Reddit mentions: The best file jackets & file pockets

Oh shit, you're Irish!Anywhere around Cork?I'm maybe 100ish hours into a 4 player campaign and if you're nearby I wouldn't mind helping your first game go smoothly.


> after hopefully reading through the rulebook first

One of you (you) should 100% have at least read the rule book first :)


Its 30 pages, and it won't all stick, but having an a vague recollection of reading about X and an idea of where to find it after looking at the index will save you a lot of time googling and arguing. You can skip some bits, like the variants and enhancements for now. Keep the book on hand

As for party comps I'd say brute and tinkerer plus any two others, best probably being spellweaver and scoundrel (cragheart and mindthief are both great too though). Just dont pick four who are primarily melee or you've find yourselves having issues with pathing a lot.

All of Rasdits points are good to keep in mind. Pretty sure there's a list of frequently overlooked rules for new players somewhere on here. While it's not a rule, I would add that you want to be carefull with using your loss cards early, as the earlier you use them the fewer turns you will be able to take during the scenario before becoming exhausted.

Lastly, Gloomhaven helper is probably the only app really worth using (optional if you want to prevent spoilers from the scenario book). you can get everyone to download it, ideally one of you can host on a laptop and everyone else can join as a client on their phones (because if you close the app to look up rules or some weird card interaction on your phone no one else will be able to do things like enter their initiative or apply damage) and it will let you keep all of the monster decks, stat sheets and condition markers in the box as well track initiative. Using it, and having a storage solution will make it easier to fit 2 scenarios into a session and finishing at a reasonable hour.

I keep my map tiles in one of these sorted alphabetically.

Congratulations! I teach middle-school ELA, and here are some of my systems:

• I invested in some two-tone folders last year, like these. I got a different color for each period, and I set up a system so that when the dark color is on the outside, the papers are ungraded. When the light color is on the outside, the papers are graded, the scores are entered, and the papers are ready to be handed out. A tip I found somewhere on the internet also suggests matching of the color of the pen you use for correcting/grading to the color you assign to each class, but I'm not quite anal enough for that.
  
  
• For make-up work, I have an expanding file like this. (When I taught multiple grades, I had a file per grade.) I just put each set of extra handouts in each pocket, put in the "wrong way", so that the papers stick up out of the organizer. (If you do it the other way, students always think the pockets are empty.) No worrying about labeling file folders; it's purely chronological. I got the idea from a teacher who actually filed them by date (things handed out on the 25th of a given month went into pocket 25, things handed out on the 3rd went into pocket 3, etc.), but that was somehow unworkable for me. I don't remember what the issue was, and YMMV.
  
  
• I also store copies of all my handouts online in public dropbox folders, linked from my website. (You can see it here, but I've barely started setting up for first quarter, so there's not much there) I only make a few extras and then students need to print out their own papers if they're not quick enough for an extra. This saves me from having to make more copies of assignments when I run out of extras. (I swear, some students go through five copies of an assignment before they actually get it completed and turned in!)
  
  
• For receiving late/make-up work, I have a drawer for each period. I know some teachers use just one or two bins (one for late, one for absent), but it takes too long to switch between periods in our gradebook program (Infinite Campus), so I'd prefer to have the assignments already separated by period. Also, we use late/absent/redo tags. They're three different colors, and students complete the tags and attach them when they turn in their work. When I'm running behind in grades, I'll sometimes prioritize grading absent or redo work over late work.
  
  
• A trick I learned from a colleague and love, but somehow forget to use way too often, is taking the time THAT DAY to note absences in the score box for any assignments that are either passed out or collected. If the student is absent when the assignment is handed out, I type in a lowercase "ab". If they're absent when the assignment is collected, I type in an uppercase AB. (If they're absent both days, I go with AB.) This makes it SO much easier to confirm full-credit absent work versus partial-credit late work.
  
  
• Finally, I suggest having a clear system for collecting papers not only for speed in collection, but for efficiency in handing out. My seating fluctuates between groups and rows (and a few other setups). I either have them pass their papers across (it's better than passing forward because they can make eye contact) or have them pile them up in groups. If you're fast enough in grading, you can then pass the papers back in their groups or pass them across in rows for students to pick out their papers. (I discuss the importance of looking only at names, not at grades, and the grades are not always/often on the front of assignments.)
  
  Whew! I think that's enough for today. I hope you find something useful in that verbal dump. ;) If there's anything you want clarification on, just let me know!

