GM Tools at d20zines

[Connorsrpg]

Hi all,
I have been following a thread where a writer talks about what others would like them to write. I guess this thread is along those lines.

It involves the GM Tools I write for d20zines. First off here is a link to the GM Perspective of that site where they appear.

http://www.d20zines.com/html/index.php Go to GM's perspective on right (changed this to the link provided by Ghostwind).

I am just wondering if many have seen/read these and more importantly if they are using them?

I guess I am looking for feedback. Few comments tend to be left on articles (here and over at d20zines) but message board threads seem to get many responses, so...

Have you used these tools? Why/why not?
What would make them better?
Should I provide examples?
Do you have any ideas for resources to add to a tool already up?
Do you have any ideas for entries for tools already there?
Are there any similar tools you would like to see? I have others...have hinted at some in my comments, but I would like to know what GMs could really use...
Are these of use to your game?
etc

 

[Ghostwind]

Guys, not to sound biased or anything, but you should really check out Connors' tables. They're great to use during gaming.

 

[Vascant]

Since I create Generators myself, I am always interested and reading tables and systems people create. Looking at them from many different aspects. Your work I have enjoyed greatly, you seem to have a keen eye (most of the time) for adding just the right amount of flavor where a table needed it. I say most because the combat table didn't appeal to me but your others do.

So lets see how many of your questions I can answer..
1. Why? I the ones I use add depth to current areas of the game that lack it. Most of your tables do not interrupt the flow of a gaming session but instead add flavor to the creation work before hand or on those rare occassions I am on the spot and need a fast answer. (I do not like random combat tables because that are that, random and interrupt the flow of combat. In my game combat is very fluid and reactive to the situation at hand)

2. Better? Adding more depth to current tables, the detail level you have at this point is probably perfect so just adding more available options might be the only recourse.

3. Either give me permission or you can do it yourself, create a plugin for NPC Designer. *chuckles* As I said, I love generators

4. Hard to say what I would like to see, have to give that some thought and see what comes to mind during designing or gaming sessions.

5. Yes, the ones I use are of use..

Hope that helps

 

[Psion]

It involves the GM Tools I write for d20zines. First off here is a link to the GM Perspective of that site where they appear.

http://www.d20zines.com/html/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=index&catid=&topic=7

I am just wondering if many have seen/read these and more importantly if they are using them?

This is the first I have seen them. Interesting and potentially useful. I might have to plunk some of these into Namegen tables.

Thanks for pointing these out.

 

[Eternalknight]

Well, you know I like them I read them all the time and have used one or two in my games (the first one you ever sent me for Emerald Night - I think it was an alternate encounters one).

Keep up the good work! If I think of any others I'd like to see I'll let you know.

 

[Connorsrpg]

Hey thanks for the heads up guys. Nice to know some people are actually using them. I am unsure of where to go with my next one - hence the thread to get some ideas

originally posted by Vascant
Since I create Generators myself, I am always interested and reading tables and systems people create. Looking at them from many different aspects. Your work I have enjoyed greatly, you seem to have a keen eye (most of the time) for adding just the right amount of flavor where a table needed it. I say most because the combat table didn't appeal to me but your others do.

Would love to view some of those generators Yeah, these tables aren't exactly groundbreaking creative. I aim for use rather than originality I spose. The combat one is merely a summary of what is in the PHB, so you are right - nothing new there. And it is a table that you probably wouldn't roll on too often. I just find it handy to have in view during a session. I get caught up in combat and all those stats and just 'roll to hit' to often. This chart lets me glean over for ideas. A copy on the wall or table has led to more innovative combats from our players too. I can see many using that one as a list rather than generator...though I love randomness and can't help myself rolling sometimes In fact last session a roll of disarm for a ghoul was great (something I would not normally chose looking at the ghoul stats before me). Anyway, on the deck of a ship it snatched one of the player's weapons straight out of their hands and then threw it straight over board. It created a humourous scene.

Originally posted by Emeraldknight
Well, you know I like them I read them all the time and have used one or two in my games (the first one you ever sent me for Emerald Night - I think it was an alternate encounters one).

