Tables for unusual items

Here's a set of table to help a DM craft a  the occasional odd or rare item for a campaign.

These tables are a broader take on my old ones used for scribing scrolls where the odd materials and substances were meant for components in inks for magical scrolls.Having to find 3 measures of Distilled Akashic Ichor might be prone to create more fantastic adventures than the simple need of 300 gp when scribing a scroll or brewing a potion.

Pick or select from Table 1, Table 2 and Table 3 for a quick but unusual item.

Table I- Treatment

1. Hardened
2. Clarified
3. Sublimated
4. Refined
5. Reified
6. Substantiated
7. Indurated
8. Distilled
9. Deactivated
10. Calcified
11. Suspended
12. Fermented
13. reduced
14. Fertilized
15. Neutralized
16. Activated
17. Annulated
18. Alloyed
19. Rarefied
20. Adulterated
21. Crystallized
22. Powdered
23. Filtered
24. Purified
25. Sterilized
26. Formulated
27. Obfuscated
28. Infused
29. Vaporized
30. Intensified

Table II- Source

1. Sanguine
2. Melancholic
3. Choleric
4. Phlegmatic
5. Cerebral
6. Draconic
7. Lunar
8. Necrotic
9. Ethereal
10. Essential
11. Chthonic
12. Elemental
13. Cyclopian
14. Infernal
15. Vampiric
16. Notional
17. Celestial
18. Demiurgic
19. Elastic
20. Soporific
21. Morphemic
22. Empathic
23. Incendiary
24. Cryonic
25. Ephemeral
26. Akashic
27. Aquarian
28. Eternal
29. Caustic
30. Chimerical

Table III- Form

1. Pigment
2. Earth
3. Essence
4. Unguent
5. Syrup
6. Oil
7. Dust
8. Jelly
9. Salts
10. Gum
11. Plasma
12. Dew
13. Tincture
14. Bile
15. Decoction
16. Pollution
17. Decay
18. Mummia
19. Tears
20. Ichor
21. Metal
22. Exhalation
23. Bloom
24. Fiber
25. Zygote
26. Resin
27. Nucleus
28. Spore
29. Ordure
30. Integument

What archaic treasure trove or evil darklord's laboratory wouldn't be dressed up with a crystal vial holding Infused Chthonic Oil or a rune covered dragon skull treated in a coating of Calcified Morphemic Jelly?

stooopid PC

stooopid pc not connecting to internet only smartphone.... what a huge painc

Up and Down

Traditionally dungeons have levels and as they go deeper and deeper into the ground they get get a higher numbered level. So if they go up do the levels still go up?

Maybe level up should be stories or floors just like in a building. Of course ypu gp that route and some folks are going to be afraid to walk up to the second floor when only 1st level.

What do you call the starting level of a dungeon that goes up and down?Entry level, 0-level, ground level ?
Each of those have some issues, a really big dungeon should have multiple entry points and they should allow one to bypass whoel levels from the outside so "Entry Level" might not be pleasing for all. 0-level is already taken for push-over normal men. Ground level really only works if the startign level is on the ground.

What's in a name and how can we have that mean something when going up or down?

The Urchin

A consolation class. You’ve rolled up a character and it’s still pretty bad considering your inner-munchkin. No ability scores with a bonus? Two or more ability score with a penalty actually? Well try playing an urchin.

An urchin is an unpleasant term for a child of the streets or the dungeon corridors. They are small unimpressive and rather slippery sorts.

The Urchin

Level	EXP	HitPoints	Wiggle/Escape	Go Unnoticed	Throw	Dirty Blow Or Taunt/Insult
1	0	1d3	30%	40%	0	10%
2	400	1d4	40%	50%	+1	15%
3	1000	1d5	50%	60%	+2	20%
4	1500	1d6	60%	70%	+2	25%
5	2100	1d7	40%	50%	+3	30%
6	3000	1d8	20%	30%	+4	35%

An urchin is still developing and as such gains an ability point at 2^nd, 4^th, and 6^th level.

HitPoints: Urchins do not gain a full hit-die each time they level up but they may re-roll hp using the die indicated for their new level.

Wiggle/Escape: whenever an urchin is grappled, held, or trapped they can make a single roll to wiggle out of danger.

Go Unnoticed: if an urchin is standing near an ally, or even someone not really aware of the urchin, the urchin can’t be targeted directly unless they make a physical attack or insult/taunt.

Throw: urchins don’t get better at combat except for throwing weapons, usually rocks.

Dirty blow: An urchin can convert any attack to a dirty blow. A dirty blow is made at -2 to attack and then the chance is rolled, if successful the target is slightly stunned for as many following rounds as the urchin has level. Slightly stunned is no action the round this attack is inflicted and -2 to hit and AC for the duration.

Taunt/Insult: An urchin can taunt someone forcing them to make a save or do something foolish even dangerous if a save vs grace fails (Will save for some games). This insult will can cause a loss of reputation equal to the urchins level if the victim fails a save and is of the same level or lower then the urchin.

