What Do People Put on Their DM Screens? Essential Items and Organization Tips for Dungeon Masters

A chaotic DM screen can disrupt every roll and shatter immersion, so knowing what goes on a DM screen is crucial for seamless storytelling and fluid combat. The secret is transforming your Game Master screen into a command center, packed with quick-reference rules, campaign notes, player trackers, digital mounts, and top-tier organization accessories.

DM Screen Customization

Tailoring your DM screen can turn it into a powerful command center, complete with essential rules, campaign lore, and player progress. This personalization elevates your game flow and enriches the experience for everyone at the table.

This insight highlights the importance of personalizing your DM screen for better organization and gameplay.

This guide gathers the best community insights, from the foundational Dungeon Master’s Screen on Wikipedia to detailed setups shared on Reddit, and demonstrates how Fabletop’s partnered Ultimate Game Master Screen and magnetic accessories can turn your table into a professional hub. You’ll learn:

• Essential rules and reference packs for instant rulings
• Campaign lore and note organization for consistent storytelling
• Player stats and house rules displays to keep everyone in the loop
• Seamless digital-physical integrations for modern play
• Advanced storage and tracking accessories for swift access

With these key areas covered, let’s get your screen ready for any adventure.

What Core Rules and References Should Be on a DM Screen?

Having charts and guides within easy reach keeps the game moving smoothly when players need rulings or quick reactions. Integrating a magnetic rules pack means you’ll never have to dig through books for basic mechanics. Consider attaching a 5th Edition Rules Pack to your screen to manage everything from conditions to combat tables.

Which Conditions Cheat Sheets Help Manage Status Effects?

Here’s a handy list of common conditions and their core effects to speed up adjudication. Mounting these on blank magnetic surfaces allows you to swap them out as your campaign progresses.

• Blinded: Automatically fails sight-based checks and grants attackers advantage
• Charmed: Cannot attack the charmer and imposes disadvantage on social checks against them
• Grappled: Speed is reduced to zero; you remain in place until freed
• Prone: Grants advantage on melee attacks against you and disadvantage on ranged attacks

Using magnetic charts for these cheat sheets ensures you can spot critical effects instantly and maintain narrative momentum.

What Combat Actions and Flow References Are Most Useful?

Combat requires clarity on turn order and available actions. The table below outlines key actions, their mechanics, and their impact on gameplay.

Action	Mechanic	Outcome
Attack	Make a weapon or unarmed strike	Deals damage based on weapon stats
Dash	Use your movement again	Doubles travel distance in one turn
Disengage	Move without provoking opportunity attacks	Improves positioning without penalty
Ready	Prepare a trigger and action	Enables reaction-based tactics
Help	Grant ally advantage on ability check or attack	Increases success odds for companions

Pairing this with magnetic initiative trackers and Creature Trackers ensures every turn’s flow is visible and manageable.

How Do Skill Check DCs and Improvised Damage Tables Aid Gameplay?

Having a quick reference for common skill DCs - like DC 10 for simple locks or DC 15 for moderate endurance challenges, eliminates guesswork. An improvised damage table, offering damage ranges for unexpected hazards (e.g., fire pits or falling debris), empowers on-the-fly rulings.

Attaching these charts with blank magnetic charts keeps your custom rules and improvisations right at your fingertips.

What Campaign Notes and Lore Do DMs Keep Behind Their Screens?

Well-organized campaign notes ensure narrative consistency and fully immerse your players in your world. Slotting NPC personalities, monster details, and plot hooks into dedicated pockets or panels prevents lost threads and forgotten motivations.

How Can NPC Quick References Enhance Storytelling?

Magnetic pouches or small boards are perfect for holding index cards with key NPC stats and traits:

• Name, race, and role in the plot
• Personality trait or quirk for memorable interactions
• Bond or goal that drives their behavior
• Current location to track movements

Using a Small Magnetic Pouch makes swapping or updating NPC cards effortless and keeps them visible.

Why Are Monster Stat Blocks and HP Trackers Important?

Quick access to monster AC, attacks, special traits, and hit point trackers allows you to resolve combat without fumbling through rulebooks. Magnetic creature trackers keep monster health bars and condition markers clearly visible, helping you maintain tension and avoid tally errors.

What Role Do Session Notes and Plot Points Play in Organization?

Keeping a summary of past events, player decisions, and upcoming milestones on a Quick-Load Panel or extending your space with the Magnetic Bar Set ensures you never lose track of narrative arcs and can smoothly remind players of crucial plot threads.

How Do DMs Track Player Information and Interactions on Their Screens?

Visible player stats boost engagement and provide quick reference for ability checks, saving throws, and passive perceptions. A dedicated display also clarifies table expectations and house rules.

What Player Character Stats Are Essential to Display?

Key stats you’ll want front and center include:

• Armor Class and Hit Points for threat assessment
• Passive Perception for spotting hidden details and ambushes
• Active Conditions affecting each character
• Saving throw proficiencies for rapid resistance rolls

How Do House Rules and Campaign Guidelines Improve Table Flow?

Displaying core house rules - like critical hit mechanics or modified experience gains—promotes consistent adjudication. Attaching these guidelines to blank magnetic charts serves as a constant reminder for both you and your players of unique table conventions.

How Can Digital and Physical Tools Be Integrated on a DM Screen?

Combining digital references with physical components lets you leverage virtual maps, soundboards, and digital rule databases alongside tactile aids. Magnetic mounts ensure your devices are secure and always in view.

What Are the Benefits of Magnetic Device Holders for Tablets and Phones?

A Magnetic Tablet Holder and its matching Magnetic Phone Holder keep your D&D Beyond sheets, virtual tabletops, or sound apps at eye level. Hands-free viewing reduces screen clutter and allows you to switch between digital maps and rule lookups without losing sight of the table.

How Do Dynamic Maps and Visual Aids Enhance Immersion?

Attaching dry-erase battle maps with the Magnetic Map Pack provides a reusable surface for sketching terrain, marking tokens, and illustrating tactical positions. This visual layer draws players deeper into the encounter.

What Advanced Organization Accessories Help Optimize DM Screens?

Magnetic Accessories for Organization

Magnetic accessories empower Game Masters to keep essential tools organized and readily accessible during gameplay. These can include storage pouches, device holders, and expansion panels that attach securely to the screen with magnetic connections.

This source emphasizes the advantages of using magnetic accessories to boost organization and streamline gameplay.

How Do Magnetic Initiative Trackers Streamline Combat Management?

Magnetic initiative trackers offer numbered turn-order cards that attach directly to your screen, keeping combat sequencing crystal clear for both players and the DM.

Initiative Trackers

Magnetic initiative trackers provide numbered turn-order cards that attach directly to the screen, keeping combat sequencing clear for both players and the DM. This eliminates lost tokens and ensures every participant knows exactly when they act.

This source highlights the utility of initiative trackers for streamlining combat management.

What Storage Solutions Keep Dice and Miniatures Accessible?

Compact storage pouches, available in small and large sizes, keep dice, tokens, and miniatures within easy reach.

The Large Magnetic Pouch stashes bulk gear, while the Small Magnetic Pouch holds frequently used dice, preventing tabletop clutter.

From essential rules and campaign lore to hybrid digital mounts and advanced magnetic organizers, every element on your DM screen should serve your gameplay and storytelling. Explore the full range of accessories in our DM Screen Accessories collection and elevate your Ultimate Game Master Screen into the ultimate command center.