Wilderness Monsters by Season

To make up for the Hottie Elf Chick madness sweeping through the ranks of us old fogies, here's an encounter table based on the current season. Yes, it's d76. Oh well.

	Spring (C)	Summer (L)	Fall (C)	Winter (L)
1	Green Dragon	Red Dragon	Black Dragon	White Dragon
2	Elf (CG)	Dwarf (LG)	Elf (CG)	Dwarf (LG)
3	Dwarf (N)	Elf (N)	Dwarf (N)	Elf (N)
4	Dryad	Dryad	Efreet (N)	Djinn (N)
5	Ettin	Efreeti (LE)	Ettin	Ghost
6	Gargoyle	Gnome (LG)	Gargoyle	Gnome (LG)
7	Ghoul	Goblin	Ghoul & Ghast	Goblin
8	Gnoll	Goblin & Hobgoblin	Gnoll	Goblin & Hobgoblin
9	Gnome (N)	Hobgoblin	Gnome (N)	Hobgoblin
10	Dwarf & Gnome (N)	Dwarf & Gnome (LG)	Dwarf & Gnome (N)	Dwarf & Gnome (LG)
11	Elf & Gnome (N)	Hell Hounds	Elf & Gnome (N)	Gorgon
12	Grey Ooze	Black Pudding	Harpy	Hell Hounds
13	Harpy	Hydra	Hydra	Kobald
14	Jackalwere	Kobald	Jackalwere	Goblin & Kobald
15	Gnoll & Jackalwere	Goblin & Kobald	Gnoll & Jackalwere	Hobgoblin & Kobald
16	Leprechaun	Hobgoblin & Kobald	Lizard Man	Goblin, Hobgoblin &Kobald
17	Lizard Man	Goblin, Hobgoblin &Kobald	Werebear	Lamasu
18	Werebear	Lammasu	Werboar	Wereboar
19	Werewolf	Lizard Man	Werewolf	Manticore
20	Berserker	Wereboar	Berserker	Berserker
21	Nomad	Manticore	Nomad	Dervish
22	Brigand	Bandit	Brigand	Bandit
23	Pilgrim (N)	Dervish	Pilgrim (N)	Pilgrim (N)
24	Pilgrim (CG)	Nomad	Pilgrim (CG)	Pilgrim (LG)
25	Pilgrim (CE)	Pilgrim (N)	Pilgrim (CE)	Pilgrim (LE)
26	Merchant	Pilgrim (LG)	Merchant	Merchant
27	Spirit Naga	Pilgrim (LE)	Spirit Naga	Nightmare
28	Minotaur	Merchant	Minotaur	Nymph
29	Nymph	Night Hag	Night Hag	Orc
30	Ogre	Orc	Ochre Jelly	Ogre Magi
31	Ogre & Gnoll	Ogre Magi	Ogre	Pilgrim of & Ogre Magi
32	Orc	Pilgrim of Geryon & OgreMagi	Ogre & Gnoll	Pilgrims of & Rakshasa
33	Orc & Ogre	Pixie	Orc	Ogre Magi & Goblins
34	Shadow	Pilgrims of & Rakshasa	Orc & Ogre	Ogre Magi & Hobgoblins
35	Gynopshinx	Rakshasa & Hobgoblins	Purple Worm	Ogre Magi, Goblins &Hobgoblins
36	Giant Spider (CE)	Gynosphinx	Giant Spider (CE)	Ogre Magi & Bugbears
37	Sprite	Rakshasa, Goblins &Hobgoblins	Roc	Ogre Magi, Goblins,Hobgoblins & Kobalds
38	Stirge	Rakshasa	Satyr	Remorhaz
39	Giant Toad	Stirge	Stirge	Slyph
40	Treant	Giant Toad	Giant Toad	Ice Toad
41	Troglodyte	Wight	Treant	Wight
42	Troll	Wolf	Troglodyte	Wolf
43	Will-o-wisp	Dire Wolf	Troll	Dire Wolf
44	Vampire	Wraith	Vampire	Winter Wolf
45	Wolf	Rakshasa	Shadow	Roc
46	Dire Wolf	Shedu	Will-o-wisp	Wraith
47	Yeti	Skeleton	Skeleton & Shadow	Shedu
48	Skeleton	Skeleton & Zombie	Skeleton	Skeleton
49	Skeleton & Zombie	Spectre	Skeleton & Zombie	Skeleton & Zombie
50	Skeleton & Shadow	Criosphinx	Skeleton & Shadow	Spectre
51	Shadow & Zombie	Hippogriff	Shadow & Zombie	Criosphinx
52	Androsyphinx	Stone Giant	Androsphinx	Yeti
53	Hieracosphinx	Fire Giant	Hieracosphinx	Griffon
54	Griffon	Barbed Devil	Hippogriff	Frost Giant
55	Blue Dragon	Horned Devil	Cloud Giant	Ice Devil
56	Hill Giant	Ankheg	Storm Giant	Brownie
57	Ankheg	Basilisk	Centaur	Blink Dogs
58	Basilisk	Brownie	Chimera	Bugbear
59	Bugbear	Blink Dogs	Bugbear	Cockatrice
60	Bulette	Pilgrims of Dispater	Cockatrice	Pilgrims of Dispater
61	Centaur	Pilgrims of Geryon	Pilgrims of Jubilex	Pilgrims of Geryon
62	Chimera	Displacer Beasts	Pilgrims of Orcus	Doppleganger
63	Pilgrims of Jubilex	Pilgrims of Dispater &Barbed Devil	Djinn	Displacer Beasts
64	Pilgrims of Orcus	Pilgrims of Geryon &Horned Devil	Doppleganger	Pilgrims of Dispater &Horned Devil
65	Djinn	Fire Giant & Hobgoblin	Displacer Beasts	Frost Giant & Hobgoblin
66	Hill Giant & Orc	Fire Giant, Hobgoblin &Goblin	Frost Giant & Orc	Frost Giant, Hobgoblin &Goblin
67	Hill Giant, Ogre & Orc	Stone Giant & Orc (N)	Frost Giant, Ogre & Orc	Pilgrim of Geryon & OgreMagi
68	Hill Giant & Gnoll	Stone Giant & Dire Wolf	Frost Giant & Gnoll	Pilgrim of Dispater &Ogre Magi
69	Hill Giant & Bugbear	Pilgrim of Dispater &Ogre Magi	Frost Giant & Bugbear	Pilgrim of Geryon & IceDevil
70	Hill Giant, Bugbear &Gnoll	Brownie & Pixie	Frost Giant, Bugbear &Gnoll	Pilgrim of Dispater & IceDevil
71	Hill Giant & Ettin	Wraith & Shadow	Hill Giant & Orc	Goblin & Bugbear
72	Basilisk & Gargoyle	Spectre & Shadow	Hill Giant, Ogre & Orc	Wraith & Shadow
73	Troll & Troglodyte	Dryad & Pixie	Hill Giant & Gnoll	Spectre & Shadow
74	Pilgrims of Orcus &Shadows	Gnome & Pixie	Hill Giant & Bugbear	Ghost & Shadow
75	Centaur & Sprite	Spectre & Shadow	Hill Giant, Bugbear &Gnoll	Brownie & Gnome
76	Treant & Sprite	Wraith & Shadow	Hill Giant & Ettin	Yeti & Wolf

