d4 Caltrops: d100 - Side Effects from Bargain Basement Potions
I n most of my Campaign Settings, I try to emphasize that Magic is a rather Rare and Wonderous thing. You’ll seldom find Arcane Artifacts ...| blog.d4caltrops.com
Blognard?| blog.d4caltrops.com
I n most of my Campaign Settings, I try to emphasize that Magic is a rather Rare and Wonderous thing. You’ll seldom find Arcane Artifacts ...| blog.d4caltrops.com
T here is a rather lovely bit of implied world building secreted away in the Spell Acquisition process for Magic Users in B/X and OSE. Whi...| blog.d4caltrops.com
C arousing as a means to gamble for Experience via Coin Spent is a pretty popular part of some Games, serving to slightly decorate the Cor...| blog.d4caltrops.com
Blognard?| blog.d4caltrops.com
W hen the Characters find themselves haplessly traipsing about in very strange places, be it Dolmenwood’s Realms of Fairy, the Gardens of...| blog.d4caltrops.com
Blognard?| blog.d4caltrops.com
Perhaps we have the venerable “Prancing Pony” to thank for it, but for some reason it seems that most Taverns seem to be a bit more memorable when given Names, and I often see those Names sharing those starting sounds. So, for an amusing distraction, I slapped together some samples to speed up the generation of these alliterating appellations. Finding the results a little thin for a d100 Table, I decided to pad it out with a hundred little “Features” or “Vignette” style elements t...| d4 Caltrops
It seems only natural that a Setting with various Magical Plants & Herbs might also have some Tantalizing Teas. Most of these I imagine work a bit more like Magical Potions (and I suppose in a pinch, most entries here could augment those lists) but are perhaps not as fragile when being transported in those Dangerous Places and therefore much less encumbering. They do usually require some additional preparation (Brewing) first however, so may not be as convenient in a pinch.| d4 Caltrops
For this Quick Table I decided to take the same approach that I embarked on for my Some City Streets Table. Naming things is something I’m very fond of, because they often make those Rumors/Hooks/NPC Directions a lot more interesting when they are tied to a Place. Places with Names have an easier time earning Reputations, let Maps do a little more work, and are sometimes a little more memorable than their anonymous counterparts. | d4 Caltrops
While I was gathering subjects for my prior Magic Tools post, I combed the more conventional Equipment Lists for some ideas for which additional items might benefit from a little Wonder. When I saw the Lantern, I knew that these would likely deserve their very own d100 Table, because I suspected my furtling would find fertile fields for all kinds of ideas for those.| d4 Caltrops
Below is a Random Table full of potential ideas for Financial Dilemmas and Predicaments that could keep those Characters a little more Cash-Strapped. I suppose this could be used for saddling those Starting Characters with a bit of Debt that could help explain their motivation to go in search of Treasure and its associated Dangerous Situations. Might also be handy in conjunction with Carousing or associated with more Picaresque Play, where time elapses between Adventures, and we need a conven...| d4 Caltrops
F or a little diversion, here’s a table that contains a hundred ideas for Hobbies/Pastimes that might be useful for adding to Characters. ...| blog.d4caltrops.com
Blognard?| blog.d4caltrops.com
J ourneys through those Wilder Places can sometimes be Challenging and Dangerous in addition to being full of Wonder and Discovery. When S...| blog.d4caltrops.com
H ere are some ideas for Magical Qualities that can be incorporated into some of the various Tools and Implements that might find their wa...| blog.d4caltrops.com
Here is a consolidated list of all entries for my OSE Encounter Activity Table Project (includes all Monsters in the Rules Tome or B/X). By...| blog.d4caltrops.com
Here is a table with some Monster Miens, inspired by the lovely Troika! Method of attaching a tiny table to the denizens of adventures in or...| blog.d4caltrops.com
During the earliest days of this Hobby a Referee named Mark Swanson devised a few Random Tables that would become known as “Swanson Abilities” or “Swanson Powers.” Rolling on these granted a Character an interesting minor feature or flaw that would set them apart from otherwise remarkably similar starting Characters of a given Class.| d4 Caltrops
It has happened to all of us who enjoy the Procedures of these earlier presentations: You throw those two dice for that Oracular Reaction Roll and are greeted with Box Cars. While the triangular distribution is designed to make this rather rare, a plucky Player Character with a higher Charisma Score can also often increase the frequency. | d4 Caltrops
