Questions tagged [tools]
For questions about using an online or offline tool in preparing or running an RPG. (This tag is not to be used for questions about the use of in-game tools, such as carpenter's tools or a forgery kit; the [equipment] tag might be more appropriate.) Note that questions asking for a tool recommendation are no longer allowed here; see the full tag wiki for details.
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What tools are useful to organize a GM's campaign notes? [closed]
There are plenty of tools available to organize campaign notes. I've tried 4x6 cards, files on my computer, notebooks, and more. I have thought of trying mind mapping software such as FreeMind, note ...
55
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5
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GMing for [dis]abled players, specifically blind players?
What kind of measures should one take when running a game which includes a [dis]abled player (or players) such as a blind of deaf player? Are there any technologies or styles which are particularly ...
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Need way to physically track initiative in face-to-face D&D game
Just DM'd my first ever non-online game. We had an absolute blast, 10/10 would play again, but keeping track of initiative in combat was terrible. I had chosen to just list their character names (and ...
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What tools or strategies have you found useful when not all players can be in the same physical space? [closed]
Having recently moved most of the way across the US, I am looking for effective ways to continue to game with roleplayers from my previous home. What tools (Skype, mapping applications, etc.) and ...
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What's the purpose of the same page tool?
The same page tool has been mentioned on this site and I would like to use it if needed. The problem is that I'm not entirely sure what the purpose of the tool is. My first impression was that this ...
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How can I enjoy being a DM when I have an explorer personality?
I live in a small Finnish town with my wife and we want to play. But we cannot find any GMs there. So I decided to try to be GM myself. The problem is - I love to explore the worlds, story, monsters, ...
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How can I make things easier on my dyslexic and high-functioning autistic players?
I have other players read out information from my dyslexic player's character sheets when necessary, and I use non-verbal visual aids whenever possible. I generally give out copies of any important ...
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What is Detect Balance?
In a lot of homebrew reviews and discussions, I keep seeing something called Detect Balance employed. Often with little to no context despite it and its points being the core of the response. So I'd ...
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What ebook readers work well with roleplaying PDF? [closed]
Given the advent of various tablets, netbooks, and ebook readers which works best for viewing AND using roleplaying PDFs. Unreleased products should be mentioned as well as the field is constantly ...
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What do I need to set up and use a projector as a tabletop?
I have a really nice projector for my home theater, and I am considering using it for a tabletop gaming setup as well.
What do I need to know about mounting it? What are the tricks or issues? What ...
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What is the single most influential book every GM should read? [closed]
If you had your career as a GM to start again, what book would you wish to have read before you started on the path of learning to be a GM.
This needn't be restricted to RPG source and rulebooks of ...
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How do you track the PCs' reputation?
I'm currently planning a game with a significant amount of intrigue. I envision the players undertaking actions and adventures that will endear them to one group, and anger others. It occurs to me ...
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Where did the writing-focused roleplaying forums go?
Asking on behalf of a friend. She writes:
One of my first experiences with text-based roleplaying was on an anime AU (alternate universe) forum. While they accepted people with all levels of literacy,...
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Random Dungeon/Maze Generator [closed]
I'm looking for a good random dungeon/maze generator. Some key features I'd like it to have:
Can generate a regular maze (one entrance & exit, even passage width, every spot within the area is ...
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How can I effectively map a multi-level dungeon?
My players are getting awfully close to entering a multi-story pagoda dungeon that exists in my game. I think it'll be a fun adventure, but I find that I am worried about trying to map it all out for ...
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Tools/techniques for optimal tabletop gaming with one remote user
A member of our group has moved to Dallas and we're involving them in the game using Skype. The rest of us are sitting around a table. We have one laptop being used to show the player, and usually ...
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Is there software that can help build a character portrait? [closed]
Thinking of something like the MMORPG games use for building characters ... is there anything like that available outside of a MMORPG game?
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How reliable are dice rolling programs?
Dice programs and their use around the table are on the rise:
Are there any characteristics, qualities, or quirks of results obtained by using dice programs which might detract from play? Improve it?
...
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Are there any challenges during an in-person game that aren’t a factor online?
I have been asked to run a one-shot D&D game by a friend for a certain event. The game will be an in-person session, with everyone physically present, whereas I only have experience running online....
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Why is it a bad idea to use Same Page Tool as a survey?
The same page tool is a list of questions with answers which represent different approaches to playing role playing games. For more information, check the related question What's the purpose of the ...
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How can we allow remote players to effectively interact with a physical tabletop battle-map?
Part of our in-person tabletop group moved six hours away mid-campaign. We've been dealing with the distance by having multiple laptops set up, one with the players on the screen and the camera ...
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What tools are available to create custom dungeon maps?
I want to create my own maps for my campaign, but I'm not good at drawing. Are there any tools that could help me?
As I'm not good at drawing pictures myself, I'm looking for a tool that allows you ...
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How can I clean a stained battlemat?
I just bought a brand new $40 Chessex Battlemat. Instead of reading the included paper I just assumed that Crayola "WASHable markers" would easily wash off. Now I have a brand new mat covered in ...
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What are some character development tools? [closed]
I have a character that I want to develop slowly through the campaign. By this I mean I want him to slowly mature and change his personality through the sessions. What tool or trick can I use to ...
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How to keep track of statuses and conditions?
Every round someone is getting dazed, marked, bloodied, quarried, cursed, blinded, slowed, penalized, buffed, stunned, or taking ongoing damage... the list goes on.
