Choosing Tanelorn

Another literary creation that has already been adapted to a role-playing game is once again being adapted to another role-playing game—make that two new role-playing games by two different publishers—and I am less than thrilled. The Elric Saga by Michael Moorcock will be adapted to Dragonbane by Free League Publishing and to Dungeon Crawl Classics RPG and D&D 5E by Goodman Games. I wish both publishers success, and I understand how at least two of the three adaptations could be a reasonable fit, but Chaosium's first edition of Stormbringer is still, for me, one of the best fantasy role-playing games ever published and all I would ever need for a game set in the Young Kingdoms. I have grown weary of crowdfunding projects, product lines that disappear when the license is not renewed, and the difficulty of finding players who are also familiar with the source material. I'm not saying I couldn't be swayed if the systems are shaped to serve the source material rather than the other way around, but I would have to see proof of it first. I have grown much more cautious in my game-purchasing since my last unwise pledge to a big Kickstarter project. I'd rather just have the original Stormbringer in hardcover.

Table: d4 Treasure Types

There are at least four treasure types in this particular game system/setting/world. This is the thirtieth table of the Table of Tetrahedral Possibility.

d4 Treasure Types

Roll 1d4

1. 2,000 copper pieces
2. 1 Melnibonéan gold wheel
3. 1d4 miscellaneous magic items
4. Betty White

Table: d4 Unexpected Visitors

You may expect at least four different kinds of unexpected visitors when you least expect it. This is the twenty-ninth table of the Table of Tetrahedral Possibility.

d4 Unexpected Visitors

Roll 1d4

1. A three-headed troll with a/an adjective noun.
2. An out-of-work gnollkeeper.
3. A circuit-riding anti-paladin.
4. A flock/herd of 3d4 perytons.

Table: d4 NPC Alignments

There are at least four different alignments randomly occurring amongst random non-player characters randomly encountered in random places. This is the twenty-eighth table of the Table of Tetrahedral Possibility.

d4 NPC Alignments

Roll 1d4

1. Lawful Ruthless
2. Neutral Indifferent
3. Neutral Chaotic
4. Chaotic Lawful

Table: d4 System Shock Survival

There are at least four different possibilities in a system shock survival roll. (No knowledge of system shock survival rules required.) This is the twenty-seventh table of the Table of Tetrahedral Possibility.

d4 System Shock Survival

Roll 1d4

1. Shocked, but not survived.
2. Both shocked and survived.
3. Not shocked and survived.
4. Neither shocked nor survived.

Table: d4 Languages, Elective

There are at least four different languages students may elect to study for whatever reason. This is the twenty-sixth table of the Table of Tetrahedral Possibility.

d4 Languages, Elective

Roll 1d4

1. Standard Beholderish
2. Invisible Stalker
3. Pidgin Red Dragon (Chimeran Dialect)
4. Shedu

Table: d4 Languages, Vocational

There are at least four different languages known only by members of certain vocations. This is the twenty-fifth table of the Table of Tetrahedral Possibility.

d4 Languages, Vocational

Roll 1d4

1. Nuns' Cant
2. Tinkers' Argot
3. Porters' Patois
4. Magic!

Table: d4 Languages, Common

There are at least four different languages with which most people are somewhat acquainted. This is the twenty-fourth table of the Table of Tetrahedral Possibility.

d4 Languages, Common

Roll 1d4

1. The Common Tongue
2. The Uncommon Tongue
3. Old High Common
4. Ancient Haughty Common

Table: d4 Latest Dances

There are at least four different dances dominating the current terpsichorean craze, in order of increasing fiendishness. This is the twenty-third table of the Table of Tetrahedral Possibility.

d4 Latest Dances

Roll 1d4

1. The Aarakocra.
2. The Achaierai.
3. The Flail Snail.
4. The Whipweed.

Table: d4 Desserts for Dragons

There are at least four different desserts a dragon might crave. This is the twenty-second table of the Table of Tetrahedral Possibility.

d4 Desserts for Dragons

Roll 1d4

1. A Lava (Child) Cake.
2. Pixies on Sticks.
3. Half an Elf.
4. A Brownie.