The Game Master's Book of Astonishing Random Tables: 300+ Unique Roll Tables to Enhance Your Worldbuilding, Storytelling, Locations, Magic and More for 5th Edition RPG Adventures (The Game Master Series)

The Game Master's Book of Astonishing Random Tables: 300+ Unique Roll Tables to Enhance Your Worldbuilding, Storytelling, Locations, Magic and More for 5th Edition RPG Adventures (The Game Master Series)

Ben Egloff, Robbie Daymond (Introduction by), Matt Forbeck (Contributions by), Jim Davis (Contributions by), Nick Forbeck (Contributions by), Jasmine Kalle (Illustrator), Chris Seaman (Illustrator), Doug Kovacs (Illustrator)
$24.99
Publication Date: June 20th, 2023
Publisher:
Media Lab Books
ISBN:
9781956403251
Pages:
288
Usually received by store in 2-5 days.

Description

More than 300 random tables designed to help you build a new world from scratch or take your existing RPG campaign to new levels of creativity and excitement, plus 3 exciting one-shot adventures!

While The Game Master's Book of Astonishing Random Tables is not a wondrous item, you'd be forgiven for assuming it has magical properties. That's because within these pages are countless adventure hooks - side quests and travel complications and chase sequences and skill challenges and other encounters suitable for any environment. And that's just one section.

These table results aren't just short line listings of random answers either. Inside, you'll find rich, fully examined results and supplemental pieces of text that provide you with all the information you need to use them effectively. With this book by your side, you can develop an entire campaign setting, its pantheon, its various continental forms and proclivities of its population. From the big questions ("Where does magic come from?," "Who's in charge?," "Why are we at war with our neighbors?") down to the most minute detail ("Can my party avoid paying property taxes on their new keep if it's actually an instant fortress?"), this book has you covered.

Develop a rich tapestry of trade and commerce by randomizing your realms economy or find out who's really pulling the strings by rolling on the Puppet Government table. Want more ideas? How about a table or curses or dreams or wild magic results or spell scroll side effects or a random potions generator or a list of things your party shouldn't tough (but probably will)? All those and much, much more are waiting within.

So relax, unwind and unleash the unknown. By letting this book spark your creativity and set the stage for each session, you can focus on the important things like how to properly destroy that instant fortress).

About the Author

Ben Egloff brings over 30 years of RPG obsession to bear in The Game Master’s Book of Astonishing Random Tables. Self-described as a chronicler of the weird and fantastic, Egloff is a contributor to the bestselling books The Game Master's Book of Non-Player Characters and The Game Master's Book of Traps, Puzzles and Dungeons. He spends the majority of his time writing about the world around him. When he isn’t writing he enjoys spending his time playing make believe in the far-flung worlds of magic, fantasy, and science fiction through a variety of different TTRPG games, and board games. Egloff lives in Dayton, Ohio with his wife and two boys.

Praise for The Game Master's Book of Astonishing Random Tables: 300+ Unique Roll Tables to Enhance Your Worldbuilding, Storytelling, Locations, Magic and More for 5th Edition RPG Adventures (The Game Master Series)

“Nearly every off-the-cuff question that has ever stumped me as a GM, large or small, could’ve been resolved in a dice roll or two with this book. There are lots of random tables out there, but few as creative and comprehensive as these!”
—Ginny Di (YouTuber, Tabletop Gamer, Singer and Cosplayer)

"This vast tome contains an impossibly wide spectrum of creative ideas in an easily consumable format...the form and function of how these ideas are presented, and the versatility with which they can be implemented should keep the most experienced GMs happy for campaigns to come."
—Robbie Daymond, from the Foreword

"The Game Master's Book of Astonishing Random Tables" is a really good addition to the [Game Master] series. If I was suggesting one book in the series for a new Game Master, it might be this."
—Geek Philosophy

"This might be one of the best resources I have seen for world-building....one of the cheapest and most useful gaming books you can buy."
—GeekMom

"A fantastic book!"
—Flint Fireforge

"The Game Master's Book of Astonishing Random Tables is a fantastic addition to any GM's library. It contains literally thousands of prompts and ideas that are perfect both for wholly original worlds as well as official adventures. The world I created using this book is one my players and I already plan on returning to (there's still that Polymorphic Fog to deal with, after all) and honestly anyone who enjoys the creative process will find a lot of useful concepts and information here, whether they are planning on creating their own campaign or not. Like all Game Master's Book of... releases, this title is packed from cover to cover with great ideas, great artwork, and exceptional inspiration."
—Screen Rant

"You can start from nothing and by the end of the chapter have a fully-fledged city with businesses, defense structures, and even a specific kind of construction material. You can also create some unique laws for your world (bear fights must take place indoors being my favorite) and create some of the most unique bars and taverns I’ve seen in a fantasy setting. And when you’re done? Well there’s a table devoted to drinking songs and hangovers too! All of this is in service of creating stories and helping you adapt to things."
—The Fandomentals

"If worldbuilding and random tables are your gaming jam, you'll want to pick up The Game Master's Book of Astonishing Random Tables. Part of Media Lab Books' well-regarded "Game Master's Book of" series, this book is filled with over 300 random tables, covering everything from creating god pantheons, planets, realms, and cities, to tavern ditties and drink concoctions, pickpocketing results, and criminal charges. Peppered through this handsomely-designed tome, you'll also find a series of GM Note sidebars that are quite helpful. The Game Master's Book of Astonishing Random Tables is 5e and Pathfinder compatible but could be easily employed in any fantasy RPG."
—BoingBoing

“Best for Generating Ideas… The quality and quantity of material presented here is hard to match. This collection includes tools for worldbuilding, session planning, magic effects, interesting items, names and stories, along with many others that add a special flair. Whether you are prepping for your game, or rolling an encounter on the spot this is the tool you'll reach for. When designing a campaign you don't even need to roll a die to make use of these tables, just browsing the book can grant you all the inspiration you need." —TheGamer

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