Refer to OGL if required.

AD&D early magic items

Another long table - didn't want to post it here. So here's the ubiquitous PDF.

This one is two-hundred elements, each a magic item that is worth less than 1000 experience points as per the DMG (using some items from UA also). Made it for myself to use - I don't like placing magic items personally, rather let chance decide - but hate fudging a roll of 17 on Miscellaneous Magic Table I...or the folding boat...

While on the subject - I have never understood the experience point reward for magic items. The only thing I can think of is that it was a method to ramp characters up from low levels. XP for gold? I'm OK with that (particularly with carousing, spell research, etc...) - but the magic item providing experience still sort of bugs me on some level. Particularly this: as the power of the magic item increases, so does the experience reward. Then, when you get those items that are the top of the heap (artifacts & relics) - THERE'S NO EXPERIENCE REWARD!

Have always been tempted to reinterpret the experience reward for magic items as a minimum required experience to use the item. This makes a little more sense to me - that one cannot even use a Staff of Power (an extreme example - experience point value: 12,000) until 3rd level. This would mean that a fighter couldn't use a +1 sword until they'd got some 400 experience under their belt the hard way.

Tempting...tempting...but I think that recrafting the tables to suit my campaign is better than imposing arbitrary limitations on what characters can do. Am I learning to say yes?