At paragon tier with a six-player ...
- 17.5k
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Cheat-proof online die roller? [closed]
I am looking for an online die roller that works similarly to the following:
The GM provides a string identifier to the player. E.g., "gandalf attacks balrog #12"
The player enters the id on the ...
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Create the most broken race that is 'balanced' according to Detect Balance
Any discussion for a homebrew race will always have Detect Balance used to calculate how balanced the race is. I'm curious to see how much the tool can be abused.
Thus my challenge is to create a ...
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How to Format a DM's Notebook for an Open World Game
I've been DM'ing a homebrew sandbox-style D&D 4e game for the past few months, and it's been going well so far. However, the players have finally left the "starting area" of bouncing between three ...
user11008
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What is the optimal way to design a well balanced party
Confession - I just TPK'd my group....again.
One of the reasons that has been identified is that while the party is composed of 5 pretty well optimized characters, as a party they just aren't in sync....
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How to keep track of abilities for D&D 4e?
What are some effective ways to keep track of my character's various abilities? I would prefer cheap or free tools.
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What software does the WOTC design team use to layout the rulebooks?
I'm presently writing a setting sourcebook for my own campaign, and I'd like it to look at least somewhat like the D&D 5e books, but I'm finding most of the obvious software programs used for ...
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Method for playing an online text-based RPG that doesn't require everyone to be online at once? [closed]
I am contemplating starting up a web-based text game for my D&D group to be played alongside our weekly sessions. The idea would be to play through events related to the main storyline, but not so ...
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What's the name of cardboard wall DMs use to hide their part of table?
What's the name of this thing? Inside part looks like a cheat sheet, but I have seen images with different content inside these "walls".
Photo by Sargoth is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 Unported (...
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What's the legality of making a character editor?
I want to develop a character editor for role-playing games. At first just for one game, but I want to expand it later to cover multiple games.
What laws (like copyright and intellectual-property) do ...
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What is a good combat tracker for D&D 4th Edition? [closed]
As my players go up levels there are more and more variables in combat. I need help. What solutions exist out there and what makes them good?
anon186
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Location generation system? [closed]
I tend to GM campaigns where players travel a lot. Whether it is through D&D planes or in a space-opera setting, they are bound to visit a lot of very different and varied places. And I have to ...
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How can one make a DIY "Silent Dice Tower"?
I currently use a Chessex Dice Boot for rolling dice at the table. It's fairly compact, very portable, and does a great job of minimizing the table area required for a good roll of the dice.
There's ...
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What software utilities provide support for playing Microscope? [closed]
I'm interested in playing Microscope online and was wondering if anyone knows what tools exist that might support this?
Microscope differs from many RPGs in that it is primarily playing using blank ...
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What are some good sources for combat tactics for a GM to use? [closed]
My players are extremely strategic, and they're consistently (and too easily) defeating groups of enemies that I intended to present a real challenge. Probably for the same reason that I suck at chess,...
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What are the preferred Android apps for gaming? [closed]
What Android apps do you use for gaming?
What are the preferred dice rollers, time keepers, audio/video recorders, notes, etc.?
Please present only one App per answer so that they may be rated and ...
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4
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Ambient Sounds (not music!) [closed]
I'm currently running a campaign with highly interactive players who do a lot of exploring, debating, politicizing, weaving intrigues, etc., etc. (We rarely have real fights, maybe once every 5-10 ...
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Does anyone know of specific types of room lists for different kinds of (fantasy) buildings?
Here's a problem I encounter when creating buildings for D&D: I quickly run out of specific room types. For instance, when I create a temple, I can think of the main worship area, chambers for the ...
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What was this set of RPG tools called?
Years ago, I found a set of free RPG tools on someone's website. It included:
A random treasure hoard generator for D&D third edition.
A random dungeon map generator. It created black-and-white ...
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On D&D Beyond, as a DM, how can I make custom weapons available to all of my players in a specific Campaign?
From what I've found online, it looks like it may not be possible to add homebrew nonmagical weapons. I could not, however, find information that was more recent that 2020, nor do I know the homebrew ...
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Software to make DIY Item Cards [closed]
I'm a big fan of Paizo's GameMastery item cards. I also like GoDeckYourself but I'm wondering if anyone knows of any other software or websites that can be used to make your own Item Cards or Power ...
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21
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What iPhone / iPad apps do you use for gaming? [closed]
What iPhone / iPad applications do you use for your gaming? One per answer, please, and vote up ones you have used and like.
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What's the best software for mapmaking? [closed]
I would like to know if Paint.NET and Paint Shop Pro are the best tools for creating fantasy cartography. Does better software exist? If so, what is the software, and what specific features make it ...
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Best way to use a GM Screen nowadays?
This may just be me but I like the feel of having an old school GM/DM screen up. However, between laptops, mountains of books, and more frequently having to see the battle layout, I find that within ...
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How do I model the fighter's Great Weapon Fighting fighting style in Anydice?
I was trying to create an AnyDice function to model the Great Weapon Fighting fighting style (which lets you reroll 1s and 2s), but I couldn't get it to work on any arbitrary dice.
I've found this ...
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What free software can I use for laying out my own RPG? [closed]
As I entered a contribution into a 24h-rpg-design-contest (Tanelorn Challenge; similar to Game Chef but German) I was wondering about how to lay out my game.
What software would you recommend me for ...
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