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Old 05-19-2018, 07:06 PM   #1
Steve Jackson
President and EIC
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Default Reference screen

The question came up as to whether TFT needed a ref screen - where "ref" could stand for either Reference or Referee.

My immediate reply was that I was not sure that the game required enough in the way of constantly-used charts, tables, etc., to make a ref screen worth killing trees for. But screens are handy if only for rolling dice and hiding maps. So I said to myself, "Self, ask the forum for thoughts."

My own first thought is "DX adjustments?"

Last edited by Steve Jackson; 05-19-2018 at 08:43 PM.
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Old 05-19-2018, 09:20 PM   #2
Skarg
 
Join Date: May 2015
Default Re: Reference screen

My thoughts:

1) I've almost never used an official GM screen, so as a non-fan of GM screens, I'd say my opinion matters less than people who are screen fans.

2) There are screen fans. See their replies.

3) While some people think some screens are perfect, it seems to me usually most people don't really want/need/use everything that's on a published screen. I remember with the original TFT screen people complained about typos, things we'd all memorized already, and some things no one thought they'd ever use, but some people loved it anyway mainly because it was the official TFT screen.

4) Some people modify their screens, and there are now high-quality third-party screens designed for players to put whatever they want on both sides. (e.g. http://a.co/bwUkFmU )

Personally, I'd say a screen is unnecessary but some people would surely buy it, but it seems to me (not really a marketer) that the officialness would tend to be a selling point, and that practically, it should at least be possible for people to put their own stuff on it.

I would think DX modifiers and short reminders about how various rules work would be appropriate and useful, e.g.:

Shield Rushes
Initiating HTH
Pinning
Multi-hex figure rules for engagement, shoving others around, trampling, getting out from under.
ST thresholds for being effected by how much damage
Aimed Shots & Critical Hits
Auto success/fail and triple/double/drop/break numbers for various numbers of dice rolled.
Mounted Rules
Casting spells without voice/gestures, etc.
Reaction table
Encumbrance level effects
Distance noise travels...

Whether you do or don't sell a screen, posting online some free 8.5" x 11" files people can print out and use on one of those fancy generic screens (or something they build themselves out of cardboard) would be useful for everyone.

Last edited by Skarg; 05-19-2018 at 09:26 PM.
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Old 05-19-2018, 09:42 PM   #3
Kirk
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Default Re: Reference screen

I, and my friends, all have their screens. We find them very valuable for many things, and especially for those lesser used concepts that are more difficult to find buried in the rules, but only require a quick scan of the screen to use without slowing down the game.

One example, *noise*! The number in the party, who's talking, distance, talents, doors, etc. all affect whether someone or a party might be heard. Not used enough to have every affect memorized, but certainly enough to need at hand.

Light effects, DX adjustments, options for engaged and disengaged players, basic unarmed attack value by ST, weights of items and associated penalties, the list goes on and on. Having to flip through the rules just slows play and frustrates everyone. "I'm grabbing the downed characters sword!" "OK, your movement is reduced by one because it weighs XXX and puts you over your limit". "In that case, I'll leave it."

We usually put the screen to the side for the GM unless he wants to stand the entire game (which sometimes they do) so that he can easily reference things without revealing what might be happening (anyone remember how far your torch can be seen and when a pack of wolves can hear you?) and yet still see the Players and the board.

This also allows secret die/dice rolls, even fake die rolls, to keep the mystery and interest on the upswing.

The players also usually have at least one, and sometimes one per player, for reference as well, and to keep the GM honest. "Hey, that door blocks noise by XXX, so the orc captain wouldn't have heard me with my silent movement," etc.

So, my vote is YES. A GM screen, *very* similar to the original TFT one ;), is very helpful and surely would be a go to purchase for both players and GMs.

And, of course, naturalistic, well-balanced, professional art to provide rest for the eye, and even better, a quick mnemonic to zero in on a particular value (say a small drawing of a sneaking thief for the noise section, a wrestler for damage due to ST section, a torch on a wall for the light effects section, etc.) would be ideal.
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Old 05-19-2018, 10:07 PM   #4
JLV
 
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Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Arizona
Default Re: Reference screen

Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve Jackson View Post
The question came up as to whether TFT needed a ref screen - where "ref" could stand for either Reference or Referee.

My immediate reply was that I was not sure that the game required enough in the way of constantly-used charts, tables, etc., to make a ref screen worth killing trees for. But screens are handy if only for rolling dice and hiding maps. So I said to myself, "Self, ask the forum for thoughts."

My own first thought is "DX adjustments?"
Oddly enough, the ONLY GM screen I ever really used was the Fantasy Trip one from Metagaming all those years ago. Reason? DX Adjustments! Plus there were a lot of other nifty things on there -- like the armor and weapon tables; which made snap-generating an NPC a lot easier.

If you get into more details in the "new" TFT, I could also see things like "saving rolls" versus disease or poison being on there, a facing diagram for various oddly shaped creatures, an encumbrance table, and that sort of thing being really useful, but, as a general rule, the original screen was pretty good (barring a few minor typos and some text that got crammed together too closely to make for easy reading -- huh, there's an idea -- a LARGE PRINT screen for us elderly types... ;-) ).

Edited to add: In fact, the original one had player-useful info on the PLAYER side of the screen, and I think that's a great policy to continue with...

Last edited by JLV; 05-19-2018 at 10:17 PM.
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Old 05-19-2018, 11:05 PM   #5
Jim Kane
Banned
 
Join Date: Mar 2018
Default Re: Reference screen

Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve Jackson View Post
The question came up as to whether TFT needed a ref screen
STEVE - Regardless of the practical or functional gaming value of a screen, from a stand-point of creating the complete and ultimate TFT product-package, I don't see how you can not include one; and risk potentially leaving a segment of TFT consumers feeling as though something is missing - even if they personally and ultimately find the screen itself to be part of "...a box of expensive, marginally useful components." - Howard Thompson.

We loathed and resented every word of HT's reasoning (q.v. Inside cover TFT:ITL, AM, AW) for not allowing you to deliver your baby the way you intended and according to your vision back in the day (Box, Screen, Die-cut Megahexes, counters, counters, and more counters, etc.).

Beyond the specific wants and desires of your fans and customers, I think many of us - more than anything else - want to see you put this thing together the way you wanted, BEFORE your vision was truncated, altered, and for all practical purposes, taken away from you.

It's your baby once again STEVE, so let your heart guide you, within budget, on this and ALL future considerations of this type. You know we will support you regardless which way you ultimately end-up bringing TFT back into the market.

So unless Accounting is telling you that the estimated cost projections are already giving everyone "cause for pause" with regard to how much "stuff" you can profitably include in a TFT package, I am wondering why you might consider potentially deleting an item which is essentially viewed as "de rigueur" with most game system product-packages ? - even if a percentage of folks leave it to reside in the bottom of the game box.

On the subject of Killing Trees: If conservationism and escalating cost-estimates are giving you spasmodic-fits late into wee hours of the morn, as you question the "needfulness" of a TFT GM Screen, why not consider splitting-the-difference and offering it as a Print-on-Demand Download, where the players who really want this accessory can assemble their own "official" copy at home, on reclaimed and re-purposed cardboard; as SKARG suggested above.

Or, why can't you simply make it part of a larger "Kick-starter Push-goal" accessory package, and increase the potential cash-flow opportunity for off-setting the funding needs of future TFT projects down the road?

Both are strong alternatives compared to the prospect of "going without".

JK

Last edited by Jim Kane; 05-20-2018 at 12:27 PM. Reason: Typo
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Old 05-19-2018, 11:06 PM   #6
GlennDoren
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Default Re: Reference screen

I would be more inclined to use a nicely organized PDF on my ipad for quick reference. Easy to flip pages (or navigate via embedded links).

Perhaps a nice companion app for tablet?
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Old 05-20-2018, 02:27 AM   #7
ak_aramis
 
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: Alsea, OR
Default Re: Reference screen

Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve Jackson View Post
The question came up as to whether TFT needed a ref screen - where "ref" could stand for either Reference or Referee.

My immediate reply was that I was not sure that the game required enough in the way of constantly-used charts, tables, etc., to make a ref screen worth killing trees for. But screens are handy if only for rolling dice and hiding maps. So I said to myself, "Self, ask the forum for thoughts."

My own first thought is "DX adjustments?"
Needed? Depends upon the GM's style of GMing. I found it useful, but only in that it had nearly every chart I needed, albeit a bit small. A 4-panel, preferably in landscape, would be my preferred. Portrait mode blocks my view of the map, and when lain flat, reaches too far into the table.

Oh, and if doing it, PLEASE, make it of stout material, for example, like the FFG ones, which feel like hardcovers.
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Old 05-20-2018, 03:37 AM   #8
Chris Rice
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: London Uk, but originally from Scotland
Default Re: Reference screen

I've never really used a GM screen for any game, but...I always lusted after one for TFT. Maybe that was because the system died prematurely and there wasn't much GM stuff for it anyway.

In any case, aside from its in game usefulness - which will be a lot for some and none for others, the other main benefit is advertising. If I'm running a game at a Con the GM screen is like a great big placard selling the system.

As to what should be on it, what I'd like is:

DX adjustments, including from optional rules
Spell costs and duration
Weapon and Armour tables
Potions and Lotions table
Monster stats table

And some great art.

Not much to ask for. 😊😊
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Old 05-20-2018, 03:52 AM   #9
Rick_Smith
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Coquitlam B.C.
Default Re: Reference screen

Hi Steve, everyone.
I liked the TFT GM screen and used it a lot. The list of what were critical successes and critical failures was very handy, as were the DX adjustments. The experience table got used a fair bit until I memorized it. The other stuff I used less. (I would sometime use the weapon table, simply because it was there in front of me, it saved me from opening my books.)

I think that there could be several TFT GM screens. Let us say that you do a supplement with icy winter, blizzards, and cold creatures like Conan's Remoraz with ice magics. An 11 by 17 inch (single fold), GM screen could have all the cold rules and exposure rules in one place.

If you do a supplement that is an underwater adventure, then a small GM screen with all the rules for swimming, water creatures, pelagic spells, etc. could be in one place. If there is room, the stats of underwater monsters could be added.

I don't use my GM screen much simply because I've been playing TFT so long, that I've memorized the information on it. But they are a big help to new GM's in that the things you have to remember are all in one place.

Warm regards, Rick.
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Old 05-20-2018, 09:08 AM   #10
larsdangly
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Default Re: Reference screen

I think a screen is a good idea; I use my TFT screen all the time and think of it as an important play aid. The two main uses are as a reference for DX adjustments and weapon, armor and shield properties. But it is also the most convenient place to find the HTH damage table, EXP tables, the 'entering HTH' table, and other things that would call for paging through the book. The general principle here is that TFT is at its best as a fast-playing tactical combat game, and any aid that speeds up play makes the game better. I find a handy reference sheet speeds up decision making, particularly when there are people at the table who don't know the game well.
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