Attack: urchins fight as normal men. 

Weapons: clubs, rocks, darts, knives, and daggers. Non prof penalty of -3

Armor: any but wiggle/escape is cut in half with any armor worn and the ability to go unnoticed is completely lost if wearing armor heavier then leather.

Maximum level for an Urchin is 6^th level. A character will have to find training in another class to advance in that new class. Wiggle/escape and going unnoticed chance is lost when gaining a new class. Dirty Blow chance decreases 10% each level gained in a new class, taunting/insulting is at half it’s chance.

Snow!

Nothing to do with gaming at all but it's in the high 60's very low 70's and I've still got about 3 or 4 square feet of snow in my yard in the middle of April.

Why so many levels?

Not why are there so many dungeon levels in some big dungeons but why are there so many character levels in D&Desque games?

Would it be more fun if the difference between the fledgling hero and the ultimate hero weren't so extreme?

The game is about discovery and looting stuff isn't it? Why is gaining levels such a big part of the game?

1d100 Treasure and Curiosities of the Simian Savanna

Some loot and oddities for wanderers and scavengers of the Simian Savanna.

1d100 Treasure and Curiosities of the Simian Savanna

1. Clay pot of candied ants.
2. Small package of smoked jungle larva.
3. Jar of dried termites.
4. A small glass jar of locust paste.
5. A cloth bag full of banana chips.
6. Fancy Brass Spyglass, x10 magnification.(for scouts and traders)
7. Brass Telescope engraved with sacred simian scripture.
8. Gold-plated Simian Chronometer. Separate hands and stops for days, hours, minutes and seconds
9. Fancy mechanical simian abacus with a sturdy felt wrapped case.
10. Leather and brass tube holding a map to a dig site in the Melted Waste.
11. Linked Engraved Placards. Seven metal panels engraved with route maps from one simian shrine to another.
12. Silver Chimp Prayer Bells.
13. Bone figurines of naked humans, “See No evil”,”Hear No Evil”, and “Speak No Evil”
14. Fine embroidered Orangutan prayer shawl
15. Brass meditation gong.
16. Wooden Triptych with popular sayings from the sacred simian scrolls.
17. Gold and glass cases securing antique copies of the first three sacred simian scrolls written on parchment of human skin.
18. A pottery figurine of The Speaker of Lore.
19. A Stone bust of a famous Simian General.
20. A tapestry bearing images of folk tales based on teaching of The Speaker of Lore.
21. Archaic obsidian sacrificial knife.
22. Archaic brass bleeding bowl.
23. Savage simian necklace of ape and human teeth.
24. Bone idol of exaggerated pregnant gorilla.
25. Retro-savage simian carving of simian warriors.
26. Fancy leather man-collar.
27. Industrial man-yoke. (To tether men to wagons, plows, and mechanical systems)
28. Man-goad; a staff with a feather on one side and dull brass spike or wooden knob on other.
29. Heavy Iron shackles with chain to link hands and feet.
30. Scourge of quality leather with well carved human bone handle.
31. Weighted throwing net.
32. Mummified human hand.
33. Pickled punk in fine glass vessel with fancy brass cap and feet.
34. A complete tattooed human hide.
35. A stuffed human. Possibly mounted to a hat rack or umbrella stand.
36. A human skull candy bowl.
37. Three segmented simian flail.
38. A fine gorilla foot-bow.
39. A simian hurlbat with silver inlay.
40. A fancy dueling sword with brass guard.
41. Engraved fighting razor (bears scenes such as dueling baboons or comical humans).
42. Double barreled silver inlayed simian blunderbuss.
43. Gorilla-grip five-shot revolver.
44. Silver plated and ivory handled pocket pistol. Handle engraved with scene of human hunting.
45. High caliber hunting rifle with ivory stock inlay and fancy brass scope.
46. A case of explosives.
47. A simian hand grenade.
48. A modern simian bolt-action rifle.
49. An antique gibbon-sized musket.
50. An antique set of dueling pistols with grips seemigly fit for human hands.
51. A pocket copy of the sacred scrolls.
52. A folio of human hating verse.
53. A heretical pamphlet of evolutionist theory.
54. A folio of bawdy simian erotica.
55. A veterinary guide to human health.
56. The complete works of William Shakespeare in the original archaic orangutan.
57. An illustrated youth guide to the seven wonders of the simian savanna.
58. A tome of traditionalist simian philosophy containing the archaic orangutan and modern translation with educational notation.
59. A Complete Record of Simian Invention. Three volume illustrated work published by the simian patent office in Central City prior to closing after the council of Lore Speakers decided everything that would ever be invented had been.
60. Anatomy of the Greater Simians. Complete anatomical drawings of Chimpanzee, Gorilla, and Orangutan with brief notes on other simians.
61. Tigerbat rug,
62. A wicker cage holding a stuffed Stingbat.
63. A gorilla –sized Rustbear cloak.
64. Stuffed jackalope.
65. Mounted lacquer coated scorpion.
66. Mounted wolfrat head.
67. Mounted cherub. A mock taxidermy special of human infant or non-sentient monkey with beast wings sewn on.
68. Complete stuffed Scorporilla.
69. Bronzed mutant skull.
70. Savage simian cyclorilla-skin headdress.
71. Glass Popsi bottle filled with colored sand.
72. A hollow resin statuette of King Krang climbing a building with a bottle of Popsi in hand.
73. Ancient work of art, a smiley face made of Popsi caps affixed to resin backing.
74. Ancient work of art, a figure of a hound made from pasta covered in gold paint.
75. A human doll that says “Mama”.
76. A gourd full of loose pieces of desert glass . (odd segments of natural glass retrieved from the Melted Wastes).
77. A portrait of The Speaker of Lore made from pieces of desert glass.
78. A fur comb with a fancy handle of desert glass.
79. Silver fur pick.
80. A silver pin with mounted desert glass “stone”.
81. Warm metal fork of ancient design.
82. A resin cigarillo holder.
83. A silver cigarillo case with embedded desert glass.
84. A humidor of jungle wood (possibly holding a stash of cigarillos).
85. A silver serving platter ringed in desert glass and polished stones.
86. A human mask made of wood, paper-mache, and natural hair.
87. A blank mannish mask made by secret simian cult of the wicked man.
88. Fine quality rubber mask of human face of unknown origin.
89. Fine quality rubber gloves made to look like a human hand.
90. Mock ape mask of unknown origin.
91. Fine metallic jumpsuit that will fit almost any human.
92. A parcel holding an expanding raft.
93. A small hand-sized ancient box of crystal, resin, and curious gubbins.
94. An ancient bottle of brandy.
95. A glass jar of booze. Recently brewed.
96. An ancient sealed can in good shape with no label. Could be fruit salad, soup, or veggies.
97. A holographic memory crystal.
98. A hand held two-way radio of unknown manufacture.
99. An ever-charged battery.
100. A tube of antiseptic paste.