How much wasted space do you have in that file box? I was hoping a plastic portable version of a file folder would be good enough. I lugg a box like that around for my DND games and a separate one for other RPGs and they are cumbersome to transport especially when you consider the size of the main box.

My other standees etc are well organized in main box with 4 Plano boxes that end up giving me plenty of room otherwise for tiles and books. I want to have the original box plus something to hold the map tiles as the only separate piece but was hoping something smaller that could fit in my messenger bag. We use a laptop and gloomy companion to do monster cards and that works great for my group.

Something like this maybe: Smead Portable Expanding File Box, 19 Pockets, Alphabetic (A-Z) and Subject Labels, Handle and Closure, Legal, 1 Count, Color Varies (70806) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004I2EV2O/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_HIIAzb1PF8J21

This is great advice. I learned in AI that writing things down is one of the few actions we know helps form memories, as there is a sort of feedback loop created. Doing it more than once is a great idea.

Organization is also key as you mentioned. I used a simple organizer like this my last 2 years of undergrad and it really helped me stay on point. I also took notes on plain printer paper so I could organize what I wrote however I liked (landscape was ideal for math and physics, for example).

I use 48"w x 18"d x 74"h wire shelving, 5 shelves, with 1/4" wood liner shelves. Each unit holds 25 short boxes, and they are easy to get on and off the shelves. I just added a second shelf unit tonight so I have a picture handy:
http://imgur.com/BTytifp

Edit: Here are the shelves I use:

• Lowe's, $74.98.
  
• The chrome ones are currently on sale for $59.98.
  
  I can't find a link to the wood I use for shelf liners, but it's fantastic - it's a reddish-stained smooth plywood which comes in a 4'x8' sheet for about $14 - it's sold as 1/4" but it's closer to 1/8". I cut it to 17" x 46.75" shelves, and then cut off about 1.25" inches off of each corner so that the liners sit right into each wire shelf. Short boxes slide in and out very easily.
  
  While I'm at it, I highly recommend using business card holders and printable business cards to label your short boxes, it's really improved everything for me... recommended:
  
  
• Business card holders
  
• Printable business cards
  
  I also use a sharpie on the backs of old business cards to help organize whatever boxes I'm using for filing.

> but I needed (wanted) to use the connectors

Can't fault you there. They look pretty awesome. I added them to my Amazon cart for "later" hoping something will come up in the near future where I can justify ordering them.

I ordered these Wago connectors a few weeks back and I'm just waiting for an excuse to use them.

Part1 (sorry it's long post)

Thanks for sharing your struggles.
Have you ever been assessed by an expert for ADHD? While it could of course be a symptom of autism (with comorbid anxiety), to me personally it screams ADHD (a lot of people on the spectrum suffer from ADHD as well). What you are describing sounds like the story of my life, and probably a lot of autistic / adhd affected people suffer from exactly this. So first thing first: Don't be too harsh on yourself if somehow possible. It's really easy to slip into depression because of underperforming in everyday-life. Just happened to me this year and it takes soo long to get out of the hole after depression caught you.
Ok, so I'll just write down some coping strategies that I was thinking about (as I'm troubleshooting exactly the same thing at this current moment). However, keep in mind if I'm talking about medical topics: I'm not a medical doctor, always speak to your therapist/doctor to clarify these things and take anecdotal advice on the internet with a grain of salt! To me: I'm 30 years old, was sure to be on the spectrum, but was just diagnosed with ADHD+major depression+anxiety disorder some months ago. First of all, I very much like to think about "procrastination" (work/private live things, does not matter) as a symptom of anxiety. The reason why a lot of people cannot get started is that they only see the huuuuge mountain of things they actually need to do and then they are pretty much paralyzed by anxiety and stress and just 'decide' not to start at all. I can recommend some videos by Mel Robbins talking about procrastination to illustrate what I'm talking about (video1, video2). There exist a lot of strategies to avoid showing that reactions to tasks. The most obvious one is to break the mountain down into several sequential chewable, enjoyable hiking-routes that are not overwhelming but you can tackle each one individually and rest after each and everyone a bit and before you notice after some hikes you realize that you're up the mountain. Sorry for using metaphors, not a fan actually, but for this, I guess it kind of illustrates what I'm wanting to say. However, this is general advice that is supposed to work for all type of brains out there and it is not too autism/adhd specific. And I'm also really frustrated about everyday NT-advice like "pull yourself together", "just do it", whatever. It's not helpful at all. So let's stop with theory and dive into applying it in our lives: What ADHD-lers and people on the spectrum helps a lot are checklists, plans, and routines. You're all aware of that, I know. So you could try something like that: first just observe: observe your behavior for some time (like a week or two or so) and carry a notebook where you write down what tasks you struggle to start with. After having a list I'd advice tackling them one by one (small hiking routes, don't climb the mountain in one leg). Let's say you take: "paying bills". Then in your notepad write down, in case you know, what stressed you about paying bills, or why you suspect you're struggling with paying bills. For me it usually would be something like (as I'm highly disorganized): My letters are just all over the place and I don't want to sort through all of them and first have to even find the bills in order to actually be able to pay them. Thus, in order to not struggle in the future with the tasked you piked out to troubleshoot, you have to set structures in place that make it easier for you to start doing it (by removing the things you listed during brainstorming reasons why your struggle with a certain task). For the bill example and my personal life: I bought one these file folders (something like this) and put it right on the piece of furniture in the entrance hall where I just usually drop the letters. So I decided that it's way easier for me if I just put the letter in the corresponding slot in the file folder every single day right after picking them up from the mailbox (slots like "bills to pay", "bank documents", "insurances" etc.). Like this, I do not end up with a pile of documents (the metaphorical mountain to climb) that I need to organize before actually being able to pay bills (the behavior I wanted to make easier for me). Anyway, sorry for being too detailed, that's actually my ADHD at work, sorry about that. Long story short: Pick one behavior you struggle with starting. Think about why you struggle with it and how you can make the task easier for you. Then implement these changes and still observe how it's affecting your willingness to start a task (it's ok and to be expected that is not just fixed right away, maybe you need 2 or 3 iterations of putting tools and structures in place for you in order to make a task easier, but that's fine).

