BACKGROUND RANDOM TABLES - See NEW topic for tables.

[Holister]

Hello; The random tables I once posted here have been moved to a new topic. Though I have moved the tables from this topic to a new one to help better organize and edit them, I do intend to keep this topic for an discussions.

viewtopic.php?f=10&t=116026

[Holister]

THIS POST HAS BEEN MOVED TO NEW TOPIC.

[Holister]

THIS POST HAS BEEN MOVED TO NEW TOPIC.

[Lord Z]

Okay, I see what you are doing here. You have combined and tweaked random tables from different Palladium titles. It's cool. I am wondering whether the goal here is to represent close to realistic proportions or to favor unusual characteristics. I find a 14% chance of being a triplet hard to believe.

Hmm, I suugest changing the name of the character flaw table to Character Quirks. Is being left-handed really a flaw?

The preferred term for Oriental when refering to people is Asian.

There are all sorts of problems with the religion table. The political table isn't much better.

The favorite season table is okay, but it wouldn't make as much sense for characters in equatorial countries. Those places don't have four seasons. They tend to have wet and dry seasons instead. Canada has three: Hockey Season, More Hockey Season, and two weeks of Summer.

[Lord Z]

I am not sure what the point is of the table in the third post.

The Distintive Features Table is too cool.

[Holister]

Okay, I see what you are doing here. You have combined and tweaked random tables from different Palladium titles. It's cool. I am wondering whether the goal here is to represent close to realistic proportions or to favor unusual characteristics. I find a 14% chance of being a triplet hard to believe.

Hmm, I suugest changing the name of the character flaw table to Character Quirks. Is being left-handed really a flaw?

The preferred term for Oriental when refering to people is Asian.

There are all sorts of problems with the religion table. The political table isn't much better.

The favorite season table is okay, but it wouldn't make as much sense for characters in equatorial countries. Those places don't have four seasons. They tend to have wet and dry seasons instead. Canada has three: Hockey Season, More Hockey Season, and two weeks of Summer.

The tables are just random possibilities and outcomes.
1) I did chance the FLAWS table to the QUIRKS table (t/y for the opinion).
2) I changed Oriental to Asian (FYI: It is Oriental in the Ninjas & Superspies book; page 11).
3) I dropped the political table (outside of the US, it wouldn't apply anyway).
4) The religion table has been adjusted, but I don't see a problem with it. Any additional input would be appreciated.
5) The season table is the same no matter where you live as there are still 4 seasons. Even though I will admit in many places its hard to tell the difference.

[Holister]

Later

[Tearstone]

Ben you are evil for listing Scientology.

But it's awesome. I like it, and I will probably use this, since I find Palladium stuff lacking.

However, I would suggest expanding the Disposition table. For ideas on that, check out the Handy Dandy Random Adventure Generator.

[Holister]

We should probably combine them ad make one large sourcebook.

I have several more tables I plan to post over the weekend.

[mrloucifer]

We should probably combine them ad make one large sourcebook.

I have several more tables I plan to post over the weekend.

YOU GO H LISTER!

[Holister]

THIS POST HAS BEEN MOVED TO NEW TOPIC.

[Holister]

THIS POST HAS BEEN MOVED TO NEW TOPIC.

[Holister]

THIS POST HAS BEEN MOVED TO NEW TOPIC.

[Holister]

THIS POST HAS BEEN MOVED TO NEW TOPIC.

[Holister]

THIS POST HAS BEEN MOVED TO NEW TOPIC.

[Lord Z]

Very niiice, I think I like this random monster table better than the one I made for the Random Adventure thread. Inbred Hillfolk struck me as being a little awkward. Yeah, I realize that it's a genre standard, but it still seems too specific. In an urban campaign, it wouldn't make any sense. I suggest changing it to 'Mutant Human Klike Inbred Hillfolk for example)'. This would allow for ripping off both The Hills Have Eyes and The People Under the Stairs. #60 Mutant could be tweaked into 'Mutant Animal or Experiment.'

