This is my humble attempt to review each DM screen currently on the market. I did play test each, however, I might add that DM screens are like new shoes, - - - they take a little while to break in. Please consider that I had used Dungeons and Dragons 3^rd Edition screen since game 1 many months ago and the other two only recently. All the screens are four panels. All screens are compatible with Dungeons and Dragons 3rd Edition.

DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS 3RD EDITION

The first screen to hit the gaming table last year in 2001 was Wizard’s Dungeons and Dragons 3^rd Edition DM Screen. Sporting a nifty cover on glossy card stock (offering some protection against spills but could still be easily bent), this screen was expected to be the de facto tool for DM’s. While some gamers bemoan the cover art, my players enjoyed the multiple scenes of mayhem and violence. While the cover is little too busy and a little too orange for my tastes, it does offer some insight and ideas to novice players. When placed on the table the "oohs" and "aahs" and wide-eyed stares of "what have I gotten myself into" were quite apparent.

The first panel is dedicated to various checks and their resulting DC’s. The layout is all right if uninspiring with alternating blue and white row blocks to help separate each listed item. I could have done without Escape Artist Check and Open Lock DC’s since the former rarely happens and the latter is usually suggested in modules or can be predetermined when planning the adventure. A Heal DC chart is sorely lacking here.

The second panel is made up of several tables from the Player’s Handbook describing briefly various actions, move and attack of opportunity information. The charts also include Cover, Concealment, and Attack Roll Modifiers. This panel is highlighted by alternating red and while row blocks.

The third panel is more of the same adding in some more Miscellaneous Actions with additional tables regarding Creature Size and Scale, Turning Undead and Access to Spells. While I find most of these tables useful, Access to Spells is really something a player looks up while gaining a level. With modifiers due to race, intelligence, and feats, the base numbers mean nothing during the actual game.

The fourth panel is somewhat divided by half with the red and white alternating rows on the left side highlighting Size and AC of Objects, Hardness and Hit Points for Objects, Substances, Weapon and Shields, and DCs to Break or Burst. The green and white rows on the right side for Example Opposed Checks, Light Sources, Example Door DC’s, and Untrained Skills. Sounds confounding?

The information listed is useful; however, the layout is confusing. The first panel clearly shows by placement and color that the DM can easily find Check DC’s for various actions. The second and third panels have Actions listed on the top and various combat situations below, however, everything is the same color. Simply by using another color on the lower half would make this screen less confusing and more accessible.

The left side of the fourth panel continues the color scheme from the previous panels for various charts for hardness and hit points of objects, which adds to the confusion. Perhaps the designer thought that these tables would fall into combat so why not share the same color scheme as Actions. This creates two and half panels of confusion and perplexity. Even when I knew the general locations of information, the color scheme would still confuse me. This screen clearly shows five divisions and would be greatly enhanced with more color.

While the information refers to the Player’s Handbook and the table number, no page number is listed. Of course, this could have been done in case any future errata printings change page numbers, but I would have preferred the page numbers so that I could quickly look up detailed information that the charts are based on.

I like the glossy finish as it will add many years to the life of the screen, but a laminated cover would have been an improvement.

FORGOTTEN REALMS

Wizard’s Forgotten Realms’ DM screen was released in early 2002 and was eagerly awaited by many a DM. Not only does the Forgotten Realms’ products look great, but have been doing so consistently, so high hopes were placed on this screen. The cover has a matte finish and was voted the best cover art by my gaming group from the three shown to them. It is moody, dark, and is perfect for those deep dank places your player’s tend to explore. The interior design is top notch. Borrowing from the sourcebook design, the panels are printed on the backdrop of old yellowed paper tied together with leather lacing.

The first panel is unique to all screens as it is the devoted entirely to Weapon Stats. I am of a mixed feeling regarding the use of such information on a DM screen. I like it. I used it once. However, it takes up an entire panel and the information could be easily looked up in the PHB. I don’t know if losing various DCs is worth an entire panel of weapons.

The remaining panels offer similar information as the standard DnD 3^rd Edition DM screen, however, happily Armor Stats have been included at the expense of Access to Spells which was of no loss. Terrain and Overland Movement in Faerun was included (the first DM screen has no movement charts). Also Opposed Checks and Untrained Skills were removed to allow for The Roll of Years and The Calendar of Harptos. The calendars are easily found in the sourcebook and seem to be placed to point out that it is a FORGOTTEN REALM DM SCREEN. Does a DM really refer to this information in every game?

The entire screen is nice to look at and the yellowed paper background is actually easy on the eyes. The screen does not use any color rows or columns but I would say that finding information is on the same level as the first screen. Perhaps easier since the color guide doesn’t mislead your eyes. A DM needs to study the panels for a while and let experience handle the rest.

SCARRED LANDS

Sword and Sorcery’s "Scarred Lands" DM Screen broke with the traditional format of the other two screens by establishing a black background with all the information in basic white text boxes. This actually can help you if you know that the Heal DCs is the small rectangle box between panels one and two. Actually, it looks like someone had a blank screen and was able to print their favorite stats and other references and arranged it to taste (Great idea by the way!). The Actions in Combat is the best organized of the bunch with all the information in one easy to find area. The Special Combat Situations panel is also very welcomed. While it doesn’t have all the DC’s stats that DnD 3^rd Edition screen offers, you don’t really miss them. It has the most common ones such as Heal, Climb, and Concentration, as an example, and the inclusion of movement rates, which can I take or leave, are a welcome addition.

They also included on the top of the first panel, reference page numbers to the various corebooks. Looking for Armor stats? Go to page 104 of Corebook 1! Simple! This alone is worth getting this screen over the other two! (I don’t if this violates the OGL but I like it). Finally, while I don’t mind the charts crossing over the fold crease of the screen, my concern would be that in a few years the wear and tear would "scar" the words.

CONCLUSION

All three DM Screens offer supplement materials that don’t really add to the value of the product. For example, the Scarred Lands DM screen has a supplement book that contains background and stats for the various races found in a Scarred Lands campaign. While it was an interesting read, it doesn’t really add anything to the DM screen. It felt like a preview of a Scarred Lands Players Handbook. Don’t get me wrong, the supplement was a great, but seemed like entirely different product. The Forgotten Realms supplement, while interesting, was a 32-page random encounter booklet. The DnD 3^rd Edition DM supplement was a mish mash of information including a page devoted to blank squares. I suppose the DM is supposed to photocopy this page for the game. What is really needed is a supplement book that contains all the reference stats and tables that could not fit onto the DM Screen. By having a handy supplement book that mirrors the information found in the corebooks, DM’s would save valuable game time flipping through hundreds of pages in search of the one small hard to find stat. Using reference sheets that I found on the Internet, the entire booklet could be eight pages long and anything else a publisher wanted to insert would be gravy.

In the end, there is no clear winner (or really loser) amongst the three. The DnD 3^rd Edition does suffer from poor design in its color scheme, but it is useable with a wide range of information. Forgotten Realms’ screen is beautiful to look at, easy on the eyes, less confusing despite have a similar layout with its sister screen, however, unless weapon reference is truly needed in every game, you may want more useful information. Finally, while the cover art is okay, Scarred Lands screen is easily the best organized with comparable information that is easy to find. If you like supplement books, however, you might be disappointed unless you are running a Scarred Lands campaign. Then you will love the supplement.