Maybe. Kinda.

Breaking AD&D character classes to itty bitty bits

Why not? It's the kind of question one usually asks after the fact.

So one night a while back I made a table whose elements in a few hours went beyond d100 range, but stayed far shy of d1000. I stopped somewhere in the 150-160 number, listing out discreet elements of the AD&D character classes. An heretical idea had seized me - instead of picking a class, players make 2-5 rolls on this table, and these elements would define the class. Magic user that can disguise like assassin? Cross your fingers and roll! With the right five rolls, the generated class could conceivably fight like fighter, spell like a cleric AND a magic user, sneak like thief, and get druid level powers (as their career of near assured success continued).

So yeah, the table got huge. Throw'd in race-specific stuff, spell-like powers, magic resistance, starting wealth and magic items, etc... I started getting bored. And then I started trying to write it up as a table. Too many elements for d144 (d12 tens, d12 ones)... oh, I should edit it down... I think I got tired.

There's recurring board-debate on such pressing issues of class-as-mechanically-immutable-archetype vs. 'why caint my wizard wear a sword?', etc, etc. My response would be to have 2-5 rolls made on some refined version of this sprawling, half-baked list, to see exactly which classes have their turfs (turves?) tread upon.

I largely forgot about it, and then found it today while cleaning up. Enjoy. It's just a list...
fiddly fiddly fiddly!

1. +1 to hit with blunt weapons
2. +1 to hit, +1 damage with one melee weapon
3. +2 damage with one melee weapon
4. +1 damage with missile weapons
5. Gain use of weapon not normally allowed (or +1 to hit with 1 weapon if weapon use unrestricted)
6. +1 to hit with missile weapons
   
7. +1 dexterity reaction/attacking adjustment
8. +1 to hit with one melee weapon
9. Turn undead as cleric of same level
10. +1 constitution hit point adjustment, +10% system shock/resurrection survival
11. +1 to hit with spears/polearms
12. Disarm at +2
13. +1 damage with one melee weapon
    
14. Turn undead as cleric of level/3
15. Turn undead as cleric of level/2
16. Has d3 doses of poison and +2 on saves vs poison
17. Has d6 doses of poison
18. +2 to hit with one melee weapon
    
19. Backstab as thief (if already a thief, may use assassination table when appropriate)
    
20. Infravision (30', or +30' if already has infravision)
21. +1 dexterity defensive adjustment
    
22. +1 wisdom magic attack adjustment
23. +1 to hit with on type of melee weapon (axes, swords, polearms, etc)
24. All saving throws at +1
25. All saving throws at +2
26. Immune to disease
    
27. Immune to poison
28. Immune to petrification
29. “Lay on hands” as a paladin
30. Surprise as a ranger
31. Dodge missiles as a monk (if a monk, saving roll at +2)
32. Track as a ranger at half listed chances (if a ranger, add 5% to chances)
33. Track as a ranger (if a ranger, add 10% to chances)
34. Open lock and find/remove traps as thief of same level (if a thief or monk, add 10% to chances)
35. Read languages as a thief (if a thief/assassin/monk, add 10% to chance)
36. May use assassination table at ½ listed chance (if assassin, improve chance by 5%)
37. Disguise as assassin (if an assassin, reduce chance of detection by ½)
38. Infravision (60' or +60' if already has infravision)
39. +1 to hit against one type of creature
40. AC improved by 4 when fighting one type of creature
41. +1 to hit and AC improved by 2 when fighting one type of creature
42. Secret concealed door detection as elf
43. Surprise as elf
44. +1 (+5%) to reaction rolls
45. +2 (+10%) to reaction rolls
46. +2 to hit with thrown weapons
47. +1 to hit, +1 damage with thrown weapons
    
