I'm totally psyched about creating a cite for expanded encounter tables (see What you want from WotC thread)! However, I'm a total techno-neaderthal. As you can see, I don't even know how to create the link to the aforementioned thread! Anyway, I googled 'free web hosting' and got a gazillion hits so I just wanted to ask everybody for any words of wisdom they might have...like what is a Domain (I think of cleric spells every time I see that word!) and what is most important to look for from free hosts...raw megs? And any other web-related tidbits would be helpful.
In terms of the end result, I'm hoping to set up something similar to Lilith's NPC stat bank so that folks can help create all these encounter tables. I'd like to have each encounter table draw from MM, MMII, MMIII, FF and MMIV when it comes out, for each level/terrain type with attached notes on all errata'd monsters. And also perhaps a list of random treasure (or a treasure generator), with notes on what treasure would likely be carried outside the lair and what monster would do so.
Again, any suggestions, demands, threats, orders?
I'm totally psyched about creating a cite for expanded encounter tables (see What you want from WotC thread)! However, I'm a total techno-neaderthal. As you can see, I don't even know how to create the link to the aforementioned thread! Anyway, I googled 'free web hosting' and got a gazillion hits so I just wanted to ask everybody for any words of wisdom they might have...like what is a Domain (I think of cleric spells every time I see that word!) and what is most important to look for from free hosts...raw megs? And any other web-related tidbits would be helpful.
In terms of the end result, I'm hoping to set up something similar to Lilith's NPC stat bank so that folks can help create all these encounter tables. I'd like to have each encounter table draw from MM, MMII, MMIII, FF and MMIV when it comes out, for each level/terrain type with attached notes on all errata'd monsters. And also perhaps a list of random treasure (or a treasure generator), with notes on what treasure would likely be carried outside the lair and what monster would do so.
Again, any suggestions, demands, threats, orders?
*puts Web Admin Hat on*
Most "free" web hosting tends to have a catch, either limited space, no scripting or database support, among a number of other potential issues. Caveat emptor - you get what you pay for.Domain names ("paizo.com" or "darkmoongallery.com") are usually an additional cost - I have never ever ever seen them for free. Depending on where you purchase your domain name from, it can run you from about $9 to $35.
What to look for really depends on what you want to do. Do you want to host images of artwork? Look for a site that has more storage space. Many webhosters out there provide a slew of options (Gallery, Blogs, Forums, etc) - again, what do you want to DO with your website?
*takes Web Admin Hat off *
As far as the encounter table generator...something like this is already in the works. Bill Hendricks, he of the mad l33t Excel generator skillz, has offered to "donate" his listings of creatures, which I will likely adapt and fuse into the rest of the NPC Stat Block Bank site. He also has a treasure generator that I will be adapting at some point.
However, the HARDEST and most TEDIOUS part of doing such a project is compiling the data. You gotta have data to work with before you can make said generators. (Did you know that in the spell/scroll generator alone, there are 2,134 spells and psionic powers in approximately 34 sourcebooks?) The data compilation is the part of the project that I would need help on.
However, if you are interested in learning about the tools that I use to create the site, here are some tutorial/reference sites that I use:
w3 Schools - Everything that you want to know about HTML/XHTML, CSS and JavaScript.
PHP - PHP is the scripting engine that's used to generate a lot of the things on the site. It is my friend and sometimes my enemy. ;-)
MySQL - All the data is stored in a MySQL database. PHP can access MySQL databases, but you'll have to learn how to "talk" to the database using SQL (structured query language). I've tried really hard to keep the databases and the code optimized for the best performance possible so that there isn't a long wait, especially when doing searches.
However, the stage of the project that I'm on is something that all the generators will be heavily dependent on - being able to eliminate results based on what sourcebooks a user has access to. I've got part of it figured out (getting a list of current used sourcebooks), just gotta do the rest (finding a way to keep track of said sourcebooks throughout the site).
Anyway, if you want to be a data-entering monkey, I'd sure appreciate the help...
W3Schools is considered a little out of date, actually.
Free hosting usually has a catch - I pay $12 annually for my web domain and $3.25 for my web hosting. However, starting out without basic website knowledge does pose a challenge for you.
Well its better to learn how to break cinder blocks from a master than by breaking your wrist a dozen times, so just tell me what I can do to help Lilith and I'll be there. (Hm, that sounds like an 80s rock song.) In the meantime, I'll check out the links you posted.