This is a site for discussing roleplaying games. Have fun doing so, but there is one major rule: do not discuss political issues that aren't directly and uniquely related to the subject of the thread and about gaming. While this site is dedicated to free speech, the following will not be tolerated: devolving a thread into unrelated political discussion, sockpuppeting (using multiple and/or bogus accounts), disrupting topics without contributing to them, and posting images that could get someone fired in the workplace (an external link is OK, but clearly mark it as Not Safe For Work, or NSFW). If you receive a warning, please take it seriously and either move on to another topic or steer the discussion back to its original RPG-related theme.

Great Tables from Great (or not so great) RPGs -- name yours!

Started by Caesar Slaad, June 01, 2007, 09:32:41 AM

Previous topic - Next topic

Caesar Slaad

As some of you may be aware, in the first edition of Mutants & Mastermind features some tables that would be familiar to anyone who played Villains & Vigilantes.

Familiar because they are basically an exact copy. (To expound, these were a set of event tables that, if you rolled a few times on them, would give you a series of events that sounded like a pretty compelling comic of the era.)

Steve Kenson apologized profusely, publicly to Jeff Grubb for the slip because he hand copied them out of V&V and had forgotten where he had gotten them later.

As silly as that sounds, I knew exactly where he was coming from. Because you see, I also hand-copied those exact same notes and put them in my supers-game binder to use with my preferred supers game (DC Heroes, if anyone cares.)

Another table that I ripped off out of a game I never used is the Mission and Motivation table out of Spacemaster. Though the game never took off for us, this table was a list of possible objectives (which can be turned into missions for the PCs or goals for NPCs), with different columns for different character types. Great for both generating adventure ideas and goals for NPCs in SF RPGs of all stripes; my SFRPG of the day was MegaTraveller.

So what other great tables are out there worthy of being yanked out of their RPG and used in other games?
The Secret Volcano Base: my intermittently updated RPG blog.

Running: Pathfinder Scarred Lands, Mutants & Masterminds, Masks, Starfinder, Bulldogs!
Playing: Sigh. Nothing.
Planning: Some Cyberpunk thing, system TBD.

ElectroKitty

The retard strength table from F.A.T.A.L. was a great way to link strength of body to weakness of mind....
 

Warthur

The Rolemaster (2nd edition) critical hit tables. (Heck, using them in other games is what they were designed for in the first place.)
I am no longer posting here or reading this forum because Pundit has regularly claimed credit for keeping this community active. I am sick of his bullshit for reasons I explain here and I don\'t want to contribute to anything he considers to be a personal success on his part.

I recommend The RPG Pub as a friendly place where RPGs can be discussed and where the guiding principles of moderation are "be kind to each other" and "no politics". It\'s pretty chill so far.

Sosthenes

This might not qualify, but I kinda liked AEG's Toolbox book.

Other than that, I'm not really a table guy, especially when it comes to cut and paste from different games.
 

Werekoala

Lan Astaslem


"It's rpg.net The population there would call the Second Coming of Jesus Christ a hate crime." - thedungeondelver

Warthur

Oh, here's another one: Empire of the Petal Throne (the original TSR version, not the Tri-Stat version by Guardians of Order) had a table which let you randomly pick a patron and a type of mission for the party. Pretty handy if you need to improvise something on the fly.
I am no longer posting here or reading this forum because Pundit has regularly claimed credit for keeping this community active. I am sick of his bullshit for reasons I explain here and I don\'t want to contribute to anything he considers to be a personal success on his part.

I recommend The RPG Pub as a friendly place where RPGs can be discussed and where the guiding principles of moderation are "be kind to each other" and "no politics". It\'s pretty chill so far.

arminius

I just linked these tables from AD&D. Mainly because it has the random harlot table. I know, it's vaguely (or not so vaguely) un-PC to focus on prostitutes, yet the language is just so funny and iconic. I can't read "brazen strumpet" without hearing a jazzy horn riff, or "slovenly trull" without imagining a 1e-style troll in a skimpy slip, high heels, excessive makeup, maybe a cigarette dangling from its...lips?