48. Knows 1 additional language per 4 points of intelligence
49. +1 to hit with melee weapons
    
50. Half chance of getting lost
51. +10% improvement to climb walls*
52. Herbal lore allows location and preparation of minor toxins and physicks
53. +d4 hit points
54. +2 hit points
55. +d6 hit points
56. +4 hit points
57. Internal clock allows unerring sense of passage of time
58. Earth detections as a dwarf (if already a dwarf, improve all chances by 10%)
59. Earth detections as a gnome (if already a gnome, improve all chances by 10%)
60. Reduce final price of weapons purchased by ½
61. Reduce final price of armor purchased by ½
62. Reduce final price of animals, equipment and supplies by ½
63. Improve initiative by 1
64. Does barehand damage as a monk of level-2 (if already a monk, +1 to hit barehand)
65. Does barehand damage as a monk of level-1 (if already a monk, +1 to hit barehand)
66. Does barehand damage as a monk of own level (if already a monk, +1 to hit barehand)
67. +1 to hit with missile weapons, may extend range of missiles by 25%
68. Improve AC of armor worn by 1
69. May use a shield against 1 more attack than normal.
70. Natural Horseman
71. Outdoorsman
72. Encumbrance penalties halved
73. May use a shield as a off-hand weapon (treat as a club)
74. +10% pick-pockets*
75. Add open hand attack damage to a successful hit with a melee weapon
76. +5% Move Silently and Hide in Shadows*
77. +10% Move Silently*
78. +10% Hide in Shadows*
79. Re-roll any fumble. If second roll hits, no damage is done, but fumble is ignored.
80. Heal at x2 normal rate
81. +10% Hear Noise*
82. No off-hand penalty applied while using two weapons
83. +1 on saves against any source of heat/fire or cold
84. +2 on saves against any source of cold
85. +3 on saves against any source of cold
86. +2 on saves against any source of heat/fire
87. +3 on saves against any source of heat/fire
88. +2 on saves against any source of heat/fire or cold
89. +2 on saves against any source of electricity
90. +3 on saves against any source of electricity
91. +2 on saves vs poison
92. +1 on save vs poison per 5 constitution
93. Decrease chance of surprise by 1 and gain +4 to hit against surprised opponents
    
94. Number of henchmen x1.5, loyalty base +10%
95. Regenerate 1 hit point per minute unless killed (must be inactive to regenerate)
96. +1 to strength damage adjustment
97. Shields used reduce armor class by 2 steps
98. Blunt weapon and impact damage (including falls) to character are halved
    
99. If reduced to half or less hit points, to hit and damage at +1
100. If reduced to half or less hit points, AC improved by 1
101. AC improved by 1 against 1 attacker/round
102. AC improved by 2 against 1 attacker/round
103. AC improved by 1 against up to 2 attackers/round
104. Photographic Memory
105. Unaffected by mind-influencing spells
106. +1 damage per level against one type of creature
107. +1 damage per 3 levels against one class of creature
108. Invisible to scrying
     
109. Knows one 1st level magic user or illusionist spell, and gains 1 1st level spell per day
     
110. Knows two 1st level magic user or illusionist spells, and gains 1 1st level spell per day
     
111. Knows one 2nd level magic user or illusionist spell, and gains 1 2nd level spell per day
     
112. May cast spells as a cleric (if cleric, one additional spell/day)
113. May cast spells as a cleric of ½ level (if cleric, one additional spell/day )
114. May cast spells as a druid (if druid, one additional spell/day)
115. May cast spells as a druid of ½ level (if druid, one additional spell/day)
116. May learn and cast spells as a magic user (if magic user, may retain memory of one spell cast/day)
117. May learn and cast spells as a magic user of ½ level (if magic user, may retain memory of one spell cast/day)
118. Has Magic Resistance equal to charisma + (level x 2)
     
119. Has Magic Resistance equal to wisdom + (level x 2)
120. Saves versus spells, rods, staves and wands at +1
121. Saves versus spells, rods, staves and wands at +1 per 6 points of wisdom
     
122. Saves versus spells, rods, staves and wands at +2
123. Saves versus spells, rods, staves and wands at +1 per 4 points of wisdom
124. Saves versus magic user and illusionist spells at +4
     
125. 50% magic resistance vs spells and powers of creatures from other planes
126. Saves versus cleric and druid spells at +4
127. May learn spells from one other class
128. May learn spells from two other classes
129. Sixth sense – cannot be surprised
130. Saves vs spells, rods, staves, and wands at +1. Saves versus spells cast by character at -1
131. Operates as a thief (if already a thief, +5% to all skills)O
132. perates as a thief at ½ level
133. May cast Remove Curse 1/day
     
134. May cast Dispel Magic 1/day
135. May cast Animal Friendship 1/day
136. Ethereal Sight for 2d10 minutes, 1/day
137. Saves against spells cast by this character are at -1 **
138. Saves against spells cast by this character are at -2 **
139. Magic Resistance of those targeted by character's spells is halved **
140. Magic Resistance of those targeted by character's spells is ignored **
     
