Ever had that moment in your modern horror or urban fantasy campaign where the trail goes cold? The mundane world can sometimes grind supernatural investigations to a halt. When you need to inject a dose of the weird right now, look no further than the humble, everyday object.

This is a simple tool for any Game Master running games like Monster of the Week, Urban Shadows, or any TTRPG set in our world… with a twist. The next time your players are stuck, have them notice something nearby. Then, roll on the table below to see how it suddenly becomes the most important thing in the room.

The Suddenly Relevant Object Table

Just roll a d20 and let the mundane become magical, monstrous, or downright menacing.

1. Antique Music Box Plays a melody that curses listeners.
2. Graffiti Mural Bleeds and moves, depicting prophecies.
3. Abandoned Construction Site Collapses, revealing a hidden entrance.
4. Park Fountain Water turns to blood, attracting scavengers.
5. Streetlight Flickers erratically, projecting shadows of past events.
6. Fast Food Restaurant Mascots come to life, acting as guardians.
7. Social Media Post Contains hidden messages leading to the monster’s lair.
8. Local Newspaper Headlines subtly shift, foreshadowing future events.
9. Tourist Souvenir Acts as a focus for supernatural energy, amplifying powers.
10. Food Truck Serves otherworldly cuisine with dangerous side effects.
11. Pet (Cat/Dog) Begins to speak, offering cryptic warnings or guidance.
12. Child’s Drawing Depicts the monster’s true form and a hidden vulnerability.
13. Piece of Street Art Changes to reflect the viewer’s deepest fears.
14. Sports Game on TV The score reflects the group’s chances of success.
15. Local Landmark Acts as a beacon, drawing supernatural entities to the area.
16. Emergency Vehicle Siren Is a signal that summons the monster.
17. Pile of Trash Animates into a garbage golem.
18. Mannequin Comes to life and begins stalking the party.
19. Security Camera Shows glimpses into alternate realities or timelines.
20. Escalator Descends into a hellish underworld.

Quick Examples in Action

• The Cursed Melody: Investigating a rash of sudden comas, the players find an Antique Music Box (1) in a victim’s apartment. Its tune is the source of the curse, and now they’ve heard it.
• Prophetic Street Art: The city is on edge from bizarre events. A Graffiti Mural (2) the players pass every day suddenly starts bleeding, its images shifting to prophesize the next incident.
• Unexpected Tunnels: While chasing a creature, the players run past an Abandoned Construction Site (3). With a groan of tortured metal, it collapses, revealing a hidden tunnel to the monster’s lair.

Make It Your Own

This table is just a starting point! Feel free to:

• Customize it! Swap out entries to better fit your city or the specific monster they’re hunting.
• Add your own ideas. What’s unique about your campaign setting? Put it on the table!
• Combine rolls. A Mannequin (18) holding a Tourist Souvenir (9)? Now things are getting complicated and exciting!

This simple d20 table is a fantastic tool for any GM’s arsenal, ready to turn any scene into a memorable, high-stakes encounter. Go make your world a little weirder!