff on the character sheet.
Oh yes, those are used quite often too! It's amazing how useful a lot of the stuff at an office supply store is for D&D. | |
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TYGRHobbes
Sneak
149 Posts
| | 07/27/2006 4:23 PM |
| | I used to use index cards. Now with the init board, the players can plan ahead without having to ask me if they are next all the time (yes they never remember where they are in the order). Combat moves along a lot faster now. | |
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zenthrus
Warlord
5132 Posts
SLC, UT
| | 07/27/2006 4:28 PM |
| I like, I like [^]
I use init cards. Makes it easy to keep track of turn order, but players still have a tendency to take forever once their turn comes around. If they're constantly reminded of the turn order, they might actually think ahead. Then again, knowing my players, they might not.
I really like the spell buff time tracker. My players always forget to include extra bonuses from things like Bless.
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jgsugden
Commander
4320 Posts
Walnut Creek, CA
| | 07/27/2006 4:42 PM |
| | I use a very similar system for initiative. For spell effects, I find that one board usually can't cut it. There are too many, so I ask players to track them. I'm about to switch to a new system to track spell effects that ties them to initiative placement to keep the spell durations clean when there have been readied actions and delayed actions... Basially, instead of ticking off rounds of duration, we'll figure out exactly when the spell ends and cross it off when we reach that point in time. A minor switch, but one that shouldn't add any complexity. | |
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gss_000
Commander
3204 Posts
Baltimore, MD
| | 07/27/2006 5:40 PM |
| I just saw a different system for tracking initiatives. Once the dies are rolled, this judge would hand out table tents with 1,2,3,4,etc. to show the order people go in (the DM got one as well). Even though I prefer th index card method so I can hand out the card when people delay their actions so they can return it when they want to jump back in, all of these methods have their uses.
For spells, we just write ongoing effects on our battlemat. | |
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salmander
Sneak
140 Posts
| | 07/27/2006 7:34 PM |
| I built an excel spreadsheet that keeps track of initative and spells. Most of the common spells automatically adjust the appropriate stats. There are six spots for any other spells you use alot.
If any one is interested send me an email(salstegman@yahoo.com) and I will send it to you. Just let me know what versioon of office you are using, because there are some minor differences in the code between 2000 and 2003.
I built applications in office programs using VBA at work. I also build stuff like this at home for fun too, so if you need any customization, I can do that for you. | |
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Benimoto
Underboss
1125 Posts
| | 07/27/2006 10:14 PM |
| I like the magnet boards, but I still use index cards. Partly it's because I play a lot at conventions, and index cards are easier to stuff into a backpack. Partly it's because I think it's slightly easier to handle people moving around in initiative with the cards.
One problem I've seen (and had) with either system is skipping people in the order. With cards, I accidentally flip past them, or grab two cards as one. On the magnet board, it's easy to just pass over somebody by accident. What do you guys do to avoid that? | |
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nycfarmkid
Underboss
1210 Posts
Wadsworth, OH
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TYGRHobbes
Sneak
149 Posts
| | 07/28/2006 5:08 PM |
| quote:
Originally posted by Benimoto
I like the magnet boards, but I still use index cards. Partly it's because I play a lot at conventions, and index cards are easier to stuff into a backpack. Partly it's because I think it's slightly easier to handle people moving around in initiative with the cards.
One problem I've seen (and had) with either system is skipping people in the order. With cards, I accidentally flip past them, or grab two cards as one. On the magnet board, it's easy to just pass over somebody by accident. What do you guys do to avoid that?
People usually don't get skipped because of those little magnet buttons I use. The only problem is I have to remember to move the little thing after each person's turn [:)] | |
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glumag
Warlord
5968 Posts
| | 07/28/2006 5:45 PM |
| I use initiative cards, for PCs and monsters, a lot simpler and I like having all their important stats at my hand.
ours lo0oks like a great idea but for some reason I do not think it would work out for me; moving that metal button would be a pain and I do not like my player's remembering when it is X monster turn [)]
How do you work out delay/hold and changing of order? | |
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TYGRHobbes
Sneak
149 Posts
| | 07/28/2006 8:46 PM |
| quote:
Originally posted by glumag
I use initiative cards, for PCs and monsters, a lot simpler and I like having all their important stats at my hand.
ours lo0oks like a great idea but for some reason I do not think it would work out for me; moving that metal button would be a pain and I do not like my player's remembering when it is X monster turn [)]
How do you work out delay/hold and changing of order?
I'm a pretty nice DM so I allow them to see where the monsters are after the monsters have had their turn once. I have so many people playing that anything to speed it up helps. I'd use cards if I only had like 4 or less playing.
On delay/holds, I just move the player's name magnet down/up to the new initiative and write the new number next to their name. That's what I like so much about dry/wet erase pens. We've also begun to write a little number next to the character's name to indicate their init modifier in case of ties.
I've been using the web enhancement monster cards for Red Hand of Doom so all the monster info is easy find. I also found that the character cards in the DM for Dummies book work well for quick glance info. | |
Champion of the Lamia
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stonefro2000
Sergeant
465 Posts
| | 07/28/2006 9:14 PM |
| | i must agree the white board is as gret atool for gameing as the DMG. | |
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King O Vrock
Sergeant
397 Posts
| | 07/30/2006 11:32 AM |
| we took this a step further and constructed a wooden gaming table where the tabletop is whiteboard! Only cost a little over $100 and we all pitched in for the cost (one of the player's dad's built the table).
Players can write notes, numbers anything important on the board and erase it all (or leave it as needed) when we're done. | |
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