Tome of Adventure Design
Tome of Adventure Design
Pathfinder 1e/Swords and Wizardry
Ghost Shipwreck: ?
Undead Giant Crab Carapace: ?
Undead: In folklore, almost all undead creatures arise from some sort of break in the normal life cycle as that culture defines the life cycle (and that’s not always the same in all cultures). Some ceremony wasn’t performed – often burial or last rites, or some action taken by the undead person during his life represented a breach of the natural order of things.
Table 2-64: Basic Types of Undead Creatures
Die Roll
Undead Type
01-04
Corporeal, genius, non-reproductive
05-08
Corporeal, genius, reproduces through prey
09-12
Corporeal, non-intelligent, non-reproductive
13-16
Corporeal, non-intelligent, reproduces through prey
17-20
Corporeal, semi-intelligent, non-reproductive
21-24
Corporeal, semi-intelligent, reproduces through prey
25-28
Incorporeal, genius, non-reproductive
29-32
Incorporeal, genius, reproduces through prey
33-36
Incorporeal, non-intelligent, non-reproductive
37-40
Incorporeal, non-intelligent, reproduces through prey
41-44
Incorporeal, semi-intelligent, non-reproductive
45-48
Incorporeal, semi-intelligent, reproduces through prey
49-52
Non-human corporeal, intelligent, non-reproductive
53-56
Non-human, corporeal, intelligent, contagious Undeath
57-60
Non-human, corporeal, non-intelligent, contagious Undeath
61-64
Non-human, corporeal, non-intelligent, non-reproductive
65-68
Non-human, corporeal, semi-intelligent, contagious Undeath
69-72
Non-human, corporeal, semi-intelligent, non-reproductive
73-76
Non-human, incorporeal, intelligent, contagious Undeath
77-80
Semi-corporeal, genius, non-reproductive
81-84
Semi-corporeal, genius, reproduces through prey
85-88
Semi-corporeal, non-intelligent, non-reproductive
89-92
Semi-corporeal, non-intelligent, reproduces through prey
93-96
Semi-corporeal, semi-intelligent, non-reproductive
97-00
Semi-corporeal, semi-intelligent, reproduces through prey
Table 2-65: Causes of Intelligent Undeath
Die Roll
Cause of Intelligent Undeath
01-10
Cursed by enemy
11-20
Cursed by gods
21-30
Disease such as vampirism
31-40
Prepared by others for Undeath, at or before death (unwillingly)
41-50
Prepared by others for Undeath, at or before death (willingly)
51-60
Prepared self for Undeath, during life
61-70
Rejected from underworld for some reason
71-80
Returned partially by actions of others
81-90
Returned to gain vengeance for own killing
91-00
Returned to guard location or item important to self during life
Table 2-66: Preparations for Intelligent Undeath
Note that some of these preparations might be voluntary on the part of the person being prepared for intelligent Undeath. Other preparations described on this table would be the activity of someone else, with or without the consent of the person being prepared.
Die Roll
Preparation
01-10
Actions are taken to ensure that a god will curse the soul with intelligent undeath
11-20
Corpse/body is preserved/prepared in such a way that the soul (or life force) cannot depart
21-30
Living body parts incorporated into corpse keep it “alive”
31-40
New soul brought into dead body
41-50
Pact with gods/powers of afterlife to reject soul
51-60
Physical preparation raises body with echo of former intelligence
61-70
Physical preparation raises body with full former intelligence
71-80
Ritual binds soul to a place
81-90
Soul captured by ritual, kept in the wrong plane of existence
91-00
Soul captured in item to prevent completion of the death cycle
Table 2-67: Breaks in the Life Cycle
As mentioned above, most Undeath traditionally results from a break in the natural order of the victim’s life cycle. Looking through the following wide assortment of such “breaks” may give you some good ideas for specific details about your undead creature.
