Let's get started

It's easy to make Turn Watcher a valuable tool in your GM arsenal. The basics are:

1. Create a character list of each PC involved in combat (you can reuse this list over and over for each encounter)
2. Create encounter list(s) of opponents
3. Import the PC and opponent lists for your encounter
4. Start your combat!

Adding Player Characters

The very first time you start Turn Watcher, you will be presented with a blank slate.

The very first thing to do is to input the relevant information from each player character (PC) in your campaign (we recommend doing this before starting the game). You only need to enter this information once, since Turn Watcher will remember it all for you. You can also update this information as characters level.

To begin your character list, click on the Add button on the toolbar. The Add Character dialog will appear. Enter the character name, initiative modifier, spot and listen modifiers, and the will save modifier. Then enter the character's maximum hit points. Lastly, choose Character from the pull down list and click OK.

Repeat these steps until you've entered all the information for all your characters.

Tip: Hit the TAB key to advance to the next field.

Doug enters the stats for Shiena, a human barbarian. He clicks the Add button and types Shiena in the Character Name field. He then advances to the next field by hitting the TAB key and enters Shiena's Initiative modifier, her Spot and Listen modifiers, her Will save, and finally her Maximum Hit Points. He leaves Current Damage at 0, and he makes sure the Character Type is set for Character. Finally, he clicks OK.

Exporting a Player Character List

Once you've entered all of the PCs that will be participating in the campaign, you can Export your character list. Choose Export in the File menu. Type a filename and click the Save button.

Doug is running a campaign for four players. He enters each PC's relevant stats and Exports to a file called Dragon Campaign.

Creating Encounters

Clear out any existing PCs and opponents by selecting Clear in the File menu. Make sure you exported any PCs that you added in the previous step.

Adding opponents to your encounter is similar to adding PCs, but you choose Monster instead of Character at the bottom pull-down menu in the Add Character dialog.

For each encounter, add the opponent or opponents that will combat the PCs. Export the newly added opponents to a filename appropriate for your encounter.

Tip: For quick duplication of opponents, highlight the opponent you wish to duplicate and select Duplicate from the Edit menu. Turn Watcher will ask how many times you want to duplicate the selected character or opponent. You can even do this during combat!

Doug is planning an encounter where the party will run into four ghouls...

• He clicks the Add button and types Ghoul 1 in the Character Name field.
• Then he enters the ghoul's Initiative, Spot, Listen, and Will save modifiers, and its Max Hit Points. He ensures the Character Type is set for Monster. And finally he clicks OK to store the new opponent.
• Next, he highlights Ghoul 1 in the list and selects Duplicate from the Edit menu.
• In the Duplicate window, he enters the number 3 and clicks OK.

He now has four ghouls to engage his players.

Exporting a List of Opponents for an Encounter

Now that you have entered the opponents that you want the PC party to face in the encounter, Export your opponent list. Choose Export in the File menu and type a filename, then click the Save button.

Doug chooses Export in the File menu and he exports his list of 4 Ghouls as a file called Ghoul Encounter. He then selects Clear also in the File menu, and begins another list of opponents for the next encounter.

Repeat the above steps for each encounter you have planned for your game.

Tip: Create a few random encounter lists that you can use in any game in your campaign.