" An ogre mercenary in metal armour with an ancient blade. Recites and discusses poetry. Looking for work after death of last employer."
Simple encounter tables for ports and docks in any fantasy setting. Tables for Dungeon Encounter Prompts, Dungeon Hazards & Distractions and Dungeon Quick NPCs.
Fantasy Dungeon - trinkets | cave encs | dungeon encs | sewer encs | all
[art by Bob Greyvenstein]
Fantasy Dungeon Encounters
At the roots of roleplaying games is the dungeon. A mess of levels with monsters guarding their loot. But it could also be an abandoned mine overrun by goblins, a cultist lair in the sewers, an ancient temple home to an undead priest and their minions.
Places of guardians, traps, chests, pits, darkness and secret often best left undisturbed
There is a fantasy encounters generator at ChaosGen. There is also a pdf of these and more tables at the DriveThruRPG as Dungeon Encounters.
10 Dungeon Encounter Prompts
| 1d10 | 10 Dungeon Encounter Prompts |
|---|---|
| 1 | A transparent ooze, which drags loose objects to a weird collection. Leaves heavy globs of slime behind, from which it can slowly regrow. |
| 2 | A cave sprite, mostly interested in stealing unattended footwear. |
| 3 | An ogre mercenary in metal armour with an ancient blade. Recites and discusses poetry. Looking for work after death of last employer. |
| 4 | A telepathic animated table, which claims to be a famous adventurer |
| 5 | A strange slow-moving garden made of soil, debris and fungal growth. Draws nutrition in various ways and can communicate via a rat skull. |
| 6 | A human-headed giant snake that casts spells, with a foul disposition. |
| 7 | A few cowardly kobold (or goblin) miners dig a tunnel. Serve nearby creature, but know local area and one speaks a language of group. |
| 8 | A tiny dragon, able to trade lore of complex for breaking down a door. |
| 9 | A squat tentacled creature with three legs, living in mound of waste. Has limited telepathy and hasas a collection they want to expand. |
| 10 | A ghostly cursed skull can makes eyes glow, but has no other powers. |
Dungeon Hazards and Distractions
| 1d10 | There is (or are)... |
|---|---|
| 1 | a clever puzzle or a picture which can provide a clue |
| 2 | a mundane trap, a(n)... d10 (1-2. a pit with something nasty 3. hail of arrows 4. net trap 5. spray of something flammable 6. poisonous mist 7. collapsing roof 8. falling bag of spiders 9. heavy portcullis 10. chopping blade) |
| 3 | a corpse infested with dangerous vermin; or a grumpy sentient door |
| 4 | a magical ward, ... d10 (1-2. an alarm 3. a fiery wall 4. glyphs that warn then harm 5. a weird spell 6. warning illusion 7. a protective circle 8. a voice with a message 9. a magical barrier 10. blinding lights) |
| 5 | a disturbance of many beetles (or fireflies); or magical darkness |
| 6 | there is the strong smell of ... d10 (1-2. death and decay 3. beast 4. incense 5. rotting waste 6. misery 7. oil 8. burning 9. something out of place 10. mould) |
| 7 | a portal to a place nearby (or another realm); or thick slimy webs |
| 8 | sounds of ... d10 (1-2. digging 3. grinding 4. an alarm 5. heavy footsteps 6. scratching 7. arguing 8. music 9. water 10. a door slamming) |
| 9 | a ceiling at risk of collapse or a nest of various materials |
| 10 | a wall with... d10 (1-2. a big button 3. good poetry 4. glowing fungi 5. an alcove 6. graffiti 7. a riddle 8. a confusing map 9. a lit torch 10. flaming runes) |
Quick Dungeon NPCs
| 1d10 | Descriptor | Profession | who... |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | disfigured or ratfolk | scout | is making a map (or piece of art) |
| 2 | undead or paranoid | scholar | wants help with a door (or trap) |
| 3 | renegade or ooze-like | warden | wears a magic ring (or cloak) |
| 4 | goblinoid or musical | stonemason | serves a local faction (or villain) |
| 5 | diseased or vampiric | priest | is with minions (or guardians) |
| 6 | dwarf or starving | sentry | is leaving area (or just arrived) |
| 7 | cursed or troglodyte | miner | worships an evil god (or fiend) |
| 8 | half-human or friendly | fanatic | has a pet imp (or tiny dragon) |
| 9 | blind or shapechanging | mercenary | is wants conversation (or a key) |
| 10 | ghostly or confused | warlock | seeks forbidden lore (or a relic) |
More Encounters
There is a fantasy encounters generator at ChaosGen. There is also a pdf of these and more tables at the DriveThruRPG as Dungeon Encounters.
If you liked these there are Generators at Chaos Gen and a monthly random tools Newsletter. Or find us on the Rand Roll Discord or an instagram of Random Tables.
