Research for Adventure writing..

[Insight]

I think I would probably do research on any game I was planning to run, be it modern, fantasy, sci fi, etc. It's the amount and type of research that might vary. Also, and I know I do this, but I spend more time (far more) than is necessary to actually write my material. Part of this helps me develop the ideas floating around in my head, and part of this helps me to see other options given the focus of my research.

For fantasy, research is more for ideas and things I can shape into something I would like to use as a basis, whereas for modern, I might actually use the material 'as-is', especially if its something the players would recognize.

 

[Emirikol]

I use Google.com extensively both for pictures of NPC's as well as location ideas.
Also, this is frequently discussed on our writers groups:

www.yahoogroups.com/group/LGwriters
www.yahoogroups.com/group/MoHwriters

Both groups are dedicated to scenario writing in standardized D&D formats.

jh

 

[pogre]

Does anyone else do this when working on adventures? If so how much research do you do?

Oh yeah. Currently working on a campaign set in St. Louis. I lived down there for a while, but I am using lots of real place names, government institutions, and cultural icons like Imo's.

I also do a lot of research for some of the scenarios I write for D&D. I find archaeology and history to be two of my biggest inspirations.

 

[Altalazar]

I find inspiration out of general research. For instance, I read a book on ancient egypt that included detailed drawings of the region around the pyramids. I used that map as inspiration to make my own map of pyramids that became an adventure I did, filled in with my own creations as well as further research on Egypt.

I think real locations, events, and mythologies are the best inspirations - because they have so many details and there is so much out there to mine.