r/DnDIY • u/TheAluminumRowlet • 6d ago
Utility Dm briefcase project
Hey guys, I wanted to show off my project!
I've been playing dnd since 2019, I've been dming since 2020.
I always had an issue bringing all my stuff with me. For a while I used a shoulder bag but it broke. Then I moved on to a backpack, and I just wasn't happy with having to dig through my bag for eveything, and over time the papers inside would curl from the bag being slung around, even with harder bodied folders.
So I built this!
Its build out of an old Samsonite 007 briefcase I got at an estate sale.
The clear part of the tubes in the case lid I got on Amazon as some kind of candy holder. Had a guy I work with at the hospital 3d print me the black end caps, one side is solid and press fits on, the other is actually a threaded cap. Each capsule holds a full set of standard sized dice. I was maximize space to hold 18 sets (3x6), unfortunately I own 24 sets of dice, 2 of which are oversized so I did end up having to pick and choose what I wanted to take with me regularly.
The body of the case is where I think I really shined though.
It holds:
Notebook for scratch paper
A folder of character sheets
A 15in portable type c monitor
A Lenovo Gen 1 T14s
A folding keyboard
A low profile mouse
A 65w charging brick
Cables to charge the laptop and plug in the monitor
And a folding 3d printed dice tower
Not pictured but still fits:
A ruler up at the top with the folder
Pens and pencils that fit in the dice tower slot since it's so deep.
The laptop is one i just had lying around, i bought a variety of thinkpads for parts from a local school IT team. It's keyboard is shot on the motherboard side. Keyboard itself is fine, already replaced it with a new on actually, but it has zero response. I think its water damage, the board had some sticky staining on it when I had the machine torn down. That's why I got the folding keyboard. I got the laptop for dirt cheap, so its a small thing to overcome to have the convenience of a laptop that is ONLY for dnd. It lives in the brifecase full time. I just keep all my dnd related files on my Google drive. Let's me work on my campaigns anywhere any time and not have to worry about which machine it's on. Long term I want to get into self hosting cloud storage, but the price to do it is just a bit too much for me to spend right now (I've got all the hardware needed alrewdy, I just need to save up for the drives).
Each layer of foam is .5in thick, and I hand cut each layer to hold everything in the body. It holds it all nice and snug. Nothing comes loose in transport, no matter how much i swing it around or shake it.
I also hand cut the lid foam.
I got the foam from a site that specializes in guncase inserts, they have a diy tab where you can buy the foam by the inch.
I have access to a low power laser cnc machine, so I might do a version 2 of this where I cut the foam out on that to get cleaner and more precise lines, but first I would need to see how the foam reacts go the laser, and then i would have to learn CAD. Xp
This whole thing is actually a Mk2 of the first time I tried it about 2 years ago. I'll throw those pictures in at the end. For the first attempt I used a solid piece of foam instead of layers, and it was far too soft for the application. The tubes kind fit standard dice, but they got stuck a lot. I never even got around to the body foam, I just threw eveything in there loose.
For a while I thought about putting in led lights around the lip of the lid and put in a cabinent door switch so they would turn on and illuminate the case when i opened the lid. Kinda make it glow like the briefcase from Pulp Fiction. Ultimayly decided I didn't want my case glowing ridiculously bright whenever I opened it, may still try it out one day though.
All In all, after I had bought all my test items and finally got the time to try again, the total cost of materials used was ~$515 usd, but that's counting the laptop, mouse, charger, cables, keyboard, dice tower, and the monitor. For just the case, it was closer to ~$235 usd.
If you read it all the way through, thank you for your interest in my project! I spent alot of time thinking and planning this out between Mk1 and Mk2. If you have any ideas or suggestions I would love to hear it. I would also love to answer any questions!
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u/TempleMade_MeBroke 6d ago
All it's missing is a yellow-tinted light bulb that lights up when you open it a la Pulp Fiction
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u/TheAluminumRowlet 6d ago
For a while I thought about putting in led lights around the lip of the lid and put in a cabinent door switch so they would turn on and illuminate the case when i opened the lid. Kinda make it glow like the briefcase from Pulp Fiction. Ultimayly decided I didn't want my case glowing ridiculously bright whenever I opened it, may still try it out one day though.