These are the folders I used: 4-section manila folder (Sections are the number of surfaces that papers can be fastened to. 4 section has one divider, for a total of 4 interior surfaces.)

(and these are a more simple folder I use for a different game: 2 section manila folders )

For the redacted documents, I used a chapter from one of david weber's honor harrington books (from the baen free library). The redacting itself took some time, but once done I just reprinted it for the other folders.

The largest component was time... actually making the characters was pretty fast. Since they were legendary rank, I just gave them what I wanted. :)

I'm thinking of upgrading to these 4-section or even these 6-section. They're pretty expensive, but they'll last a loooong time.

A friend of mine has the Broken Token organizer, which is really nice. I didn't want to spend so much, so I went with a Plano solution. His setup is definitely faster than mine, but mine's not too bad. I also save a lot of time by using an accordion filer for the map pieces (I used https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0186K7ASK/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 but it's nothing special). The last thing that I've done to save time (and probably the most impactful) is use https://ninjalooter.de/gloomhaven for tracking the world and party state, and https://www.gloomhavenguild.com for tracking monster bits during combat.

Since they look like pretty thin packages, I'd suggest an accordian style container. I probably wouldn't get a regular accordian file folder, because I think it would be too small and cluttered. I like the look of this one, though. It looks a lot bigger. And if need be, you can get two! Use each little section for different types of tea :)

thanks for the contest!

How about a Hipster PDA?

If you want more space, then a 5x8 notebook (like the common Moleskine) is a workable option. For even more space, a 3-ring binder with 8 dividers is wonderfully useful, if not pocketable.

For simplicity, it is difficult to beat using paper for your "dashboard". Capturing thoughts on 3x5 cards carried in a pocket is a cheap, simple, and fast approach. For a physical inbox, I used a poly file pocket to carry loose notes until they were processed. A similar one carried my "Action Support" when I was on the go for errands and such.

If you prefer digital and have a smartphone, it is easy enough to set up a free Evernote account. You can create individual notes per task/project, or simple have a few notes that you edit as things change.

Glad to answer:

Yes, you should hold some back for taxes. Since you are in a lower tax bracket, I would suggest you keep 20% of your earnings from your Uncle gig, or roughly $60 per month.

As a sole proprietor, you also need to be making quarterly payments in April, June, September and December to the IRS. You will be penalized if you don't. If you have not paid yet for this year, backpay what you should have paid.

In your case, I would make a $180 quarterly payment. You can do that here:

https://www.irs.gov/payments

Yes, you should be saving receipts and recording your mileage (use google docs). Use this to help you save your receipts:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004Q9VJGK/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Hope this helps.

So hyped to finally get in our first game this Weekend!

I spent the last couple weekends putting together the core minis and building a brass, baize, modular, LED low-light overlay.