Usually as I’m stocking a Dungeon or a Hex with a particular group of Humanoids, I want to attempt to associate them with a specific Faction or Group. Giving them this distinction makes for more useful Rumors, Hooks, and far more interesting interactions down the road when an encounter occurs in Play. Giving these groups Names makes it easier to refer to them, and I often like to try and add something Distinctive that might set them apart from other societies or similar Encounters.| d4 Caltrops
Another Magic Item table, but this one is focused a bit more on those objects of a more Sacred Significance. Some of these are said to grant powerful boons when venerated or carried by the faithful and each one is likely to be associated with extraordinary. Many of these consist of portions of the physical remains of Saints or other personages important to a given faith. It’s possible that a few of these might have made the pilgrimage to a position on this table from Characters that were pr...| d4 Caltrops
Managed to squeeze a pair of d100 Tables into this one. Occasionally, I find myself at a loss for a way to distinguish a specific Foe or NPC from another, and I find that embellishing their Armaments or Armor is sometimes enough to help this resonate with the Players. Particularly in Theatre of the Mind Combat Situations, having a distinctive feature for each participant can really help keep everyone on the same page and close some of those gaps that can develop.| d4 Caltrops
Just in time for Fairy Tale Friday again! Here’s a table containing more than a few Clues or Suspicious Signs that one might be dealing with someone who isn’t quite as they seem. Some are certainly more subtle than others, and a few might require creative engineering of the situation to provide the revelation. I feel that no Fairy’s Glamours should be flawless or perfect, however.| d4 Caltrops
Once the Characters retreat back to the safety of a Settlement from the depths of those Dismal Dungeons (hopefully laden with Treasure for their troubles) they will often find themselves wanting to engage in a bit of Downtime. Those “Rs” are common: Rest & Recuperation, Research, Re-supplying, Retainers, Rumormongering, or perhaps even some Revelry to Celebrate a successful Forray. But an additional “R” awaits the Referee: for with this passage of Time, it becomes necessary to Restock.| d4 Caltrops
More Fodder for Fighters, here’s a table I tapped away to provide some Details and Deeds that might speak to the History of any Swords they might come across in their Adventures. Sometimes embellishing a Blade with a few particulars in this way makes it much more Memorable and can even create a bit of intrigue or speak to the larger Setting. A Referee might decide to only add these to Swords of the Enchanted variety, but sometimes a little decoration like this goes a long way to differentia...| d4 Caltrops
Quick Table today with some “Rumors” or “Hooks” to provide a little more unsettling depth to some of those Settlements. I’ve endeavored to use the portion prior to the sainted em dash as a bit of a cue or clue, with the second half hopefully providing hints to the mysterious intrigue behind it. Spicing up some of those isolated Villages or Hamlets with a little strangeness or mystery can sometimes have the side effect of centering Adventure or the Player Focus within them, but that ...| d4 Caltrops
Acquiring enchanted Body Art seems like a fantastic opportunity for Foreground Growth or Improvements to a Character obtained in Play. I imagine quite a bit of Adventuring might be required to locate the highly specialized Arcane Artists who can preform this delicate work. Charging steep Prices or only deigning to design one as a reward for Services Rendered. The Process could potentially also involve some sourcing of unusual or difficult or dangerous to acquire Reagents/Ingredients for use i...| d4 Caltrops
Another quick Single-Use Magic Item Table! This time we tackle some Special Substances that aren’t administered by drinking like Potions but applied externally. I would imagine that this process might take some Time, and therefore not necessarily be something one would want to do in the heat of Battle, but perhaps more suited to before or after, or during a Rest. Like my prior table on Incense, having these kinds of highly specific, but limited in use Wonders available to Players can really...| d4 Caltrops
Part of my ongoing attempts to dive deeper into the Deity Disfavor Class feature of the Cleric, here are a hundred relatively minor rites and observances that might help decorate those daily liturgies of that Class in interesting ways. I wouldn’t necessarily approach these from an angle that purposefully penalizes the Player, but more as just a way to add a little more optional detail to their religious activities. These are much less dire than my recent Priesthood Penances & Cleric Contrit...| d4 Caltrops