[Holister]

Thanks for the suggestions. I have incorperated the Siblings table on the list once again in the format you provided. I need to redo the Political Background table once I gather enough information for a table that has more than 6 major political parties.

[mrloucifer]

Do you plan to create one giant list when your done with creating all of these?

[Holister]

I would love to, but the word count makes sure that I keep these lists broken up. So I will just keep posting them as they get cranked out. I do have more which include (First encounter with Supernatural), (Character Merits), and (Surprise Plot Twist) plus I am revamping the Political Background table today to include more than just 6 political parties. I also have several more "Favorite" tables in the work as well. I figure since I have nothing going on at Lazlo why not expand on the character ideas for others.

[Lord Z]

I have a suggestion for the political table, but I realize this might come too late. You can avoid labels which don't make sense outside of certain countries by describing their positions on a political matrix. A lot of people see politics as a one dimensional matrix, left to right. I see it as two-dimensional with an X-axis and Y-axis. The =-axis is finacial whereas the Y-axis is social. So, a fascist would be both financially restrictive and socially restrictive. An American-style liberal would be financially restrictive but socially unrestrictive. By contrast, an anarchist would be both finacially and socially unrestrictive. You could avoid party names and descriptions all together, so the cultural significance of a name won't matter. It's all in contrast to the cultural norm anyway. This gives you four combinations so far. If you grant a moderate position on each axis, I count 13 possible combinations. Then there is always non-political as a 14th option.

By the way, what is a Shadow Stalker?

[Holister]

You have a good concept there Lord Z with a better grasp on that subject than I might so if you want add to the Political Background table I would find as a welcome addition to the existing tables.

As for what a shadow stalker is; imagine a cross between a Shadow Beast, the Predator, and a Wraith. It is a demon of pure oily darkness that stands 7 to 8 feet tall with a humanoid shape. The creature has no physical features or even facial features, just two slits for eyes and a slit for a mouth that opens to reveal a shark like mouth. Its fingers are actually razor sharp 9 inch blades (four on each hand). The only indication that the creature is in the room with you is when those eyes roll over a blood red, but by then its too late.

What makes this creature so lethal is that it is able to mask its presence from psychic detection such as Sense Evil or Presence Sense. See Invisible does not help because it is not truly invisible. Once it is any dark space it merges perfectly into the darkness and can function completely well without being noticed. Even with nightvision characters are only 30% likely to notice the thing. Infared won't detect it because it radiates no heat. In fact it may register as a cold spot against the background depending on how observant the character is.

The creature use a single suprise attack from the front as it gazes into its victim's eyes as it kills them like a cobra; no power, just psychological as it enjoys what it does. It then tears out its victim's heart in one clean precise strike leaving a 6 inch round hole in the chest. This is the only wound ever left as it only requires the heart.

[Holister]

Dam word count...

The creature only requires the heart because it uses the heart to creature more of its own kind. (More about that later).

The creature is physical, so it is solid and fairly tough, but because of its incredible stealth capabilites and lack of psychic detection, it makes them very dangerous and virtually impossible to defeat in melee combat. Its claws inflict 4d6 damage, but its bite does 1d4 x 10 and is capable of slicing through most conventional body armor like a hot knife through butter. It however only uses it bite attack when engaged in actual combat, and uses its powerful bit to rip out entire chunks of flesh and bone from its opponent much like a shark would.

The creature is impervious to normal weapons, but weapons of iron (yes this demonic predator has its origins in the dimension of Krynn) always inflict normal damage. Holy weapons inflict double damage. Cold and fire have no effect though if a fire is large enough it may reveal the outline of the creature. Bright artifical light will hold the creature at bay, but true daylight is lethal and will kill the creature within 1d4 rounds unless it finds secure shelter. Globe of daylight only hold the creature at bay and inflicts 3d6 damage. Magic attacks have no effect and psychic attacks won't work nor should they be tried (another deterant because it is creature from Krynn).

