Random Tables - An Excel Quickie

Someone over on G+ was asking about tools to make random tables for RPGs. I mentioned Excel and the poster said they weren't very good at using the spreadsheet. Since quick and dirty tables are pretty easy with Excel, I thought I'd throw together a quick example, so... here:

This is a very simple table with six entries (A2-A7). A1 is a formula which randomly selects an entry from the table using the INDEX and RANDBETWEEN functions. A8 is a text copy of the function used. Each time you hit the F9 key, RANDBETWEEN recalculates its value, and uses it as an index into the table. Here's what the INDEX function means:

• A2:A7 is the array to work on (that's six rows by one column).
• RANDBETWEEN(1,6) chooses a row value between 1 and 6, inclusive.
• The final 1 parameter chooses the first column.

Points to note:

• The INDEX function takes an array, a row, and a column as parameters. You can get fancier and use RANDBETWEEN for both row and column to create a two-dimensional table.
• The RANDBETWEEN function picks a number from the integer values between and including the given low and high.
• The row and column values in INDEX are values within the given array (A2:A7). The first row/column is always one, and the highest value is equal to the number of rows/columns in the array. Don't use spreadsheet row/column values!
• Using an array reference inline like that leads to unreadable spreadsheets. If we were doing a more complex example, we'd apply a name to the data range, and use that instead.
• What works in Excel generally works in Open Office or Google Drive documents. For example you can see the Drive version right here.

OK, that's it, quick and dirty. There's more complex stuff in this post right here though.

All Over the World...

Last turn the party decided to try and use the pedestal they found in the center of the spire chamber. The discovered the entire contents of the chamber, including themselves of course, had been moved to a different location. Let's see what happens next.

Wilds - The Spire

A few turns have passed in my Labyrinth Lord, Wilds game, and action has been a bit slow, with various real-life vacations slowing the pace a bit. here's a summary of action to date.

PBE Games - Q2 2013

I just realized that I'd carefully extracted last quarter's sales numbers so I could write up a quick report on progress, but I never actually did that. Here's the data (click for larger image):

Q2 2013 Sales

A couple observations based on the above:

• Deadly Blows picked up some sales when Johnn Four at Roleplaying Tips mentioned it in one of his newsletters. So far it's in the lead for best-selling paid product. Note that Deadly Blows is on sale for the duration of the Christmas in July sale on DriveThruRPG.
• Dungeons in Blue - The Master List shows that pretty much everyone will snatch up free products. It 'sold' 283 copies.
• Tome of Names stuff has all come out between 10 and 15 copies sold each, so there seems to be a small but steady demand there.
• Virtual Tabletop maps don't sell much, which is not surprising. They're fun for me though, so I don't mind if they don't make me rich. These products are also included in Christmas in July.

And since you've read this far, let me mention the latest product from PBE Games: Items of Power - Volume One. Each product in this series contains seven unique magic items ready to plug and play in any OSR-style campaign. You can take advantage of this special offer link to receive a 25% discount on Items of Power - Volume One.

Thanks for reading, have a great weekend!

DriveThruRPG Christmas in July

It's that time of year again, DriveThruRPG & company is having their annual Christmas in July sale. This year PBE Games has a few things included in the sale. Here's the list:

• Deadly Blows - system-agnostic critical hits tables
• Koslac's Crossing - the map of a dwarf-built fortification for the virtual tabletop
• The Tombs - the map of a tomb complex for the virtual tabletop

All the above are 25% off usual prices. I've also put Dungeons in Blue - Triple Pack One on sale at 15% off for the duration of the Christmas in July sale.

And if you missed it over the weekend, the next three sets of Dungeons in Blue tiles are now available:

Tile Set D contains a whole mess of smaller tiles: ten 50x50 foot and ten 50x100 foot geomorphs. This set includes three exterior entrances and quite a few level-connection stairs. I've also mixed in a variety of connection layouts, dead-ends and straight-through corridor arrangements to mix in with the usual edge and corner pieces.

Tile Set E provides the standard mix of tiles, four of each size. It also includes a full-sized exterior entrance tile and three tiles with level-connection stairs.

Tile Set F mixes things up again, with two 100x100 foot tiles, four 50x50 foot tiles, and eight 50x100 foot tiles, all in a variety of configurations. This set includes another entrance tile, and several more level-connections stairs.

Triple Pack Two includes all three sets listed above at a 15% discount.

All maps are rendered at 100 px per five-foot square, in ready-to-use PNG-format files compatible with most virtual tabletops. Two versions of each map are provided, one for players, and one for GMs. The GM's versions show additional features, tricks, and traps. Use them as-is, or combine them into larger maps using your favorite image processing software. Of course each set also includes a map key image, a one-third scale summary image of all tiles, and a brief readme PDF.

Dungeons in Blue - Round Two

The next round of Dungeons in Blue geomorph tiles for the virtual tabletop are now available on DriveThruRPG! This update includes three new tile sets and a matching triple pack bundle deal. Each geomorph set in the last Dungeons in Blue release included four of each geomorph tile size, 50x50 foot, 50x100 foot, and 100x100 foot. This series mixes things up a bit. Read on for details on each tile set.

Tile Set D contains a whole mess of smaller tiles: ten 50x50 foot and ten 50x100 foot geomorphs. This set includes three exterior entrances and quite a few level-connection stairs. I've also mixed in a variety of connection layouts, dead-ends and straight-through corridor arrangements to mix in with the usual edge and corner pieces.

Tile Set E provides the standard mix of tiles, four of each size. It also includes a full-sized exterior entrance tile and three tiles with level-connection stairs.

Tile Set F mixes things up again, with two 100x100 foot tiles, four 50x50 foot tiles, and eight 50x100 foot tiles, all in a variety of configurations. This set includes another entrance tile, and several more level-connections stairs.

Triple Pack Two includes all three sets listed above at a 15% discount.

All maps are rendered at 100 px per five-foot square, in ready-to-use PNG-format files compatible with most virtual tabletops. Two versions of each map are provided, one for players, and one for GMs. The GM's versions show additional features, tricks, and traps. Use them as-is, or combine them into larger maps using your favorite image processing software. Of course each set also includes a map key image, a one-third scale summary image of all tiles, and a brief readme PDF.

If you want to check out the entire product line, grab the Master List, a free starter kit that includes a set of ready-to-use tiles, the latest and greatest map key, one-third scale summary maps of every Dungeons in Blue tile set, and an index PDF with direct links to the rest of the Dungeons in Blue product line (link update in progress now).

Thanks for taking the time to read this. I hope you'll check out Dungeons in Blue, or take a look at some of PBE Games' other products. Have a great weekend!

Wilds - Back in the Spiders!

The party is finally back on the road, after an extended stop in Auslaug to restock, rest, carouse, and visit family and friends. When they finally get back on the road, they elect to head southwest to Hustwood, and then travel west from there hoping to avoid potential encounters with the gnoll village that lies closer to the northern route.

Several party members spent big chunks of gold on the few magic items found in Auslaug, picking up a few potions, a ring, a spear, a wand, and a sword. No doubt the traveling merchant Bekki will carry the news of a ready market for magic items south when she travels down-river to East Gorsebonn with the trade delegation.

I've skipped a bit of uneventful travel here, let's move on then, into the Wilds!