I’ve been wanting to compile a list of useful links, tools and resources for DMs for quite a while now, so here it is. I’ll try and keep adding to this list from time to time and you’ll likely see whole lists swiped whole-hog from other sites on the net (oh well - I’m trying to make it easy for me, ok?) Feel free to post your own links below - I’ll add them to the list too.

Character Creation Tools:

• http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/Hero_Forge/ - The yahoo group that is now maintaining and improving on Heroforge - yea!
• http://home.san.rr.com/blackbart/main.html - Shannon Greene’s Heroforge website (no longer being supported)
• http://homepage.mac.com/blackbart71 - A mirror of the above webstie (also no longer being supported)
• http://www.d20zines.com/html/modules.php?op=modload&name=Downloads&file=index&req=viewdownload&cid=13 - another version of Heroforge
• http://www.dndtools.com/timpani/ - a Heroforge-type tool
• http://www.adamczak.com/Andy/D&D/ - this looks like a souped up version of a Heroforge-type tool (with a campaign mapper tossed in as well), but I cannot personally vouche for it; I’ve not tried it out — yet.

Name Resources
–coming–

Personal Gaming Resources/Links

• http://themisfits.10.forumer.com/ - The Misfits’ forum
• http://www.d20srd.org/index.htm - The Hypertext d20 SRD - AWESOME!!!
• http://d20npcs.wikicities.com/wiki/Main_Page - D20 NPC Wiki! If you are like me and you NEVER have time to create NPCs - this resource is for you - tons of pre-made, tweaked and ready to play NPCs!
• http://img21.imageshack.us/gal.php?a=1&z=admin - my Imageshack
• http://www.aquerra.com/rbdmc/ - RBDM forums

Online Play Resources

• http://www.goteamspeak.com/index.php?page=news - awesome tool for online play of any kind!
• http://dev.jessewarden.com/flex/dndtools/ - I don’t know much about this tool, but it merits investigation!

Mapping Tools/Resources

• http://www.csgmedia.com/files/david/fm/ - Dave’s Flash Mapper - an online, interactive mapping tool (built for digital map projection!)

Misc. Resources

• http://dnd.castellan.net/random_adventure/ - Links to various Netbooks and such, but the real goodie here is a link to all of the old Dungeoncraft articles from Dragon!
• http://www.geocities.com/Area51/8306/ - A pretty good collection of links, random generators, maps and more.

NOTE: I’ve got lots more to add - look for updates soon…

I’ve created an Index that links to all of the Misfits information on the this blog. While it is mostly for me, it is also here for others who are interested in my game and of course, my players. I’ll keep this updated as new stuff rolls out and I hope that it becomes a useful tool for all. Of course, this is located on our forums, so if you want to comment on this, you’ll have to register over there as well - feel free to do so, however!

The Misfit’s Index, a.k.a. “The Tome of All”

The cleric entered hurriedly into the chambers of High Cleric Pholein. “The examiners have completed their assignment and prepared their report, master” he stated gasping. “Timely” was the reply, “leave it and be gone.” The cleric, relieved, left the report and backed out the door, bowing. Eyeing his friend, Pholein picked up the document.
The manuscript read:

“Child, Water Genasi, approximate age two years. No visible physical damage. Nervous system and autonomic reflexes normal. Mental acuity slightly above average for his age. Apparent shock induced by psychological trauma. No birthmarks or scars. Full recovery anticipated within one week.”

“Seems normal enough, maybe just an abandoned child,” Emil said brushing his cloak. “Don’t pretend to be naïve, my friend. You and I both know that there are secrets… real secrets in the world. Just because the One doesn’t see fit to expose his plan to everyone doesn’t mean there is no plan” Replied Ryan. “Well then, my friend, there is but one way to find out. When can we see him?” High Cleric Pholein chuckled, “Rank doth have its privilege Emil. We may see him whenever we wish.”

The old pair cast an intimidating shadow as they walked toward the Examiners chambers. Halls which were only a moment ago filled with busy clerics, suddenly emptied. Arriving at the Examiners chambers, Pholien did not need to speak to empty the rooms, leaving them alone with the Genasi child.

The Genasi child lay sleeping on an examining table which had been converted into a bassinet. Gently raising the child’s left foot, High Cleric Pholein exclaimed with barely hushed enthusiasm, “Ha! There, you see! He does bear the mark!” Looking intently at the baby’s foot, Emil spoke, “The power of the One to mask his plans to those He wish not know still amazes me. To think the Examiners inspected every inch of him yet could not see this mark. And more awe inspiring is the fact that we could describe it to them and show them and still they could not see it. We must inform the others. Now that we are certain, there is no need for secrecy. The One will guard His work Himself.”

It is widely held as fact that there are no secrets, however, there are. The irony of this is that if anyone knew that there were secrets, there would not be. Since the beginning of time, the One has set in motion a machine to change the course of evolution in His creation. This machine is hidden by a secret. A perfect secret. The One chooses who may know of this plan and who may not. Those who know His secret are powerless to share this plan with those whom the One does not choose to know it. They cannot by any manner be made to understand even the simplest part. Therein lies the influence and power of the One. Since the beginning of time, time itself has been represented by a perfect circle. An endless cycle of repetition spanning eons. Only a select few know of another symbol for time. A broken circle. The mark of a new era when the cycle of time changes and all is made new. The mark of the machine of the One becoming active. The mark now borne on the foot of an infant Genasi…

Oricx’s Journey is © Jeff Bates

The transition from death to life was mimicked in the physical world by the hurried extraction of the child from the sea. A young cleric snatched up his catch and ran in a notably unclericlike fashion toward the bowels of the temple.

