The Random Silver Age Character Generator

[Doug McCrae]

McCrae Comics presents: The Random Silver Age Character Generator. Featuring the most unexpected guest star of all time!

Notes on use: Keep rolling until you have a combination that seems interesting. The Random Silver Age Character Generator does not contain every feature of that period, but focuses more on those aspects that are unique to, or characteristic of, the Silver Age. That's why the Powers table is so short.

Excelsior!

Section 1

Roll 1d6
1-2: Nature
3: Origin/power source
4: Powers
5: Name
6: Miscellaneous

Section 2

Nature
Roll 2d6.
2: Mischievous imp
3: Secret agent. Works for acronymically named organisation.
4: Commie. If the character is a hero, then commies are involved in origin.
5: Ape. Roll on Subtable 1
6: Marvel character. Roll on Subtable 2 - Problems.
7: Outsider. Roll on Subtable 3
8: Teenager
9: Female. Reduce point total by 50%.
10: Evil version of hero like Sinestro or Abomination.
11: Superpet
12: Hippy

Origin/power source
Roll 1d6.
1: Struck by lightning
2-5: Radiation
6: Power armour

Powers
Roll 1d6.
1-3: Animal powers
4: Possesses all the powers of a superhero team.
5-6: Useless power. The ability to eat anything for example.

Name
Roll 1d6.
1-4: Alliterative name.
5-6: Also known by an epithet.

Miscellaneous
Roll 1d6.
1: From an alternate Earth.
2: Ludicrous rogues gallery.
3: Incorrectly programmed an experimental computer causing it to hate all organic life.
4-6: Golden age connection. Roll on Subtable 4.

Section 3 - Subtables

Subtable 1 - Ape
Roll 1d6.
1-3: Gorilla.
4: Orangutan.
5: Baboon.
6: Monkey.

Subtable 2 - Problems
Roll 1d6.
1-2: Monstrous appearance.
3-4: Hated and feared by the public.
5-6: Physically disabled - blind, heart condition, lame or confined to a wheelchair, for example.

Subtable 3 - Outsider
Roll 1d6.
1: Alien.
2: Robot.
3: Mutant.
4: Lost race.
5: God.
6: Bio-engineered.

Subtable 4 - Golden Age connection
Roll 1d6.
1-3: A Golden Age original.
4: Son/daughter of a Golden Age hero.
5-6: Modern version of Golden Age hero. Name and powers same as original. Costume and origin updated.

[Bengal]

Up

[zornwil]

Very cool, worth a big bump. Sorry though, Doug, I just ran out of rep for the moment.

[Doug McCrae]

Very cool, worth a big bump. Sorry though, Doug, I just ran out of rep for the moment.

Aw, no! And you give BIG rep, Zornwil.

Thanks for both the bump and kind words. A full version of the table would include all the powers around in the SA, this is more just an attempt to categorise disinctively SA features. It's semi tongue-in-cheek but accurate IMO - female characters really were a lot less powerful in the SA, for example.

[Magmarock]

I gave you Rep for it (though, regrettably, not much).

Very cool! And thank you!

Mags

[Tim]

ditto, and a decent amount.

gotta explore it more when i have time.

[assault]

A minor suggestion.

Change the Powers table as follows:

Roll 1d6.
1-2: Animal powers
3-4: Elemental powers
5: Possesses all the powers of a superhero team.
6: Useless power. The ability to eat anything for example.

By "elemental powers" I mean fire, cold, sound, magnetism, lightning, weather... type powers.

---

The funny thing is that this is actually very close to being a usable system!

It probably needs a name generator.

A Golden Age version wouldn't be too difficult.

A plot generator might go well with it as well. I had a list of standard Silver Age Superman plots at one point. I might have to drag it out.

It included things like:
1. imaginary stories
2. strange transformations
3. snoopy DNPC (Lois)
4. rival hero
5. "the Super-xyz from Krypton"
6. travels to another planet
7. travels to another time
8. recurring villain (not Luthor)
9. Luthor
10. supporting cast member (not Lois or Jimmy) shows up

Generally the idea was that villains other than Luthor would be introduced as part of these plot lines.

I will try and drag out the full version, or I might just recreate it. Either way, hopefully you get the general idea...

[Doug McCrae]

It probably needs a name generator.

A Golden Age version wouldn't be too difficult.

Should be doable. I'll look into it.

Liked your Superman plot table, seemed to replicate the comics pretty closely.

