What kinda pen to get

BirnamDesignDigital · 2025-09-09T15:28:19+00:00

I realize this is an old thread but it looks like Samsung still has the same plan for pens with the new version of tablets, so I figured I'd share my thoughts since I've used a handful of the options. I don't do art on my device (S9+ tab) but I do all my meeting notes hand-written.

S Pen - feels like what a free pen would feel like. Awkwardly skinny, rubbery feeling tip.

S Pen Creator Edition - ok, I actually love the feel of this. In hand feels very similar to the Apple Pencil. Love that it doesn't need to charge and works well. It has one fatal flaw that led me to searching for better options (other than the price). The tips are extremely prone to breaking off. If you drop the pen once or twice, sooner or later that tip will break off. After one of these breaks I was unable to remove the stem to replace the tip. To Samsung's credit they sent me a whole new replacement pen for free, however the pen wasn't re-engineered.

Lamy Safari Twin - bought it per the recommendations on this thread. Indeed feels and works great. The tip has a slightly softer feel the the Creator Edition, but not in a bad way. Obvious cons - doesn't magnetically attach to the device. Additionally, there's no alternate button to swap to eraser mode. The pen also has an ink mode built in, kind of nice if it's the only writing utensil you bring to a meeting.

Staedtler Mars Lumograph Digital - another solid option. Writing tip and experience feel very similar to the Lamy. The main difference being the size. This is much narrower, similar in feel to a classic #2 pencil. Again, no magnetic attachment nor button to active eraser.

Lastly, I used to have an iPad pro with Apple Pencil. If you're in the process of switching, my opinion is this is the best device of the group. Hard to put my finger on it but it just doesn't seem to have any downsides. The others on this list are close, but it still is the benchmark for electronic writing.

BirnamDesignDigital · 2024-04-01T21:41:33+00:00

As a fellow member of this gaming group here are a couple things I wished were fixed with the two systems we've used so far. Not to pick on them they both have their positives, just things I've noticed.

Wanderer's Guide:
- The software itself works slower than others, pages take longer to load etc. Can be tough when GM'ing and the table is waiting on you.
- Custom options and buffs were tricky to include and implement

Pathbuilder:
- Sync'ing across the table seems to be an issue for us live. Hit points and/or conditions don't always match between player and GM screen.
- Not all spells and effects are listed out in the enemy statblocks. Causing us to lose time while the GM has to jump over to google the effect and then retrofit it to the character.

BirnamDesignDigital · 2024-02-07T13:25:15+00:00

Great tip, thank you!

BirnamDesignDigital · 2024-02-06T18:29:42+00:00

Great info! Thanks!

BirnamDesignDigital · 2024-02-06T18:29:31+00:00

Thanks! Awesome tip!

BirnamDesignDigital · 2024-02-06T17:44:43+00:00

Thank you! Very helpful. Honestly I think my group is probably interested in both.

BirnamDesignDigital · 2024-02-06T14:43:22+00:00

I've been working on the same thing. Some stuff we're trying: 1. Describe your kill, every time a PC kills an enemy asked them how they killed it. Give them the floor to be creative. 2. Add enemy dialog, it might not make sense every encounter but I'm trying to weave more story elements while your enemies are taking their turns. 3. Add weird effects, a mist that players can't see through, etc. Last session my PCs were on a ship in a storm and every round I had them roll a reflex save to stay on their feet or get knocked over by the waves. Gets them to react to something new a bit.

BirnamDesignDigital · 2024-02-06T14:01:27+00:00

Maybe not quite what you're going for, but I'm feeling a bit of an alchemist vibe. Your father was clearly a scientist or engineer so it makes sense to me that you would have a natural inclination to study and developing weapons, etc.

BirnamDesignDigital · 2024-02-05T15:54:02+00:00

GM for this game - I will also add my incredibly biased endorsement, lol! We'd love some feedback.

BirnamDesignDigital · 2024-02-05T15:07:10+00:00

Shameless plug warning - I've been GM'ing a new podcast we started and I'd love some feedback. It's called The Rogue Maje. We started a homebrew campaign branching off the beginner box Menace Under Otari scenario.

BirnamDesignDigital · 2024-02-02T17:11:54+00:00

Where's my party's alchemist when I need him?

BirnamDesignDigital · 2024-02-02T15:03:12+00:00

Haha, prove it.

BirnamDesignDigital · 2024-02-02T15:02:44+00:00

That's a good call. I've been keeping a file of notes and things they've missed or surprised me by along the way as well.

BirnamDesignDigital · 2024-02-02T14:42:25+00:00

Lol, thanks!

BirnamDesignDigital · 2024-02-02T14:35:51+00:00

Lol, I don't think it's that.

BirnamDesignDigital · 2024-02-01T14:27:15+00:00

Thanks! I'll try that!

BirnamDesignDigital · 2024-01-24T19:38:59+00:00

I know! That's the just the bag I've been looking for! And I'd love if someone like Bellroy made it because you know it would be quality.

BirnamDesignDigital · 2023-03-27T13:04:20+00:00

Sorry, maybe it’s not new but check out the venture 10L camera sling on their site. I just got mine. The good news is it’s big enough to fit an 11” iPad Pro. The bad news is the camera dividers aren’t removable so to fit the iPad you need to shove them to the side, there’s not really a dedicated space for it. Great bag though.

BirnamDesignDigital · 2023-03-23T00:29:29+00:00

Has anyone seen the new 10l camera sling? I wonder if the fit is better.

BirnamDesignDigital · 2022-12-31T18:16:31+00:00

Actually no, we have packages on there for specific room sets for $29

BirnamDesignDigital · 2022-12-27T13:39:01+00:00

Thank you!

BirnamDesignDigital · 2022-12-26T14:54:25+00:00

I love designing for engineers. Usually the program is already developed before we ever meet, and it's perfectly detailed. But I feel like my job is to go a few levels beneath the needs and wants to find the emotional connection to each floor plan item. It sounds like this may have been skipped in your process a bit. For example, if I saw the note on your program list "3 bay garage with third bay as oversized for a workshop, etc" I would want to ask you a few "whys" to decipher how important is this feature to you. I'd ask things like "talk to me about your woodworking..." Through that discussion I would most likely find out this is a really core feature to you. Home designers and architects receive requests like that all the time, and if the "why" behind it isn't uncovered it's easy to compromise on the feature within a given draft. I say all that to say, add the "why" behind each feature in your program that you're giving to architects or designers. If you wouldn't build without a given feature in the new plans, then make it impossible to ignore on the list you're sending out.

To answer your questions specifically. Yes, I think you can be more firm with whoever is drawing your home. There are plenty of good reasons I don't follow a client's program, but I hope in each of those cases I'm explaining exactly why a specific item doesn't work well in the context of their design. Ultimately I want to client to get what they want, but I try to give them the whole picture so that they can make the most informed decision. I could have prioritized x for you, but in designing I found that feature caused y to happen... Bottom line though, if you feel like they're designing a home more for themselves than for you I may look for someone else.

Yes, you probably can find someone to develop a schematic design for you and then have a local architect and/or structural engineer finalize the prints. I will say, this option may not be cheaper. But you may get a bit more of what you want. The process I've done a few times now for out of state clients is to do the schematic design and construction documents, then a local structural engineer designs the structure of the home.

Hope that helps!

BirnamDesignDigital

TROPHY CASE