Adventuring Gear: Index Cards

Let me share one of the most simple and amazingly useful tools I keep behind the DM screen... Index cards! These bad boys may seem like nothing more than note-sized pieces of cardstock, but don't be fooled. They are great to have around in general, and I'm always finding ways to use them to enhance a game. The fact that they are compact and easy to manage makes them the perfect format for recording all sorts of game information including:

• Powers and abilities
• Gear and equipment
• NPC statistics
• Vehicle statistics
• Special status effects

They make great handouts for players, who can just attach them to their character sheet with a paper clip (another useful supply to have around) and trade the cards with other PCs if needed. They make nice inconspicuous notes to pass around when a player personally discovers a secret.

I also find that they make for quick and easy cheat sheets for the DM. I usually have one with a list of every type of skill and ability attached to my DM screen, for any game I run. I have also used them as very simple map tiles... By labeling each card with the name of a different room, they can be laid out to represent a very simple map or floorplan. And a lot of these cards are sold in a variety of different colors, so you can clearly distinguish and categorize them. The possibilities are endless.

The one downside? They are easy to misplace. If your workspace gets more cluttered over the course of the game, like mine, you need to be extra careful that you don't lose one of your important notes in the shuffle. But this is a small concern overall, when you consider the sheer utility you get out of this simple but essential tool. 

Happy ventures!