I've also been taking notes from this sub on management and went with a faux leather ring binder with each survivor sheet in thick plastic inserts. I've tested with OHD correctable pens and the ink wipes off cleanly with the eraser but stays on, even when shaken up inside the folder. It also allows you to compare survivors side by side and stores gear cards, current settlement cards, etc.

Survivor cards unclip from the binder and can be quickly slotted into foam board layouts which frame the gear grids and also feature a colour coded disc for each player during showdown.

Pens:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00A3HJFGA/

Survivor inserts:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B004S37198/

Ring binder:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B072BBQ3M5/

Gear card inserts:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00KHTFF3Q/

(Also got the Spotify playlists ready that's been previously posted here by u/LKMTVT https://amp.reddit.com/r/KingdomDeath/comments/79nb0n/background_music_for_your_kdm_sessions/)

I always did a combination of these collapsible folders (https://www.amazon.com/Smead-Organizer-Pockets-Closure-70902/dp/B0085IQ05I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1502462258&sr=8-1&keywords=collapsible+folder) and then put the instructions into clear 3 ring binder sheets and file them into the folder based on labeled tabs. The larger sets with big instruction books fit perfectly into the clear pages. Ive had mine for 15 years like that and all are still mint. That way I can just buy a new one folder as needed when one starts filling up. My Harry Potter, Indiana Jones and Star wars all have separate folders.

I keep the following in my car:
-hand sanitizer, large in the car door.
-Advil, bandaids, tampons etc
-water bottle and snacks
-book for the times I have time between clients. But not enough time to return to the office.

In my bag: (https://www.modcloth.com/shop/accessories/camp-director-zipped-tote-in-tan/159997.html but in blue with stegosaurus)
-Small hand sanitizer (for when kids sneeze on me)
-pencil case with pens, pencils, highlighters, and business cards
-case files
-this bad boy (Skydue Letter A4 Paper Expanding... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KXPK74U?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share) for keeping parental rights, forms needed for making changes to plans etc
-my planner

I’m sure I have more but that’s the gist of it!

Not a waste of time! This is the beginning of your Clear File collection. I picked up one of these last month and it is the perfect way to keep your collection pristine yet viewable.

https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B00I3T64G4/

Just make sure you order it with something else or shipping will make it prohibitively expensive.

1. One of my favorites after chocolate chip cookies and pumpkin stuffs.. They go really good with coffee!
   
   
2. This would make my life easier instead of using envelopes.
   
   
3. Tis the season to be baking!

This is pretty nice for the monster standees. Combine it with an accordion organizer for the map tiles and you’re good to go

If you don't want to BUY a pocket, you can make some!

Here are two tutorials for it: origami Paper Pouch and 10 Ways to Make and Use Paper Pockets

Or, here are two links I've found so far for purchasing them:

Amazon - Post-it Pockets and Amazon - C-Line Self Adhesive Pockets

I've actually been considering creating one myself, or using one of these stick-on ones. Hope that helps a little!

Yeah. The game is a beast. The game's main appeal is also a big part of its annoyance. Every time you play you'll be embarking on a new dungeon with different features & different monsters who have different abilities. With that amount of variability, also comes the need to organize and set up new content every time you play. When I play with my groups, I ALWAYS determine our scenario path beforehand, and get everything set up and ready before people arrive. I have also bought a couple Plano organization boxes, An expanding file for the map tiles, CD sleeves for the monster cards, and small dice to replace the monster damage counters. That all helps speed up setup & play a bit, but it's not necessary.

What type of rules do you have questions about?

I highly recommend using the New Player content that's out there, such as the First Game Setup Guide and doing a search on /r/Gloomhaven to read a couple threads of frequently missed rules.

Wago lever nuts are the best for this imo. Stranded doesnt like to get good grip if your wire nut isnt sized just right. You can do it, but i feel a lot more confident with lever locks especially on something that might have a bit of mechanical vibration.

https://www.amazon.com/Wago-Lever-Nut-Assortment-Pocket-Pack/dp/B01N0LRTXZ

Well, you could always upgrade to WAGO levernuts.Anywhere from 12-24awg, solid or stranded, 2, 3, or 5 conductor configurations (New ones accept 10-22 awg I think). Can probably find at a better price than the link, just provides picture.

Just a heads up, 3-way smart switches wire differently than normal 3-ways. Take a look at the directions and if you're unsure still, there are tutorials online. I've wired 3-way smart switches a couple times before, and yet I still managed to screw up the wiring on a switch I put in last year. Turns out that switch only controlled 1 room, but had like 3 or 4 rooms connected to it. My uncles an electrician and it still took him like an hour to fix it.