As for how these creatures come about into our plane is that ironically they are invited in. In every large city throughout the world with a cathedral (this is important for some reason), there is a seal of solid gold located deep below the city somewhere. Only a mortal can break the seal (as human greed is all that required to break the seal). No matter how much care is used to remove the 3 foot disk of gold, it will shatter into 3 pieces. This will open a entrance etween our world and the creature's lair in Krynn. Usually those that first break the seal are the first to die; their reward for releasing the creature into our world.

Upon entering our world the creature will immediately begin hunting for victims. It however is precise in it prey, as it seeks the "unwanted and undesirable" amongst the city's populace; homeless, drug addicts, prostitutes, run aways, etc. It attacks, extracts the heart, and returns to is lair to "plant" the heart. Deep in its lair the heart acts as a unholy seed that literally grows a new Shadow Stalker like some demonic fungus. Once the new Stalker reaches maturity in seven days, it ventures forth and begins hunting. Within weeks their can be dozens of these supernatual predators stalking the dark places of man's domain. Once their number reaches just 18 they can disrupt the city's power flow and literally black out an entire city plunging it into blissful darkness. Once their numbers reach 36 or more, they will start killing for pleasure and will render their victims to pieces for the sheer pleasure of it.

The only way to stop this infestation is to stop the original creature. Killing the creature before it "breeeds" however is not in and of itself going to stop future incursions as the portal is still open. The only way to truly stop this from happening again is to enter into the underground and seek out the portal and reseal it using the fractured pieces of the seal. Magic is not required as long as at least three GOOD aligned poeple selflessly reunite the fragments (and give up 3 permanent points PE) and place it back over the opening and sprinkle it with holy water. Another means to seal the void is to have a character of GOOD alignment to actually enter the portal into the creature's lair as an act of self sacrafice. At this point the portal reseals itself again but the character is lost forever, as they become the next Shadow Stalker to replace the one that was slain.

I can provide actual stats if requested.

[Lord Z]

So, it's an original critter of your design?

[Natasha]

No, the US Census Beast has been around for many, many decades.

[Holister]

Lord Z - Yes, this was actual a creature I came up for a short story I wrote years ago entitled " The Night Child - Legend of The Shadow Stalker " for a literary magazine.

Natasha - ?????

[Natasha]

All the demographic information and the recent blitz by census counters add up to make one miserable joke.

[Holister]

Ah....and that has to do with this topic how?

[Lord Z]

To a comedian, there is nothing so funy as watching another comic bomb.

I was wrong about the political matrix total. The number of possibilities should be ten.

Political Alignment
This table measures characters according to two different ranges, fiscal and social. Fiscal issues include taxation, welfare, regulation, labor unions and corporate power. Social issues include legal rights, voting, war conditions, freedom of religion and drug regulation. Each range is measured by how restrictive (government controlled) or unrestrictive (lack of government control). All of these results are meant to be considered in relation to the average citizen of the character's country or culture. For example, a centrist in the European Union would be considered a leftist in the United States or a right-winger in communist China. To other Eurpeans, she is just a centrist.
01-10 Non-political (unopinionated)
11-20 Fiscally Restrictive, Socially Restrictive (fascist)
21-30 Fiscally Restrictive, Socially Moderate
31-40 Fiscally Restrictive, Socially Unrestrictive (typically considered liberal or progressive)
41-50 Fiscally Moderate, Socially Restrictive
51-60 Fiscally Moderate, Socially Moderate (centrist)
61-70 Fiscally Moderate, Socially Unrestrictive.
71-80 Fiscally Unrestrictive, Socially Restrictive (typically considered conservative)
81-90 Fiscally Unrestrictive, Socially Moderate
91-100 Fiscally Unrestrictive, Socially Unrestrictive (anarchist)

[Holister]

THIS POST HAS BEEN MOVED TO NEW TOPIC.