141. May save vs death at +1/level to ignore spell disruption effects **
142. Spells cast have double area of effect/number of targets when applicable **
143. Touch range spells have range 5', ranged spells add 50' to range **
144. Self range spells have range touch, touch range spells have range 5' and ranged spells add 50' to range **
145. Duration of spells cast is doubled when applicable **
146. If magic user/illusionist, may wear leather armor. If druid, may wear chain. If other, improve AC by 1
147. Has d3 potions
148. Has a scroll
149. Has a magic sword
150. Has a miscellaneous magic weapon
151. Has a magic wand
152. Has a magic staff
153. Has a magic rod
154. Has a magic ring
155. Has a miscellaneous magic item
156. Has magic armor or shield
157. Double starting gold
     
158. Begins the game with d3 henchmen (up to maximum)
159. Begins the game with d6 henchmen (up to maximum)
160. Begins the game with 2d6 henchmen (up to maximum)

!EDIT! Ugh! A PDF! Improved? I dunno, but even a little longer...

Spell casting foiled

(d6)
1. Spell fails, memory of it is retained
2. Spell fails
3. Spell fails, memory of it replaced with other known spell, determined randomly
4. Spell fails
5. Spell fails, 50% chance it replaces spell written on a scroll in possession
6. Spell fails

Fear, Rage, and Command

Continuing from prior post, three more tables (d10) to generate variations or details on such effects.
FEAR

1	Cringing - can take no action except self defence at -1 penalty
2	Terrorized - can take no action
3	Overwhelmed - takes no action, pays strict attention to source. Will surrender.
4	Scared - runs away at double move rate
5	Desperation - 50% runs away (as FEAR(4)), otherwise goes berserk.
6	Dread - 50% fall unconscious, otherwise fall to floor and can be commanded.
7	Doomed - hopelessly attempts to attack source at -4.
8	Tormented - can take no actions. Experiences hellish hallucinations, will hate source.
9	Demoralized - retains will and self control, but all actions at -1
10	Panicked - Drops all held items and runs away at double normal move rate

RAGE

1	Fumes and simmers in private madness. -1 to all attacks, +1 to damage
2	Focused - Attacks current or nearest opponent at +1
3	Distracted - Attacks current of nearest opponent at -1
4	Writhes with bestial spasms - attacks random target in reach (friend or foe)
5	Attacks current or nearest opponent +1 to hit and damage
6	Tantrum - 50% Tries to break whatever is held, otherwise throws it at source
7	Lured - Charges at source to attack.
8	Bully - Spits on corpses, kills helpless victims - attacks weakest targets.
9	Self Abuse - smash head on wall, jump through windows, etc. Does not make attacks unless in doing so will certainly harm self. 50% suicide if option available.
10	Fit - rage directed at inanimate objects only, but gets +1 damage against anyone trying to stop them.

COMMAND

1	Begrudging - will obey, but try to subvert if intelligent (and possible), and any actions pertaining to command at -1. Retains memory
2	As COMMAND(1), but will not retain memory of the experience
3	Listless - obeys command, at -1 to any actions performed pertaining to it. Will not try to subvert.
4	Obeys command, though may try to subvert. Retains memory of experience
5	Considers command in own best interest and will obey. Retains memory of experience
6	Obeys command. Will not retain memory, unless source desires that they do.
7	Obeys command. At +1 to any actions undertaken to fulfill the command. Will retain memory only if source desires.
8	Obeys the command without thought, the effect will last twice normal duration
9	Obeys unquestioningly, +1 to any actions undertaken to fulfil the command. Will resent the source afterwards.
10	Obeys enthusiastically, +2 to any actions undertaken to fulfil the command. Will offer services if applicable

Influence Effect Tables (sys-neutral-ish)

Been digging through my unkempt piles of gaming-notes, map, etc, looking for several tables I made a long time ago and managed to keep because of their utility. Made them after thinking about the different ways to interpret some pseudo-common in-game terms (awe, charm, confusion, fear, command, and rage). Well - found 'em! Many of these terms are used as spell names, or have some delineation in your rulebook of choice, but these tables largely ignore those (edit: I slipped into vague D&D-isms...oh well). Some of the effects allow for secondary conditions (one can perhaps issue commands to one who is awed - or they may be so overcome as to go unconscious). Hope you enjoy! Now I'll never have to look for them again!

