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Hanuman
2015-08-12, 05:19 AM
Share the hidden gems, sites, map makers, online whiteboards, music ect you find gives you the advantage when rolling for Is My Table Health Amazing (Int + Wis + Cha) :smallsmile:

One thing that really helped me become the DM I am today is Fear The Boot, a podcast covering topics about RPG topics and such, they cover so many issues and really take the time to talk them over.

http://www.feartheboot.com/ftb/index.php/archives/category/podcasts/page/49

What's yours?

BWR
2015-08-12, 06:36 AM
I don't use it all that often but every now and then this (http://donjon.bin.sh/)random generator comes in really handy. Mostly for generic D&D-ish settings (though with specifics for various editions of the game) if you need a quick map (from towns to entire continents, complete with a few evocative names), a quick locale (e.g. an inn with name, patrons and menu), random treasure, demographics, etc., quests, NPCs and more.
I primarily use it for when I need more interesting loot than "20 gems and pieces of jewelry, 1 work of art, worth a total of 2000 gp", since it actually lists what the art and goods are, or when the PCs are tired of sleeping in Vertshuset den Gyldne Hale (cookie if you get the reference). The random generators are specific enough that you can limit or ensure certain elements. Honestly, it just fun to sit and play with for a couple hours, just seeing what it can do.

Storm_Of_Snow
2015-08-12, 08:30 AM
My personal favourite resource - Kate Monk's Onomastikon (dictionary of names) http://tekeli.li/onomastikon/

JAL_1138
2015-08-12, 08:56 AM
Slightly off-topic in that it's not online resources, but when DMing 5e (and AD&D) I yoink stuff from old AD&D modules and box sets left and right, then file the metaphorical serial numbers off and cobble the results together, as well as make liberal use of the random tables and general weirdness from the 1e&2e DMGs. Still have to rebuild the encounters from scratch for 5e, but still saves me a ton of prep time and mental effort. In AD&D particularly, having premade encounters to ploink into the campaign (divorced from their original context usually) saves a lot of time and guesswork.

Short version, steal liberally from modules and disguise that you're doing it. It saves so much prep work.