Random Events (Tool) - ONLINE Generator

By MorbidDon, in Rogue Trader Gamemasters

So I tend to grab alot of ideas from many differing sources these days...

I found a game called FTL which incorporates (sort of like a card game) a list of events, of that I found the framework / foundational gist of the concept to be a good match for a GM looking to infuse their game with some randomness...

I created the pages and linked them randomly to each other so far

Now the system herein is ready for Ideas and or Canon to be introduced

Have a look and send your suggestions, I will post those ideas into the pages

( if you have an idea for a new page, that's fine too )

PLS keep in mind I haven't adjusted nor changed the default "text" found from FTL; my goal is to start replacing pages and entries with 40k specific canon / lore...

These pages contain the entries from FTL and are awaiting revision to 40k flavor

http://www.wurkhaus.com/Abandoned-Space-Station.html

http://www.wurkhaus.com/Ancient-Device.html

http://www.wurkhaus.com/Asteroid-Mining-Colony.html

http://www.wurkhaus.com/Black-Market-Weapon-Trader.html

Link to GAME Wiki - http://ftl.wikia.com/wiki/Random_Events

Just click on " Void Travel Event " for a new event (though most are blank ATM)

The events are categorized as follows:

Sector
Global
Hazard
Distress

I figured if enough people submit good ideas to this resource - it can be an available resource for GMing usage!

If this receives enough attention I will submit some of my ideas as well, this tool is meant to benefit us all, not just me...

Plan and Prepare According!

Morbid

Well that's an interesting April fools joke for me. I click on the " Void Travel Event, " and it begins to load... nothing. :(

And it looks like you already have the Device and Colony links somewhat 40k related. Good job.

Hahahaha...

Sorry Namless2all, this wasn't meant to be a joke - though that perspective here was worth a laugh during a hectic workday LOL!

Anyways - this is a work in progress guys, an empty slate if you will.

So in order to get started I look over the whole FTL award system and figured lets get to defining exactly what that is first in a 40k setting?

Part of that was my intent to avoid adding "game creep" to the system so I opted to award fractional PF and the inclusion of a whole set of Resources which collectively offer more "meat on the bone" per say.

For example; our first page describes an Abandoned Space Station - OK

The first OPTION I read is a Scrap Award

" You approach cautiously but you detect no danger. It appears to have been a small rest stop that was abandoned a while ago. You take what few supplies you can find. = Receive Scrap"

So I had to define what Scrap could be in 40k (SEE BELOW)

Next I opted to vary the types of RESOURCE awarded via the Random Events - thus the inclusion of all else - Resource Wise!

Otherwise, I will continue to work on this and give you some examples as I go along defining these random events; things tagged as "in the works" means I have only conceptualized that and not fully drafted it out yet, so please bear with...

ENJOY ALL

BEGINNING:

So with that today I submit TWO Things to help define all this and help it get going.

G.A.I.N.S. & Resources

What are G.A.I.N.S.?

"Gains" is a Ten-character acronym for dealing with incremental wealth that is less than a Profit Factor Point; in our case its representative of 10% of an actual PF Point. When you receive a Gain it is marked off by the player as a letter (think Hangman) and a dot; as you increase that subset of wealth / influence more of the acronym is spelled out until finally a whole point (when the whole word of G.A.I.N.S. is fully spelled out) of Profit Factor is achieved.

I did not invent this concept but rather borrowed from the original author (who used the word acronym PROFIT EQUATING TO 1/6th a PF Point) who posted their idea online here on this forum...

What are Resources?

All resources are consumable items that are treated as a type of Currency in that they are Point-Value based metrics which allow you to adjust gameplay in a number of new ways as described below;

BASIC RESOURCES

Energy: Each Point of Energy allows you to reduce the amount of days spent in transit...

For each Point of Energy spent reduce your voyage by 1-Day

Remnants: Each Point of Remnants can be used to Repair any of the following; Mechanicus ( inorganic part of their body ), Power Armor, Robots, and or Servitors.

1-Point of Remnants can Repair 1-Point of Damage
1-Point of Damage takes 4 Hours to Repair

Ore: Each Ore-Point can be exchanged for a Gain

Each Ore-Point can be turned in for 1-Point of G.A.I.N.S. (i.e. a 10th of a Profit Factor Point)

Scrap: Scrap is a base resource used by mankind, and is mainly used for repairing your ship.