d10	AWE	CHARM	CONFUSION
1	Overwhelmed - stops everything, pays attention only to source of awe. Can be commanded	Enthralled - pays attention only to source of awe. Open to suggestion	Takes no action except self-defence
2	Cowers and grovels in abject submission. Can be commanded	Offers source object or service of value	Continues prior or current action at 1/2 effectiveness
3	Shamed - develops aversion to source and seeks distance from it above all else.	Friendship - Wants to help source. Retains free-will. Open to suggestion	Takes no action
4	Transcendent - feels that source has improved target in some ineffable way and is totally grateful. Can be charmed.	Tolerant - will not instigate or assist actions against the source	Wander random direction at half normal move
5	Pious - target believes source to be divine and to be adored. Can be charmed and commanded	Enthusiastic - as CHARM(3), but all actions undertaken at the source's behest are at +1	Wander random direction at normal move
6	Dread - knees buckle, bowels loose, held items are dropped. Unable to take any action. If saving roll failed by large amount, consider a heart attack	Toady - takes no actions but complimenting source. No detail is too mundane to receive copious praise. -1 to all actions undertaken on behalf of source (too distracted)	Wander random direction at double normal move
7	Antithetic Conversion - as AWE(5), but target's alignment/outlook is reversed. Target believes that this change is for the better and is grateful that the source instigated the change. Can be commanded.	Protective - Will defend and protect source to best of ability. Open to suggestion.	Drop all held items. 50% chance target continues to divest itself of possessions beyond what is in-hand
8	Epiphany - as AWE(4), but target gains experience points (1d6 per level times 100) from the experience.	Respectful - as CHARM(4), but is inclined to to follow suggestions from source that coincide with own interests	Continues prior or current action at -d4 penalty to actions
9	Revulsion - as AWE(3), but source becomes the center of lingering psychosis	Infatuation - obsessive interest in source. May be romantic/sexual/possessive. Open to suggestion	Cannot remember anything. May defend self at -1.
10	Fervor - target has no will of own but to serve and glorify the source. Very emotional and irrational. Can be commanded.	Henchman - wants to serve source as a henchman. May be commanded	Struck mute, seized by twitching spasms. Out of touch with reality. May be awed

Will continue with the others later

alignment table re-do

I like this better.

d%
01-16	Neutral Evil	58-69	Lawful Neutral
17-24	Lawful Evil	70-76	Chaotic Good
25-31	Chaotic Evil	77-84	Lawful Good
32-43	Chaotic Neutral	85-00	Neutral Good
44-57	True Neutral

Think I'll lay off the alignment for a while.

yet more alignment

Here's a quote from Gygax in Strategic Review. At this point, the system of alignments is beginning to move from the Original D&D (Lawful/Neutral/Chaotic) into that presented in Homes Basic (Lawful Good/Evil, Neutral, Chaotic Good/Evil).

Considering mythical and mythos gods in light of this system, most of the benign ones will tend towards the chaotic/good, and chaotic/evil will typify those gods which were inimical towards humanity. Some few would be completely chaotic, having no predisposition towards either good or evil — REH’s Crom perhaps falls into this category.

I find this interesting on 2 points.

• Allowing one and two term definitions of alignment to co-exist, and
• stating that evil is 'inimical towards humanity', placing the interests of humanity as the objective standard (which is probably the safest approach, maybe the only approach...)

Holmes alignment is the one I've felt most comfortable with. Not too esoteric, but of finer resolution. Continuing to use Lawful and Chaotic as independent terms does not seem a serious complication, and one that allows the existence of objective Law and objective Chaos, in the realm of deities and such.

And to maintain the humanocentric interpretation of alignment, the last paragraph of this article says:
As a final note, most of humanity falls into the lawful category, and most of lawful humanity lies near the line between good and evil. With proper leadership the majority will be prone towards lawful/good. Few humans are chaotic, and very few are chaotic and evil.

Perhaps to reinterpret the 1e AD&D alignment, removing the neutrality of each of its variations (and get rid of True, same as adding it implicitly)...nah.

