Comments on: A Zillion Goblins: Timesaving Products for GMs http://www.treasuretables.org/2007/05/a-zillion-goblins-timesaving-products-for-gms Game mastering advice, ideas & resources • Dedicated to helping GMs Thu, 10 Nov 2011 17:04:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Martin http://www.treasuretables.org/2007/05/a-zillion-goblins-timesaving-products-for-gms/comment-page-1#comment-11389 Martin Mon, 11 Jun 2007 19:33:05 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/?p=741#comment-11389 Dr. Simon: I'd like to see more work in this vein, and I'm glad maps and locations are in the hopper. Dr. Simon: I’d like to see more work in this vein, and I’m glad maps and locations are in the hopper.

]]> By: Dr. Simon http://www.treasuretables.org/2007/05/a-zillion-goblins-timesaving-products-for-gms/comment-page-1#comment-11365 Dr. Simon Mon, 11 Jun 2007 10:10:57 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/?p=741#comment-11365 Hi, It might interest some of you to know that not only are we at The Creative Conclave working on more stat-books for other common foes, but we're looking to put together an ensemble of Lazy GM books so that you can create a sort of 'pick and mix' adventure from different ready-made elements. Maps/locations are definitely high on the list. Simon Hi,

It might interest some of you to know that not only are we at The Creative Conclave working on more stat-books for other common foes, but we’re looking to put together an ensemble of Lazy GM books so that you can create a sort of ‘pick and mix’ adventure from different ready-made elements.

Maps/locations are definitely high on the list.

Simon

]]> By: Toby http://www.treasuretables.org/2007/05/a-zillion-goblins-timesaving-products-for-gms/comment-page-1#comment-11266 Toby Tue, 05 Jun 2007 04:01:58 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/?p=741#comment-11266 This be good for rough-and-ready NPCs: http://www.immortalshandbook.com/simony2.htm The now offline Undead Presidents had a "Quick NPC Item Selector" that I've found quite good. Googling it I found this: http://www.imasy.or.jp/~miyamoto/rpg/javascript/npcItemSelector.html Otherwise I have it on PDF. This be good for rough-and-ready NPCs: http://www.immortalshandbook.com/simony2.htm

The now offline Undead Presidents had a “Quick NPC Item Selector” that I’ve found quite good. Googling it I found this: http://www.imasy.or.jp/~miyamoto/rpg/javascript/npcItemSelector.html

Otherwise I have it on PDF.

]]> By: Martin http://www.treasuretables.org/2007/05/a-zillion-goblins-timesaving-products-for-gms/comment-page-1#comment-11198 Martin Wed, 30 May 2007 17:20:25 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/?p=741#comment-11198 It's interesting that one GM's cup of tea is another GM's cup of pee. Not surprising, but definitely interesting. Rick's idea has a lot of potential, and it reminds me of the babysitting co-op in the neighborhood I grew up in. Every hour you babysit banked you an hour you could ask someone else to babysit, with "co-op bucks" of some sort to keep track of hours. It seemed to work pretty well. Rick, would you like to start up a thread based on your suggestions in the forums? It’s interesting that one GM’s cup of tea is another GM’s cup of pee. Not surprising, but definitely interesting.

Rick’s idea has a lot of potential, and it reminds me of the babysitting co-op in the neighborhood I grew up in. Every hour you babysit banked you an hour you could ask someone else to babysit, with “co-op bucks” of some sort to keep track of hours. It seemed to work pretty well.

Rick, would you like to start up a thread based on your suggestions in the forums?

]]> By: John Arcadian http://www.treasuretables.org/2007/05/a-zillion-goblins-timesaving-products-for-gms/comment-page-1#comment-11187 John Arcadian Wed, 30 May 2007 10:24:18 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/?p=741#comment-11187 Coming up with NPC stats for an NPC who is really just there for very little interaction. I hate to come up with stats to make a specific NPC that is just minor background noise, or something the players will most likely gloss over. Of course that is the one that the players insist on bargaining with, or questioning, or focusing on as the main crux of their adventure, etc. I'll usually pull from a bank of generic stats that I've got written up, or instead of coming up with stats for everyone I use a kind of equivalency method when they are outside of combat. I decide how much of a challenge this NPC should represent to the task that he is needed for, and I just freeform him with the appropriate dice/skill level/abilities, etc. Coming up with NPC stats for an NPC who is really just there for very little interaction. I hate to come up with stats to make a specific NPC that is just minor background noise, or something the players will most likely gloss over. Of course that is the one that the players insist on bargaining with, or questioning, or focusing on as the main crux of their adventure, etc. I’ll usually pull from a bank of generic stats that I’ve got written up, or instead of coming up with stats for everyone I use a kind of equivalency method when they are outside of combat. I decide how much of a challenge this NPC should represent to the task that he is needed for, and I just freeform him with the appropriate dice/skill level/abilities, etc.

]]> By: Telas http://www.treasuretables.org/2007/05/a-zillion-goblins-timesaving-products-for-gms/comment-page-1#comment-11186 Telas Wed, 30 May 2007 02:09:11 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/?p=741#comment-11186 Shameless plug: <a href="http://nzcomputers.net/heroforge/default.asp" rel="nofollow">HeroForge</a>, an Excel-based character creation spreadsheet that frankly rocks on toast (non-SRD choices, 60th level support, etc). Lots of other d20 goodness at that link. Caveat: I'm on the documentation team, so this is automatically suspect. But check it out and use your own judgement. Shameless plug: HeroForge, an Excel-based character creation spreadsheet that frankly rocks on toast (non-SRD choices, 60th level support, etc). Lots of other d20 goodness at that link.

