What do you look for in a Campaign website?

[JVisgaitis]

Our lite worldbook is nearing completion and we are going to also have an accompanying website. I haven't seen many other good examples of these types of websites so these are my questions.

As a DM, what would you want to see in a website designed to support a light campaign setting? Adventures, Metaplot, NPCs, Region Write Ups, Web Support Articles, Random Weather Generators?

As a Player, what would help you with the game and what would you want to know? History, Race Descriptions, Character Sheets, Maps, Artwork?

I really would like to make a very comprehensive website so any feedback is greatly appreciated. If you could rank a list with 1 being the most important, it would be a great help.

 

[Crothian]

I want a website to be fun. You guys have awsome art so I hope it will be a visual experience. I think little things that would help out people running the setting. Weather generators are fun, NPCs but more details of who the people are to the boring stat blocks. Articvles from the writers and creators of the setting are always gold in my eyes. If you have newspapers in your world it would be cool to get articles on the various topics.

 

[JVisgaitis]

It will be very visual as our art is one of our strong points. I think I know the answer to this already, but should we do Flash or No Flash?

 

[Crothian]

I perfer no flash..unless you are buying the rights to do a Flash Gordon game, because he is the savior of the Universe. And if you aren't doing a Flash Gordon game you really should consider doing one, that would be cool!!

 

[Soel]

As a DM...
1. Web support articles (new regions, factions, feats, spells, or items)

2. NPCs (statted would be cool, but not exactly necessary)

3. Metaplot or other fiction (in loose format, ala Eberron's newspaper, or perhaps communications between different factions/nations/npcs or journal entries)

4. Weather generator, or other generators/encounter tables (always a plus!)

As a player...
1. History summaries/culture examples and variants
2. Character sheets


Artwork is of course appreciated, and I have no doubt that you'll disappoint. All of the above are also keeping in mind that you do need to have some of this stuff to put in the books to sell them.

I eagerly await the Violet Dawn!

 

[JVisgaitis]

*Bump* No one else? Do I have to give out free PDF product for feedback?

 

[Khairn]

*Bump* No one else? Do I have to give out free PDF product for feedback?

They don't hurt, but its probably not necessary.

My list of what I look for in a Campaign Site
-A site that is easy to navigate
-I really appreciate and respond to visual aids I can give to players. So either a lot of artwork, maps etc to start with, or a good collection that grows on a regular basis
-Forum or mailing list
-Campaign designer participation in that forum or mailing list
-Regular updates of iconic campaigns
-GM Aides such as weather generator, calender etc.
-It needs to look good and be fun

If I think of anything else, I'll let you know.

 

[JVisgaitis]

They don't hurt, but its probably not necessary.
-Forum or mailing list
-Campaign designer participation in that forum or mailing list

I like forums and such, but is that a negative if it seems like a ghosttown? I'd have no issue in creating a community, but I'm a pessimist and just concerned that it woudln't be used by anyone.

 

[barsoomcore]

1. Details. I don't mean EVERY detail of EVERY location/person/item, but evocative, fun, inspiring details. Look at the map for White Plume Mountain -- it's got notes on witches, undead dragons, all sorts of great ideas for DM inspiration. It's fully fleshed-out, but it's not generic, either. So cool names, tidbits from history, stuff like that -- pack the site with them.

2. Graphics. Both illustrations and maps. Go nuts. The web works best as a visual medium. Create 1"-scale maps of key locations to download and print off for my games.

3. Hyperlink it! Every time an NPC's name appears, make it a link to a page (maybe in a pop-up window) of that NPC's statblock.

4. Multiple cross-references. Let me browse for NPCs by location, by faction, by class, whatever. Let me browse countries by map, like this.

5. Encounter tables etc would be handy, but PLEASE don't create "generators" -- let me see the table and all its possible options. I'm sure I'm not the only DM who selects my own choice from the options rather than accept what the dice dictate, so an interface that includes only a button and pumps out one option at a time is frustrating.

6. I got no use for metaplot stuff, but it seems lots of people like that. I'd prefer adventures -- even wee ones. Or just maps. You can't have too many maps.

Hope that helps! I'm sure whatever you guys do it will look great!

 

[Voadam]

Our lite worldbook is nearing completion and we are going to also have an accompanying website. I haven't seen many other good examples of these types of websites so these are my questions.

As a DM, what would you want to see in a website designed to support a light campaign setting? Adventures, Metaplot, NPCs, Region Write Ups, Web Support Articles, Random Weather Generators?

As a Player, what would help you with the game and what would you want to know? History, Race Descriptions, Character Sheets, Maps, Artwork?

I really would like to make a very comprehensive website so any feedback is greatly appreciated. If you could rank a list with 1 being the most important, it would be a great help.

Easy to find and concise world info that players and DMs can reference.

Flavor descriptions of the races and gods, kingdoms and major organizations.

Concise history and cosmology.

Errata.

Maps.

Art samples that could be used in game.

Sample adventures are always nice, whether you are using the world or not.