Talk:Random encounter tables

Trying new formatting

Hey, Nyssara Vexhallow, here's an example of what I have tried out for formatting the table you're presenting here. This is just a rough draft, trying out different options. And it's obvs only part of the table, not the whole thing.

One of the strenths of a format like this is that it give a Table of Contents for separate sections. The downfall of it is that this still needs some kind of context for it, like relating it to Animals or something, with a {{main|}} article link or something.

I would like to present it like this and then link every location and Monster that can spawn in that area. This way it can act like an index linking from a Ressource Book, to a Location, to a Monster and from there in the generated table below to the Stat-Block ressource.

Abra Saghast wdyt?

Hiya, Nyssara Vexhallow!!! 😊😊😊 So, I think that's kind of a cool idea. In a way, that's sort of what the Plants and Animals articles do ... they put wikilinks everything in one place. And simillarly, Trading Cards has all the Greyhawk NPCs and monsters from multiple sources (different years in the same product line) gathered together. Those pages might give you some inspiration!

The difficult part is trying to make sure that this isn't just replacing the sourcebook tables. This article doesn't actually have any context other than reproducing the random encounter tables. If we find a way to make it something a User might look up, like, which sources have which creatures without just making it tables, that's not a bad thing—it's just a lot of data right now that doesn't have any lore or other information supporting it. —--Abra Saghast (talk) 03:20, 2 September 2025 (EDT)

Publications Featuring Encounter Tables for Greyhawk

Dungeon Master's Guide (1979)

(first edition) pp. 174-194

Dungeon encounters

• Dungeon Random Monster Level Determination Matrix
• Monster Level II
  • like: giant Centipede, Toad, Rat, Shrieker, Piercer, ...
• ..
• Monster Level X
  • Human Subtable
  • Character Subtable
  • Dragon Subtables (by monster level)

Underwaterencounters

• Underwater encounters In Fresh Water (Shallow, Deep)
• Underwater encounters In Salt Water (Shallow, Deep)

Astral and Ethereal encounters

• Psychic Wind
• Ether Cyclone
• Astral Encounter Table
• Ethereal Encounter Table

Psionic encounters

• Psionic Encounter Table
• Human Subtable Modifiers

Outdoor random monster encounters

• Patrols (Inhabited Areas)
• Outdoor Random Monster Encounter Tables
• Arctic Conditions
• Sub-Arctic Conditions
• Temperate And Sub-Tropical Conditions, Uninhabited/Wilderness Areas
• Subtables: Demi-Human, Dragon, Frog, Giant, Humanoid, Lycanthrope, Men, Snake, Sphinx, Spider, Undead

Fiend Folio (1981)

Dungeon Random Monster Tables

• Monster Level I
• ..
• Monster Level X

Arctic Conditions

Sub-Arctic Conditions

Temperate And Sub-Tropical Conditions

• Uninhabited/Wilderness Areas
  • Demi-Human Subtable
  • Dragon Subtable
  • Giant Subtable
  • Humanoid Subtable
  • Lycanthrope Subtable
  • Men Subtable
  • Snake Subtable
  • Sphinx Subtable
  • Spider Subtable
  • Undead Subtable

Temperate And Sub-Tropical Conditions

• Inhabited And/or Patrolled Areas

Temperate Conditions

• Farie and Sylvan Settings

Tropical And Near-Tropical Conditions

• Uninhabited/Wilderness Areas
  • Sphinx Subtable
• Astral & Ethereal Encounter Tables
• Astral Encounter Table
• Ethereal Encounter Table

World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game Setting (1983)

Glossography pp. 4-16 576 CY

Patrols Encounter Table Description of patrols or bodies of armed men

Elves, Knights

Elven Patrol

Hobgoblin Soldiery

Men, Characters

Men, Patrol, False

Men, Patrol, Heavy

Men, Patrol, Knights

Men, Patrol, Levies

Men, Patrol, Light

Men, Patrol, Medium

Men, Patrol, Slaver

Men, Patrol, Warband

Men, Raiders

Men, Rhennee

Men, Tribesmen

Men, Woodsmen

Orc Soldiery

Soldiery

By political divisions

Almor, Nyrond, The County And Duchy Of Urnst

Bandit Kingdoms, Hornet Society, Iuz, Rovers Of The Barrens

Bissel, Gran March, Keoland

Blackmoor

Bone March, The Pomarj

Celene, Highfolk

Dyvers, Greyhawk, Verbobonc

Ekbirm Tusmit, Zeif

Frost-, Ice- and Snow Barbarians

Furyondy, The Shield Lands, Veluna

Geoff, Sterich, The Yeomanry

Great Kingdom, See Of Medegia, North Province, South Province

Idee, Irongate/Onnwal

Ket, Perrenland

The Pale, Ratik, The Duchy Of Tenh

Plains Of The Paynims, Ull

Lordship Of The Isles, The Sea Barons

The Scarlet Brotherhood, Sunndi

Sea Princes

Spindrift Isles

Stonefist - Hold Of Stonehold, Tiger/Wolf Nomads

Ulek (County, Duchy, Principality)

Valley Of The Mage

Wild Coast

Tables according to geografical areas

Forest, Jungles and Timberlands

Adri Forest, Grandwood Forest

Amedio Jungle, Hepmonaland

Axewood, Dreadwood, Menowood, Rieuwood, Silverwood

Bramblewood, Nutherwood, Phostwood, Udgru Forest

Burneal Forest

Celadon Forest, Fellreev Forest, Gamboge Forest

Dim Forest, Hornwood, Oytwood

Forlorn Forest, Hraak Forest, Sablewood, Spikey Forest

Gnarley Forest, Welkwood

Loftwood and Timberway Forest

Suss Forest, Tangles

Vesve Forest

Mountain Ranges

Barrier Peaks, Crystalmist Mountains, Jotens

Clatspur Range, Yatil Mountains

Corusk Mountains, Griff Mountains, Rakers

Hellfurnaces

• Firedrake, Firenewt, Firetoad, Giants, Fire Giants, Hell Hounds, Humanoids, Cavemen

Lortmil Mountains

Sulhaut Mountains, Ullsprue

Hills and Highlands

Arbor-Alz

Blemu Hills, Bluff Hills, Drachensgrab Hills, Howling Hills, Spine Ridge, Tors

Cairn Hills

Flinty Hills, Good Hills, Gull Cliffs, Headlands, Hollow Highlands, Iron Hills, Little Hills, Lorridges, Stark Mountains

Hestmark Highlands, Glorioles

Kron Hills

Sepia Uplands, Tusman Hills, Yecha Hills

Bodies of Water

Artonsamay, Nesser, Selintan, Velverdyva, Veng Rivers

Nyr Dyv, Quag Lake, Whyestil Lake

Salt-Water Seas, Bays

Wastelands

Bright Desert

Dry Steppes

Land Of Black Ice

Rift Canyon

Sea Of Dust

Marshes

Cold Marshes

Lone Heath

Vast Swamp