BTW I already did a GA version, though it's very primitive. Posted it a while ago but couldn't find it so here it is again -


THE RANDOM GOLDEN AGE CHARACTER GENERATOR

1. Robot
2. Patriot
3. Magician
4. Kid sidekick
5. Kid gang
6. Mental and physical marvel
7. Monkey sidekick
8. Bow (or other primitive weapon) wielder
9. Killer vigilante
10. Atomic powers
11. Jungle king or queen
12. Ghost
13. Aviator
14. Genie
15. Funny animal
16. Detective
17. Mythology/Folklore/The Classics
18. Faster than a speeding bullet!
19. Underwater hero
20. Flaming hero
21. Time travel
22. Tibet
23. Secret chemical formula
24. Radio waves
25. Advanced vehicle, capable of [at least two out of - land/sea/air] travel
26. Cowboy
27. Saying a magic word
28. Raised by animals
29. Punning name
30. Dreary vegetation

HOW TO USE
Roll a d30, (d3 for tens, d10 for units) as many times as desired until you have an interesting combination. For example two rolls, 1 and 8, would generate a robot who wields a primitive weapon - The Iron Gladiator perhaps?

The correctness of the Random Golden Age Character Generator can be seen by comparing real golden age heroes with the table. Captain America is a patriot (2), empowered by a secret chemical formula (23) with a kid sidekick (4) and wields a primitive 'weapon' (8). Captain Marvel says a magic word (27) which he learned from a wizard (3) to get the powers of mythological beings (17).

[assault]

Two draft scenario generators: one for Batman and one for a Generic World's Greatest Superteam. Both are incomplete and inadequate, but hopefully inspirational.

---

Batman.

Procedure.
1. Choose a Villain. (Table 1)
2. Select a Really Large Object (Typewriter, Piano or something of the sort...)
3. Select one or more plot complications. (Table 2)

Table 1. Villain
Roll 1D6
1. The Joker
2. Major Theme Villain (The Penguin, Catwoman, Two-Face, the Riddler, others to GM's taste)
3-4. Minor Theme Villain (Other theme villains, including one offs)
5-6. Non-Theme Villain

Table 2. Plot Complications
Roll 1D6
1-3. Roll on Subtable 2A
4-6. Roll on Subtable 2B

Subtable 2A.
Roll 1D6
1. Specific bit of Bat-Gear is important to plot. (Utility Belt, Batcave, Batmobile, etc...)
2. Other Bat-Person makes an appearance. (Batwoman, Bat-Girl, Batgirl, Bat-Mite, Ace the Bat-Hound, etc.)
3. Snoopy Romantic Interest.
4. Imaginary Story.
5. Time travel or historical theme.
6. Space travel or space related theme.

Subtable 2B.
Roll 1D6
1. Exotic Location (ie, not Gotham!)
2. Team member injured/held captive/absent.
3. Villain reforms.
4. Character framed or confronted by a rival.
5. Supporting character plays prominent role.
6. Prominent (usually rich) Gotham citizen involved.

---

Team Plot Generator.

While incomplete, this should hopefully provide at least some inspiration for JLA/Avengers type groups. It is less suitable for groups like the FF or the X-Men.

Procedure.
1. (Optional) Select one or more characters as the "stars" of the scenario. See comment below.
2. Select mastermind/enemy leader.
3. Roll for major conflict. (Table 1)
4. Roll for one or more Plot Complications. (Table 2)

Comment: The idea of selecting "stars" is to ensure that all characters get their turns in the spotlight. The idea is that their abilities are especially useful in defeating the Master Plan and/or Big Bad Guy. At the very least, the GM can use the choice as a guideline in chosing the Mastermind.

Table 1. Major Conflict
Roll 1D6
1. Enemy superteam (permanent)
2. Enemy superteam (temporary)
3. Really Big Monster
4. Really tough Supervillain
5. Internal conflict within Hero team
6. Honkin' Big Weapon

Table 2. Plot Complications
Roll 1D6
1-3. Roll on Subtable 2A
4-6. Roll on Subtable 2B

Subtable 2A.
Roll 1D6
1. NPC hero applies to join hero team or existing NPC hero leaves.
2. Guest star or Crossover. Normal crossover conventions apply!
3. Hero absent or mysteriously struck down.
4. A villain reforms.
5. A supporting cast member plays a prominent role.
6. A relic of a past case is involved.

Subtable 2B.
Roll 1D6
1. Scenario involves space travel.
2. Scenario involves time travel.
3. Scenario takes place in an exotic location.
4. A new supporting cast member is introduced or an existing one departs.
5. The Heroes are framed.
6. The Heroes come into conflict with The Powers That Be.

[bubba smith]

nice generator
worthy of bubbamancy

[assault]

If I wasn't in the middle of redesigning my Teen Titans builds, I'd take another look at my scenario generators.

A Titans scenario generator might be... fab.