Do You Use a Computer at the Gaming Table?

Does your RPG group use a computer during game night? More than one?

My group on the whole is paper and pencil, I’m the only one that uses a computer (in my case a laptop) at every session. As a player I use it to track my character information typically in a spreadsheet (see this post), take notes and to check any number of references including the Internet.

I haven’t used a computer much during sessions as a GM but found having the SRD available very helpful along with my other campaign notes. I still rely on pencil and paper for combat but I’m looking into ways to leverage the computer for those functions as well.

The advantages are easy to see, unfortunately there is a downside to having those computer there. Things such as:

  • Gaming – those pesky computer games will get you every time!
  • Sound effects – if you want them great, otherwise they’re too much of a distraction
  • Music – might be played or the ongoing organizational efforts for all those mp3s
  • General Internet Surfing – don’t think this needs any further explaination

I think the benefits outweigh the drawbacks, but what about you?

What experiences have you had using a computer at the gaming table? Does your group allow them?

May your dice roll well.

2 Comments

  1. I use my laptop to GM. I use software to track player stats and equipment, maps & notes, battles, SRD, sometimes sounds effects. I find it invaluable.

    It was a bit of a pain when I was a player and the only one with the laptop… I was ALWAYS the one that had to look up rules and such for clarification. Got annoying when I was trying to focus on spell preparation or what not.

    One thing I do recommend is that if you do use some kind of online reference (in game or not), the GM should set an “order of precedence”.If there is ever a discrepancy between an online rule and a rule printed in a book, we ruled that the book takes precedence. This seems obvious, but by laying this rule down you can avoid alot of possible arguments.

  2. These days, the computer usually *is* my gaming table.

    While my wife and I were doing the long-distance dating thing, we began playing a solo game of AD&D online. It was great! As I’d found while gaming via computer chat before, it’s much easier to slip into character, players are much more amenable to detailed descriptions, and you have a record of the adventure that anyone can look back on later. Frankly, while I still enjoy gaming around a table, gaming online with text chat is now my preferred style.

    – Brian

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