Indispensible DM Resources

[Astalanya]

I'm trying to put back together my archive of those DM resources you just can't live without after a fatal harddrive crash, moving, and trying to relocate all my backup CDs. As I'm starting up a rather intensive campaign in the next bit, I'd really like to get all my ducks in a row before we start into playing.

Please help me out -- I'd love to know what resources you can't live without as a DM. Obviously, I'll have all the core rulebooks, but I've seen everything from the fabulous DnDIndex (posted on the main page a few days ago) and the Ultimate Players Guide released with details from Dragon magazines and other sources, to initiative cards and campaign trackers.

I'd really like to know what makes your life as a DM easier. I'm not terribly experienced, though I've got some time under my belt in the system and I've played a great deal longer. If you have any links to excellent resources on the web or you've got files around that are greatly useful, I'd appreciate your help.

Thanks!

 

[jerichothebard]

Campaign Planner 1-3
Initiative cards from the game mechanics
Timpani character sheets - great for npcs

 

[Arrgh! Mark!]

A bunchload of adventures read and ready to play for those times when normal campaign goes out the window.

Paranoia is good for that.

 

[IronWolf]

Resources I find useful when I DM are as follows:

An Offline web linked SRD:
http://www.systemreferencedocuments.org/index.htm?35/sovelior_sage.htm

Inspiration Pad Pro:
http://www.nbos.com/products/ipad/ipad.htm

Those are some of the more used tools I keep on hand. Of course index cards for init orders are very useful also. And some type of organization system to keep all the information you need close at hand, one such organization tool is WikidPad:

http://www.jhorman.org/wikidPad/

It makes keeping campaign notes organized very easy.

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

Players

...I'm serious. Whenver your players are just talking casually, yoink ideas from them. It gets wondefully shocked looks when they encounter them.

 

[Astalanya]

Thanks. Anyone else? ^^

 

[Hand of Evil]

Try these...

http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=81852

http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=47525

http://www.hut.fi/~vesanto/world.build.html

 

[Teneb]

I use Arms & Armor 3.5 a lot. Same with the Tome of Horrors for baddie, er, goodness. I'm a psionics nut so the Psionics Handbook and Mindscapes see a fair bit of use as well.

 

[EricNoah]

Stats for summoned monsters come in handy frequently.
http://www.greyhawkonline.com/smetzger/

Lots of computer tools here:

http://www.enworld.org/index.php?page=toolbox

 

[Ferrix]

Resources I find useful when I DM are as follows:

An Offline web linked SRD:
http://www.systemreferencedocuments.org/index.htm?35/sovelior_sage.htm

Inspiration Pad Pro:
http://www.nbos.com/products/ipad/ipad.htm

Those are some of the more used tools I keep on hand. Of course index cards for init orders are very useful also. And some type of organization system to keep all the information you need close at hand, one such organization tool is WikidPad:

http://www.jhorman.org/wikidPad/

It makes keeping campaign notes organized very easy.

Oooo WikidPad is cool! Thanks for showing that. I use an online wiki for most of my organization which I find works really well, especially since one of the projects is a collaborative one with two friends who are about 300+ miles away.