This is the alignment table I use for random determination

d%	1e AD&D	Holmes Basic
01-05	Lawful Evil	Lawful Evil
06-15	Chaotic Evil	Chaotic Evil
16-20	Neutral Evil	Neutral (evil tendencies)
21-35	Chaotic Neutral	Neutral
36-55	True Neutral	Neutral
56-80	Lawful Neutral	Neutral
81-85	Neutral Good	Neutral (good tendencies)
86-95	Chaotic Good	Chaotic Good
96-00	Lawful Good	Lawful Good

So 60-70% of the aligned population falls into neutral territory, with a greater chance of lawful ethos where applicable. Boring? Realistic? Not sure. Somewhat comfortable though.

Character's Ultimate Fate (when player stops showing up. 2d4. Stat modifiers applied to player's next character if they return.))
2	Wanders into the hills one summer afternoon. Eaten by a giant spider. -1 IQ.
3	Finds a cursed ring of invisibility and winks out of existence when it is put on. -1 LK.
4-6	Retires and fades into obscurity.
7	Converts to a religion and is exalted on comfortable passing. +1 LK.
8	Becomes Lord of the Spider Hills. +1 CH (son/daughter of said lord...)

25 meme table

(why so much space above the table?)
(while you're scrolling, consider buying print versions
of Fight On! They're on a push to win a contest!)

d100	Descriptor	d100	Descriptor
01-04	Swamp	53-56	Vast Mountains
05-08	Dark Fae	57-60	Animal Languages
09-12	Local Gods	61-64	Dangerous Wilds
13-16	Sandbox	65-68	Costly Magic
17-20	(Brian Aldiss)	69-72	(Jack Vance)
21-24	Rituals	73-76	Reality Warps
25-28	Boring Towns	77-80	Demons
29-32	Ancient Underworlds	81-84	Orange/Red Sun
33-36	Evil Elves	85-88	Strange Plants
37-40	Cannibal Cultists	89-92	Hill Tribes
41-44	Underwater Horror	93-96	Poisons
45-48	Jewelled Throne	97-00	NO RAILROADS!
49-52	Astronomy

meh...general whatever

I think I'm getting my head wrapped around Play By Post. I've just started a game up at Vin's Trollbridge (had the last few days off to work on stuff...). It's primitive, and I'm wondering if all of the five players are going to 'show-up', but I think that running this is going to be a blast.

Oddly enough (!), playing more has cut into 'blog-time'...

The pace of online gaming is still a little rough for me but I'm getting used to it.I'm playing in a Warhammer FRP PBP and a couple of the players are in Israel, so there's next to no chance that we'll be online at the same times...so I don't have expectations of 'instant-action' or something...

This mode of gaming lends itself well to 'parlour-games', more abstract gimcrackery, woodshedding, strategy games. Thinking about the Play-by-Mail model - which I admittedly have never done, just read about it...I think it would be really interesting to run a sandbox game where every player<->GM channel had its own thread - or an approach that considered threads calving and merging a trivial thing.

I've been thinking about ways to deal with the absence of players. My inclination is to post up a table like this and let the players know that I'll run them as NPCs if I need to to progress the game. What player would want that? The DM is not to be trusted!

Cue Random Tables! It's just like AI!

Based on what kind of situation the characters are in, the actions of a character-sans-player are 'determined' by a die roll...

d6	COMBAT
1	Stumbles and falls down (momentarily helpless)
2	Decides to change weapons then changes mind (no action)
3	Moves to defend ally
4	Attacks nearest opponent/Casts sub-optimal spell
5	Attacks random opponent in reach or moves to nearest opponent/Casts optimal spell
6	Goes Berserk

d6	SOCIAL
1	Says something really insulting and wont retract it
2	Tangential mouth-mush leaves people confused and suspicious
3	Mumbles and grunts at some appropriate places
4	Doesn't say much
5	Lends good support to own or party's goal/agenda
6	Steals the show, very convincing arguments for own goal/agenda - may try to cast an 'appropriate' spell toward this end
*	"own goal" meaning maybe the GM's interpretation...

d6	EXPLORATION/STEALTH
1	Gripped my 2 minute choking and coughing fit (very noisy, takes no actions)
2	Lazy (-1 search or stealth or whatever negative modification os appropriate)
3	normal
4	normal
5	Is double-checking already explored areas/normally stealthy
6	Is searching (and finds 10 gp!)/sneaking at +1 (or whatever)

ha ha! wouldn't that be cute!