I’ve noted a few places online that there’s some sort of debate percolating about the interwebs about the utility/appropriateness of allowing technology at the gaming table. This seems to focus primarily on the players and their smartphones/iPods/iPads, etc. and whether these are a distraction to the gamers and the group in general. Time for me to weigh in. Well, maybe not, but I’m going to do it anyway.
I’m a bit technophile, that’s no secret (search the site for my posts on the iPad as a GM tool.) I’ve been using a laptop to GM since about 1996-97. I always wrote out my adventure notes in spiral notebooks as a kid and in the 1980s, but with my first desktop computer, I realized I could hold onto the notes for longer (notebooks have a tendency to get lost, full and thrown out, or tossed with a move.) I printed out adventures for use, could craft character sheets or backgrounds with pictures, etc. When the laptops got cheap enough, I jumped — you can have the machine at the table, with access to all your notes, have dice programs, etc.
Originally, I fought a losing battle with gamers over cell phones — no calls/texts while gaming. Most of the players were cooperative at first, but you’d let them slide for an “emergency” and next you knew, they were at it all the time. so the rule is now, no texting or answering the phone while you’re in play. If you’re on the sidelines, go ahead. With the iPod and smartphones, most of my players are now using dice programs on their phones, save for a couple of Luddites who prefer the feel of rolling the bones. Most still have their printed character sheets, but on the rare occasion I’ve gotten to play rather than GM, I’ve had my character sheet, the books, and the dice on my iPad.
Essentially, if you play with adults who respect each other, you’re not going to have then being rude about their tech use. If you play with people that can’t communicate with others in the room without texting, you will. (Although I’m sure someone will state it’s a good way to pass secret notes, and just as disruptive as handing off a slip of paper.)
What do people use at the gaming table, I wonder..?
(How do you like my swanky new poll widget? I feel so Buck Rogers…)
The Black Campbell 
15 November, 2011 at 14:43
I’m old school and require my players to have physical character sheets and roll the dice where everyone can see them. I’ve had to do this because it was amazing how some players would always,and I do mean *always* roll just good enough to succeed at *everything*, regardless of the modifiers against them. Also, these same players’ characters had a tendency to spontaneously sprout treasure between sessions. It was always dribs and drabs, and no magic that would ever be game changing, but it would buff the character or be there just when he needed it.
When we started doing Pathfinder, I told them that I’d manage the character sheets via HeroLab. I received a couple long faces from one of the players, but screw it, I’m the GM and I’m tired of having my games slighted by dishonest players.
15 November, 2011 at 15:06
Guess I’ve just gotten lucky with my group. They understand that failing is half the fun.
15 November, 2011 at 18:32
We’ve been playing in a coffee shop these days (which was an adjustment!) so there is not a lot of space for character sheets, books and dice. It wasn’t long before all of that vanished leaving 3 tablets (my Iconia, an HP Touchpad, and an iPad) and 2 laptops. We kept the dice as there still is no app to replace Ubiquity Dice. All the character sheets are on Google Docs, the campaign log is on Obsidian Portal, and my session notes are a combination of audio logs and text notations using the Sync Voice Notes app.
I like to use the print books around the house most of the time, but the choice between hauling a bag of RPG material around Seoul, or taking my tablet is not a choice.
15 November, 2011 at 19:03
That was my reasoning for moving to a tablet, as well — so much easier to throw it in the tail pack and go.
18 November, 2011 at 13:56
[…] you use technology at the gaming table? Black Campbell does and discusses the use of laptops, cell phones, iPads, and more. I think he’s definitely right – it’s all about respect at the table. You […]
21 November, 2011 at 11:20
We seem to be a fairly traditional bunch on the site, so far — pen and paper, and laptops seem to be winning out against the new hotness of tablets and smartphones.