In this podcast episode, we look at Oracles for role-playing games. Oracles are a kind of random generator popularized by solo RPGs like Ironsworn and the Mythic Game Master Simulator. However the idea of oracles - in which you role some dice to determine a course of action or inspire some aspect of your game - have been around since the hobby's earliest days. We talk about those early inspirations, how you can leverage oracles in your own game, and how to create your own campaign-specific random tables.
We're joined on this podcast by Chris Miller, Former Overlord of the Secret Lair, coding guru, and man least likely to be eaten by a grue. Before talking Oracles, we discuss the various video and role-playing games we're playing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1CIucTeW1k
The Game Room
Back to Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is out. Ken’s still catching up on the last one.
Starting Shadows of Doubt
Created by British developer Colepowered Games
Savage Amber and Savage Dresden
Chris created Savage Worlds versions of Amber and the Dresden Files.
Not licensed; these are fan creations for your geeky enjoyment
Godsend Agenda 3rd edition
David got his copy of Godsend Agenda 3rd Edition
It's not your typical mythology. Learn more by checking out S2E7 Godsend Agenda
Guardians of the Galaxy video game
David finished the game ... and enjoyed it quite a lot.
The Library
Cory Doctorow Novel-o-Rama
Chris talks about his recent Doctorow readings.
Main Topic: Oracles for Role-Playing Games
What is an Oracle?
“In Ironsworn, an oracle is anything which generates random results to help determine the outcome of a move, a detail in your world, and NPC action, or a narrative event.” - Ironsworn, p. 165.
Dictionary.com: “(especially in ancient Greece) an utterance, often ambiguous or obscure, given by a priest or priestess at a shrine as the response of a god to an inquiry, also the agency or medium giving such responses.”
In this case, the agent is the dice, and the deity is … well…you decide. Let’s call it Fate.
The use of an oracle implies predestination, something is “supposed” to happen.
Interesting, then, that consulting an oracle in RPGs is exactly the opposite, a specific decision of “random” chance so that the player need not decide.
Oracles in Different Game Types
Why use Oracles?
Drawing inspiration from randomness
Oracles in Solo games
Solves for the blank page problem.
Gives a channel for creativity to flow into. “Your ship has a critical issue,” causes the creative mind to try to solve the issue, or at least define it.
Game specific mechanisms
Thousand Year Vampire - using playing cards and dice
Be Like a Crow - playing cards
Ironsworn - all dice
Converted games, MythicRPG, OracleRPG - oracles, tech tools, AI
Oracles in Co-op games
Oracles in Traditional, Game Master-driven games
You cannot plan everything
Two ways to use in GM games
Spur of the moment in game - implied common usage
Supplement planning, even wandering monsters. - This gives the GM’s brain a break, since wandering and random encounters are a staple of some games’ module writing.
Specifics
Oldest oracle we could find: D&D White Box Monsters and Treasures
DMs screens
Player-generated Tables! So many! The internet is amazing!
Random Generators
Random Tools we Have Known
Dungeons & Dragons Monster & Treasure Assortment
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Dungeon Masters Guide
Specifically, the random dungeon generator in the first edition
There have been oracles for D&D as long as there has been an internet. See textfiles.com/rpg/
Many online resources
Donjon
Perchance - create your own oracles
Katans and Trenchcoats - old school World of Darkness
Creating an Oracle
How to create your own oracles and not feel like you are cheating/lazy
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