All this aforementioned talk of scouting and M*A*G*E (Mobile Auxiliary Game Equipment–I just coined that, all rights reserved) seems over-kill and too serious.

For me, and the players, the biggest thing on our minds is dealing with the wives and young ones. I have a daughter to young to play any game other than Chutes and Ladders. And my players have a similar mix, though one has a son that is part of the party.

Re: better halfs, i.e. wives, it’s a mixed bag. My wife tends to over do it, while not a player of RPGs, she supports my “inner geek” and hosts my friends “to the nines.” Last session at my place was sub sandwiches and nachos (not some fake nachos, but the kind that you bake, melting real cheddar and cover with chili.) Tomorrow is cookies, or so I’m promised!

And then there is the reality that we are not care free teens and college students any longer… A three hour session, once, or twice, a month is about what we can expect.

Yeah, but down here in Texas, gravy’s gooooooood!

Telas

Books, dice, and imagination. Everything else is gravy.

I think a rolling file like this would rock, especially with a couple of bungee cords for strapping down additional stuff.

It’s a definite “geek badge” though.

If I was able to, I would first try and scout out the location.

The basics I would bring:

+ Appropriate game books (if the game requires a huge number of game books, I would try and have the host supply as many as possible, or divvy responsibilities among the players).
+ Setting maps and notes
+ Module in play or other adventure/scenario prep notes
+ PC character sheets
+ GM screen
+ Scrap paper etc.
+ Miniatures and a basic counter selection (possibly customized if I have time to prep for the adventure at hand), otherwise I could heavily rely on my little counter box with it’s 1/2″ numbered counters. If appropriate.
+ Bag of dice
+ Selection of pencils, pens, and overhead markers, spare lead for pencils
+ My portable file box (ideally this would hold all the above)
+ Megamat(s) if appropriate

If my file box didn’t hold everything, I’d bring a milk crate with the overflow.

If a suitable table surface was not available, my tabletop does fit in the car. I could also bring the milk crates to support it if no suitable support was available. This is something that would have had to have been scouted out, or the host told me I would need to bring.

Depending on the campaign setting, I might have to be choosy about what source material to bring, though I am beginning to be convinced that if the setting stuff doesn’t fit in the file box, there’s too much setting stuff – time to trim down. Such thoughts would mostly leave D20 as the primary game I would run that would still have an overflow problem depending on what books would be required for PC options. That could be solved by requiring players to have their own books for PC options, or photocopying a few pages (such as the PrC a PC is using).

A game like Dogs in the Vinyard would pack into a zip-up portfolio, plus a big bag of dice, and would be much more portable than my usual game fare.

Frank

Solution 1 Big rubbermaid plastic box
Lid side 1: Whiteboard attached
Lid Side 2: Hex Grid attached
Box Side 1 (Long): Paint it with blackboard paint, so this will work as a blackboard, or just add another white board.
Box Side 2 (long): Probably the world map taped to the side, or a steel plate with magnets to put stuff up here. .
Box Skinny Sides: Not sure yet, maybe just decoration. Depends on what will feet that would be useful. I’m also going to keep a lazy susan inside the box, so that I can turn the box easily.

Inside the box I’ll be keeping all the books/boxes of minis/bags of dice/snacks/etc. Hopefully it will be a multi-sided compact Mobile Operations Base. I’ve still got to figure out what things will be most useful for what types of games, and I have been thinking about making it even more module than that.

Of course the laptop will be a prime part of any MOB setup.