GM screen?

[PK Games]

Am I taking flak for not knowing the difference in guitars? Oh well, been through worse on the forums!

Its just my nature as a photographer to see things like that as distracting, and not be able to leave it be LOL.

[Solardog]

This is the GM screen for the swedish Sci Fi Rpg Skymningshem: Andra Imperiet (The Second Empire) . The GM screen using three horizontal A4 sheets.

Rävsvans Förlag

[mummi]

The screen for the icelandic RPG has a quite nice "world" map on the player side. witch is quite usefull for that system but in BRP ... where you can make it happen where ever when ever etc... I don't know .... hard to say ... maybe some nice painting/drawing where it spans through space (sci-fi) and onto modern, then into a cthulhu-esk and then into a high fantasy/medievil setting in one painting/drawing if you catch my drift

What tables would everyone like to see on a screen?

I prefer landscape screens myself, how about you?

I was thinking of taking my hand at one, so I am taking requests for content.

Like - What goes on the screen and what would be best in a packet?

[PK Games]

Do you have further information on Skymningshem: Andra Imperiet

[Solardog]

Do you have further information on Skymningshem: Andra Imperiet

Its a manga/wuxia space opera RPG with mecha,starships and samurai swords.

Edited June 9, 2009 by Solardog
Typo

[trechriron]

Following is a list of tables in the book with page references. What tables would be mandatory? What tables could be secondary? Please chime in and let me know as I get going on this (unofficial) GM screen project (finally).

• Character SIZ Chart (p. 26)

• Power Point Recovery Rate (p. 28)

• Damage Bonus (p. 29)

• Skill List by Category (p. 48)

• Alphabetical Skill List (p. 51)

• Language Fluency Chart (p. 67)

• Magic Spell Summary (p. 95)

• Mutation Summary (p. 105)

• Psychic Ability Summary (p. 113)

• Sorcery Spell Summary (p. 129)

• Benefits From Character Failings (p. 142)

• Power Modifier Benefits (p. 143)

• Super Power Summary (p. 147)

• The Resistance Table (p. 171)

• Skill Results Table (p. 172)

• Significant Time Intervals (p. 178)

• Movement Rates (p. 181)

• Order of Actions (p. 187)

• Combat Actions (p. 190)

• Melee Hit Location Table (optional) (p. 190)

• Combat Summary (p.192)

• Attack and Defense Matrix (p. 193)

• Melee Weapon Attack Fumble Table (p. 194)

• Melee Weapon Parry Fumble Table (p. 194)

• Missile Weapon Attack Fumble Table (p. 194)

• Natural Weapon Attack and Parry Fumble Table (p. 195)

• Major Wound Table (p. 207)

• Conditions of Medical Care (p. 208)

• Vehicle Range Track (p. 216)

• Vehicle Skill Roll Modifiers (p. 217)

• Chase Trouble Table (p.217)

• Wealth Levels (p. 238)

• Skills & Appropriate Equipment (p. 242)

Thanks,

[mummi]

I would say

Primary:

• Character SIZ Chart (p. 26)

• Power Point Recovery Rate (p. 28)

• Damage Bonus (p. 29)

• Skill List by Category (p. 48)

• Language Fluency Chart (p. 67)

• Benefits From Character Failings (p. 142)

• Power Modifier Benefits (p. 143)

• Super Power Summary (p. 147)

• The Resistance Table (p. 171)

• Significant Time Intervals (p. 178)

• Movement Rates (p. 181)

• Order of Actions (p. 187)

• Combat Actions (p. 190)

• Melee Hit Location Table (optional) (p. 190)

• Combat Summary (p.192)

• Attack and Defense Matrix (p. 193)

• Melee Weapon Attack Fumble Table (p. 194)

• Melee Weapon Parry Fumble Table (p. 194)

• Missile Weapon Attack Fumble Table (p. 194)

• Natural Weapon Attack and Parry Fumble Table (p. 195)

• Conditions of Medical Care (p. 208)

Secondary/Unnecessary

• Alphabetical Skill List (p. 51)

• Magic Spell Summary (p. 95)

• Mutation Summary (p. 105)

• Psychic Ability Summary (p. 113)

• Sorcery Spell Summary (p. 129)

• Major Wound Table (p. 207)

• Wealth Levels (p. 238)

• Skills & Appropriate Equipment (p. 242)

• Vehicle Skill Roll Modifiers (p. 217)

• Vehicle Range Track (p. 216)

• Chase Trouble Table (p.217)

• Skill Results Table (p. 172)

[trechriron]

Awesome! Anyone else?

[mossfoot]

Really it's just a question of which charts will be most likely to be needed at any given time in a game. Mutation/magic/psychic summary, for example, is most needed during character creation, not during game play. Characters should already know what their abilities do and NPCs should have it written on their sheets as needed.

I would also suggest making the GM screen a four-panel one rather than the 3 panel verson Chaosium had for Cthulhu (I used that to make my own GM screen pasting over it with my own sheets, but found I wanted more space).

Also, don't be afraid to use the front and back, have the side facing the players have some charts that they themselves will need (combat matrix, order of actions, combat actions, equipment and skills) But of course one panel will have to be dedicated for a nice BRP cover picture

[sdavies2720]

I'm doing this without my book to-hand, based on my bes trecollection:

DEFINITELY YES

• Skill List by Category (p. 48)

• Alphabetical Skill List (p. 51)

• Magic Spell Summary (p. 95)

• Skill Results Table (p. 172)

• Movement Rates (p. 181)

• Order of Actions (p. 187)

• Combat Actions (p. 190)

• Melee Hit Location Table (optional) (p. 190)

• Attack and Defense Matrix (p. 193)

• Melee Weapon Attack Fumble Table (p. 194)

• Melee Weapon Parry Fumble Table (p. 194)

• Missile Weapon Attack Fumble Table (p. 194)

• Natural Weapon Attack and Parry Fumble Table (p. 195)

IF THERE's EXTRA ROOM

• Power Point Recovery Rate (p. 28)

• Damage Bonus (p. 29)

• Significant Time Intervals (p. 178)

• Conditions of Medical Care (p. 208)

• Combat Summary (p.192)

NO

• Character SIZ Chart (p. 26)

• Language Fluency Chart (p. 67)

• The Resistance Table (p. 171)

• Wealth Levels (p. 238)

• Skills & Appropriate Equipment (p. 242)

DON"T USE

• Mutation Summary (p. 105)

• Psychic Ability Summary (p. 113)

• Power Modifier Benefits (p. 143)

• Super Power Summary (p. 147)

• Major Wound Table (p. 207)

• Vehicle Range Track (p. 216)

• Vehicle Skill Roll Modifiers (p. 217)

DON'T KNOW (CAN'T REMEMBER THE TABLE)

• Sorcery Spell Summary (p. 129)

• Benefits From Character Failings (p. 142)

• Chase Trouble Table (p.217)

[trechriron]

So leave out the SIZ chart. I can see why. Why leave out the resistance table?

[NickMiddleton]

So leave out the SIZ chart. I can see why. Why leave out the resistance table?

I would also leave it out - my reasoning being that to be legible it has to be printed fairly large, and as a result will take up a LOT of space. Better to have it on separate card that can be consulted or handed to players.

I really liked the Elric! screen & GM's pack because a lot of the larger, less frequently consulted tables weren't on the screen, they were on separate reference cards.

I'll dig out my copy tonight and see how that breakdown would map on to the BRP tables you've listed.

Nick

[sdavies2720]

So leave out the SIZ chart. I can see why. Why leave out the resistance table?

It takes up a lot of space, and I can do the 50%+DiffInSkills*5% calculation faster than I can look it up. Way faster. So for me it's wasted space (I'd tape something else over it, like an adventure map or something).

Steve

[trechriron]

I like the idea of a 4 page landscape screen with a quick-print booklet for reference or so you can print on card stock. Two end outside-facing panels could contain tables for the players while the 2 middle outside-facing panels would be for some kind of art.

I would also include a couple alternative "fold-over" panels for powers/magic, etc.

[Skunkape]

I like the idea of a 4 page landscape screen with a quick-print booklet for reference or so you can print on card stock. Two end outside-facing panels could contain tables for the players while the 2 middle outside-facing panels would be for some kind of art.

I would also include a couple alternative "fold-over" panels for powers/magic, etc.

You're talking letter/a4 size paper, correct?

[Sven Norén]

Here is what I put in my Referee's Screen for RQ2; it is four A5 size panels in landscape orientation.

Ref's side first panel from the left: Melee Sequence, Combat Sequence, Combat Results, Divine Intervention Table, Parry Fumbles, and Hit Location Chart.

Second panel: Fumble Table, Probability Chart (Crit, fumble and impale chances by % needed to hit), and Definitions of crits, fumbles and impales.

Third panel: Resistance Table.

Fourth panel: Non-humanoid Hit Location Tables.

Players side: Two middle panels are the same as first and second panel of Ref's side, the two outer panels are blank.

[trechriron]

You're talking letter/a4 size paper, correct?

Yep.

[trechriron]

Here is what I put in my Referee's Screen for RQ2; it is four A5 size panels in landscape orientation.

Ref's side first panel from the left: Melee Sequence, Combat Sequence, Combat Results, Divine Intervention Table, Parry Fumbles, and Hit Location Chart.

Second panel: Fumble Table, Probability Chart (Crit, fumble and impale chances by % needed to hit), and Definitions of crits, fumbles and impales.

Third panel: Resistance Table.

Fourth panel: Non-humanoid Hit Location Tables.

Players side: Two middle panels are the same as first and second panel of Ref's side, the two outer panels are blank.

Divine Intervention table? Why?

Hit locations are optional and should be optional on the screen, like a quick-reference table booklet thing or some such.

Oh, and keep 'em coming!

[NickMiddleton]

The Elric! GM screen has only artwork on the player side. It's four panels of landscape A4 / Letter sized card.