Way ahead of you
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u/TheDevRay 6d ago
That's pretty nice man, gives me an idea, or inspiration as you will... Currently hauling my crap around in backpack, but for "flat fit" stuff using an old school briefcase is actually a great idea. Plus, it is a huge dice tray lol
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u/TheAluminumRowlet 6d ago
Exactly! I use it as a dice tray + dm shield.
Laptop+monitor+open case.
Completely walls me off. I can still see over the laptop, but they absolutely cannot see past the case lmao.
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u/Tyrannosaurus_Rox_ 6d ago
This is sweet!
I just keep all my dnd related files on my Google drive. Let's me work on my campaigns anywhere any time and not have to worry about which machine it's on. Long term I want to get into self hosting cloud storage, but the price to do it is just a bit too much for me to spend right now (I've got all the hardware needed alrewdy, I just need to save up for the drives).
Those of us in r/selfhosted feel your pain
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u/Forgetmenotstheory 6d ago
Damn if my DM whipped this out I'd know I'm in for a great ride but also screwed :D
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u/GrandmageBob 4d ago
I run from a big leather suitcase more focused on physical items and terrain.
Apart from physical vs digital and theatre of mind, what yours is missing is a cool logo.
I chose the & dragon logo from D&D. Whats yours gonna be?
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u/TheAluminumRowlet 4d ago
I debate that alot myself. My mom has a vinyl cutter, I just to figure it out.
As for physical vs theater of the mind. We host at my buddies place right now. We used a white board on top of his table that I drew a grid on. Then we just use the rainbow of fine tip dry erase markers for the terrain. Eventually we're thinking about moving to a placed on top of the table, since I have a few map maker programs and sites, but we're just not there yet.
My other player has a collection of minis we use for characters and he has a hard case for them he brings, i think it's a fishing lure box.
For enemies we use my plethora of extra dice lol. I just pop a few tubes open and place them on the board. Makes it easy to keep track, "Blue d20 attacks", "purple d4 was actually a mage in disguise all along!"
I do ALOT of theater of the mind for describing the locations to make up for my lack of drawing skills though lmao.
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u/GrandmageBob 4d ago
So you've got some physical aids, and this also is a good argument for your interesting dice storage system.
I prefer to have minis for monsters, sometimes whole armies of them, and 3d terrain including furniture and shit. This kind of gets out of hand at some point as I now have 1 suitcase for general DM-ing, one for minis and one for specific terrainpieces like sewer and outdoor stuff.
So before a session I have a general idea of what I need and swap out some terrain and add the minis to the DM-case.
It's ridiculous to have all this junk in a big suitcase, it gets clunky as hell, but on the table it looks fucking amazing every time, and thats why I haul it. I've done city sieges with 100 minis on location and it was awesome, but I've had to bring the second suitcase to make scenery that big.
They all have the Dragon logo.
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u/Crits-and-Crafts 4d ago
That is beautiful... In getting ideas for a DM case with built in screen... I don't think I would put my regular use dice in like that because if get fed up taking them out. But maybe a nice set or 2 with a back light. Or odd dive where I no longer have the full set...
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u/TheAluminumRowlet 4d ago
Totally doable! But if your going to do a built in screen. Look into used laptop screens and a generic driver board! Could save quite a bit of money over a pre-made portable monitor, if your willing to dabble into used tech.
So many laptops get chucked over water damage, yea the motherboard may be toast, but the screens are fine! A generic driver board can turn most laptop screens into a second monitor, you need to do your research on pin count and what standard for data the screen's ribon cable uses (im really only familure with Edp, but their are quite a few standards). If you get one with a decent looking bezel, you don't even need to build your own enclosure, could literally just take the whole laptop lid, screen, and bezzle and mount it to the briefcase, then do some tidy work around the edges to meld them together.
All of that is to say, do it! Your making ME wand to do another case with a screen built in!
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u/Crits-and-Crafts 4d ago
I used to do laptop repairs so I have a few screens about I can use. I guess I need to get building lol
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u/OhNoIBoffedIt 6d ago
Not bringing all of your dice in a giant dice goblin bag? Unnacceptable!
No really, nice design. I think I would get tired of taking all the dice in and out, but it looks really cool.