Also, when you're doing smart switches, wire-nuts are a MAJOR pain in the ass! Space is at a premium, check out Wago lever nuts. They save space and are easier to install. https://www.amazon.com/Wago-Lever-Nut-Assortment-Pocket-Pack/dp/B01N0LRTXZ

•The carrying pack. There goes half your budget.

•Some dice. Take a quart ziplock, put two similarly colored sets - the solid green and clear green, for example - and add a matching mechanical pencil.

•Since you didn't get the GM Valet after all, get a Stadium File for all the different paper.

•Graph paper pads. Don't bother with lined paper.

•(stealing this from /u/joedapper ) A tablet with lots of .pdf and .jpeg files so you have all of your adventures and the art to show your players. Music files for mood. Might want some type of external battery.

•20 $1 bills for vending machines.

•Rulebooks

These ones work great with stranded wire!

I use these Wago wire connectors instead if wirenuts flir the past 3 years after having an I same amount of service calls for loose wire in a wire nut(not my installs) they have been great.

Wago 221 Lever-Nut Assortment Pocket Pack https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N0LRTXZ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_wGYsDbZ1HZ5RY

I was thinking of using a plastic file organizer but not sure if there are enough slots, maybe for the big pieces.

Something like this: Smead Step Index Poly Organizer, 12 Pockets

I carry around an accordion folder when I go to class. It gets bulky later in the semester, but I stuff as much class-related stuff in there, like old homework assignments, handouts, etc.

I leave everything in my office though. Only that folder and my pen pouch come with me to class. I also try to leave my phone in my office so I'm not tempted to derp off during class.

Would tape not work on the wall? You could put one piece of tape on the top, and if you need to scan the back you can just flip it up. You can put a backing board up to tape the coupons to if you're worried about using tape on the wall. Maybe something like a piece of plastic put up with poster tack.

Or, just use poster tack for the coupons. It's reusable. You won't be able to flip them over though.

Other ideas:

• clear business card sleeves
  
• binder clips
  
• the magic of command hooks

I wouldnt focus on the color- I think that varies by manufacturer. Your wires are most likely going to be 12 guage. Do just buy an assortment pack and use the one that's appropriate for the number and guage of the wire you have. If you want to make life easier, grab some of these this style: Lever-Nuts

https://www.amazon.com/Wago-Lever-Nut-Assortment-Pocket-Pack/dp/B01N0LRTXZ/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=lever+nut&qid=1570645403&sr=8-3

Once you use them, you'll never go back to wire nuts.

Large filing thingie, accordion style with dividers built in. Each pocket can hold one set of needles. You can label each pocket with the size and length for easily location.
Quick edit: http://www.amazon.com/Pendaflex-Portafile-Expanding-Organizer-Black/dp/B000DN85LA/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1394604567&sr=8-7&keywords=alphabetical+file+organizer

i use one of these, you can get them for $1 at the dollar store or target: http://www.amazon.com/C-Line-13-Pocket-Expanding-Includes-58412/dp/B004Q9VJGK/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1382701750&sr=8-7&keywords=coupon+organizer

i seperate them into simple categories.

i have also been known to use a shoebox.

A "sackpack" with a folder for character sheets inside (use an accordion folder for lots of sheets/games). Pencils and a plastic bag of dice in the secondary pocket of the backpack. Water bottle in the side pocket.

If they are all on the same breaker you should be able to wire them all into one smart dimmer. (probably keep the exhaust fan separate) Most likely you would put all the blacks into one wire nut with a jumper coming out to the new switch, all the neutral's into one nut and do the same, and then same with the grounds. this many wires coming together will be a bit of a mess so I prefer these instead of wire nuts https://www.amazon.com/Wago-Lever-Nut-Assortment-Pocket-Pack/dp/B01N0LRTXZ/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1518965173&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=wago+lever+nut&psc=1
You could buy a new trim cover then with blanks in it to get rid of the extra holes. However not sure if they are all on the same breaker or if there are any unusual circumstances why you couldn't do the above.

I hate spirals.... two strategies:

I have used the plastic sheet protectors to organize loose leaf pages. I create a coversheet and slide the related content behind the coversheet. Holds up well in a binder over time.

Other way I've done it is in a [accordion folder] (https://www.amazon.com/Smead-Organizer-Pockets-Closure-70902/dp/B0085IQ05I/ref=sr_1_4?s=office-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1491389428&sr=1-4&keywords=accordion+folder) that had many slots. Then one slot per topic.