Each Point of Scrap can be used to Repair One Point of Hull Damage;

1-Point of Scrap takes 1-Week to salvage
1-Week of Repairs restores1-Hull Point

ADVANCED RESOURCES

Curios: occult fetishes and foci... (artifacts, relics, and all manner of dweomer)

- Each Curio-Point allows for Psykic Power Rolls to be Adjusted by +/-5%
- 10 Curio-Points can be traded in for a Gain but requires a Complication Roll (see Profit factor);
each 10-Points from Curio when traded in equals a 10% cumulative percentage to incur a Complication during that Game Session

Fortune: Fate may smile upon you... ( in the works )

Regain 1-Fate Point to any member of the Group

Zee Ztories: tales of horror / void warnings! ( in the works )

What is a Challenge / Encounter?

Part of the play-style introduced herein is the Random Roll for an Encounter / Challenge...

An Encounter (or Challenge, whatever your preference) is an obstacle which generally can be resolved by any of the following methods;

Combat: As titled this type of encounter is resolved through combat - self explanatory.
In the grim dark of the 41st millennium I image the outcome of options being; fight, flight, or die! LOL

Puzzle: This type of Challenge is resolved by the Players solving some sort of Puzzle or Decision - the wrong answer or decision should put the players at peril or otherwise serve to complicate matters further along for them...

Social: This form of Challenge is met by Role Play; dialog and or the use of "parlay" can be critical to your success and survival! Again failure resulting in either some form of peril or complication...

It is necessary to define such elements as they are a part of Random Events descriptors you'll see as we progress.

Its all a matter of "Luck"

In order to determine "if" a Challenge / Encounter occurs - roll randomly D100 (for our Group; I ask whats the lowest Group Characteristic - if I happen to roll above that target Number then a Challenge / Encounter occurs, we call this our Luck Roll in our gaming group)

I.E. Lowest Character Stat of the Group

If I happen to roll under that number then something Beneficial happens to the Player Characters.

That's the Gist of how we do Luck Rolls for an Encounter in our gaming Group.

Next - I'll define the Page for " Abandoned Space Station " EVENT

Till then Stay Gaming All,

Morbid

OK Abandoned Space Station has been fleshed out...

http://www.wurkhaus....ce-Station.html

You'll notice facets of the above have been incorporated into this page now; including replacing all mention of FTL specific races, places, and things associated to that video game...

More to Come Tomorrow

Morbid

Its all a matter of "Luck"

In order to determine "if" a Challenge / Encounter occurs - roll randomly D100 (for our Group; I ask whats the lowest Group Characteristic - if I happen to roll above that target Number then a Challenge / Encounter occurs, we call this our Luck Roll in our gaming group)

I.E. Lowest Character Stat of the Group

If I happen to roll under that number then something Beneficial happens to the Player Characters.

That's the Gist of how we do Luck Rolls for an Encounter in our gaming Group.

Interesting so that actively discourages Min/Maxing and a party that contains a Navigator with a 22 in Fellowship better hope that he doesn't roll any Fellowship reducing mutations.

Does that mean your group tends to be more well rounded rather than hyperspecialized?

Edited by WeedyGrot

Yes WeedyGrot, precisely... this game mechanic "can" reduce instances of MIN/MAXing in a gaming group, though that wasn't the intent of it originally. I would consider the whole Luck Roll mechanic a second thought by my players, being that this is a game "addon" to the system it has been merely a second thought by the players while character creating and/or balancing the group's roles amongst themselves...

In general you'll get a more generalized group if your commonly challenge them in areas that they aren't comfortable in - especially since when I run the game in "sand-box mode" a lot of the times the group splits up and so they are pressed to perform in ways not intended by default of the Career / game system. On that note; they "do" it to themselves - LOL.

But at the end of the day I like in game mechanics a foil - if you will, an opposing metric that helps cement balance and ensuring good challenging gaming for years to come - that's my top #1 goal! Hope that helps clear some of this concept up

Stay Gaming

Morbid

Update for Today:

A. I color coded the "box text" that you read out loud to players.

B. Added in a section to the page called "Adventure Seeds" which glosses over a few ideas to further expand play

Otherwise this Event for now is done, unless someone wishes to add to it (Forum Submissions)

SEE Updated Page: http://www.wurkhaus....ce-Station.html

Updated "Ancient Device" EVENT

http://www.wurkhaus....ent-Device.html

Events of Interest

A. Ork Vessel Attack

B. Wormhole to Webway then onto a defunct Craftworld

Morbid

Update "Asteroid Mining Colony" EVENT

http://www.wurkhaus.com/Asteroid-Mining-Colony.html

Events of Interest
A. Helping Miners with Ordinance

B. Included some Mining Endeavors I found a while back....

Plan & Prepare Accordingly

Morbid

Today's Update...

The Black Market Merchant EVENT has been revised!

http://www.wurkhaus.com/Black-Market-Weapon-Trader.html

It now includes:

A. A Random "Weapons Type" for Sale (based on Availability, so that common items appear more often than rare ones)

B. A Random Scale Availability - this tells you how much of said weapon the merchant has on hand to offer...

C. A new Table detailing the PF Modifiers solely based on Availability vs. Scale of Purchase

Ideas are always welcomed!

Stay GAMING

Morbid

Today's Update...

The Brutal-Exchange EVENT has been posted.

http://www.wurkhaus.com/Brutal-Exchange-between-Several-Ships.html

This page includes:

A. Game specific references to "required" ship components (in this case Sensors) that "unlock" the potential herein...

B. Eldar, Ork, or Secessionist Voidship Battle

C. Random Voidship Generation - specific to each subtype of Foe

D. Adventure Seeds (I posted a few ideas to get you started)

NOTE:

This system needs help from the community - I got something like over 110+ EVENT Pages to detail, it would be nice if some of it came from different authors as to provide a good mix along with varied insight from each entry...

As always ideas are welcomed!

Stay GAMING All!

Morbid

Update;

I am renaming all the EVENTs in the system... (you should see a few Factions now that are recognizable in the Grim Dark 40k)

I will have this finished by THURs...

Right Now I've Got

Asteroid-Mining-Colony.html
Abandoned-Space-Station.html
Ancient-Device.html
Black-Market-Weapon-Trader.html
The-Black-Gulfs.html
Brutal-Exchange-between-Several-Ships.html
Bump-Hulls-with-Ork-Vessel.html
Busy-with-Traffic.html
Capture-the-Ship.html
Cave-Madman.html
Imperial-Ship-Chased-by-Pirate.html
Imperial-Ship-Out-Of-Fuel.html
Voidfarer-Question.html
Coldtrade-Collector-of-Alien-Artifacts.html
Mechanicus-cache.html
Mechanicus-Man-Buried.html
Mechanicus-Tech-Escort.html
Mechanicus-Research-Facility.html
Mechanicus-ship-carrying-humans.html
Mechanicus-ship-messaging-about-Rebels.html
Mechanicus-Strike-Force.html
Damaged-Space-Station.html
Dangerous-Looking-Ship.html
De-Activated-Automated-Scout.html
Destroyed-Cargo-Ship.html
Disabled-Ork-Raider.html
Eleven-moons-of-Hidden-Planet.html
Encrypted-Imperial-Signal.html
Mechanicus-Colony-Hiding.html
Mechanicus-distress-call.html
Mechanicus-Fleet-Discussion-(Unlocks-Stealth-Cruiser).html
Mechanicus-Research-Station.html
Mechanicus-Surrender.html
Mechanicus-with-Mantis-who-thinks-it-is-Human-(Strange-bug).html
Escape-Pod-Floating-Nearby.html
Escort-Nearby-Ship.html
Imperial-Deserters.html
Imperial-Terraforming-Team.html
Friendly-Slaver.html
Heavily-Damaged-Imperial-Ship.html
Holy-crap!.html
Intelligent-Lifeform-on-Planet.html
Large-asteroid-field.html
Large-convoy.html
Large-Trade-Station.html
Legendary-thief-KazaaakplethKilik-(Unlock-Mantis-Cruiser).html
Loyal-Federation-Settlement.html
Lanius-Merchant-(Translation-device).html
Mantis-Attacking-Civilian.html
Mantis-attacking-Slug.html
Mantis-Attacking-Smaller-Crystal-Ship.html
Mantis-Fugitive.html
Mantis-Kaaazthwak's-final-kill.html
Mantis-Ship-adorned-with-Rock-body-parts.html
Mantis-Ship-Collectors.html
Mantis-Ship-Doesn't-See-You.html
Mantis-Ships-Battle-for-Rock-Freighter.html
Mantis-War-Camp.html
Mantis-Warship-Ambush.html
Mercenary.html
Merchant's-Request.html
Merchant-docked-with-Lanius-Transport.html
Nearby-Asteroid-Field.html
Nebula-seen-Ships-Exchange-Fire.html
Odd-Moon.html
Pirate-Bribing-You-for-Unknown-Ship.html
Pirate-Cache.html
Pirate-Charges-Crystalline-Transport.html
Pirate-Engine-Hack.html
Pirate-Slaver.html
Pirate-Smuggler.html
Pirate-Toll.html
Pirate-Tuco.html
Plasma-Storm-Automated-Scout.html
Plasma-Storm-Incapacitated-Ships.html
Powered-Down-Lanius-Vessel.html
Quarantine-Zone.html
Rebel-AI-Scout-carrying-Shield-Virus.html
Rebel-Automated-Ship-Near-Sensor-Station.html
Rebel-Automated-Ship-Near-Small-Space-station.html
Rebel-Bombing-Squadron.html
Rebel-Civilian-Checkpoint.html
Rebel-Scout-Attacking-Refueling-Outpost.html
Rebel-Scout-Pursuing-Civilian-Ship.html
Rebel-Ship-in-Nebula.html
Rebel-Ship-Stationed-and-Waiting-for-You.html
Rebel-Supplying-Civilians.html
Rebel-Transport.html
Rebel-Unarmed-Defector.html
Refugee-Ship-with-Communications-Down.html
Remote-Settlement-Blockaded-by-Pirates.html
Rock-Armoured-Transport.html
Rock-Bride-Transport.html
Rock-Deserters.html
Rock-Live-Mine.html
Rock-Ship-Being-Mined-by-Lanius.html
Rock-war-vessel-encounter-(Unlock-Rock-Cruiser).html
Settlement-Mercenary-Work.html
Slocknog.html
Slug-and-Rock-Standoff.html
Slug-Captain-Invites-You-to-a-Drink.html
Slug-Comm-Tapping.html
Slug-Boarding-Rock-Freighter.html
Slug-Home-Nebula-Surrender-(Unlock-Slug-Cruiser).html
Slug-Repair-Station.html
Slug-transport-with-military-escort.html
Slugs-Detected-Radiation-From-Your-Medical-Unit.html
Small-moon-sized-rock-random-event.html
The-Engi-Virus.html
Two-Pirate-Ships-in-Nebula.html
Two-Smashed-Ships-(Engi).html
Unarmed-Zoltan-Transport-(Unlock-Zoltan-Cruiser).html
Unencrypted-Communication-Channel.html
Zoltan-First-Contact.html
Zoltan-Great-Eye-Rogue-Planet-drifting-through-Nebula.html
Zoltan-Life-Raft-Retake-Ship.html
Zoltan-Research-Facility.html
Zoltan-Science-Ship.html
Zoltan-Security-Checkpoint.html
Zoltan-Ship-Tour.html
Zoltan-Trade-Hub.html
Zoltan-Wise-Man.html

The Works Continue

Morbid

Today's Update...

Fleshed out the EVENT "Bump Hulls with Ork Vessel"

This page includes:

A. Ork Challenge / Encounter with 1 to 6 Ships!

http://www.wurkhaus.com/Bump-Hulls-with-Ork-Vessel.html

I don't know much about those dirty Greenskins - so I was at a loss as to "how many" ships could one possibly run into?

So I figured a number from 1 to 6 ships should do (seeing as this isn't a scaled RPG like D&D with EL or CR to consider LOL)

Please Advise if my Challenge / Encounter isn't possible in the Grim Dark - otherwise...

Stay GAMING

Morbid

Orks are one of the more variable races in 40K they can be encountered singly, in packs or if you're really unfortunate in large invasion fleets.

The nice things about Orks is it is occasionally possible to actually hire them if you can present a more interesting fight later. They're not the frenzied attack beasts that the Rak'Gol are.

Looking at your encounter I'd probably make it so you either encounter a pack of escorts (like the Brute ram ships) or one larger vessel with one or two escorts.

An interesting variant would be to encounter a Rok in an asteroid field where it has a decent chance of ambushing the players.

Edited by WeedyGrot

Yeah, as Weedy suggested, it might be better to make it a fixed pick-list rather than a random number of random vessels.

1) Single Ork Scout raider

2) Ork Wolfpack

3) Ork Warboss on Kruiser with 2 escorts

4) Ork Freebooter in Light Kruiser.

5) Rok hiding in asteroid field

etc.

I don't know much about what constitutes a "Wolfpack" (i feel like duh lol)...

"Ork Wolfpack" is a type of ship or organizational stucture (say 3 to 8 ships), again I was at a loss, but I'd like to learn the proper way LOL.

If I'm understanding correctly the encounter shoudl result as follows:

Like this?

Static Fixed-List:

1 - Single Orc Raider

2 - Ork Wolfpack (???)

3 - Ork Warboss on Kruiser with 2 Escorts (Ork Raiders)

4 - Ork Freebooter in Light Kruiser

5 - x2 Ork Brute Ram Ships

I took Silver and Weedy's suggestions and made the list above...

I count 8 ships in the list above, it that all at once - your intended suggestion? (So Rogue Trader faces 8 Ships?!)

Please provide me with a good example - I will just take ur example and use it as the post for this EVENT...

Please Advise

Morbid

I found this in Battlefleet Gothic 2010 Compedium Rogue Traders...

4.. THE WOLF PACKS (Page 92)
This table represents an attacking fleet that relies heavily on raiders and other escort warships.

This is more representative of the renegade “wolf packs” which preyed on all sides in the Gothic War.

D6 ROLL RESULT

1 One attack craft or deadfall torpedo counter.

2 Two attack craft or deadfall torpedo counters.

3 A squadron of escort ships and/or Xenos vessels worth up to 100 points.

4 A squadron of escort ships and/or Xenos vessels worth up to 150 points.

5 A squadron of escort ships and/or Xenos vessels worth up to 200 points.

6 One capital ship worth up to 250 points.

Should I use this as a guideline to follow?

Morbid

It's kinda a good start, even if it's intended as part of a BFG mission. Wolfpack refers to any group of small 'Escort' craft who are banded together for the purpose of taking down larger craft. Orks and Pirates are probably two different events though.

The idea behind the picklist was that the Event Randomizer would pick 1 entry from the list, (Unless you put in a 'roll twice' entry) That way not every encounter with wandering orks is identical.

Orks tend to be more direct then pirates, so the Deadfall torpedos and waiting attack craft are more human pirate options.

Yeah, that looks good.

Today's Update...

A. Revised "Bumping Hulls" EVENT

B. Posted a new EVENT called Dilapidated Voidstation

C. Some pages in the EVENT system now feature pictures and lore!

http://www.wurkhaus.com/Dilapidated-Space-Station.html

Pretty basic addition today.

Stay GAMING

Morbid

I'm a little confused by the 2 scrap / 10 scrap. Is that supposed to be if they choose to board or not board?

Also, might make the value of scrap found be random as well, say 1-5 without boarding, 5-15 if you do.

Also, I assume your going to have other Dilapidated Voidstation events other than just a disease, so you might want to rename this "Plague-Lost Voidstation"

Lastly, I'd personally run it as a crew Plague and make it an extended test. The Plague spreads to your crew. It takes a (10-20) Medicae Challenge to contain and cure. Every challenge cycle, the ship looses 1d5 crew & Morale. On the roll of a 10, a critical crew member (valuable NPC or PC) comes down sick as well. Quarantine (Hard Command) reduces losses by 2. Medicae deck reduces loses by 1 & prevents critical member illness. Salvaging the station's research provides 5 points towards the cure.

I will post your suggestions Silver and adjust according - your insight is always appreciate!