Hey, good to hear from you Shane. How are things going? Yeah, for those who aren't aware I believe I posted two of these generators to Emerald Night website before it shut down. Anyway good to hear from you... hey, is that your castle mydnight (I think that is correct) site? I had a good look a while ago and bookmarked it. New campaign?

RE plugging into generators. That would be cool. Emeraldknight did such a thing with those first couple. What are the best ones?

Any ideas on where to head next? Thanks again for the responses...
COnnors

 

[Vascant]

After giving this some thought.. I have two ideas.

Idea #1: I don't think I have seen yet really good tables for creating a merchant caravan. Lord knows every DM has stuck their players guarding one or two, the players have passed by 100's and yet. The charts and system for generating the details of such a thing are void. (This I would love to see done right)

Idea #2: You handled an above ground settlement very well, why not an underground settlement? Before anyone jumps on the idea, they are the same. They are not, the underground is a much harsher area to live in and the numbers change, also situations are vastly different. It being the underground opens up many more new and exciting things as well plus you had in a few different kinds of smaller settlements. (Just an idea)

As for my generators, I convert them over to online ones and put them on www.rpgattitude.com. I aim to dedicate a small portion of each week to creating new ones now in effort to not become what I dislike in other sites.

 

[Eternalknight]

Hey, good to hear from you Shane. How are things going? Yeah, for those who aren't aware I believe I posted two of these generators to Emerald Night website before it shut down. Anyway good to hear from you... hey, is that your castle mydnight (I think that is correct) site? I had a good look a while ago and bookmarked it. New campaign?

RE plugging into generators. That would be cool. Emeraldknight did such a thing with those first couple. What are the best ones?

COnnors

Yep, it WAS mine, but I have since taken it down as it is now getting published, though not for the d20 system.

The generator I plugged them into was Inspiration Pad Pro, which can be found at www.nbos.com.

 

[eris404]

I hadn't seen them before, so no I had not used them. These would be nice bound up in a document/PDF of some kind (if they're not already - I didn't see one though). At first, I thought I wouldn't use the random attack table, but then I realized it's just a nice list of interesting combat options. When I get stuck in the heat of battle, it's nice to have a list of other options to look at and get quick inspiration from. Maybe a list of somewhat detailed NPC encounters by terrain/location might be neat (each description being no more than a paragraph of detail of the NPCs characteristics/motivation).

 

[Connorsrpg]

Posted by Vascant
As for my generators, I convert them over to online ones and put them on www.rpgattitude.com. I aim to dedicate a small portion of each week to creating new ones now in effort to not become what I dislike in other sites.

Ahh, I have seen that site b4. Checked it out again. Very good. Might check with Steve if we can put into a generator format. Doing those tables in HTML makes his head spin
BTW what do you mean about 'what I dislike in other sites'? Want to eloborate a bit, so I can avoid the dislikes? Do you mean, not updated enough?

Posted by eris404
These would be nice bound up in a document/PDF of some kind (if they're not already - I didn't see one though). Maybe a list of somewhat detailed NPC encounters by terrain/location might be neat (each description being no more than a paragraph of detail of the NPCs characteristics/motivation).

Thanks for comments Eris. Re a PDF, well that may be down the track. I would have to speak with Steve re this as d20zines has the copyright for 1 year. But I would hold off until more are completed. BTW what would be a reasonable number before putting into a PDF?

The NPC design is sound, though (as a couple of suggestions went) it sounds like you want examples (not a table to generate own examples. Am I reading this right? Such as the caravan and underground communities too. Do you want charts about the 'character' of such things/places or lists of examples (or somewhere in between I suppose as is my Community Generator).

As far as NPCs go check out Vascant's generators (link above). I have also just completed a 14 page doc on doing NPCs for our CS. In that there are several charts that may be of use. Maybe I could post these (if anyone is interested), but they are just lists of Personality & Physical traits.

Also if you want a list of completed NPCs then I suggest you check out this link (which has just been completed) of 100 NPCs (all ready made, but more on stats than character).
http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=99643&page=3&pp=40

This link is the last page of the thread, as I have been following it. About the best thread I have seen on these boards

Anyone want to post and eg that occured in game as a result of the tables. Has anyone used the Set Enc chart to develop enc ideas?

Still after more suggestions
Connors