Die Roll
Nature of the Break (d100)
01
Deliberately cursed at death by others for actions during lifetime
02
Died after committing crime: Arson
03
Died after committing crime: Assault
04
Died after committing crime: Bankruptcy
05
Died after committing crime: Battery
06
Died after committing crime: Begging
07
Died after committing crime: Blackmail
08
Died after committing crime: Blasphemy
09
Died after committing crime: Breach of contract
10
Died after committing crime: Breach of financial duty
11
Died after committing crime: Breaking and entering
12
Died after committing crime: Bribery
13
Died after committing crime: Burglary
14
Died after committing crime: Cattle theft or rustling
15
Died after committing crime: Consorting with demons
16
Died after committing crime: Counterfeiting
17
Died after committing crime: Cowardice or desertion
18
Died after committing crime: Demonic possession
19
Died after committing crime: Desecration
20
Died after committing crime: Disrespect to clergy
21
Died after committing crime: Disrespect to nobility
22
Died after committing crime: Drug possession
23
Died after committing crime: Drug smuggling
24
Died after committing crime: Drunkenness
25
Died after committing crime: Embezzlement
26
Died after committing crime: Escaped slave
27
Died after committing crime: Extortion
28
Died after committing crime: False imprisonment
29
Died after committing crime: Fleeing crime scene
Die Roll
Nature of the Break (d100)
30
Died after committing crime: Forgery
31
Died after committing crime: Forsaking an oath
32
Died after committing crime: Gambling
33
Died after committing crime: Grave robbery
34
Died after committing crime: Harboring a criminal
35
Died after committing crime: Harboring a slave
36
Died after committing crime: Heresy
37
Died after committing crime: Horse theft
38
Died after committing crime: Incest
39
Died after committing crime: Inciting to riot
40
Died after committing crime: Insanity
41
Died after committing crime: Kidnapping
42
Died after committing crime: Lewdness, private
43
Died after committing crime: Lewdness, public
44
Died after committing crime: Libel
45
Died after committing crime: Manslaughter
46
Died after committing crime: Misuse of public funds
47
Died after committing crime: Murder
48
Died after committing crime: Mutiny
49
Died after committing crime: Necromancy
50
Died after committing crime: Participating in forbidden meeting
51
Died after committing crime: Perjury
52
Died after committing crime: Pickpocket
53
Died after committing crime: Piracy
54
Died after committing crime: Poisoning
55
Died after committing crime: Possession of forbidden weapon
56
Died after committing crime: Prison escape
57
Died after committing crime: Prostitution
Die Roll
Nature of the Break (d100)
58
Died after committing crime: Public recklessness
59
Died after committing crime: Racketeering
60
Died after committing crime: Rape
61
Died after committing crime: Receiving stolen goods (fencing)
62
Died after committing crime: Robbery
63
Died after committing crime: Sabotage
64
Died after committing crime: Sale of shoddy goods
65
Died after committing crime: Sedition
66
Died after committing crime: Slander
67
Died after committing crime: Smuggling
68
Died after committing crime: Soliciting
69
Died after committing crime: Swindling
70
Died after committing crime: Theft
71
Died after committing crime: Treason
72
Died after committing crime: Trespass
73
Died after committing crime: Using false measures
74
Died after committing crime: Witchcraft
75
Died after violating taboo: dietary
76
Died after violating taboo: loyalty
77
Died after violating taboo: marriage
78
Died after violating taboo: sexual
Die Roll
Nature of the Break (d100)
79
Died as a glutton
80
Died as a miser
81
Died as coward
82
Died deliberately
83
Died unloved and unmourned
84
Died while a slave
85
Died while owning slaves
86
Died without children
87
Died without dying (I don’t know, but it sounds good)
88
Died without fulfilling contract
89
Died without fulfilling oath
90
Died without honor (marriage or parenthood)
91
Died without honor (traitor)
92
Died without manhood/womanhood rites
93
Died without marrying
94
Died without proper preparations for death
95
Died without properly honoring ancestors
96
Died without tribal initiation
97
Eaten after death
98
Not buried/burned
99
Not given proper death ceremonies
100
Not given proper preparations for afterlife
Table 2-68: Manner of Death
The manner in which an undead creature might have died can give rise to good ideas about the nature of the creature’s abilities, appearance, and motivations (if it is an intelligent form of undead).