“Master, a child has emerged from the light,” gasped the cleric. A deep, booming and authoritative voice responded, “How many witnesses?” “Three possibly, certainly no more. I retrieved the child too quickly for anyone to have gotten a clear view”. “You have done well; deliver the child to the examiners. Tell them I await their full report within the hour”. “Yes, Master” he said bowing as he backed toward the door.

High Cleric Pholein stood pensively for several seconds before speaking, “There have been others”. “You do not yet know if he bears the mark, Ryan” replied a form emerging from the shadows behind him. The old cleric’s brow relaxed at the sound of his name and a smile pursed his lips, “How good it is to dispense with the formalities of title, my old friend. There are few here who know my given name and fewer still who would dare speak it. Thank you for coming so quickly”. “I don’t know why anyone would fear you, you old geezer. I recall once pulling your young screaming hide out of a janitor’s closet in the temple barracks” chided the voice. “Oh for the millionth time, it was dark and the way the mop was leaning looked like a head floating in midair”. Laughing, the two embraced in a bear hug that lasted a second longer than that of brothers. “It’s good to see you, Emil. I wish you could have come just to visit, but it appears we have work to do”. “How long have you known of the child, Ryan”. “You were here when the cleric arrived, I have known since then”. “How then did you know to summon me?” replied Emil. “Because the sea around the area where the child emerged has been glowing as if the sun were shining up from the sea floor for several days now”.

Oricx’s Journey is © Jeff Bates

The wispy ebb and flow of the great sea gently rocked the tiny Genasi baby as would a loving mother. This particular Genasi, however, had no loving mother. The infant floated on his back in utter silence. Days of lonely drifting with only the sound of the ocean and the occasional passing bird had long since exhausted the child of his screams. He now only cried on the inside for his throat was too sore to release even the slightest gasp. Breathing was possible, for now, but soon it too would cease.

Day turned to night in an instant. Through the darkness created not by the failing of the light but by the failing of the body, the newborn Genasi saw a small glowing pin point far off in the distance. The glow grew brighter as he experienced a sense of falling. He was not falling toward the light, but parallel to it. Nonetheless, the glow grew brighter. As he fell, he felt himself slow as if falling into a large pillow. All motion seemed to stop and a gentle yet stong deep voice sounded from all directions at once. “Not yet little one, I have much work for you to do.” The world suddenly became sound. A loud crashing sound like a million sounds blended together in a horrid symphony of the end of all things…

Oricx’s Journey is © Jeff Bates

HILARIOUS!!!

http://www.youtube.com/?v=zLElfJ9YCh0

Finally! Something funny out of SNL!

Well, here I am, in California, standing in a line to go see a sneak preview of Narnia, of all places! Did I think I would be here when I woke up this morning? Not remotely! . Yet, as they say - stranger things have happened!

I’ll be sure and post a review of the movie tomorrow!!!

This is something that I received via email… I’ve read part of this before in Lee Strobel’s The Case for Christ, which is an excellent book, by the way… I just had to repost it here - very thought-provoking stuff here. (more…)

I’ve done some looking over the years and found a couple of really excellent links about how to make your own specalized gaming table. This is a dream of mine that will hopefully, one day, be realized - for now, however, I am more than happy with my “vanishing gaming table setup” (that I will be detailing on a future post). For now, however, I’d like to present these resources - enjoy!

http://www.twilightavengers.org/wld/table.html - this link gives you an overview of this gaming table and its setup - pretty nice, I have to say (especially the price), but you have to have a spare 2-car gargage-sized room lying around…
http://www.twilightavengers.org/wld/instructions.html - this link goes into a bit more detail about the above table and gives you some rudimentary instructions; the site says that the creators are offering full instructions for only $10.00 - not too shabby…

http://www.agyris.net/default.asp - this site is just a hands-down AWESOME gaming site. The folks in this group have done a really, really spiffy job with it, I have to say. Not only is the site pleasing to the eye and well designed, it is also an excellent resource - interactive maps, name generators, in-character newspapers, campaign journals - you name it, this site has it! Not to mention, of course, that this site has as well its own ultimate gaming table!
http://www.agyris.net/v3/ugt/default.asp - as promised a link to the aforementioned gaming table; this one is truly awesome and is the one that I would build if I had the time, money, skills, materials, etc… I would LOVE to play at a table like this one - I think that it would truly add a great deal to the entire gaming experience itself… Also, be sure and check out their new flash gallery of the table as well… These bloods are also planning on selling their plans for this table, but they are not ready yet - there is an email address to be placed on a waiting list if you are interested, however!

So, what does your gaming setup look/work like? Do you have any links to other awesome gaming tables/setups? If so, post them in the comments below. If not, join me as I dream of the day where we will “game with glam”.

“…you enter the cavern and see the most vile beast imaginable - - - (more…)