Ready to inject some delicious chaos into your intrigue-heavy TTRPG? Rumours are the lifeblood of any mystery or political campaign, but static, pre-written whispers can fall flat. Let’s make them dynamic, unpredictable, and exciting! All you need is this simple rumour generator.
The Rumour Origin & Truthfulness Table
This tool is incredibly easy to use. Whenever your players hear a piece of gossip, just roll a d10 to see where it came from and a d6 to determine how accurate it is. The combination creates instant context and depth for your plot hooks.
Origin (1d10)
- Whispered in a gambling den
- Scribbled on bathroom graffiti
- Overheard from a drunk guard
- Spoken by a street performer
- Heard in a place of worship
- Read in a social media post
- Eavesdropped in a high-society gathering
- Found in a discarded letter
- Heard from a child
- Leaked by a city official
Truthfulness
- Complete fabrication
- Twisted truth
- Mostly untrue
- Half-true
- Mostly accurate
- Entirely true
Putting it Into Practice
Let’s say the rumour is: “The Baron is secretly funding the rebels.”
You roll a 7 (Eavesdropped in a high-society gathering) and a 4 (Half-true). Suddenly, this isn’t just a simple rumour. It’s a piece of gossip from the upper crust, maybe overheard at a ball. And it’s only half right! Perhaps the Baron is secretly funding a group, but it’s not the rebels—it’s a rival merchant guild. The players now have a specific lead and a complex mystery to unravel!
What if you roll an 8 (Found in a discarded letter) and a 6 (Entirely true)? The players find a crumpled note with damning evidence. It’s a race against time before someone else finds it!
Why This Works Wonders
Using this table is a game-changer. It delivers:
- Improved World building: Your world feels more alive and interconnected when information has a source.
- Increased Player Engagement: Players have tangible leads to follow, making them active participants in the mystery.
- Dynamic Plot Hooks: You can generate unpredictable and exciting story hooks on the fly that you never would have planned.
This simple tool breathes life into the information your players discover. Give this table a roll in your next session and watch your intrigue-heavy game come alive with possibilities!