OneWinged4ngel
2007-11-15, 06:07 PM
So, I'm sure you've all noticed that gluts of threads pop up here that ultimately have little purpose, most notably threads that are either class battles or the result of someone not taking the 15 seconds necessary to google their answer up.
Well, there are threads that ARE useful on the internet. So, here, I'm going to compile some resources that I believe are useful to the community. Also, I am going to describe how one can answer most of their own commonly repeated questions with a quick google search!
First, the googling. Google is a wonderful thing, and can answer most of your questions like "what sourcebook is this in?" or "are there any guides for druids or suggestions from optimizers as to what feats I should take?" or "Where can I find this thread?"
The secret lies within the Advanced Search option. Just go to www.google.com, click "advanced search" and scroll down to where it says "domain." There, all you need to do is type in the website that you want to search! For example, if you wanted to search all of the WotC boards, you would put in "forums.gleemax.com" (or "boards1.wizards.com" for the old site). This will solve all your searching problems for any site that does not have its own search function.
Second, a useful resource for newer posters or those unfamiliar with netiquette: http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/posting
Third, a collection of resources, ranging from classes to sticky directories to all manner good threads giving solutions to common topics of discussion. Hope you guys will post your own! I will update the first thread to keep things organized and accessible.
Classes
Society Mind (This sweet new psionic class fills a supporting role. Great work from Dreamscarred Press):
http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=506284
Radical Taoist's Sublime Way Ranger (From one of the Dreamscarred Press writers comes a cool variant of the Ranger using Tome of Battle mechanics):
http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=738077
Tempest's Sublime Way Marshal (From one of the Dreamscarred Press writers comes a cool fix of the Marshal using Tome of Battle mechanics):
http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=752414
Sublime Way Dwarven Defender (Another cool Tome of Battle-ized class conversion from the Dreamscarred Press guys): http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=867144
Blaine's Soulknife (A lauded soulknife fix from BlaineTog that gives the Soulknife a role of his own):
http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=310984
Seerow's Fighter (The result of three extremely long and actually constructive fighter threads, this fighter fix is worth a look):
http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=728493
The Rebalanced Paladin (My own highly lauded paladin fix (made in cooperation with Seerow). But don't let me tout my own work... judge for yourself):
http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=761045
Other Homebrew Mechanics
Falling Star Style (A Tome of Battle style for ranged combatants from one of the Dreamscarred Press writers):
http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=771597
Articles
The Great Tome of Battle Re-Flavoring Project (For all those people who think Tome of Battle being Wuxia is an issue, or just want help fitting ToB abilities to their particular desired flavor):
http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=849692
Truenaming Psionics (Has nothing to do with Truenaming (the thread actually predates the creation of the Truenaming magic system), but instead helps solve the issue some people have feeling Psionics has a flavor somehow inappropriate for their games, much like the above ToB article):
http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=470229
Insane Characters: A Player's Guide (A very nice little guide to playing characters with all kinds of psychological afflictions by someone who's actually studied the subject):
http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=880483
The Tome of Necromancy (Frank/K article. All are great reads. Check it out):
http://bb.bbboy.net/thegamingden-viewthread?forum=1&thread=684
The Tome of Fiends (Frank/K article):
http://bb.bbboy.net/thegamingden-viewthread?forum=1&thread=688
The Dungeonomicon (Frank/K article):
http://bb.bbboy.net/thegamingden-viewthread?forum=1&thread=698
Races of War (Frank/K article)
http://bb.bbboy.net/thegamingden-viewthread?forum=1&thread=723
Optimization Guides:
Campaign Smashers (Just to point out what NOT to do for fear of DM wrath):
http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=587555
The Logic Ninja's Guide to Wizards: Being Batman:
http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18500
The 3.5 Weapon Special Abilities Thread:
http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=642656
References and Tools
Ready to Summon Monsters (A fantastic thread that saves a ton of effort for summoners with all possible summons already statted up):
http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=221737
OpenRPG Miniature Generator (Play online with OpenRPG? This'll give you generic minis when you just can't find a picture to fit or just want to expedite the process):
http://www.adaran.net/openrpgMini/
Mike Mearls talks about making Hexblades better:
http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=852040
Problematic Spells Thread (Thread analyzing spells that suck from a design standpoint and giving suggestions how to fix them):
http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=86768
Problematic Powers Thread (Thread analyzing powers that suck from a design standpoint and giving suggestions how to fix them):
http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=657631
Psionics FAQ (EXCELLENT resource if you're using psionics, especially if you are new to it):
http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=638776
Tome of Battle Fighting Styles (A thread on creating characters with certain martial fighting styles ranging from French Style Fencing (Rhodes School) to Aikido)
http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=846396
Easy To Read Polymorph Errata (Helps to sort through the jumble):
http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=589497
Indexes
CharOp board Important Threads Index:
http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=511451
Realmshelp (All the feats, spells and whatever mechanics you want from just about every source! Sweet):
http://realmshelps.dandello.net/datafind/feats.shtml
DnD Archive Handy DM Links thread (Lots of handy links. For DMs!): http://www.dndarchive.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=124
Eberron
Ask Keith Baker archive (Keith answers people's questions about Eberron!):
http://boards1.wizards.com/archive/index.php/t-548195.html
Dragonshards archive (Free online mini-supplements for Eberron written by Keith Baker! Awesome!):
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/archeb/ds
Ask the Dreaming Dark (More of Keith's answers to stuff):
http://bossythecow.com/askthedreamingdark.htm
Jhonen Olain's Eberron Journal (An Eberron fan site):
http://www.coveworld.net/eberron/index2.html#
Erandis d'Vol Encyclopedia:
http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=397639
Still adding more. Please, feel free to add your own! :smallsmile:
Well, there are threads that ARE useful on the internet. So, here, I'm going to compile some resources that I believe are useful to the community. Also, I am going to describe how one can answer most of their own commonly repeated questions with a quick google search!
