RESOURCES
Generators
Creating your world is a lot of work, and sometimes you need a little help. Generators are a great way to create unique pieces for your games on the fly. It's hard to think of every single NPC, tavern, or shop your players may interact with, and using these tools will greatly improve your ability to create these things if you're either struggling to do it yourself on the spot, or just don't feel like it – something all Game Masters understand.
- Oh My Game Master
- Not Another Tavern Generator
- NPC Generator
- Azgaar Map Generator
- Inkarnate Map Maker
I have limited experience with this app, but using it effectively can help you build and stock shops, towns, NPC's, and it gives all locations interesting quirks and secrets for your players to discover. Feel free to pick and choose what aspects you want to use.
Need to fill some space in your town? Writer's block got you down? NATG is a great way to create something on the spot when your players ask where they can get a drink and you didn't think that far ahead. Or if you're simply worldbuilding and running out of ideas this is a great resource.
If you want to give your NPC's a little more versatility, depth, and even unique traits, this is a great way to do it. You can pick and choose what aspects your use, but the plot hooks are great for little side quests your players can partake in while they're in various locations.
This map generator takes a little getting used to, but if you need help building a world, a town, or anything else you can think of, this is a solid resource for randomly generated maps. I personally prefer custom maps that I curate myself, but not everyone is willing or able to put the time in to that, and that's okay!
If you want to make your own custom map from scratch, or use community created maps, this is my personal favorite resource to use. They have a free version that is perfectly effective, you can download and edit other maps that the community has made to suit your specific needs. Alternatively, with the paid version, you unlock way more options for customization and creation. Again, it is a bit of a learning curve to use, but once you pick up on it, it's fantastic.
Youtube Channels
There are so many videos out there for improving your games, sometimes it can get a little overwhelming. Here I will link some of my favorites for beginner and advanced Game Masters. The names will take you to their YouTube pages.
- Dungeon Dudes
- Dungeon Dad
- Pointy Hat
The Dungeon Dudes have a fantastic series in their playlists covering common DM advice and learning. I have been watching them since I began GM'ing, and they have loads of useful information and entertaining videos.
Dungeon Dad specializes in taking creatures from older editions of D&D and Pathfinder, and updating them to Fifth Edition. He gives comprehensive breakdowns on how to use these monsters in combat, roleplay, and how to introduce them into your games. The monsters you find on this page are perfect for one–shots and even full campaigns.
Pointy hat is very entertaining while being incredibly informative. His series "Which Lich" takes individual classes and turns them into stunning and unique liches for your game's villain. He also explains how to incorporate them in a way that feels natural and allows your villain to live and breathe with your world. He has numerous other useful videos as well.
Character Backstory Sheet
This backstory sheet is fantastic resource for Game Masters. When starting a new campaign, it's very important to have solid backstories from your players, that way you can incorporate their stories into your game. This builds immersion, and makes your players feel like they are truly a part of the world and the story, rather than just existing in it. There are many sheets like this one available online, but my good friend who is also a player in my game and a GM himself made this one. It's laid out well and allows a lot of information without taking up too much space.
While writing a whole novel of a backstory may be fun for your players, it's not easy to navigate as a GM. This sheet puts the big picture aspects of the character into clear focus. Feel free to download this PDF and use it in your games!