"Starsoul Amulet" by jdtmart (resized) is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 3.0
Treasure can be one of the most exciting parts of a fantasy game, but familiarity breeds contempt. Random roll tables in roleplaying books are a good place to start, but they only offer so many options. Eventually, players will know what to expect from treasure hoards. They'll be able to tell which items are magical by their descriptions and they'll recognize nonmagical items that come up often - and chances are, nonmagical objects will be ignored until they're sold. And it can sometimes be challenging to come up with unique details for random treasure or when generating a large hoard.
This is where my generators come in.
With the RPGChartMaker site, I've created random generators for many different kinds of objects. You can use the results just to make things more interesting and generate intriguing details to build plots around. Since the generators aren't tied to any gaming sytem, they can also be helpful inspiration for fantasy writers. You can download the files for the objects that interest you, and learn how to use them quickly here.
The Body Modification Generator helps to determine evocative details for artificial limbs, cosmetics (like body paint and nail art), and lasting marks (like tattoos).
The Books Generator spins up details for books, journals, illuminated manuscripts, pamphlets, scrolls, and tablets that characters find along the way.
The Crafted Item Generator adds depth to housewares (like boxes and chalices), furniture, and art pieces (like tapestries and vases).
Finally, the Fashion Generator covers clothing, jewelry, miscellaneous accessories (like scarves), and shoes.
Why was an item created in the first place? How old is it now? What condition does it appear to be in? What kinds of fabrics, metals, and additional embellishments were added to it? The generators let you know. They also provide ideas for minor magical effects, nonmagical benefits, and the kind of attention the item tends to get from people.
Here's an example of what one of the generators looks like:
Below is a preview of the generators in Google sheets. You can make a copy of the file and use it however you'd like. You can add or change entries, delete those you don't like, or move them between categories. You can use the numbers on the side of the page to roll for random results, or you can just choose pieces that go together well.
Everything is optional, so if something doesn't make sense or seem to fit, you can skip it or choose another aspect. It can be easy to find a suitable replacement if you generate multiple results at a time; you can just pick another result in the same category.
Random results don't take away the need for creativity. You'll still have to figure out how a fancy blouse ended up in a peasant's house. You'll also have to decide what the item is worth if characters want to sell it.
The generators can also serve players and writers who are looking for ways to make their characters stand out. Maybe a character has a gorgeous set of clothes, a special pair of shoes, or a unique scroll case. Or maybe their character's home has a remarkable talking point, like a table inlaid with silver, a gift from a grateful patron the character once served well.
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