Best Way to Keep Monster Info and Character Sheets at the Ready

I saw the thread asking something about character sheets and google docs, but how do you other DMs out there keep info on all your monsters handy? Do you print them, or is there some workaround or info source for quick reference on abilities and skill bonuses, etc that I could use to make my lfie easier?

I've picked up a couple of tips from Roll20 users about token management. The first suggestion I saw was the creation of a "Token Bag," a separate campaign in which the user pre-generated all of his enemies. When the time came to use a specific token he would just copy and paste it out of the "bag" and onto the table. This seems like a great way to organize your tokens if you are the kind of DM who recycles enemies. Also, it seems that you can copy and paste Microsoft word tables into the notes section of each token and have the contents retain their format. I can foresee you using this to track the abilities and modifiers of your enemies.

Ah. You're right, I was able to paste whole compendium entries in the info box for my tokens. That's great. Anyone have any other tips for a novice DM on this app?

I prefer to have all of my references as hard copies. I keep all monster stats on index cards. In this way when I need a new monster for my game I make a new card for them to add to my "deck" that way I always have monsters I have used before on the fly to run. The monster cards usually consist of: Stat line of some sort (depending on the system), Keywords of description to spark my memory, and a not one personality/tactics they would use. Some of the Cards I have pictures of the monsters on the backs but not all. I also handwrite or type and print all of my DM notes for my games too. I just find flicking through notes by hand with a hardcopy quicker than tracking them on the screen where I am also running the game. Handwriting them also helps you remember them too. As a note I also do this with my character sheets when I get to play in a game. Even if I'm playing with a gm's pregen character I still print it out as a text document.

I use a program called Dm'sfamillliar and run the program along side my browser. What I like about it is. Fingertip access to Rules,Monsters , NPC , Spells, Skills, Feats, Psionics, Traps, Magic Items just about everything. Oh and it can calculate your groups EXP. The combat board lets me keep track of characters during the battle, has a dice bag for off board rolls. I use the initiative button on my screen which rolls for all monsters and characters at the same time. Then I control the order by letting the players know who's next. Yes they don't roll their own initiative but have never complained (house rule). When battling for monsters I just choose the attack and poof I see the result in an output window the roll value, all modifiers, what AC it would hit and what the damage would be , and any special attack effects. Roles for spells as well. Codex tree is key and extremely helpful. You create each room (event) in your adventure and load that into the tree, drag drop monsters etc. When the players walk into a room I just drag and drop from the codex tree all the monsters to the combat board and were ready to go! It's a great tool for a Dm has full set of 3.5 and pathfinder rules. I've been using this program for years and it has shaved hour's off the tedious tasks of rule or effect look ups and organization. Makes our games move smoothly , and enhances our game play. As GM I can focus on story not minutia. I'm not affiliated at all with them. Just as I have champion Roll20 with folks I know I champion this to Roll20 group. Check out his program , he has a free 30 day trial. The $29.95 he charges for it is more than fair. Made me a better GM <a href="http://www.paladinpgm.com/dmf/" rel="nofollow">http://www.paladinpgm.com/dmf/</a> Here's some screen shots from our last adventure. Zack

Dragonborn Elementalist Medium natural humanoid dragonborn , dragonborn Level 8 Artillery XP 350 Initiative +4 Senses Perception +4 HP 67; Bloodied 33 AC 21; Fortitude 19, Reflex 21, Will 20 Speed 6 Quarterstaff (standard, at-will) Weapon +12 vs AC; (+13 while bloodied)1d8+2 damage. Lightning Blast (standard, at-will) Arcane, Lightning Area burst 1 within 10; +13 vs Reflex; (+14 while bloodied)2d6+4 lightning damage. Dragon Breath (minor, encounter) Cold or Fire Close blast 5; +11 vs Reflex; (+12 while bloodied)1d6+4 cold damage or fire damage; choose when using the power. Acid Rain (standard, encounter) Arcane, Acid Area burst 2 within 10; +13 vs Fortitude; (+14 while bloodied)1d8+4 acid damage. The acid rain persists until the end of the elementalist’s next turn, dealing 10 acid damage to any creature that starts or ends its turn in the area, though a creature can take this damage only once on a given turn. Icicle Spray (standard, encounter) Arcane, Cold Close blast 5; +13 vs Reflex; (+14 while bloodied)2d6+6 cold damage. Blast becomes difficult terrain until the end of the elementalist's next turn. Dragonborn Fury (only while bloodied) A dragonborn gains a +1 racial bonus to attack rolls. Winging Wind (immediate interrupt, when the elementalist would be hit by a melee or ranged attack; encounter) Winds whip up, granting the elementalist a +2 bonus to the defense targeted by the attack. The elementalist can shift 2 squares, ignoring difficult terrain, and the attacker is pushed 2 squares. Alignment Any Languages Common, Draconic Skills Arcana +13, History +15 Str 15 (+6) Dex 11 (+4) Wis 10 (+4) Con 13 (+5) Int 19 (+8) Cha 17 (+7) Equipment: robes, quarterstaff .

Thanks for all the input! I ran the first segment of our campaign last night. Most of my players are novice or total newbie D&D players, but things went perfectly. I'm so excited to see how they and the world around them evolves.