Best organized Module to download?

[Sigurd]

I always have the sinking feeling that my games could be much better organized. In the previous version of FG I bought a few modules largely to learn to organize my own modules.

I'm not talking about stealing code or content, what I want is a good template module to emulate in my own games.

Does any one know of a good module to beg, borrow, buy or request?

Is there a recent collection of tutorials on how to actually design and build modules etc for the DM?

If you have any nifty tricks you're proud of post them in this thread. If you know where I can get a really solidly put together campaign module I'd appreciate that too.


Here's My Tip:

Dont overlook Joshuha's chat log scrubber.

https://forums.fantasygrounds.com/forums/showpost.php?p=56221&postcount=1

It installs as a program in the FG2 program folder (Elsewhere on Vista) and I found it much more useful than I thought I would. Who wants to sort through a million 'campaign saved' messages in a great big chat log?
One thing I really appreciate is it gives you the option of breaking up the chatlog into different html files by date. Searching the HTML files for keywords is much faster and really useful. I keep a directory with all the processed files and if I wonder what an NPC said or some detail I do a keyword search.


eg. I remember the innkeeper was called 'bilbo'. What did he say his daughter was called?

1. Go to the directory you stored the html files in with Windows Explorer and press "<ctrl> f" or select search.
2. Search inside the files for "bilbo" and isolate the files from the appropriate days.
3. Load up your favourite Editor and let it look for 'Bilbo' in thos files. When you find the bit of conversation you'll know what the players should know and when they knew it.

Looking forward to links or info to fill this thread. Please try to keep it on topic.


Sigurd

[mr_h]

A while ago my brother sent me what he used for his plots: The Official WOTC 'guidelines' for making modules. Granted, this wasn't done in Fantasy Grounds style, but it was a way they organized modules for print. I can't seem to find it and he's on vacation, but it might be found online somewhere (I'll ask him when he returns).

It might not be the answer, but it might help with some organization.

Me, I tend to make my modules too long. I have to work on that...

[Sorontar]

There was a thread on these forums about setting up a standard for module/adventure creation. How to link images, how best to work with story indexes etc.

I'll try and find it.

[Sigurd]

Docplutonium posted an adventure he converted from the Farland website.

https://www.fantasygrounds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7238

It has all the text and characters inside of a library module. This is very very neat. No module stuff to fill the notebook. The notebook can be used for in game notes!


I'd appreciate anyone interested in this thread taking a look at the generously shared module as a point of reference for what to do and not do. Please try and make any criticism positive - share improvements not attitude.

I'm grateful to doc for putting it out there!


Sigurd

[mr_h]

I took a quick peek at it (dont have much time tonight). I'm not sure I like having an adventure in the Library so much myself. There have been times I've done a module via the Story portion and made extra tabs for each chapter (That way I only have one scene/chapter worth of data on the screen at a time). Plus, I tend to hit the Library information a lot, so I'd find myself constantly switching between the actual adventure and the Library.

I'll have to take some more time tomorrow to dig into the module itself to see how it's laid out however. Just cause I don't care for the data in the Library, doesnt mean it's not laid out well:)

[Sigurd]

In my books, data in the library has a huge advantage for an imported module. It doesn't interfere with how I want to use the tabs! I know where everything pertaining to the module is and anything I add is clearly going to be in the tabs not the library.


I can understand about your own modules having a certain style but there are so few tabs that I think any imported other persons module should use the library. Imagine having seven modules loaded and doing it any other way.


Sigurd.

[Andugus]

/shameless plug mode on.
White Haired Man put Well Met in Kith'takharos into a Fantasy Ground II module. Perhaps our work may serve as an example for you on what you like and dislike. You can purchase just the module right here at the Fantasy Ground Store (https://www.fantasygrounds.com/store/product.xcp?id=WHM-KS01).
/shameless plug mode off.

[Sigurd]

/shameless plug mode on.
White Haired Man put Well Met in Kith'takharos into a Fantasy Ground II module. Perhaps our work may serve as an example for you on what you like and dislike. You can purchase just the module right here at the Fantasy Ground Store (https://www.fantasygrounds.com/store/product.xcp?id=WHM-KS01).
/shameless plug mode off.

I will consider that if you tell me how it organized differently (better than) docplutonium's free module:

https://www.fantasygrounds.com/forums...ead.php?t=7238 (https://www.fantasygrounds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7238)

See message above


Sigurd

[Griogre]

Sigurd, I presume you have seen the FG2 version of the Wizard's Amulet. I'll admit I consider this to be "old" style as I would not personally make a module this way now. However it's organization is pretty good.

The big differance I would make now is I don't do a list of links - I use map pins on the map to fulfill that requirement. I've found that in a large adventure it is much easier to run the game off of the map than a list.

I connect the map pin to a storybook entry which in turn links to anything you need for that encounter: personalities, images, items. Thus a map pin links to a storybook entry that encapulates everything you need for that encounter in one place. Thus at any one time I usually only have the map, storybook entry and combat tracker open.

[Sigurd]

I appreciate the reference Griogre. My version of the Wizards Amulet wasn't even packaged as a module though. I'm really interested in the whole process from beginning to end. I'm content with docplutonium's example so far.


Sigurd

[Xorn]

I use a combination of story entries and map pins. Story entries make it easier to read through the logical progression of an adventure, while the pins make it easier to get what you want when you want it, without searching.

I just finished putting in the Keep on the Shadowfell module (I mean the whole thing, from first fart to final flush), and I was thinking about posting a tutorial of how I design my adventure modules. Sounds like there's some interest in something like this.

[Sigurd]

That sounds like a great idea. It's not just for me. I feel like there is not enough DM support for the program. Lots of people asking for DMs but not much effort put into making DMing more accessible.


Sigurd

[Oberoten]

Mhm. For a skillbased system this might involve such thing as clickable skills and attack/defence rolls etc on NPCs...

[Sigurd]

Mhm. For a skillbased system this might involve such thing as clickable skills and attack/defence rolls etc on NPCs...

Clickable stuff would be more a function of the ruleset wouldn't it?


Sigurd

[Oberoten]

That was pretty much my point actually. :)

GM functionality level must be implemented at ruleset level. That said, new drawing tools, ability to group tokens would be very very welcome when I GM.

[docplutonium]

** Blush **

Awww shucks! Thanks for the nice words!!!

But to tell the truth....

I couldn't figure out how to do modules. It was hair pullingly frustrating combing the forums and really getting a clear understanding as to what was going on...

So I did it the way that worked best for me. Maybe I didn't do it the official way, but I did it the only way I could figure out that worked.

Are you saying there is a better way ??? Love to see it...
Doc