On the GM side,

outer left panel:

Index to Spot Rules

Road, Open Country Movement (including terrain & weather modifiers)

Sailing Speeds, Average

Chaos, Balance and Law points

Centre Left panel:

DB table

Attack & parry matrix

The Resistance table

Evasion and Detection Matrix

Centre Right Panel

Dodge Skill against attack

Levels of success and failure

Major Wounds table

Outer Right panel:

Fumble Table

The GM's pack also included a short scenario and four reference cards with additional tables on them:

sample prices

Weapon Tables

Spot Rules for Spells

Spell Summary

Spells categorised

Demon Abilities Table

Roll Table for Demons & Elementals

Point Sacrifices for Demons

Point Sacrifices for elementals

Demon Damage Bonuses

Demon Summoning Fumble Table

Some observations as a result - put all the powers related stuff on separate reference cards, and weapon tables and the like. They are easier to refer to that way, and can be put to one side when not needed.

So, G = on the GM screen, R = on a reference card; my suggestions:

• Character SIZ Chart (p. 26) R

• Power Point Recovery Rate (p. 28) G

• Damage Bonus (p. 29) G

• Skill List by Category (p. 48) R

• Alphabetical Skill List (p. 51) R

• Language Fluency Chart (p. 67) G

• Magic Spell Summary (p. 95) R

• Mutation Summary (p. 105) R

• Psychic Ability Summary (p. 113) R

• Sorcery Spell Summary (p. 129) R

• Benefits From Character Failings (p. 142) R

• Power Modifier Benefits (p. 143) R

• Super Power Summary (p. 147) R

• The Resistance Table (p. 171) R

• Skill Results Table (p. 172) G

• Significant Time Intervals (p. 178) G

• Movement Rates (p. 181) G

• Order of Actions (p. 187) G

• Combat Actions (p. 190) G

• Melee Hit Location Table (optional) (p. 190) R

• Combat Summary (p.192) G

• Attack and Defense Matrix (p. 193) G

• Melee Weapon Attack Fumble Table (p. 194) G

• Melee Weapon Parry Fumble Table (p. 194) G

• Missile Weapon Attack Fumble Table (p. 194) G

• Natural Weapon Attack and Parry Fumble Table (p. 195) G

• Major Wound Table (p. 207) G

• Conditions of Medical Care (p. 208) G

• Vehicle Range Track (p. 216) R

• Vehicle Skill Roll Modifiers (p. 217) R

• Chase Trouble Table (p.217) R

• Wealth Levels (p. 238) R

• Skills & Appropriate Equipment (p. 242) R

Albeit I think that might be tricky to cram it all on: although moving the resistance table to a reference card helps, BRP has a lot more fumble tables than Elric! did!

Cheers,

Nick

[trechriron]

Thanks Nick!

[soltakss]

I don't particularly like GM's Screens and never use them. However, if I did then I would have GM information on one side and player-useful information on the other. I wouldn't bother with artwork - it's just a waste of space on a GM's Screen, in my opinon.

[trechriron]

I don't particularly like GM's Screens and never use them. However, if I did then I would have GM information on one side and player-useful information on the other. I wouldn't bother with artwork - it's just a waste of space on a GM's Screen, in my opinon.

I am really starting to agree. There is really no reason to not have the player-facing side include tables to make look-ups easier on the players as well.

[NickMiddleton]

I am really starting to agree. There is really no reason to not have the player-facing side include tables to make look-ups easier on the players as well.

Here's the thing though - in most cases at least some of the players WON'T be able to read the screen. They'll be too far away, at the wrong angle, someons drink will be in the way or whatever.

That's what I like about the Elric! screen - much of the information a player will want to look up is on the reference cards, which can be handed around easily. The GM's side can focus then on the stuff that the Gm needs, and the player's side can just have a suitable piece of artwork for the game.

The Elric! screen is a bit dull actually in that it just has the name of the game and some vaguely appropriate symbols, but I have a few screens for some D&D variants that really evoke the setting rather well through the use of appropriate art, and I think that's more useful than players straining to read ten point text from the other end of the playing table...

Nick

[Sven Norén]

Divine Intervention table? Why?

Because my players had to resort to it with distressing frequency (usually just after consulting the Fumble Table).

Hit locations are optional and should be optional on the screen,

Sure, I was just listing what was on my screen for RQ2, where Hit Locations are non-optional.

[Al.]

Here's the thing though - in most cases at least some of the players WON'T be able to read the screen. They'll be too far away, at the wrong angle, someons drink will be in the way or whatever.

That's what I like about the Elric! screen - much of the information a player will want to look up is on the reference cards, which can be handed around easily. The GM's side can focus then on the stuff that the Gm needs, and the player's side can just have a suitable piece of artwork for the game.

Plus one

As a sort of aside Mouseguard uses the smallest font size known to man (or Mouse) and has fairly minimal stats to be shown on the character sheet and thus is able to fit tables and procedures for MOST of the rules on the (double-sided) character sheet.

Al