Compass-Style Trackers
Details
A very sturdy palm-sized hexagonal tracker.
Grip the disk in the center to turn it to a specific value.
There are many choices for the values shown around the edge.
No exposed edges, so it won't change value if it rubs against something in your bag.
Choose from many provided art choices, or customize it with your own.
Dice are pictured to show scale and are not included.
DM: Barbarian, you're up.
Barbarian: It's time to bash some heads! I enter a rage.
DM: Wait, you already used two rages on monsters, and you wasted one at the library.
Barbarian: I didn't waste it! I needed to use STR on that perception check.
DM: You didn't even need that perception check. I would have just told you that the pages were edible but the book cover was not.
Barbarian: Well... I had a short rest.
DM: You were knocked unconscious. That is not a "short rest."
Barbarian: Fine. Did I really use two on the monsters? I thought I extended one rage. Here, I'll export a PDF from my character sheet app.
DM: If we keep taking five minutes for every turn, I'll go into a rage.
Compass-Style Trackers do one thing and do it really simply, with no tech. Each tracker tracks one value, such as hit points, magic item charges, or class feature uses. Grip the center of the disk, then twist it one way to increase the value or the other way to decrease it.
They are easy to make and super-sturdy, so you can make multiple handy trackers for yourself and your group.
Druid-approved: Each tracker rotates smoothly even though it has no metal or plastic parts.
Barbarian-approved: It's tough.
Materials
Glue pen, or tape runner
Scissors, knife, paper cutter, or trimmer
How to Make
Paper crafting difficulty: Easy.
For print-at-home, pay what you want for the templates at DMsGuild.com. You will also gain access to Google Drawings documents that you can copy and edit.
Choose the art and specific modules that you want. Print the needed templates on cardstock paper.
Cut on the dotted lines and crease on the solid lines. Fold, glue, and assemble according to the included instructions. Or, use the following visual guide:
Game Night Advantages
Keep track of any one value, e.g. hit points, magic item charges, class feature points, hit dice, spell duration, legendary action points, charms, or adventure "clocks".
Avoid erasing and rewriting on your character sheet.
They are easy to make, so make separate ones for separate values.
Speed up combat by easily tracking approximate hit points.
Keep players hands and minds in the game with an engaging tactile tool.
Gift them to your DM or players as unique keepsakes to remember that time when your party gradually earned the Queen's favor, and then your bard made it creepy.
Instead of making
simple things complicated,
just give it a twist.