The Book of Random Tables: Fantasy Role-Playing Game Aids for Game Masters (Fantasy RPG Random Tables 1) [Print Replica] Kindle Edition

While it looks nice and it technically does deliver random tables, the entire book feels very empty. Most pages have a single d100 random table, presented in two columns with a lot of white space. The presentation and negative space makes it visually look like the book was being padded to fill. The d100 table for "Rumors and Odd Jobs" is clearly stretched out to take up 5 pages when it could easily be two.The results on encounter tables are very repetitive. For example, in "forest encounters" there are results for Deer 1d4, Deer 1d6, Deer 1d8, Deer 1d10, Deer 1d12, and Deer 1d20. DMs don't need six different encounters for deer, much less one. Seeing deer would add nothing to an adventure. The book repeats the same pattern for other encounters, like Elk and Orphans. Again, it feels like padding and comes off as lazy.As for the actual content, the names list are nice but other tables don't really have any use for a DM. There are THREE separate tables dedicated to gemstone names, but just the names. They are lists with no descriptions of what those gems look like or what they are worth. Do I know what Wakefieldite or Bixbite looks like? No. It would have more use if the author made up names of fantasy gemstones.

I was surprised at how big the book was; especially for a book of tables. There’s a lot of white space in this book— I assume to make it roughly the same size as the D&D books while still making it feel substantial. This is exactly as described: a book of tables,not a book with expansive backgrounds, stats, etc. It’s extremely useful in dungeon prepping and when players choose to go in unexpected directions to give a more descriptive, lived-in world. Is it revolutionary? No, but at this price point it doesn’t need to be. The time it would take to compile these lists, let alone attempt to generate the lists is way more valuable than the cost of the book. As mentioned in other reviews, the Rumors & Odd Jobs is particularly inspiring. It is DEFINITELY worth the investment. The inside design is sparse. The tables are really just lists, but the cover is good enough to have it on my shelf.

This product won't be of much use while at the table to help do anything on the fly. The tables can be of a bit if use when preparing if you want to know what 4 useless items you can leave in a random room of a dungeon or cabin but the book leaves a lot of work still ahead. When rolling to see what is in a Wizard's Chamber, rolling to see it tell you a "wand" or other very generic things still means you are going to need to look up and prepare the actual info that gives anything usable substance. The items and things you roll for will either be garbage filter content that you read out and players immediately disregard or if it will be something useful that they will want to pickup or interact with it is now 100% up to you to fill in every blank around the overly generic content. For the forest encounters 6 of the 100 items are just Goblins. For some odd reason there are 3 separate d100 tables for gemstones because 260 extra ones no one has ever heard of will improve your game. Your players will be ecstatic when they open a chest and look down at all the gems like Poudretteite, Botallackite, or even Magnesioaxinite. You can find much better tables on any website that offers them for free, this book is not worth your money. For any new DM this book didn't give you enough to work with if you are looking for something to help you, for an experienced DM this book doesn't give you anything new to really help you that you haven't already got down. Save your money, the 47 pages here could easily have been condensed down to 20 pages or printed on a pocket sized book instead of being the same dimensions as the other official books but with mostly blank space filling the pages where usable content should be.

I'm happy with this book for the most part. The tables all seem well put together, and I've used this along with a couple other books for prepping the last few of my sessions. My only complaint is that the tables take up far too much space. I'd prefer to see them condensed a little better, it would make referencing things on page much quicker. You could fit more into the book that way as well.

I recently purchased all three editions of The Book of Random Tables, and I'm more than pleased with all three.The first book contains a lot of different lists to use for randomly populating rooms of particular types - the most interesting in my mind being the tables for the Wizard and Alchemist lab's. Whether you have players who do unexpected things (and who doesn't) or want to add some touches to your planning stage, these books are all steals at 8 dollars each.Pros:Beautiful cover art.Thin and Light - no wasted space.Easy to read.Creative and useful tables.Cons:No Table of Contents, but the book is nothing but the tables, so tabbing it is easy.

I loved all the tables full of things that players are sure to get attached to. The encounters and rumors sections are especially great. I can't wait till you release your next one. This book is super useful and I recommend it to anyone running a tabletop RPG like Dungeons and Dragons.

Want a random list for common occurrences but don't want to spend a lot of time on things not part of the main theme of your quests? These lists are the answer to that and adds flavor to any adventure without having to say to your players "...sorry but you find nothing".Well worth the price in time savings alone.

As stated in the title, this can cut a lot of game prep time for the DM out, making other aspects more intricate, or even just to give the DM a little breather.I recommend any book like this to any DM.

The tables in this book were not as exciting as I thought they'd be.

I wasn't sure what to expect but it really is a helpful book for DM's. Many key reference items that can help in a pinch. Used it several times in todays game just a day after it arrived. Glad to now own it.

Wer als GM gerne selber Kampagnen erstellt und dafür Inspiration und Hilfsmittel sucht ist mit diesem Buch gut beraten.