Dungeon Masters Screen
Dungeon Masters Screen is a quick-reference tool for Dungeons & Dragons that helps the DM access important rules during play. The line began in 1979 with the first edition of AD&D and has been updated many times for later editions and campaign settings.
- 1979 (first edition): The original two-panel Dungeon Masters Screen came with a separate four-panel reference piece. It featured cover art by Dave Trampier (and a later 1979 printing with Erol Otus artwork). The screen summarized essential combat rules for easy reference.
- 1985 (REF1): A revised version, designed by Bob Blake, used two three-panel cardstock screens. It included a Dungeon Master’s Screen, a Players’ Screen, and a covering sheet with level-by-level ability summaries and prime requisites for player characters.
- 1989 (AD&D 2nd edition): A second-edition screen by Jean and Bruce Rabe (cover by Jeff Easley) was a cardstock screen with a 16-page booklet. It came with an adventure, Terrible Trouble at Tragidore, to help DMs run the game and improve with experience.
- 1995 (Master Index): The Dungeon Master Screen & Master Index added two screens plus full, cross-referenced indices that mapped rules, spells, items, and modifiers to the seven core 2nd edition books.
- 2000: A new DM Screen was published, created by Dale Donovan and Kim Mohan with cover art by Jeff Easley. There was also a Forgotten Realms version that included the Encounters in Faerûn booklet (art by Justin Sweet, with design by Skip Williams and Duane Maxwell).
- 4th edition (2008–2011): A basic DM Screen appeared in August 2008, followed by a Deluxe version in 2011 with heavier cardstock and newer artwork.
- 5th edition (2015): A DM Screen for 5th edition released in January 2015, with another revised “Reincarnated” version in 2017 that updated artwork and charts.
- Tie-ins: Campaign-specific screens were produced under license by Game Force 9 to accompany major adventure modules.
Reception and impact:
- The original screens won a Gamer’s Choice award, and later editions received mixed reviews. Some critics praised the usefulness of the reference sheets, while others found layout or space usage less effective. The Master Index was often praised for helping locate rules quickly, while some reviewers felt the screens themselves were less essential once players and DMs adapted their own setups. Over time, the screens have become iconic tools for DMs, celebrated for their role in hiding dice and keeping game flow smooth.
- In 2015, the Dungeon Masters Screen won the Gold Ennie Award for Best Aid/Accessory.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 20:15 (CET).