More random rod of wonder

One of my players recently got a rod of wonder, rolled up randomly. He expected to have a blast but found his fun to be somewhat less enjoyable due to the lack of effects. After a couple sessions it was all old hat. So, I've come up with a project, I want to make a new rod of wonder but I'm stumped on ideas, I want 100 different effects in it and I want a decent portion of them to be very strange. So can some of you guys give me some ideas?
 

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You're definitely not alone in wishing the Rod of Wonder had a wider array of effects. I'm pretty sure people have been making 100-effect tables for it since it was the Wand of Wonder. For example.

Personally, I really like the idea of keeping the list hidden from the players, and removing each effect from the list the first time it's used, and adding new effects whenever it's convenient. They'll never get the same thing twice, and they'll never have any idea what to expect by process of elimination, either.
 

You want variety? Don't stop at 100 ... go for 1000 ... roll 3d10 ... (first digit, 2nd digit, 3rd digit ..) ... of course generating the table of 1000 effects would take some time ... a suppose if everyone contributed 10 effects (5 good, 5 bad) ... you'd have the 1000 after 100 people contribute ... :cool:
(I'm optimistic about no duplication ... :p )
 


Reflexive response: Official Goodness.

Second response: A simple method would be to have "Random Spell" and "Random Wondrous Item effect" options, and somehow randomly generate existing effects. Not as new or fresh, but it adds a lot of variety.
 

I have two charts designed for 2e but can be used for 3e just as well. They have 10,000 magical effects each. Some great, some silly, some downright outrageous. They're too large to post here, but email me if you want them, and I can send them to you.

I'd been looking for them for a long time, and helpful ENWorlders helped me find 'em!
 

You have the scroll tables. Use them.

1d3:
1: Standard Rod of Wonder effect; roll the 1d100 for the effect, run as normal.
2: Roll 1d10-1 for Arcane spell level, roll up the spell with a 1d100, and see below.
3: Roll 1d10-1 for Divine spell level, roll up the spell with a 1d100, and see below.

When you get a spell, you roll a few extra dice....
1d3: Spell Target
1: Spell targets the wielder.
2: Spell targets whatever the rod was pointed at (regardless of range).
3: Spell targets a random nearby location/creature (chosen by wherever the DM thinks would sow the most chaos).

1d3: Spell option control (Special: Wish and Miracle type effects only affect the target from above directly, regardless of other wording; Summon and Calling type effects put the critter adjacent to the target from above - but the one selected with this die controls actions when the spell duplicated says actions are controlled):
1: Wielder chooses any spell options
2: Whatever the rod was pointed at (regardless of range) chooses any spell options.
3: Random nearby creature (chosen by whatever the DM thinks would sow the most chaos) controls spell options.

1d20: Caster level (even if not normally possible - you can have a caster level 1 Weird).

1d20-1: Effective ability modifier (yes, that's Modifier - you roll a nat-20 on a cantrip, the save DC is 29; you roll a nat-1 on Wish, the save DC is 19).

Oh - and the DM rolls all dice behind the screen. If it's a Wish, the DM asks the selected character what he Wishes for - not telling him the caveats or who will be directly affected. If it's a Summoned Monster, the DM lists off some creatures and asks the selected controller to pick one. If it's Lesser Planar Binding, the DM asks the controller to name a 6 HD or less outsider or elemental - and so on (do note that with the Planar Binding line, the Caller only gets to negotiate and control if the appropriet bindings are in place....). If it's Protection From Energy, the DM asks the controller to name an element. And so on. The DM then grins evilly and speaks for what the wand has wrought.
 

DungeonmasterCal, I can't send email through the forums, but if you send them to pannotia@chimericdream.com I'd *really* appreciate it! The party I'm DMing has ha Rod of Wonder they haven't used in nearly three months because they don't like the limited options. I'd love to give them a few thousand more random effects.
 


muzick said:
DungeonmasterCal, I can't send email through the forums, but if you send them to pannotia@chimericdream.com I'd *really* appreciate it! The party I'm DMing has ha Rod of Wonder they haven't used in nearly three months because they don't like the limited options. I'd love to give them a few thousand more random effects.

If you wind up using the list(s), I'd love to hear the results. Feedback is always appreciated, of course, and I'm particularly interested to learn just how a particular Surge has affected the course of play.

I hope that they work out for you!

--Orrex
 

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