[Natasha]

They are astrological terms.

Cardinal is new beginnings. Fixed is unchanging while mutable is adaptable. They are separate from the element, which would be evident with better formatting of the data. If you're sign is fixed, you're interested in stability. If it's mutable you're interested in taking things to another level. If it's cardinal you're interested in starting new things.

[mrloucifer]

Holy smokes gang! Your all going the distance now!

[Holister]

THIS POST HAS BEEN MOVED TO NEW TOPIC.

[Lord Z]

I rolled a meal of pizza with tapioca and rootbeer (or vodka). I'm living the life!

[Holister]

I think that was the exact buffet at the last Open House.

[jaymz]

Excellent lists Holister...I am bookmarking this for possible use

[mrloucifer]

Make mine a Tequila & Birch Beer with Calzones and Angel Food Cake for desert... and a Diet Coke.

[Holister]

THIS POST HAS BEEN MOVED TO NEW TOPIC.

[Holister]

Next table added.

[mrloucifer]

I'M GOING BANGBUSTERS ON A GOLF CART BABY!!

[Lord Z]

My pizza-eater character favors his or her light truck. I think I'm delivering pizzas this truck. Actually, this gives me an idea for a whole new team. Thanks, Holla...

[Lord Z]

Let's look at Mister 42. He's a 27 year old, 5 foot 10 inch tall guy. He is an Arabic man withman hazel eyes, dark hair, and facial hair. He is from Western Europe (must be France) where he was raised as the 2nd of 5 children in a lower middle class city suburb. His family has some history of psychic phenonmena but not much. He must be psychic, because his powers first appeared during childhood, and he considers this power to be a matter of destiny. He began investigating the paranormal because he is haunted.This haunting also made him decide to convert to Scientology, a source of much tension with his traditional Muslin parents. He was raised by his parents to be a part of the huge extended family with members all over the world. He is allergic to bee stings. He went insane at some point, whether it was before or after his conversion, I don't know. He married and developed a scheming disposition. He has a terrible fear of rodents which usually cause him to scream and run away for 1D6 rounds. No wonder people thought he was insane...

He has a pet black rabbit. On a nice spring day, he walks his rabbit to the park. At the park, he likes to do crossword puzzles while his rabbit chases squirrels which are too rodent like for his comfort. He also likes to watch comedies, but he won't go to the movie theater because of the darn foreigners. Yes, for some reason I haven't figured out, the Arabic Frenchman hates foreigners.

Every night, he drives his 2D6 yeard old min-van to the cafe down the street where he orders oysters. He washes that down with some lemonade (with stout mixed in). Then he has a slice of angel food cake with more spiked lemonade. Oh, those wacky French and their cuisine.

He was working as a fake psychic when he was discovered and manipulated by a goqua. He fought the monster with a hatchet and a steel pipe. Clealry, he lost.

Okay, this is a character with relatively few internal contridictions. Good job, H!

[Holister]

THIS POST HAS BEEN MOVED TO NEW TOPIC.

[Holister]

THIS POST HAS BEEN MOVED TO ANOTHER TOPIC.

[Lord Z]

That is my favorite table thus far.

[Holister]

That is my favorite table thus far.

Thanks.

[Holister]

THIS POST HAS BEEN MOVED TO A NEW TOPIC.

[Tearstone]

Lol, that's awesome. I wonder how many people have WP Chainsaw, well besides Ax men/Lumberjacks...

[Holister]

Lol, that's awesome. I wonder how many people have WP Chainsaw, well besides Ax men/Lumberjacks...

Homicidal Maniacs

Imbred Rednecks

Heroes that use the phrase Klatu Barata Nicktu

[Holister]

THIS POST HAS BEEN MOVED TO ANOTHER TOPIC.

[Lord Z]

I like how W.P. Chainsaw has its own advantages and disadvantages. Still, the bonuses seem excessive to me. Is +4 to parry with a powertool at Level 12 feasible? What does everyone else think?