Die Roll
Manner of Death
01
Burned in fire
02
Burned in lava
03
Cooked and eaten
04
Crushed
05
Defeated in dishonorable combat
06
Defeated in honorable combat
07
Died during a storm
08
Died during harvest time
09
Died during peacetime
10
Died in a swamp
11
Died in particular ancient ruins
12
Died in the hills
13
Died in the mountains
14
Died near particular type of flower
15
Died near particular type of tree
16
Died of disease
17
Died of fright
18
Died of natural causes
19
Died of thirst
20
Died while carrying particular weapon
Die Roll
Manner of Death
21
Died while carrying stolen goods
22
Died while wearing particular garment
23
Died while wearing particular piece of jewelry
24
Drowned
25
Executed by asphyxiation
26
Executed by cold
27
Executed by drowning
28
Executed by exposure to elements
29
Executed by fire
30
Executed by hanging
31
Executed by live burial
32
Executed by starvation
33
Executed by strangulation
34
Executed by thirst
35
Executed despite having been pardoned
36
Fell from great height
37
Frozen/hypothermia
38
Heart failure
39
In the saddle
40
Killed by a creature that injects eggs
Die Roll
Manner of Death
41
Killed by a deception
42
Killed by a jealous spouse
43
Killed by a jester
44
Killed by a lover
45
Killed by a lynch mob
46
Killed by a traitor
47
Killed by a trap
48
Killed by accident
49
Killed by ancient curse
50
Killed by birds
51
Killed by blood poisoning
52
Killed by demon
53
Killed by dogs/jackals
54
Killed by gluttony
55
Killed by insect(s)
56
Killed by inter-dimensional creature
57
Killed by magic
58
Killed by magic weapon
59
Killed by metal
60
Killed by mistake
61
Killed by own child
62
Killed by own parent
63
Killed by particular type of person
64
Killed by poisonous fungus
65
Killed by poisonous plant
66
Killed by pride
67
Killed by priest
68
Killed by relative
69
Killed by soldiers during battle
70
Killed by some particular monster
71
Killed by strange aliens
Die Roll
Manner of Death
72
Killed by undead
73
Killed by wine or drunkenness
74
Killed by wooden object
75
Killed for a particular reason
76
Killed in a castle
77
Killed in a particular place
78
Killed in a tavern
79
Killed in particular ritual
80
Killed in tournament or joust
81
Killed near a particular thing
82
Killed on particular day of year
83
Killed under a particular zodiacal sign (i.e., a particular month or time)
84
Killed under moonlight
85
Killed underground
86
Killed while exploring
87
Killed while fishing
88
Killed while fleeing
89
Killed while hunting
90
Killed while leading others badly
91
Killed while leading others well
92
Murdered
93
Sacrificed to a demon
94
Sacrificed to a god
95
Sacrificed to ancient horror
96
Starved to death
97
Strangled
98
Struck by lightning
99
Struck down by gods
100
Tortured to death
Dexterity Loss. The attack drains one or more points of dexterity from the victim. The attacker may or may not gain a benefit from the drain (additional hit points, to-hit bonuses, etc) depending upon whether it seems to fit well with the concept. If the victim reaches a dexterity of 0, one of several things might happen: the victim might die and become a creature similar to the attacker (this is common with undead, but a bit weird when dexterity is the attribute score being drained). One explanation for death at 0 dexterity is that the body’s internal systems (circulatory, etc) are no longer working in time with each other.
Zombie: Animated bodies need not be the result of black magic (which is the case for, say, the standard zombie).
Individual Curse Death Magic.
Ghoul: ?
Skeleton: ?
Ghost: ?
Vampire: ?
Wraith: Individual Curse Death Magic.
Individual Curse Death magic (saving throw) possibly combined with something unpleasant that happens after death (becoming a zombie or a wraith, for instance)