Potions, herbs and mushrooms have been part of D&D random tables since day one. So what’s one more table going to change? I find that many of the tables tend to match herbs with an effect. Sometimes, the effect is narrative, sometimes mechanic. I have used such herbs and fungal tables in my current campaign,Continue reading “Herbal remedies”
Tag Archives: OSR
Cave pools
Next entry in the “dungeon locations” series, is cave pools. Which are so stereotypical and classic that in fact players barely react to them. My players did in fact wander into a large, cavernous space with a knee-high resplendent pool of water. The encounter they had was memorable (a worm drake, defeated with a purifyContinue reading “Cave pools”
some house rules for old school essentials
After more than a year running OSE games, with a long-running Dolmenwood campaign still chugging along, I thought I’d jot down the house rules I found to improve enjoyment of the game at the table, along with some thoughts. The three “big ones” have been so helpful both in refreshing the game for veterans, andContinue reading “some house rules for old school essentials”
Simple alchemy
Somebody has to make a potion, a ritual, enchant a weapon, produce a device. It is clear, it will need some specific ingredients, and the appropriate instructions (barely legible on a mouldy anciant book) should be followed. Newer D&D editions have mechanisms for DC checks based on what needs to be done. As always, “oldContinue reading “Simple alchemy”
Birds and civilization
Did past me actually say a random table a week? What a naive thing to say. Truth is, I haven’t run out of stupid ideas, but rather, real life came for me and my spare time. But I hope I am back, or at least sufficiently free to post regularly. Where were we? Right, birds.Continue reading “Birds and civilization”
Tavern rogue NPC gallery
You need some shady characters in a tavern in a wretched hive of scum and villainy. Roll 1d12 per column to generate characters and backstory! Dice Character Looks Skill Last Job Bond/employer Keeps.. 1 Cornelia, a bounty hunter Wears foreign clothes, tries to avoid conversation Can open any common lock in seconds Escaped a prisonContinue reading “Tavern rogue NPC gallery”
Animal Companion Exploration
Two of my players have animal companions. An owl and a dog. The players want the animals to be able to explore. This table is for them. We will roll it whenever their companions are used in exploration in a dungeon or the wilderness. Dice Outcome when in wilderness Outcome when in dungeon 1-10 TheContinue reading “Animal Companion Exploration”
Graveyards
Today I went for a long walk and passed through multiple graveyards. Each one similar to the others, and yet different and unique in its own way. One was an area with ordered trees and even-cut grass where you could feel the atmosphere of respectful quiet. Another cemetery was a park, with wild grass, oldContinue reading “Graveyards”
Local delicacies
There are a lot of food, plant and mushroom tables in D&D and the OSR. Some of the best I have seen are in several issues of Wormskin magazine. The book “Fungi of the Far realms” also looks great, though I personally have not used it. Here is a table you can use to addContinue reading “Local delicacies”
Desert encounters
A random encounter table for desert hex, journey or adventure. The desert envisioned here is of the “saharan” variety, rather than something like the Arizona or central asian deserts. I am sure those types of environments also work – but a lot of stuff here kind of presupposes sand! Also, while making this table, IContinue reading “Desert encounters”
Random table of the week 