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Review: The World’s Greatest Screen

The World’s Greatest Screen (Portrait variant, silver) Recently I was looking for another customizable GM screen. While I was quite happy with the “Savage Worlds Customizable GM Screen” for a while, I thought it wouldn’t hurt to look if there was a slightly larger one out there. One of the problems I had with the screen I already owned was that I had to create the insert myself. Because of the landscape format I couldn’t just use pages copied from the rulebook. And there have been cases when I wished the GM screen was a bit higher.

The World’s Greatest Screen actually solves these issues. Like the SW Customizable GM Screen it’s created from cardboard and vinyl. It has a total of 8 sleeves sized 8.5” x 11” so even A4 paper fits if slightly trimmed. Please not that I picked the portrait variant, but if you prefer landscape, you can get it, too. There’s also a mini version with 4” x 6” sleeves.

Quality-wise the World’s Greatest Screen is on par with the Savage Worlds Customizable GM Screen. It looks sturdy enough to survive years of adventuring. With a price of $29.95 it should be affordable for every gamemaster.

According to the product description you can write on the screen itself using wet erase markers. I haven’t tried that yet, but I think this could come in quite handy. If you are looking for a sturdy, affordable and customizable GM screen, you should consider getting “The World’s Greatest Screen” by Hammerdog Games.
Stargazer

Michael Wolf is a German games designer and enthusiast best known for his English language role-playing games blog, Stargazer's World, and for creating the free rules-light medieval fantasy adventure game Warrior, Rogue & Mage. He has also worked as an English translator on the German-language Dungeonslayers role-playing game and was part of its editorial team. In addition to his work on Warrior, Rogue & Mage and Dungeonslayers, he has created several self-published games and also performed layout services and published other independent role-playing games such as A Wanderer's Romance, Badass, and the Wyrm System derivative Resolute, Adventurer & Genius, all released through his imprint Stargazer Games. Professionally, he works as a video technician and information technologies specialist. Stargazer's World was started by Michael in August 2008.

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9 comments

comments user
TheCrazyGM

I just got one of these as a gift this last month. It really is sturdy and I think it will be perfect for what I need it for. It’s worth getting.
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Tyler

One point to consider is that the World’s Greatest Screen is so robust, it can muffle the GM’s voice. I’ve found that to be a particular issue in noisy situations, as one finds at a convention.

I recently picked up the landscape version of the screen. I’ve yet to try to it, but I’m hoping the lower top edge will remove the sound barrier.
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    comments user
    Stargazer

    Oh, really? That’s something I haven’t considered. But I don’t run games at conventions anyway, so I hope this will be no problem.
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Rev. Lazaro

Love love LOVE mine. I make sure to keep one of the panels just a blank white page so I can use my dry-erase marker to keep track of initiative on it.
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Sunglar

I got four of them! I got a traditional one and a landscape one in 2007 at Gen Con. They are great, sturdy and useful beyond the traditional screen. I keep mine folded and open it for reference. At Gen Con I saw that you can use them with the Combat Pad and they had magnetic inserts, so I got two more and the inserts. GREAT!
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Chaosmeister

Great screens. When I got the Savage Worlds screen I always wondered why this was not available sooner. A portrait one as a reference tool at the table would be brilliant. I love the magnet idea too. Where can I get those?
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Jérémie

The name of that GM Screen seems kinda… over the top ^^

I remember buying one like this (light and rigid plastic, slider both sides, 4 panels A4)… oh, 19 or 20 years ago. For more or less the same price.

This one seems like a regular old fashioned one, nothing Greatest about it.
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Luniticus

Damn, I wanted to get some of these for the shop, but Alliance Distribution only has them in orange and pink.
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