Random Campaign Charts

[JNAProductions]

Sometimes, you get a little stuck on ideas. Sometimes, you need a kick in the rump to figure out where to go, or what to make.

Does anyone have any good random campaign charts? They could be for anything, big or small, but I'd like to get some resources.

[Lacco]

Sometimes, you get a little stuck on ideas. Sometimes, you need a kick in the rump to figure out where to go, or what to make.

Does anyone have any good random campaign charts? They could be for anything, big or small, but I'd like to get some resources.

I have a whole collection of random tables, found everywhere around the net. Most of them is - interestingly - for OSR/old DnD editions, but they work as good starter.

I liked Kellri's Encounters Reference (CDD#4). Hyper-halfling's book of lists is nice for flavour, but also provides some ideas that can be easily turned into hooks.

For generators, can't still find anything better than Donjon. The name generators are a bit lacking, but the other generators are really fun to play with and again, provide a good starter.

For city-based campaigns, Midkemia Press Cities is a good random idea generator. Most of the encounters can be used to spice up normal gameplay, but many work as campaign hooks.

If dungeons is what you desire, I got great results with How to Host a Dungeon (there's already 2nd edition, haven't tried that one). I know, I know: DMs should make their dungeons, but it's a fun game on its own and the results I got were fun to play through.

The question I should begin with: are you looking for random charts to generate a whole capaign/ideas for campaigns? Or are you looking for just about anything that will prompt creativity?

[thirdkingdom]

I'm a big fan of Matt Finch's Tome of Adventure Design. It's got random tables for everything: from creating unique monsters to coming up with adventure designs to populating rooms with interesting features to designing dungeons.

[JNAProductions]

The question I should begin with: are you looking for random charts to generate a whole capaign/ideas for campaigns? Or are you looking for just about anything that will prompt creativity?

Yes. :P

Anything, really. Are any of these online resources? And if yes, could you link them in this thread?

Thirdkingdom, thank you for the link, though I'm hesitant to drop money on something that I'm not sure I'll make that much use of.

[thirdkingdom]

Yes. :P

Anything, really. Are any of these online resources? And if yes, could you link them in this thread?

Thirdkingdom, thank you for the link, though I'm hesitant to drop money on something that I'm not sure I'll make that much use of.

That's fair. I'll second Kellri's stuff; there's a wealth of information in there. Dungeon Dozen is a great blog chock-filled with d12 tables to spice up your game!

[Darth Credence]

Have you looked at http://donjon.bin.sh/ ? I use them to come up with names that fit within a theme, but they have a lot of things they randomize. Everything from NPCS to taverns to an entire "My Random Campaign" - that one's not very detailed, but it can work as a kick in the butt. I kind of like the "Grim Fates" generator down under the "weird" section. Sometimes things get repeated a lot - I got vivisected by a mad scientist and by a degenerate scientist on the same table once, but they give you ten at a time to either roll from or pick from, so the random repeat doesn't bother me.

[Lacco]

Donjon has been mentioned. That's my no.1 go-to online generator.

Kellri's blog download section is also something to peruse. Encounters Reference (CDD#4) has some interesting tables.

Telecanter's receding rules has some table goodies too.

Hyper-halfling's book of lists is paid resource, but I think it's worth the 5$ I bought it for.

Midkemia Press cities is available at their page for 5$. There is a free sample, which details meeting a god/godess and barbarians in the city. See for yourself, judge if it's worth it. It's somewhat system-neutral.

How to Host a Dungeon has a free demo, there are like 2 threads with the game here on GitP. It's fun to create a dungeon based on some rules - sometimes it's exactly what takes you out of a rut.

Master the dungeon has a good collection of online goodies. Obligatory Link

I once made a full dungeon from these 100 rooms (did not use all of them). No idea what the original source is.

For maps, Dyson's works are great as inspiration.

Also, the Bits of Darkness (I've seen I and II) are quite interesting. Also relatively system-neutral.

[Saintheart]

Do yourself a favour and take a browse through Elfmaids and Octopi. You want lists of random campaign stuff, he's got them. Mostly old-school, but inventive and inspirational. Indeed his front page has a d100 list of missions from your average post-apocalyptic city that might give you some ideas.