Thomas Weinberger

Thomas Weinberger

Hi, I'm Thomas, a tabletop RPG enthusiast since 1994. Currently I'm very much into indie and story games. My goal is to support other GMs with advice and inspiration for this great hobby.

GM Screens are my no. 1 tabletop RPG accessory

When you’re seriously into a hobby, you tend to buy a lot of accessories for it. PC gamers have high-performance PCs, larpers own an extensive wardrobe full of authentic costumes, and tabletop roleplaying fans usually have a lot of dice. Me, I’m very much into GM screens instead of dice. Over the years, I’ve collected a small but exquisite selection of them. And since I play indie games such as the PBTA systems, I also build most of them myself. Want to know more about why I fancy GM screens and which showpieces I own? Then check out this article.

Why we use GM screens

First off, because they look cool! They’re an eye-catcher at the gaming table and indicate who the GM is. Additionally, they serve as a divider panel to hide notes and handouts from the players’ eyes. They work similarly to the curtains at the theater, concealing all technical gear and other items to keep the stage design free from distractions. In this way, the GM screen indirectly contributes to the atmosphere of your session.
I also like to use the GM screen as a mount for image handouts and NPC portraits (learn more about NPC portraits here). And on the backside, I attach notes about the plot, the timeline, and also cheat sheets for special rules. That’s how the GM screen helps me keep my GM workspace tidy.
behind the gm screen rpg

Buy them or make them yourself

For popular tabletop RPGs, such as D&D, Pathfinder, Call of Cthulhu, and Shadowrun, there’s a huge selection of different GM screens available in stores. They are solidly built, show great front designs, and can be bought at reasonable prices. For about $20 to $40 they are a really good deal. The material costs of self-made screens are also around $20 to $40 for cardboard, printing, and protective film. So why build a GM screen yourself?
There are two reasons to make your own GM screens:
a: You’re looking for a GM screen for an RPG system that has no screen available for purchase. That’s the case for nearly all indie games or PBTA systems.
b: You want to have a unique design or use an extravagant material for your GM screen, which is not available elsewhere.
Over the years I’ve collected both store-bought GM screens and custom-made GM screens. We’ll take a look at them below.
call of cthulhu rpg gm screen

4 criteria to consider when buying a GM screen

1. Durability

Even the most stylish GM screen won’t make you happy if it doesn’t survive being transported in a bag or backpack. Pay attention to sturdy material and also the hinges to make sure your GM screen will last for several game sessions.

2. Size

The most common measurements are three letter-size (or A4) pages in portrait or landscape orientation. But I’d advise against portrait-oriented GM screens. They hide too much of the GMs upper body. It’s better to choose a GM screen that lets your players properly see your body language and gestures.

3. Design

Epic fantasy, flashy steampunk, gloomy sci-fi, or just a minimalistic style. Pick a design that fits your campaign and scenario settings.

4. Price

Off-the-shelf GM screens cost about $20 to $40. For extravagant custom-made designs, you will probably pay a premium between $150 to $200. I’d only invest in such expensive GM screens if you can use them often enough. This is true if you and your group stick with a single RPG for a long time, or if the design is universal enough to fit different settings.
degenesis tabletop rpg gm screen

Why I make my own custom GM screens

The main reason is that I’ve GMed a lot of systems lately where there are no GM screens available. I played a lot of Monsterhearts, The Sprawl, and Dungeon World, and there is no official GM screen for any of them. I would not want to GM without a screen, and a generic screen with a universal design would not feel right for me. I want to have a screen with an on-point design that fits the setting. I’m probably a bit picky when it comes to this 😉
Besides, I enjoy making props and tinkering, which includes making custom GM screens. It also helps to work for a company that manufactures laser cutters. We may occasionally use them for practice, and I often end up making a new GM screen from either wood, acrylic, or metal.

GM screens I’ve bought

Here’s a gallery with all the GM screens I’ve bought over the last 15 years. For Call of Cthulhu I’ve even bought several, which I use depending on the scenario and setting of the session.

GM screens I’ve made myself

These self-made GM screens are the real eye-catchers in my collection. See the details below about the materials I’ve used to make them and when I use them.

GM screen for Cthulhu Now and 10 Candles

Materials: Cardboard, adhesive book cover film

GM screen for Warhammer Skaven campaign

Materials: Cardboard, plastic film, goatskin

GM screen for The Sprawl, Mark I

Materials: Laser cut and engraved acrylic, backside painted with acrylic color

GM screen for The Sprawl, Mark II

Materials: Anodised aluminum, laser engraved, magnetic film on the backside

GM screen for Monsterhearts

Materials: Walnut wood, white paint, laser engraved

GM screen for Dungeon World

Materials: Birch wood, UV printed, design from “Darkest Dungeon”

GM screen for Dungeon World

GM screen for Degenesis (post-apocalyptic RPG)

GM screen for Middle Earth RPG (MERP)

Materials: Coated MDF, wooden hinge design via special laser cutting technique

Stay up-to-date – follow us

Never miss a new GM tip or blogpost. Discuss GMing-related questions with the community.
Follow us on social media.

2 thoughts on “GM Screens – My Guilty Pleasure”

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *