d100 - Side Effects from Bargain Basement Potions

In most of my Campaign Settings, I try to emphasize that Magic is a rather Rare and Wonderous thing. You’ll seldom find Arcane Artifacts for Sale in Markets and generally you must locate them through Adventure. But some Settings are slightly less stringent and may make some Magic Items more available than others. You might have your “Ye Olde Magic Shoppe” conveniently franchised in most Settlements, or Characters might be able to purchase some things (like consumables) on occasion from a travelling Alchemist or Witch. Potions are consistently in demand, and a bit of a mainstay in these situations.

They may balk at the Steep Prices for such things, so here is another Option: They might be able to save a little Gold by going with a draught that’s perhaps a little less predictable or has some unusual drawbacks. Here are One Hundred Potions, with a couple ideas for these kinds of “Side-Effects” that might impact their efficacy a bit, result in a more challenging situation, or just simply add a little humor. As for how long these might last, I’d usually go with something Randomized, or maybe a periodic Saving Throw once the Duration is up to return to normal. Usage Dice could be useful here too. Bottoms Up!

d100 - Vignettes for Faerie & Other Unseen Lands

When the Characters find themselves haplessly traipsing about in very strange places, be it Dolmenwood’s Realms of Fairy, the Gardens of Ynn, or even the odd Elfin Woodland (just beyond the fields we know so well, etc.), I often find it useful to have some ideas for little “Vignettes” or “Scenes” that I can use to help communicate that lovely “Not in Kansas Anymore” sensation. There are times when a more Mythic Overworld can benefit from a little more Whimsy and Weirdness as well, because those can really help foster Wonder.

d100 - Alliterative Alehouses & Tavern Traits

Perhaps we have the venerable “Prancing Pony” to thank for it, but for some reason it seems that most Taverns seem to be a bit more memorable when given Names, and I often see those Names sharing those starting sounds. So, for an amusing distraction, I slapped together some samples to speed up the generation of these alliterating appellations. Finding the results a little thin for a d100 Table, I decided to pad it out with a hundred little “Features” or “Vignette” style elements that could be used to embellish a given drinking establishment.

Starting things off in a Tavern is a timeless tradition after all, even if I have Tables To The Contrary, but should you still need one to kick things off, or as another Building for those Starting Settlements, or even wish to decorate a City Street with a few, this table might be useful. If you find yourself in need of a bit of Flavor for Local Libations, I have another Table to assist with that as well.

d100 - Magical Teas & Tinctures

It seems only natural that a Setting with various Magical Plants & Herbs might also have some Tantalizing Teas. Most of these I imagine work a bit more like Magical Potions (and I suppose in a pinch, most entries here could augment those lists) but are perhaps not as fragile when being transported in those Dangerous Places and therefore much less encumbering. They do usually require some additional preparation (Brewing) first however, so may not be as convenient in a pinch.

d100 - Random Rivers

For this Quick Table I decided to take the same approach that I embarked on for my Some City Streets Table. Naming things is something I’m very fond of, because they often make those Rumors/Hooks/NPC Directions a lot more interesting when they are tied to a Place. Places with Names have an easier time earning Reputations, let Maps do a little more work, and are sometimes a little more memorable than their anonymous counterparts.

So, here’s a handy source of Names for Creeks/Streams/Brooks and Rivers, alongside a few additional inspirational details that can be sprinkled into those riparian routes.

d100 - Magical Lamps & Lanterns

While I was gathering subjects for my prior Magic Tools post, I combed the more conventional Equipment Lists for some ideas for which additional items might benefit from a little Wonder. When I saw the Lantern, I knew that these would likely deserve their very own d100 Table, because I suspected my furtling would find fertile fields for all kinds of ideas for those.

So here we have Hundred ideas for Magical Lamps & Lanterns, perhaps some are even worth hanging onto even after such things as Continual Light gradually begin to diminish their necessity. I remarkably was able to resist the urge to cram the list with a jumble of Djinni, but should you need a few ideas for those, there’s always my Encounter Activities.

d100 - Pecuniary Problems, Awful Arrears, & Delinquent Debts

Below is a Random Table full of potential ideas for Financial Dilemmas and Predicaments that could keep those Characters a little more Cash-Strapped. I suppose this could be used for saddling those Starting Characters with a bit of Debt that could help explain their motivation to go in search of Treasure and its associated Dangerous Situations. Might also be handy in conjunction with Carousing or associated with more Picaresque Play, where time elapses between Adventures, and we need a convenient explanation for why everyone’s “broke” again.