150 Benign Urban Encounters (d150)

Chris polled members of the GMMastery Yahoo group for benign urban encounter ideas and then added a few of his own to come up with this awesome list you might find useful for your own campaigns. Editor Isaac and I added a few more as well. Thanks Chris, Telas, and GMMastery contributors!

Try using this list a few different ways:

  1. To help with impromptu descriptions.
  2. An injection of scenery when designing city encounters and locations.
  3. Encounter hooks. These items are perfect micro-situations on which to layer a larger conflict, clue, or circumstance. For example, pick an item from the list and use it as a distraction while the real encounter triggers. Your players will enjoy the one-two punch.
  4. Inspiration. If you've got writer's block, these items are perfect for getting the ideas flowing.
d150 Details

1

Chamber pot emptied near/on

2

Cats chasing each other dart past

3

Please watch this cart for me, just for a minute.

4

Birds of prey circling overhead

5

Urchin approaches for minor scam

6

Shadow passes across the ground

7

Smoke rises in distance (brush fire)

8

Feeling of deja vu

9

Insect swarm/nest on building

10

Howling/barking in the distance

11

Beggar asks for alms

12

Children pester party

13

Local teen wants to join party

14

Graffiti on building

15

Stumble onto amorous teens

16

Child looking for pet frog

17

Snake slithers away

18

Street vendor (food, drink, trinkets, etc.)

19

Rainbow in the distance

20

Group of bats rise in the distance

21

Drunken fist fight

22

Stumble on lover's quarrel

23

Religious pilgrims with vow of silence are jeered at

24

"Recognized" by a drunk

25

Overturned vegetable cart

26

Criminal held in public stock

27

Sudden sun shower

28

Wind kicks up

29

Street performer(s)

30

Religious fanatic

31

A discarded, tattered cloak

32

A rusty old weapon found in gutter

33

Dark storm cloud approaches

34

Large beetle buzzes around head

35

Kids playing game (hide 'n seek)

36

Criminal in custody is marched past

37

Mother looking for child

38

Sandstorm

39

Small dust whirlwind

40

A dead ox causes a gridlock

41

An overturned cart causes a gridlock

42

A few sun bleached papers blow by

43

Well-armed adventurers pass by

44

Roof tile falls, barely missing party

45

Approached by prostitute(s)

46

Smell of baking/cooking

47

Pimp ("you messin' with my woman?")

48

Wailing baby

49

One person chasing another

50

Stench of feces

51

Ray of light seems to surround one person

52

Unusually cool breeze

53

Rats are following you

54

You get a dull, throbbing headache

55

Injured bird lies helpless

56

Skunk smell

57

Eerily quiet

58

Customer angry with shopkeeper

59

Food fight occurring

60

Stung by a bee

61

Arid dust coats your mouth

62

Cop/guard walking a beat

63

Spoiled brat wants party item

64

Someone teleports away

65

Very friendly cat

66

Parent scolding child

67

Someone bumps pouch--nothing's missing

68

Find a copper piece

69

Parade in honor of minor saint, hero, etc.

70

Foreigners arguing in their own language

71

Allergic reaction to exotic spice/pollen

72

Discount holy water salesman

73

Witness a minor crime

74

Something scurries away (chipmunk)

75

Street preacher accosts you

76

Witness a major crime

77

Two religious processions meet head-on

78

City watch follows you for 2d4 blocks

79

Find a silver piece

80

Dogs chasing each other run by

81

Very active beehive nearby

82

Howling gust of wind

83

Approaching lightning storm

84

Crow squawks repeatedly at approach

85

Rubbery mass stuck to your boot (gum)

86

Step in crap - dog, dire rat, etc.

87

Someone stomps in nearby puddle--splash!

88

Street cleaner sweeps by

89

Unconscious stranger on side of road

90

Pair of small birds harass you

91

Feral cat is trailing the party

92

A case of mistaken identity

93

Cloud shaped as holy symbol

94

Shopping list for potions is found

95

Old ring is sticking out of the dirt

96

One person has an intense itch

97

Hawk takes mole/mouse near party

98

Find a gold piece

99

Loose chickens peck at the street

100

Passing child drops pottery, cries

101

Raven lands in path, stares, leaves

102

Injured mounted scout charges through the street

103

Noble is carried past in a sedan chair

104

Two hooded people whisper on street

105

Young consumer is watched closely

106

Singing floats out of nearby building

107

Circus wagon trundles past, animal calls

108

Weapon sharpener approaches party

109

Large flock of birds flies acrobatics, then darts away

110

Private guards flank a door

111

Distracted senior totters straight for party

112

Weary knight is mobbed by adoring children

113

Partial eclipse of the sun

114

Emaciated children tug at party sleeves

115

People cheer for the party

116

A strong, young, healthy beggar asks for coin

117

A politician on a box of soap during a speech makes eye contact with a PC

118

A cat is stuck in a tree and mewls at the PCs

119

An escaped pet rodent rolling around the street in its ball bumps up against a PC's leg

120

A religious leader and his incense burning retinue cuts across the PCs' path

121

A diseased old man resting in a chair asks for help standing up

122

A paint can spills from above and splashes PCs

123

Political activists on parade beckon the PCs to join

124

A dangerous fish in a tank bumps loudly against the glass

125

A bee stings a nearby child who blindly runs to a PC for soothing

126

A small bird egg drops out of a nest from above and land intact nearby

127

An elf walks by with living snakes wrapped around his shoulders

128

A visitor stops to ask for directions to an interesting place

129

A fish vendor bends over to vomit and people point and laugh

130

A sheet of music blows into a PC's face

131

A garbage bin rattles; inside is a tied sack of kittens

132

A depressed bard asks sing-song, rhetorical questions of the PCs

133

A dangerous-looking racoon has claimed an apple cart as his--merchant beseeches PCs

134

A known crime boss sits and reads while sweating shoe shine boy buffs and casts the PCs worried looks

135

A woman with too much fashion going on breaks her shoe and stumbles into a PC

136

A man gets down on one knee and proposes, drawing a crowd and knotting traffic

137

A beggar with his hand down a drain hole brings up a ring and immediately asks the PCs to buy it

138

Three performers in masks surround the PCs and do a ring dance around them

139

Clothing tossed out a window during a lovers' spat lands on a PC

140

A woman drops a basket of fruit--can the PCs dodge before squashing some?

141

A crazy man points at PC's equipment and lists its magical properties--and he's right!

142

A little boy confronts the PCs and shoots them with an imaginary crossbow

143

PCs pass an alleyway blocked by a new spider web

144

A fishmonger dumps a cart of rotten fish for scavengers to clean up

145

A young noble passes trailed by a pickpocket

146

A messenger collides with the PCs and numerous papers start blowing around

147

A body of an evil wizard tied to a stake, body still smoking

148

A chatty bard walks alongside the party

149

A chess match

150

A person passed out from too much drink, looted, with writing on forehead