weird alien/creature generation rules

mwcnorth · January 22, 2012, 07:29:15 PM

Hello,
As a fan of random generation/creation, I'm trying to compile a list of games with some of the more interesting alien monster/being creation rules in rpgs. Any information is much appreciated. The system can be old, recent, or obscure....Thanks in advance!

danbuter · January 22, 2012, 07:34:51 PM

Traveller has a decent alien generation system, though it's kind of basic.

Benoist · January 22, 2012, 07:44:08 PM

You want this: Random Esoteric Creature Generator.

flyingmice · January 22, 2012, 08:14:27 PM

Read this thread from RPGNet.

-clsah

danbuter · January 22, 2012, 08:24:29 PM

Why would you be a douche and link to rpgnet?

flyingmice · January 22, 2012, 08:29:13 PM

Quote from: danbuter;507864Why would you be a douche and link to rpgnet?

Why is that being a douche? There's a whole lot of games listed in that link. If you want to know, it's a good resource.

-clash

Rincewind1 · January 22, 2012, 08:33:35 PM

Quote from: danbuter;507864Why would you be a douche and link to rpgnet?

I thought that really only worked one way - no posting about rpg.site at rpg.net

(I think one guy just dropped out of a PbP game when he heard I was quoted as rpg.site poster >.>)

For those with their period oversensitivity activated(or well, bann'd, as I hope is Dan's case), here go quotes from that thread.

Quote from: Keris1;14907588Hello,
Several months back I posted a query regarding some of the more obscure rules for generating alien creatures in rpgs. Due to computer issues
I was unable to access this info. I figured I'd post the same query - if anyone knew of any games with interesting rules for alien creature creation, for games old,
new, international, etc. Any information is much appreciated....Thanks!

Quote from: Schroeder;14907595If you're familiar with the ORE, Out of the Violent Planet is a setting for that system. It includes rules for random alien generation if memory serves.

Quote from: Rocket Propelled Grenade;14907669According to the announcement on the FFG webpage*, there will be some kind of Xenos Generator included in the Koronus Bestiary. Unfortunately, that's all my NDA lets me say on the topic. :cool:

*link here: http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/edge_news.asp?eidn=2907

Quote from: flyingmice;14907697StarCluster 3 and In Harm's Way: StarCluster have alien generation rules. They are mostly the same, but the SC3 rules include psycho-social rankings - the Bailey-Wolfe Index - where this was not available to the IHW:SC version. Bailywolf came up with the idea here after IHW:SC was published.

-clash

Quote from: Jürgen Hubert;14907892The one in GURPS Space is... comprehensive.

You can either use it to create normal alien creatures... or you can use it to create intelligent aliens, complete with psychology derived from their biology and habitat.

Quote from: Flexi;14908510The two systems I turn to for this are the Stars Without Number core rulebook and Mongoose Traveller's very useful Animal Encounters supplement. Ideal to make a group of Traveller veterans nervous with a randomly generated alien beastie!

Quote from: jehosephat;14909237FRINGEWORTHY has rules for generating aliens, both animals and intelligent beings, and their societies on-the-fly.

It was pretty much a necessity for "The Game of Interdimensional Adventure".

Quote from: privateer;14909516Alternity had rules for making aliens, too, IIRC. I think they were in the GM Guide.

Quote from: Keris1;14909848I've heard interesting things about general randomness and the Tri Tac system. Do many of their games, like Fringeworthy, have random creature generators?

Quote from: Dropkicker;14910066Classic Traveller and Thousand Suns both have alien creation systems that are easy to use and produce cool results.

Quote from: jehosephat;14910301Fringeworthy is the only one I have. But games like Weirdzone and Incursion certainly sound like they'd need some sort of random monster/alien generators.

danbuter · January 22, 2012, 08:45:49 PM

Quote from: flyingmice;507868Why is that being a douche? There's a whole lot of games listed in that link. If you want to know, it's a good resource.

-clash

I also thinks it douchey when people just link to old threads here, instead of actually answering a question.

Rincewind1 · January 22, 2012, 08:53:36 PM

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1DLF1uwCCrZcJtPJ9Y17di1E6sE094kiXICePW-uukcQ/edit

You might want to check this nice work by VectorSigma.

flyingmice · January 22, 2012, 08:55:27 PM

Quote from: danbuter;507873I also thinks it douchey when people just link to old threads here, instead of actually answering a question.

Fascinating. Offending post removed.

-clash

Benoist · January 22, 2012, 09:00:24 PM

Sure, it's usually preferable to answer a question directly rather than throw a bunch of links on a thread, but it's not douchey to link to relevant material, old or new, on this site or another. If it helps, it helps, period. Whatever fulfills the initial request. Just my take on it.

RPGPundit · January 23, 2012, 02:15:43 PM

Quote from: Benoist;507853You want this: Random Esoteric Creature Generator.

Is this available in print, or just pdf?

RPGPundit

Benoist · January 23, 2012, 02:23:20 PM

Quote from: RPGPundit;508130Is this available in print, or just pdf?

RPGPundit

Seems to only exist in PDF format. I might be wrong, though.

Aos · January 23, 2012, 02:24:11 PM

You can get it in print. It's available at amazon for now anyway*. I have a hard copy and I'm quite happy with it.

*only 6 left.

RPGPundit · January 23, 2012, 05:47:10 PM

I wonder if the publisher would be interested in sending me a review copy; I'd heard about this quite a bit, and I do have a predilection for random tables as you all well know...

RPGPundit