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Thread: DM Toolbox
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2008-10-28, 02:17 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jun 2008
DM Toolbox
After DMing for a bit, I've started writing up a bunch of little programs in Excel that help the DM keep track of all the millions of things they need to keep track of. As well of the standard Combat Tracker, (in which you can input initiative, order, defenses, surges, action points, health, and damage for each player and monster. Added bonus of telling you when each player or monster is bloodied, and unconscious) I've made a little system to help give out treasure, (input party level and number, generates treasure, check off entries as you give them) and a system that helps you set up encounters. (Input party level and size, gives you monster XP budget and XP rewarded)
Now, I've been thinking of making these more elaborate and making a real DM helper suite of programs that can help any DM to make their game run far more smoothly. However, this must have been done before, so does anyone have any good, easy to use systems for things like this? If not, then I'm asking for ideas on more systems to make in excel that would help you out. If all goes well, I'll start posting up some excel programs that should help people out here. (Assuming there's not a billion and one of these already)
In short: Does anyone know of any systems to help DMs? If not, what systems do you want to see?5e Homebrew: Death Knight (Class), Kensai (Monk Subclass)Excellent avatar by Elder Tsofu.
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2008-10-28, 03:03 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- May 2005
- Location
- Somerville, MA
- Gender
Re: DM Toolbox
What I really want to see in a DM toolbox would be a UI that is quicker than paper and pencil. What I've seen so far (which I admit isn't much) is usually a conglomerate of labels, textfields, and dropdown menus. I'd like to be able to quickly select which fields and menus I'd use and hide the rest. Intelligent keyboard shortcuts would help too. Come to think of it, I think I'd rather not use the mouse at all.
If you like what I have to say, please check out my GMing Blog where I discuss writing and roleplaying in greater depth.
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2008-10-28, 03:26 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2007
- Location
- Manchester NH
- Gender
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2008-10-28, 03:42 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jun 2008
Re: DM Toolbox
Not sure what you mean by that, but I'll upload them. Speaking of which, how do you upload stuff on this site?
5e Homebrew: Death Knight (Class), Kensai (Monk Subclass)Excellent avatar by Elder Tsofu.
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2008-10-28, 03:49 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jan 2007
- Location
- Eastern NC
- Gender
Re: DM Toolbox
You can't, as far as I know - you'll have to find somewhere else to host it, and then just link to it. I think you should be able to do it with Google Pages, which is where I host my PDFs and stuff.
More on-topic, I think it's a swell idea, but I'm sure there are others doing the same thing. WotC itself'll probably include something similar when the Virtual Tabletop part of the D&DInsider goes up, and I think I remember seeing a similar program someone made over on the ENWorld forums. A little Googling will probably yield results for you.
Also, I know there's a program called DM Tools out there for 3.x, so they might have done a 4E version as well.Last edited by RTGoodman; 2008-10-28 at 03:49 PM.
The Playgrounder Formerly Known as rtg0922
Homebrew:
• "Themes of Ansalon" - A 4E Dragonlance Supplement
• Homebrew Compendium
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2008-10-28, 03:51 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jun 2007
- Location
- On Paper
- Gender
Re: DM Toolbox
A function that can quickly, roll for the entire party things that you would rather the party not know were being rolled for, spot checks, listen checks, will saves and sense motive checks. So you don't get the "I think I just failed a spot check" mentality. Preferably bound to a simple key check (Example, hit P(arty) and then S(spot) and it rolls your party's spot checks, showing you the result).
Some way to keep easy track of Buffs and Debuffs would be nice.
See if you can make it head to the appropriate SRD page when you put in a keyword, for fast rule-checking.
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2008-10-28, 04:21 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jun 2008
Re: DM Toolbox
Well, first, I'll point out that all my systems are designed around 4E, and I don't plan on making any for 3.x, since I don't use that system anymore. You can try to adapt the systems for 3.x, but I don't want to spend time adapting for an entire system when I'm likely never going to use that system again.
Anyways, I used that link, and while I don't have much yet, here's what I have so far.
http://sites.google.com/site/dmtoolbox/Home
I'll be creating more tools, and giving them more capability, but first I need to know what types of stuff people would want these for, and also to learn more about how excel works so I can make more complex systems. What I have right now is pretty simple, but they've made combat a lot easier to keep track of. The treasure helper I haven't used yet (just finished making it yesterday) but it seems to work as I planned it. It doesn't give the exact amounts that are given in the DM's book, but it's close, and totals up to the same amount, so it should be fine. My next step there is to make it randomly generate art objects, and that will likely be my next system I make.5e Homebrew: Death Knight (Class), Kensai (Monk Subclass)Excellent avatar by Elder Tsofu.
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2008-10-28, 04:41 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2007
- Location
- Manchester NH
- Gender
Re: DM Toolbox
When the end comes i shall remember you.
I sorry i fail Englimish...(appologise for Spelling/Grammer Errors) Please don't correct my spelling or grammer eaither.