Caveat: I’m on the documentation team, so this is automatically suspect. But check it out and use your own judgement.

]]> By: Ully http://www.treasuretables.org/2007/05/a-zillion-goblins-timesaving-products-for-gms/comment-page-1#comment-11183 Ully Tue, 29 May 2007 18:18:03 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/?p=741#comment-11183 The D20 NPC Wiki provides a library of NPCs, searchable by challenge rating, creature type, primary class, etc. It's well laid out and contains a fairly large number of NPCs. http://d20npcs.wikia.com The D20 NPC Wiki provides a library of NPCs, searchable by challenge rating, creature type, primary class, etc. It’s well laid out and contains a fairly large number of NPCs.

http://d20npcs.wikia.com

]]> By: Lilith http://www.treasuretables.org/2007/05/a-zillion-goblins-timesaving-products-for-gms/comment-page-1#comment-11182 Lilith Tue, 29 May 2007 18:16:55 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/?p=741#comment-11182 DM Tools has a *lot* of NPCs pre-statted and ready to go. DM Tools has a *lot* of NPCs pre-statted and ready to go.

]]> By: Gospog http://www.treasuretables.org/2007/05/a-zillion-goblins-timesaving-products-for-gms/comment-page-1#comment-11181 Gospog Tue, 29 May 2007 17:29:53 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/?p=741#comment-11181 I hate generating stat blocks for high level NPCs. Luckily I have a solution that works perfectly: I run Savage Worlds now. ;) I hate generating stat blocks for high level NPCs.

Luckily I have a solution that works perfectly: I run Savage Worlds now. ;)

]]> By: Steev http://www.treasuretables.org/2007/05/a-zillion-goblins-timesaving-products-for-gms/comment-page-1#comment-11180 Steev Tue, 29 May 2007 17:04:09 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/?p=741#comment-11180 Names. I suck at coming up with names, and therefore, my players always know when an NPC isn't important. Really, the rest of it, though, I kind of enjoy. Character writeups, mapping, spell lists, treasure lists, political motivations, etc. I like it all. Probably why I'm a GM far more often than I'm a player. Names. I suck at coming up with names, and therefore, my players always know when an NPC isn’t important.

Really, the rest of it, though, I kind of enjoy. Character writeups, mapping, spell lists, treasure lists, political motivations, etc. I like it all. Probably why I’m a GM far more often than I’m a player.

]]> By: Rick the Wonder Algae http://www.treasuretables.org/2007/05/a-zillion-goblins-timesaving-products-for-gms/comment-page-1#comment-11179 Rick the Wonder Algae Tue, 29 May 2007 16:59:09 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/?p=741#comment-11179 I can't stand statting out NPCs, expecially ones for which I have to actually buy gear, select spells or skills, etc... I don't mind making up "John Jones, federal agent with a chip on his shoulder. Good at sense motive and spot." But that's about as far as I want to take it. To a lesser extent I have the same issue with monsters, but I just print out a page from the SRD and go since 90% of monsters are static. Maybe since it's obvious that one man's trash is another's treasure, we should start up something in the forums sso that I can post "Need spell list for dark necromancer that incidentally has a herbalism hobby." and others could knock out my spell list. In return, when they post "need decriptive text for a mountain cave, must have something "pizzazy"" I can return the favor. Regular compilation into the wiki would result in a list of location descriptions, statblocks, spell lists, maps, etc... that could eventually be compiled as a free PDF and, if it's meaty enough, sold as an inexpensive paperback through a print-on-demand publisher to help offset the costs of TT and give the contributors writing credits on their resume. Or maybe that's too much at once. Just bouncing thoughts around. I can’t stand statting out NPCs, expecially ones for which I have to actually buy gear, select spells or skills, etc…

I don’t mind making up “John Jones, federal agent with a chip on his shoulder. Good at sense motive and spot.” But that’s about as far as I want to take it.

To a lesser extent I have the same issue with monsters, but I just print out a page from the SRD and go since 90% of monsters are static.

Maybe since it’s obvious that one man’s trash is another’s treasure, we should start up something in the forums sso that I can post “Need spell list for dark necromancer that incidentally has a herbalism hobby.” and others could knock out my spell list. In return, when they post “need decriptive text for a mountain cave, must have something “pizzazy”" I can return the favor. Regular compilation into the wiki would result in a list of location descriptions, statblocks, spell lists, maps, etc… that could eventually be compiled as a free PDF and, if it’s meaty enough, sold as an inexpensive paperback through a print-on-demand publisher to help offset the costs of TT and give the contributors writing credits on their resume. Or maybe that’s too much at once. Just bouncing thoughts around.

]]> By: Will http://www.treasuretables.org/2007/05/a-zillion-goblins-timesaving-products-for-gms/comment-page-1#comment-11178 Will Tue, 29 May 2007 16:55:22 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/?p=741#comment-11178 For spell and equipment lists, check out the <i>Player's Handbook II</i> -- it's got an entire chapter at the end guiding you through NPC creation, including suggested spells and equipment for each level and class. Easily the most useful part of the book. :) For spell and equipment lists, check out the Player’s Handbook II — it’s got an entire chapter at the end guiding you through NPC creation, including suggested spells and equipment for each level and class. Easily the most useful part of the book. :)

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