I know when I'm surfing the net looking for D&D goodies, I typically end up seeking adventures, scenarios, or hooks I can use in my own game. This got me to thinking. What do you seek when you are searching the web (D&D and RPG-related only)?
Open-ended tidbits that get my creative juices flowing. Just enough information to get the gears going, but not too much. I prefer adventure hooks, as I feel they allow me more wiggle room to work it into my campaign.
I look for the unusual presented in an intriguing way, or the usual in a new light.
That being said, I highly recommend Tome of Trouble and Roleplaying Tips. There are several more that I'm forgetting, I'm sure.
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The thing I like the most is maps - overland maps are Ok, but I prefer the layout of a building/stronghold/etc. Can't get enough of maps.
I also like some of the web enhancements that WotC puts out, with extra content that doesn't make it into the books they put out.
For awhile, WotC was putting up a revised, 3.5 version of the first level of Undermountain. Being the owner of both boxed sets and the three dungeon crawls, as well as having DM'd one or two Undermountain adventures, I was thrilled when they did this. Sadly, they seemed to stopped this particular series.
I also have enjoyed WotC's revision of other old classics, namely Tomb of Horrors and White Plume Mountain. They also did a 'sort of' update to Expedition to the Barrier Peaks, but only insofar as an article covering weapons/armor/tech from the d20 future setting.
Unfortunately, the only three websites I'm really familiar with are WotC, this one, and the official Dragonlance homepage.
Fisrt) I agree with my undead buddy here and say maps... Tons of maps! Maps of Greyhawk, maps of dungeons, maps of castles, maps of cities... The more the better.
Second) I also look for some generators that make help cut down the time of my preperations for a game. Treasure generators, NPC generators, weather generators (I've made one on an excel spreadsheet, gives me one years' worth of weather with one click of the mouse!), and encounter generators (I have yet to see one that works for me).
Third) Then I turn to adventures. Either full adventures of just hooks, reading them inspire when I decide what will happen next in my campaign.
Ultradan
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Pretty much what I look for can be found here at Paizo. I want ideas, suggestions, and opinions. This kind of thing can vary from adventure to adventure and from character to character. I really like that I can present a question here and get good intelligent responses. And like Lilith said -- this gets the creative juices flowing.
I also agree with Mr. Zombie and Mr. Dan in that I really like maps. But I may one-up them and say that I really like giving out hand-outs to the players. I like to say "The creature looks like this" or "You are talking to this guy" and give them a picture. I love the Dungeon Magazine online enhancements for this reason.
I too look for different kinds of generators. Anything from a menu generator to a weather generator.
Second) I also look for some generators that make help cut down the time of my preperations for a game. Treasure generators, NPC generators, weather generators (I've made one on an excel spreadsheet, gives me one years' worth of weather with one click of the mouse!), and encounter generators (I have yet to see one that works for me).
UltraDan -- I am assuming (hoping) that you have checked out the excel generators that I have done. Make sure that you take a good look at the creature list that I have compiled as well. While it won't do an encounter generator for you, it could greatly speed up the process.
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I also agree with Mr. Zombie and Mr. Dan in that I really like maps. But I may one-up them and say that I really like giving out hand-outs to the players. I like to say "The creature looks like this" or "You are talking to this guy" and give them a picture. I love the Dungeon Magazine online enhancements for this reason.
I agree with Mr. Hendricks one-up. Handouts for the players are also something that is really cool. I especially like "hand-written" notes that can be given to the players. It adds a special something when the PCs can get clues to the bad guy's dastardly plot from said bad guy's own written words.
Two big things:
Message boards with people who can appreciate deep and thoughtful discussion of the game--not just mechanics but flavor, history, philosophy, and give me insights that make me feel like I'm being taken seriously.
Chat rooms or message boards where I can roleplay in a freeform or at least rules-lite (as in don't crush me with bureaucracy) format. I dig being able to virtually try out the ideas in the games I love.
Another little thing:
I dig beautiful, useful character sheets and portrait art that I can use for my characters. This is a big draw for me.
Utility, utility, utility. My best experiences in rpging, is from what I call F&%* off games. the anatomy of such a game is as follows.
Myself and the lads are sitting around bored reminiscing about the good ol days, when we get "the bug." We decide F@#$ it, we're gonna play even if there's only 2 or 3 of us.
Character creation is standard, but one character has access to a method of travel. (and oxen team, a tireme,a stagecoach, a scout ship, depending on the setting. Last go about we were horse theives)
another character has something he needs moved, money, cargo, or himself.
the first adventure is getting from point A to B.
By the end of the week.we've consitantly had to turn people away or be in the double digits of party members. and IMO nothing beats dungeon crawls like adventures involving travel, and commerce. Everybody in the party has a stake in the success of the venture, and ADventure gets in the way of the venture ( but usually pretty profitible)
Anyway to answer the question, I like lossely defined, but unique "events" such as the old school books of lairs, or the random encounters/PC spotlight on the WTOC main page.
I like thought and discussion-- I'm interested in what people are house ruling and way. I also enjoy prep aids-- generators, rules automation, organizational tools and the like. Stuff that I can use now (NPCs, loot, etc.) is very high on my list.