Elf rings, Ethereal Gates and other portals

Just spit-balling and sharing here. A few ideas to beef up dungeons actually.

Fairy Ring- connects one fey space with another. Any elf or fairy can walk the inner perimeter three times and the walker and everyone else inside will teleport to the linked location. It is possible for anyone to follow the last user up to as many hours as they have hitdice after the last time a fairy used the fairy circle so fairy-folk don’t use them too frequently and will have both linked rings remote and secluded/secured.

Hurdle Hollow- a fairy place often erroneously called “faerie”. A hurdle hollow will appear to be a secluded place surrounded by hills or mountains and fey princes are known to build palaces in in these hidden dales. No one can leave a hurdle hollow by ordinary means principally a Fairy Ring is required but if bwg gain access to a hurdle hollow they will fashion goblin doors in remote corners on the edge of the hollow. Ethereal travel is only possible at the edge of a hollow and it is very dangerous as one can get lost very easily as hurdle hollows do not easily connect to anywhere else. If all the fairy rings are destroyed within a hurdle hollow the fairies and all else within will be trapped for 101 years. Teleportation will allow one to travel within a hurdle hollow but not to leave it.

Goblin Door- magical doors only visible to fairies and bwgs. A goblin door may connect two seemingly remote places, allow access to a goblin grotto or simply work like an ordinary doorway (that vanishes if the door is broken). Fey and bwg have a 4 in 6 chance of spotting a concealed goblin door, these are the “secret” doors elves are famed for finding. A knock spell cast on a 10’ run of wall containg an unseen goblin door will reveal the presence of the door to any mortal for as many full turns as the casters level, a second knock spell would be needed to open the door. Goblin doors are not invisible so magic that detects/reveals invisibility will not aid one in finding goblin door. Soemoneelse had an excellent post or two on goblin doors a couple years ago, if I find it I'll link it.

Goblin Grotto- a hidden pocket realm/dimension usually a cavernous space. A goblin grotto can only be accessed by goblin doors. Ethereal travel within a goblin door will only allow one to move about in an ethereal state within the grotto. Air will never run out in a goblin grotto and if there are environmental changes they will be linked to magical phenomena or be very slow and gradual. A goblin grotto may seem a great place to hide out but it is very unsafe as many a bwg can open a goblin door into a goblin grotto. Attempting to leave a Goblin Grotto by teleport is typically lethal having a 66% chance of entombing the would be teleporter in stone somewhere else.  The ability to dimension door inside a goblin grotto will allow one to exit the grotto near s goblin door they entered the grotto from but not to return (except by the door).

Ethereal Gate- connects a mundane location with an ethereal location. There must be a “waiting room” between two physical locations to travel between two mundane locations unless one is able to freely travel in the ethereal plane.

Ethereal Stair- appears to be a stair case to nowhere but each has a certain number of stairs that may be walked upon to travel to an ethereal space or link remote locations linked by very lengthy runs of ethereal stair. Attempting to teleport from an Ethereal Stair is lethal as 99% of the time the would be teleporter and all their gear dissipate into ethereal vapor and dimension door and other similar magics will only access a different step on the stair.