First, the googling. Google is a wonderful thing, and can answer most of your questions like "what sourcebook is this in?" or "are there any guides for druids or suggestions from optimizers as to what feats I should take?" or "Where can I find this thread?"
The secret lies within the Advanced Search option. Just go to www.google.com, click "advanced search" and scroll down to where it says "domain." There, all you need to do is type in the website that you want to search! For example, if you wanted to search all of the WotC boards, you would put in "forums.gleemax.com" (or "boards1.wizards.com" for the old site). This will solve all your searching problems for any site that does not have its own search function.
Second, a useful resource for newer posters or those unfamiliar with netiquette: http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/posting
Third, a collection of resources, ranging from classes to sticky directories to all manner good threads giving solutions to common topics of discussion. Hope you guys will post your own! I will update the first thread to keep things organized and accessible.
Classes
Society Mind (This sweet new psionic class fills a supporting role. Great work from Dreamscarred Press):
http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=506284
Radical Taoist's Sublime Way Ranger (From one of the Dreamscarred Press writers comes a cool variant of the Ranger using Tome of Battle mechanics):
http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=738077
Tempest's Sublime Way Marshal (From one of the Dreamscarred Press writers comes a cool fix of the Marshal using Tome of Battle mechanics):
http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=752414
Sublime Way Dwarven Defender (Another cool Tome of Battle-ized class conversion from the Dreamscarred Press guys): http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=867144
Blaine's Soulknife (A lauded soulknife fix from BlaineTog that gives the Soulknife a role of his own):
http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=310984
Seerow's Fighter (The result of three extremely long and actually constructive fighter threads, this fighter fix is worth a look):
http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=728493
The Rebalanced Paladin (My own highly lauded paladin fix (made in cooperation with Seerow). But don't let me tout my own work... judge for yourself):
http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=761045
Other Homebrew Mechanics
Falling Star Style (A Tome of Battle style for ranged combatants from one of the Dreamscarred Press writers):
http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=771597
Articles
The Great Tome of Battle Re-Flavoring Project (For all those people who think Tome of Battle being Wuxia is an issue, or just want help fitting ToB abilities to their particular desired flavor):
http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=849692
Truenaming Psionics (Has nothing to do with Truenaming (the thread actually predates the creation of the Truenaming magic system), but instead helps solve the issue some people have feeling Psionics has a flavor somehow inappropriate for their games, much like the above ToB article):
http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=470229
Insane Characters: A Player's Guide (A very nice little guide to playing characters with all kinds of psychological afflictions by someone who's actually studied the subject):
http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=880483
The Tome of Necromancy (Frank/K article. All are great reads. Check it out):
http://bb.bbboy.net/thegamingden-viewthread?forum=1&thread=684
The Tome of Fiends (Frank/K article):
http://bb.bbboy.net/thegamingden-viewthread?forum=1&thread=688
The Dungeonomicon (Frank/K article):
http://bb.bbboy.net/thegamingden-viewthread?forum=1&thread=698
Races of War (Frank/K article)
http://bb.bbboy.net/thegamingden-viewthread?forum=1&thread=723
Optimization Guides:
Campaign Smashers (Just to point out what NOT to do for fear of DM wrath):
http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=587555
The Logic Ninja's Guide to Wizards: Being Batman:
http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18500
The 3.5 Weapon Special Abilities Thread:
http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=642656
References and Tools
Ready to Summon Monsters (A fantastic thread that saves a ton of effort for summoners with all possible summons already statted up):
http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=221737
OpenRPG Miniature Generator (Play online with OpenRPG? This'll give you generic minis when you just can't find a picture to fit or just want to expedite the process):
http://www.adaran.net/openrpgMini/
Mike Mearls talks about making Hexblades better:
http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=852040
Problematic Spells Thread (Thread analyzing spells that suck from a design standpoint and giving suggestions how to fix them):
http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=86768
Problematic Powers Thread (Thread analyzing powers that suck from a design standpoint and giving suggestions how to fix them):
http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=657631
Psionics FAQ (EXCELLENT resource if you're using psionics, especially if you are new to it):
http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=638776
Tome of Battle Fighting Styles (A thread on creating characters with certain martial fighting styles ranging from French Style Fencing (Rhodes School) to Aikido)
http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=846396
Easy To Read Polymorph Errata (Helps to sort through the jumble):
http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=589497
Indexes
CharOp board Important Threads Index:
http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=511451
Realmshelp (All the feats, spells and whatever mechanics you want from just about every source! Sweet):
http://realmshelps.dandello.net/datafind/feats.shtml
DnD Archive Handy DM Links thread (Lots of handy links. For DMs!): http://www.dndarchive.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=124
Eberron
Ask Keith Baker archive (Keith answers people's questions about Eberron!):
http://boards1.wizards.com/archive/index.php/t-548195.html
Dragonshards archive (Free online mini-supplements for Eberron written by Keith Baker! Awesome!):
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/archeb/ds
Ask the Dreaming Dark (More of Keith's answers to stuff):
http://bossythecow.com/askthedreamingdark.htm
Jhonen Olain's Eberron Journal (An Eberron fan site):
http://www.coveworld.net/eberron/index2.html#
Erandis d'Vol Encyclopedia:
http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=397639
Still adding more. Please, feel free to add your own! :smallsmile: