Comments on: A DM’s best friends: antiacid and index cards

By: Ryan Reid

Ryan Reid — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 19:48:14 +0000

I have always been anti music during a D&D session when I am the DM, until our last session. One of my players, who’s basement we use for our gaming room, had downloaded a ton of great lyric free dramatic music that worked out great during combat and other moments where tension needed to be built up. I guess a good DM can build those moments with out outside tools such as music, however I am an OK DM, so I will take help where I can get it.

I do agree that the wrong song at the wrong time can cause too much distraction and spur more table talk during the game. I think it comes down to the DM’s personal preference and if the player enjoy it without losing focus.

Index cards have been super helpful for me when I DM. I tend to write my own stuff and print off my notes and use that to run a game. I might bring a piece of scratch paper for some notes and to keep track of monster hp and things of that nature. However, as of late I have been running some purchased adventures, Sons of Gruumish, and because I did not write the adventure I find it helpful to take notes of the adventure on any thing that I do not want to miss.

Also, jotting down monster stats on these cards are great to avoid looking up the monster in the MM over and over and to keep track of its current health and what spell effects it may be currently under.

By: Kane

Kane — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 20:41:23 +0000

A DM that I play with uses index cards with little pictures he drawls of the items and id’s on the back, pretty cool, I would use them in my game(s) but I have been lazy :)

By: Granger44

Granger44 — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 13:23:12 +0000

I used to use index cards but have graduated to a laptop/tablet PC. I found I can use One Note in place of index cards.

As a player, I still use index cards to organize spells or special powers.

By: Yax

Yax — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 02:31:32 +0000

That’s why I said a “willing bunch of players”

By: Mat

Mat — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 14:47:05 +0000

Music = bad idea.
A friend of mine tried playing “Flight of the Valkyries” during a dramatic moment. The bard of the group started singing “Kill the Wabbit, Kill the Wabbit” and all laughter broke lose. No, music has damaging potential. I guess if you use it, be careful what you select.

Index cards I’ve always liked. If a Player looses the index card with that item written on it…then their character lost it, too. So hold onto those index cards! (Allows for pre-game session prep as well – no time wasted on explaining identifications – one for unidentified, one for the identified).