[DF/Fantasy/Gonzo Post-Apocalypse] Random monster/mutant generator

[Jerander]

EDIT: I'm setting up a template here to make it easier to find everything I'm doing.

Hi,

Recently I stumbled across the Random Esoteric Creature Generator. The RECG is intended for D&D, but something similar could be done for GURPS, I think.

I could see at least two uses for such a thing: 1) mutation/ability generation for those exposed to radiation/wild magic/weird energies/etc., and 2) quickly generating a "monster" (demon/mutant/aberration/etc.) for those stuck for an idea. So it'd be great to have at least those two points of entry into the generator: 1) generating one mutation and 2) generating a beast from scratch.

Looking through the existing material, here are my thoughts:

1) Using the RECG as is, but including GURPS stats for all entries. Not sure if doing so is allowed, legally. I'd rather build a generator tailored for GURPS.
2) Using the alien generator in GURPS Space as a starting point. I haven't looked at it recently so I'm not sure how feaseable an idea that is.
3) Using the random demon table from GURPS Fantasy 3e as a starting point.
4) Going to the Basic Set and its morphology templates and using that as a starting point.

The way I'm thinking right now, there'd need to be three "generators."

1) Base creature.
2) Variant "crunch" (what it can do).
3) Variant "fluff" (how it looks).

There certainly could be some back-n-forth between the crunch and the fluff.

Any thoughts?
Thank you,
Jerander.

[Dwarf99]

Originally Posted by Jerander

Hi,

Recently I stumbled across the Random Esoteric Creature Generator. The RECG is intended for D&D, but something similar could be done for GURPS, I think.

I could see at least two uses for such a thing: 1) mutation/ability generation for those exposed to radiation/wild magic/weird energies/etc., and 2) quickly generating a "monster" (demon/mutant/aberration/etc.) for those stuck for an idea. So it'd be great to have at least those two points of entry into the generator: 1) generating one mutation and 2) generating a beast from scratch.

Looking through the existing material, here are my thoughts:

1) Using the RECG as is, but including GURPS stats for all entries. Not sure if doing so is allowed, legally. I'd rather build a generator tailored for GURPS.
2) Using the alien generator in GURPS Space as a starting point. I haven't looked at it recently so I'm not sure how feaseable an idea that is.
3) Using the random demon table from GURPS Fantasy 3e as a starting point.
4) Going to the Basic Set and its morphology templates and using that as a starting point.

The way I'm thinking right now, there'd need to be three "generators."

1) Base creature.
2) Variant "crunch" (what it can do).
3) Variant "fluff" (how it looks).

There certainly could be some back-n-forth between the crunch and the fluff.

Any thoughts?
Thank you,
Jerander.

I think the Demon Generator might have been updated... possibly MH?

[Jerander]

Originally Posted by Dwarf99

I think the Demon Generator might have been updated... possibly MH?

Ah! MH3. Random power table for demons. Thank you.

[Jerander]

Okay, looking at Alien Creation II-IX in GURPS Space, that gives a great place to start. I'll have to read it more in-depth to see how it works for my needs.

[Jerander]

Looking at the Alien Creation ("AC") tables in GURPS Space.

AC-I, I think, can be skipped. Most fantasy and post-apoc happens in Earthlike environments with life similar to what we know. If a chemical basis is needed, then AC-I can certainly be used.

AC-II needs a little modification. In these genres, most "interesting" creatures are "combatants." So one way to modify the table is to remove (most of) the autotrophs, decomposers, and herbivores. I also flattened the results because I'm not trying to fit them in a "natural" ecology. However, I could certainly be convinced otherwise.

Roll (1d, 1d)
1, 1-4: Scavenger
1, 5-6: Omnivore
2, 1-2: Omnivore
2, 3-6: Pouncing Carnivore
3, 1-4: Chasing Carnivore
3, 5-6: Trapping Carnivore
4, 1-2: Trapping Carnivore
4, 3-6: Hijacking Carnivore
5, 1-4: Parasite/Symbiont
5, 5-6: Expanded Selection (Roll on AC-II in GURPS Space.)
6, 1-2: Expanded Selection (Roll on AC-II in GURPS Space.)
6, 3-6: Combined Method (Reroll here for first, roll on AC-II in GURPS Space for second.)

If an Autotroph is generated, then one possibility for an energy source is "weird energy": mana in a fantasy setting or radition in a post-apoc one.

Autotroph type (roll 1d): (1-3: Photosynthesis, 4-5: Manasynthesis, 6: Chemosynthesis).

Manasynthesis would be replaced with rad-synthesis in a post-apocalyptic setting.

AC-III could be used as is to generate locomotion.

Any thoughts?
Thank you,
Jerander.

[Jerander]

AC-IV to AC-X look like they can be used as is, giving a general description of a creature. One thing largely missing from the Alien Creation process is stats. We get SM, ST, and IQ, plus a small handful of advantages, but we're missing a large portions of the stats we'd need to generate a combat creature.

Any suggestions on how to derive them?

Thank you,
Jerander.

[Jerander]

Looking through the Basic Set, DF2, DF5, and DFM1:

HT averages around 12 with a range mostly between 10-14. DX averages a little higher at 14 with a larger range from 8-18. So maybe:

Roll (2d)
2-3: HT 10.
4-5: HT 11.
6-8: HT 12.
9-10: HT 13.
11: HT 14.
12: HT 15.

and

Roll (3d)
3: Roll again and add -1 to the result (DX 8 min).
4-5: DX 12.
6-8: DX 13.
9-12: DX 14.
13-15: DX 15.
16-17: DX 16.
18: DX 17-18 (1-4: DX 17, 5-6: DX 18).

[Jerander]

Random Monster Template

ST: AC IV (GURPS Space, p. 151).
HP: Basic Set, p. 16; new table.
DX: New table.
Speed: Basic Set, p. 17.
Move:
IQ: AC IX (GURPS Space, p. 168).
Will: New table.
Per: New table.
HT: New table.
FP: Basic Set, pp. 16-7; new table.
SM: AC IV (GURPS Space, p. 151).
Dodge:
Parry:
DR: AC VI (GURPS Space, pp. 157-8).
Attack (Skill or Resistance):
Traits: AC II-IX (GURPS Space, pp. 143-68); new table.
Class: DF2, p. 21.

[Jerander]

HP & FP, in a "realistic" setting, can vary from -30% to +30% of starting ST & HT. That seems a good place to start.

Roll (3d)
3: 70% of primary characteristic.
4: 75% of primary characteristic.
5: 80% of primary characteristic.
6: 85% of primary characteristic.
7: 90% of primary characteristic.
8-9: 95% of primary characteristic.
10-11: 100% of primary characteristic.
12-13: 105% of primary characteristic.
14: 110% of primary characteristic.
15: 115% of primary characteristic.
16: 120% of primary characteristic.
17: 125% of primary characteristic.
18: 130% of primary characteristic.

[Jerander]

The vast majority of Per and Will scores are in the 10-12 range. So my suggestion:

Roll (2d)
2-5: 10
6-8: 11
9-12: 12