Dungeon Master's Screen

Not this time! This DM Screen is plastified, and four panels long, wich makes it more durable and allows to all of us DMs some SPACE to put our books and maps. [sigh]

The DM Screen also comes in with a sheet of 1 inch graph paper, and a 7 page book containing some useful and some "not-so-useful" rule information: weapons table, grenadelike weapons, generating town and a Combat Planner.

The front artwork is okay, but not fantastic. It catches the feeling of Dungeons and Dragons, but nothing more.

The inside is nice: all important rules are there, especially the numerous actions possible in combat, their "action type" (free, move-equivalent, etc.), plus some handy notes (DC to break items, bash doors, hardness/hit points of numerous materials, light sources...) and an entire pannel is solely there for examples of DC for various skills: Balance, Bluff, Climb, Concentration, and many more.

Overall, it's a good product, but in my humble opinion, it is slightly overpriced: I got mine for 12,95$CAN, wich is seems a bit too costy, considering it doesn't come with any handy sidebook (such as Critters, in Shadowrun, wich justified its 15-20$ cost).


How Do You Rate a Screen?   September 19, 2000
The screen is nice and full color. One side has a nice picture of some of the signature characters of the PHB fighting assorted nasties. The other are assorted tables and charts from the DMG and PHB, the important ones really. It is hard to say that it is anything special. Along with the physical screen is a small booklet with some combat stuff, and a cheesy square page for mini-combat. All in all I am somewhat dissapointed. Why you ask? Well I am a member of the White Wolf school of Game Screens. For the standard issue price of $14.95 you get a nice White Wolf screen, color picture one side, black and white crap on the other. Plus you get a little booklet with some fun stuff they did not have room for in the original game rule book. Thinking about D&D3E screen, a nice booklet would have come with Gem Dragons (Not in Monster Manual), perhaps a intro adventure, maybe a cut prestiege class or two, or better yet better rules (Like the article in Dragon 274) about creating Prestiege Classes, etc. I don't know the D&D3E screen seems faily skimpy for the price you pay. But then again how is Wizards supposed to make up the cost of the PHB, DMG, and Monsterous Manual. All in all not a great buy, but a required one.


Functional but Nothing Special   September 19, 2000
 1 aus 1 fanden die folgende Rezension hilfreich

The 3rd edition D&D Dungeon Master's Screen is a serviceable product. The tables it provides are useful, and the art is pretty good. However, the screen doesn't really have the kind of functionality that would make it a must have. Also, I think it would be more practical if the screen itself were more rigid. If you want to use a screen for your game, this is the one. If not, you're not missing anything vital.


A useful tool and pleasant surprise!   September 19, 2000
The best way to describe this DM's screen is two simple words; it's useful.

What to know the effect of poor lighting on a rogue as he attempts the pick a lock during a thunderstorm, this will help you out in a split second.

Need to know the AC adjustment for a Giant, it's right here.

Checking up on how many spells a 3rd level wizard should have, look on this screen.

Need the bonus, or penalty, for the halfling who just used the paralyzed dwarf for cover, bingo! It's on the screen.

With a full, four panel, cover of art for the players to look upon and a full, four panel interior for the DM to use in his games, this sturdy, slick DM screen will help the DM out like a screen was ment too.

Perhaps one of the best aids to someone running the game and easily the match for the Dungeon Master's Guide. You could run a game without it, but for the price you would save in time and effort, why would you?

It's Useful.