EDIT: I guess I should have added "(un?)intentionally evocative" to what I like about Gygax's language.

Pierce Inverarity

Off the top of my hat, two adventure-generating tables come to mind:

There's James Maliszewski's pulp adventure tables in Gear Krieg.

And there's Clinton Nixon's online fantasy oracle, which I've successfully used in the past:

http://www.crngames.com/oracle/index

Oh and on a different note, 77 Starship Quirks:

http://www.estarcion.com/kaleja/77quirks.html

(Bit too mundane overall, but Inappropriate Compuers and Tacky Decor have potential.)
Ich habe mir schon sehr lange keine Gedanken mehr über Bleistifte gemacht.--Settembrini

RPGPundit

Its not from an RPG, but then again neither are some of the others suggested:

Here's The RPGPundit's Random Alcoholic Beverage Name Table

RPGPundit
LION & DRAGON: Medieval-Authentic OSR Roleplaying is available now! You only THINK you\'ve played \'medieval fantasy\' until you play L&D.


My Blog:  http://therpgpundit.blogspot.com/
The most famous uruguayan gaming blog on the planet!

NEW!
Check out my short OSR supplements series; The RPGPundit Presents!


Dark Albion: The Rose War! The OSR fantasy setting of the history that inspired Shakespeare and Martin alike.
Also available in Variant Cover form!
Also, now with the CULTS OF CHAOS cult-generation sourcebook

ARROWS OF INDRA
Arrows of Indra: The Old-School Epic Indian RPG!
NOW AVAILABLE: AoI in print form

LORDS OF OLYMPUS
The new Diceless RPG of multiversal power, adventure and intrigue, now available.

joewolz

I used to use GURPS's crazy hit location table.

Then I bought a d12 that had hit locations on it.
-JFC Wolz
Co-host of 2 Gms, 1 Mic

ColonelHardisson

The Smartass Smackdown Table from HackMaster. A GM's best friend, whether you use the 3rd edition version or the wimpified 4th edition version.
"Illegitimis non carborundum." - General Joseph "Vinegar Joe" Stilwell

4e definitely has an Old School feel. If you disagree, cool. I won\'t throw any hyperbole out to prove the point.

Caesar Slaad

Quote from: joewolzI used to use GURPS's crazy hit location table.

Then I bought a d12 that had hit locations on it.

Heh... I have that one. Simple, but I rather like it.
The Secret Volcano Base: my intermittently updated RPG blog.

Running: Pathfinder Scarred Lands, Mutants & Masterminds, Masks, Starfinder, Bulldogs!
Playing: Sigh. Nothing.
Planning: Some Cyberpunk thing, system TBD.

joewolz

Quote from: Caesar SlaadHeh... I have that one. Simple, but I rather like it.

I like simple in my games.  It works GREAT for Zombie games...
-JFC Wolz
Co-host of 2 Gms, 1 Mic

Dr Rotwang!

Quote from: Caesar SlaadAs some of you may be aware, in the first edition of Mutants & Mastermind features some tables that would be familiar to anyone who played Villains & Vigilantes.
I'm not aware.  Which tables?
Dr Rotwang!
...never blogs faster than he can see.
FONZITUDE RATING: 1985
[/font]

Claudius

I really love critical/damage tables, as in Rolemaster, Hârnmaster or The Riddle of Steel. I just love them. In this regard Rolemaster is the first one and the best.
Grając zaś w grę komputerową, być może zdarzyło się wam zapragnąć zejść z wyznaczonej przez autorów ścieżki i, miast zabić smoka i ożenić się z księżniczką, zabić księżniczkę i ożenić się ze smokiem.

Nihil sine magno labore vita dedit mortalibus.

And by your sword shall you live and serve thy brother, and it shall come to pass when you have dominion, you will break Jacob's yoke from your neck.

Dios, que buen vasallo, si tuviese buen señor!