Items every DM should have?

[Protecar]

I'm just about to buy a pound o' dice on Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Chessex-Dice-P...1038235&sr=8-1 <--This for my DMing and was wondering if anyone else knew of worthwhile investments. (I assumed a literal pound of dice would be good for anyone not properly stocked at the table.)

Other things I'm considering are a screen, a map, and figurines(not the expensive ones, but maybe buy some cheap bulk, generic figures if I can find some).

Anybody else have suggestions?

[Keld Denar]

Buy him a set of Steelsqwire templates. They make casting spells with areas VERY easily when put on a battlemat with minis.

[valadil]

Buy him a set of Steelsqwire templates. They make casting spells with areas VERY easily when put on a battlemat with minis.

A cheap alternative if you're the do it yourself type is to make these out of pipe cleaners. As an easily distracted player I can also attest that forming pipe cleaner templates gives my hands something to do without using up any brainpower.

[Scoot]

I've bought two of those pound-o-dice. The first slowly dwindled away. They're awsome, they should give you all the dice you need.

Be sure to get some wet-erase markers, I buy Vis-a-Vis, for the map.

[Protecar]

Interesting ideas. I went ahead and ordered the pound o' dice so we'll see how that turns out. I might look into some pipe cleaners for AoE--I like that idea . I'm still unsure what I want to do about miniatures or maps. Drawing them sounds okay(for the maps)...but my artistic ability is...well...nil. XD

I was thinking this --> http://www.amazon.com/Assorted-Dunge...1040330&sr=8-1 for some miniatures but I'm not sure(I'm a cheapskate so given the choice I'd usually just buy a pack of army miniatures[that is, if I could find the medieval equivalent]).

[Thurbane]

The Combat Pad has proved really handy at our games...so simple, yet so functional.

Also, Play Doh is great for putting obstacles and objects onto a grid map.

[arguskos]

A portable white board. Great for impromptu illustrations, initiative orders, anything the whole group needs to see and is transitory (an amazingly large amount of stuff, honestly). Really, I cannot DM anymore without a white board.

[Melayl]

The Combat Pad has proved really handy at our games...so simple, yet so functional.

Useful looking tool. So easily made with a laminated section of tin sheeting and magnetic tape...

[gallagher]

one-week's rations

they should be as follows:
Cheetos- 1 bag
Doritos, cooler ranch- 1 bag
Dortios, Nacho Cheesier- 2 bags
Doritos, Spicier Nacho- 1 bag
Mt Dew- 24 cans
Dr Pepper- 24 Cans
Cherry Coke- 12 cans (DM only)
Pizza Bites (variety, some people are vegetarian or something)- 200 rolls
Cheez-Its- 2 boxes
Gin- 2 bottles

that should last you a few sessions

[sofawall]

This thread has led to me successfully mooching money for a Pound o' Dice off my mum.

Me: Hey, look, a Pound o' Dice!
Mom: Oh no... How much?
Me: Incl. shipping? 30$, american.
Mom: How much are dice normally?
Me: 8-9$ for 7. Also, birthday in 2 weeks.
Mom: ...fine.

[Protecar]

This thread has led to me successfully mooching money for a Pound o' Dice off my mum.

Me: Hey, look, a Pound o' Dice!
Mom: Oh no... How much?
Me: Incl. shipping? 30$, american.
Mom: How much are dice normally?
Me: 8-9$ for 7. Also, birthday in 2 weeks.
Mom: ...fine.

Haha! Well played! My B-day is in about two weeks also(30th). I'm hoping a pound's worth of dice to be enough to get quite a nifty variety of shapes/styles/colors. Good luck with the absurd amount of dice you will soon have--I'm always glad to aid in enabling someone's DnD addiction(inadvertently or no).

Edit: And @Combat Pad--it seems like it could be certainly useful. But I dunno if I want to shell out $20 for what I usually scrawl on pen and paper. Others' thoughts on its potential usefulness?

[Thurbane]

Useful looking tool. So easily made with a laminated section of tin sheeting and magnetic tape...

Oh yeah, not denying it would be easy to make one yourself, but one of the guys bought one at our FLGS and we've been hooked on it ever since.

[Lysander]

A notebook and pencils to keep track of information (backstory plus whatever you make up on the fly)

A laptop with wifi connection for quick wikipedia consultations when necessary

Playdough for weird shapes that might come up, like a custom designed wall of stone

[Flickerdart]

A plush DMG, to throw at munchkins.

[Kosjsjach]

A plush DMG, to throw at munchkins.

You reminded me of something I've wanted for ages: a jumbo foam d20. Not only does it seem ideal for super-critical die rolls, but it would be perfect for chucking at someone.

[arguskos]

Edit: And @Combat Pad--it seems like it could be certainly useful. But I dunno if I want to shell out $20 for what I usually scrawl on pen and paper. Others' thoughts on its potential usefulness?

Spend $5 and get a white board. SERIOUSLY. They are so unbelievably amazingly awesometastic, you don't even know.

[valadil]

A portable idea capturing device. You need to be able to write down all your interesting fight/NPC/plot/puzzle ideas. This needs to be done quickly no matter where you are. I leave myself voice notes with my iPhone. Before I got that I carried around a notebook all the time while I was planning a game. Good ideas are too infrequent to lose due to not being able to store them somewhere.

[Protecar]

A portable idea capturing device. You need to be able to write down all your interesting fight/NPC/plot/puzzle ideas. This needs to be done quickly no matter where you are. I leave myself voice notes with my iPhone. Before I got that I carried around a notebook all the time while I was planning a game. Good ideas are too infrequent to lose due to not being able to store them somewhere.

Nice. I have that issue of lost inspiration too often. Thanks.

@arguskos: any particular brands for markers/white boards? I would like to get ones that erase nice and clean.

[Talon Sky]

Man, $20 for a pound of dice? Can't beat that....and that combat board? Amazing!

How did I not know about these deals? *uses his cell to call his assistant* Gerald? I want you to immediately kill yourself, then order me three Pounds-o-Dice!

[arguskos]

Nice. I have that issue of lost inspiration too often. Thanks.

@arguskos: any particular brands for markers/white boards? I would like to get ones that erase nice and clean.

Any white board works honestly. As for markers, I like Marks-a-Lot as a brand. They're damn good, and if you don't let them sit too long on the board, it wipes off with ease.

[Thurbane]

Spend $5 and get a white board. SERIOUSLY. They are so unbelievably amazingly awesometastic, you don't even know.

Combine the best of both worlds...get a metallic based whiteboard and some dry erasable fridge magnets to sick on it.