It is often quite interesting to think about how some of the more frequently encountered Magics in these games might actually appear or manifest in one’s mind’s eye. Although it’s often swifter to simply throw the necessary dice and update various records, I find it far more flavorful to give some of them a bit more compelling seasoning from time to time.| d4 Caltrops
Previously touched on briefly in my Encounter Activities of Sprites, I thought it might be fun to produce a full d100 Table of various Minor Magics of an Inconvenient but mostly Inconsequential nature. Many of these are more Petty “Curse-style” Cantrips that could be at the disposal of various Faerie Folk or mined for inspiration for the various japes and escapades that they find so droll.| d4 Caltrops
It is often said in circles that discuss these older presentations, that two Characters that choose the Fighter Class often lack distinction from each other outside of their Scores, Equipment/Gear, and perhaps how generous that Hit Point roll was during Character Generation. In order to set them apart somewhat, I’ve created this table of One Hundred Traits that augment those Warriors ever-so-slightly, creating a little more distinction between them. Some of these might inform a Character’...| d4 Caltrops
C onfession Time: I’ve always found myself to be very fond of Spell Components, even though tracking such things is often a bit too fiddly...| blog.d4caltrops.com
F or a little while now, I have been working on a series of Flow Charts that illustrate some of the basic Procedures present in the B/X ru...| blog.d4caltrops.com
Here is a consolidated list of Random Tables on this Blog. Some are quite old indeed, and the most recent ones are always available through ...| blog.d4caltrops.com
Blognard?| blog.d4caltrops.com
H ere’s a d100 Table that features some additional ideas for starting a Session, Campaign, or Adventure outside of the rather timeworn “Ta...| blog.d4caltrops.com
T he following table contains a Hundred Ideas for unusual features that might be possessed by Tieflings or those of uniquely Fantastic Blo...| blog.d4caltrops.com
W ho doesn’t love a good Magical Ring? Compact and convenient (for those with Fingers or other places to wear them), here are a hundred ad...| blog.d4caltrops.com
O ne bit of Set Dressing that I often find myself scrambling to embellish are Bookshelves. I will place them frequently but am often at a ...| blog.d4caltrops.com
W hen it comes to Encounters with the Fair Folk, it’s always handy to have some idea of what they might want from Mortals in exchange for ...| blog.d4caltrops.com
R ecently I embarked on a little self-imposed Challenge. With some of the previews of the Dolmenwood Materials available to Backers, I no...| blog.d4caltrops.com
W hen it comes to Wands and Staffs, I have always preferred the ones that are a bit more unique than just the standard “single purpose” Sp...| blog.d4caltrops.com
T ime to polish off another Magic Item Post! These are always really fun to produce and this time we’re focusing a little bit more on re...| blog.d4caltrops.com
S erving as a bit of an “opposite” to my Magical Mishaps & Calamitous Curses table, the following entries are geared more toward those “...| blog.d4caltrops.com
M agical Potions and Dweomered Draughts are a time-honored tradition in these games. I like to provide some minor Clues to their Function ...| blog.d4caltrops.com
T he travelling Troubadour is a wonderful way to dispense Rumors and Information. Sometimes they even find themselves within Party Rosters...| blog.d4caltrops.com
I ’ve always been quite fond of placing Magical Portals leading to other Places and Planes in my games. During the Higher Levels of Play (...| blog.d4caltrops.com
O ften coming as a Surprise, by default in some earlier presentations (like B/X) transcribing Spells from captured Enemy Spellbooks isn’t ...| blog.d4caltrops.com
F requently, it might be useful to festoon an NPC with Fame or Infamy to create a more compelling Character. Whether it’s a Denizen’s Deed...| blog.d4caltrops.com
F rustratingly for some participants, within the standard rules for B/X and in other early presentations, there simply isn’t really a way ...| blog.d4caltrops.com
P roponents of Overloaded Encounter/Hazard Die might sometimes find themselves in a bit of a bind or at a loss for some of those Telegraph...| blog.d4caltrops.com
W hen painstakingly placing a happy Haven or convenient Village somewhere in a World, I often find myself needing a few things. Names are ...| blog.d4caltrops.com
R ecently inspired to finally polish off this Table off by a recent post from the I Cast Light Blog , I’ve often found myself needing some...| blog.d4caltrops.com
I nspired by a request from another Referee, here is a century of entries that can be used to explain why a the location attached to a Dun...| blog.d4caltrops.com
O ne of the ways some Referees handle Magic Item Identification is by imbuing the Items themselves with tiny Clues or Hints to their funct...| blog.d4caltrops.com
