In A TPK They Can’t Hear You Screen

To screen or not to screen, that is the question from Roleplaying Tips GM Eli:

Johnn! Thank you for these wonderful articles. I was wondering, could you tell me why you do or do not use a DM screen? I’m interested to hear what you think!

Thanks Eli.

I stopped using a GM screen in the 2000s. However, I think there’s no universal best way and you should make your own decision.

That said, I do use a computer screen, and I’m not trying to be funny. I keep Campaign Logger open as campaign reference, plus other digital tools depending on what I’m running.

I’ve crafted and used a variety of GM screens since 1980:

  • Still have my original gold screen for AD&D. THACO FTW!
  • Restaurant menu sleeves with inserts I printed out.
  • D&D official screens for various settings and editions.
  • The ultimate screen: Hackmaster Game Master’s Shield
  • Low profile screen of index cards and cardboard taped together.
  • Third party “print your own” variations.

My favourite would be The Beast I built in junior high. A 7 pound, 18 inches behemoth made from 3/4″ plywood and thick metal hinges.

In those days we had these plastic-covered cardboard portfolio-things for papers with clamps at the top. This was before those handy little stationery clips were invented. I stripped a few of those and screwed them into the wood so I could swap out homemade tables I printed on the school’s dot matrix printers.

Great memories. Impervious to dice thrown at me too!

Here’s why I stopped using a GM screen:

  • Loss of space. Growing up I had big areas to GM in. After university, it seemed like space was at a premium on tables, so I had to downsize.
  • GM Binders. After school I could afford to buy my own printer and I filled GM binders with the tables references.
  • Rules mastery. I ran D&D exclusively for years and had all the tables and rules memorized. We kept house rules in our heads because we played weekly.
  • Stuff to hide and secrets to keep. Maps, notes, stat blocks, treasure lists.
  • Got in the way. I got tired of only seeing part of the table. I was young and skinny back then. These days I’d welcome the reason to stand up and stretch, heh.

However, the number one reason I stopped using a GM screen was I stopped fudging and handwaving.

Once I rolled out in the open, my cognitive load went way down.

I let the dice fall where they may. And I stopped trying to force a story and started following gameplay around, responding to player choices, character actions, and encounter outcomes.

When actions have consequences, players get more engaged.

I’ve never been anti-character death unless the game system I’m running is specifically about that.

By allowing players to see attacks, damage, checks, and all my rolls (with one exception) I could stop panicking about how to shape play after it happened and could respond to play while it happened. I find it a lot easier to GM this way.

In addition, players got a free puzzle: dialing in on monster strengths and weaknesses from reading my rolls over time.

Also, my big dice that flashes red when a 20 comes up never fails to create drama. 🙂

I mentioned there’s one roll I still keep secret. That’s for checks characters make where I want to avoid meta gaming or I want to increase drama from my “mysterious” roll.

For example, a thief’s stealth attempt in a clutch situation. I’ll roll it or the player rolls at me and I’ll cover it with my hands. Then I’ll describe what’s happening and the player can decide whether to proceed.

Should you use a GM screen? Go for it. Try it both ways – with and without. Stick with what you like best.

However, not hiding and fudging rolls was one of the best GM style changes I’ve ever made. So I encourage you to do that regardless of screen choice.

Cheers,
Johnn
roleplayingtips.com
https://discord.gg/6MxTRAqQ76
Have more fun at every game!

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