Bookshelf-Based Random Adventure Generator, v3.2

It's that time of year again. Two years ago, I devised a simple, bookshelf-based random adventure generator. This generator was dubbed 'Giannirator' by imaginos, who also greatly expanded on it, until what we may consider its final version, v3.2, which he used to create forty, count 'em, forty original scenarios that he published on his blog.

Since v3.2 is in French I am translating it to English here, and obviously adding an example along to show how it works.

First, get hold of 1D6, 1D20, 1D30, and 1D100. Each adventure seed is based upon a mix of random results from two tables and from information randomly extracted from within six actual books of your bookshelf using the results of the dice rolls.

[NPC1 - from Book One] asks the PCs to go to [Location1 - from Book Two] to [Action - from Table One] [Person/Object - from Book Three]. Motivated by the [Motivation - from Table Two], the PCs will end up confronting [NPC2 - from Book Four] in [Location2 - from Book Five]. During the course of the adventure, [Element - from Book Six] will feature prominently.

For each of the aforementioned books, roll five dice, in the following order:

• Roll 1D6. Check the results of the roll: 1-3: use the top shelf; 4-6: use the bottom shelf. Of course if you have more than two shelves use a different die.
• Roll 1D6. Check the results of the roll: 1-3: start counting from the left; 4-6: start counting from the right.
• Roll 1D30. Count as many books from either the left or the right, depending on the previous die roll.
• Roll 1D6. Check the results of the roll: 1-3: start from the beginning; 4-6: start from the end. Ignore covers, indices, empty pages, etc.
• Roll 1D100. Count as many pages. Using the guidelines from the blueprint above, choose the relevant element from within the page.

The random tables-based elements are to be rolled on these two tables:

1D20 Result	Action
01	Retrieve
02	Deliver
03	Free / Liberate
04	Survive / Escape / Evade
05	Reach / Enter
06	Explore / Study / Discover
07	Investigate / Elucidate / Enquire
08	Avenge
09	Sell / Get Rid Of sb~sth
10	Humiliate / Bully
11	Protect / Defend
12	Convince / Convert / Recruit
13	Create
14	Hide
15	Blackmail
16	Destroy / Cull
17	Deceive
18	Sacrifice oneself
19	Conquer / Invade / Raid / Pillage / Plunder
20	Other / GM's Choice

1D20 Result	Motivation
01	Obeisance (to a hierarchy, to one's master...)
02	Material Reward (e.g., money)
03	Intangible Reward (e.g., glory)
04	Spiritual Reward (e.g., blessing)
05	Survival
06	Obligation
07	Revenge
08	Pleasure
09	Fanatism
10	Succour
11	Selflessness
12	Excitement
13	Self-Inflicted
14	Curiosity
15	Malice
16	Sloth
17	Inevitability
18	Fear and Loathing
19	Mind Alteration
20	Other / GM's Choice

Example

NPC1 (from Book One)
1D4 --> 4. Shelf No.4.
1D6 --> 6. Start counting from the right.
1D30 --> 2. Second book from the right: Carcosa.
1D6 --> 3. Start counting from the beginning.

1D100 --> 24. Space Alien.

Location1 (from Book Two)
1D4 --> 1. Shelf No.1.
1D6 --> 2. Start counting from the left.
1D30 --> 2. Second book from the left: Sorcerer's Apprentice, issue No.16.
1D6 --> 6. Start counting from the end.

1D100 --> 27. the darkened streets towards the Palace.

Action (from Table One)
1D20 --> 3. Free/Liberate

Person/Object (from Book Three)
1D4 --> 1. Shelf No.1.
1D6 --> 3. Start counting from the left.
1D30 --> 12. Twelfth book from the left: Imagine, issue No.22.
1D6 --> 4. Start counting from the end.

1D100 --> 52. Greater Vampire.

Motivation (from Table Two)
1D20 --> 20. Other/GM's Choice --> I think I'll decide that the PCs have been tricked into what they have to do.

NPC2 (from Book Four)
1D4 --> 4. Shelf No.4.
1D6 --> 2. Start counting from the left.
1D30 --> 4. Fourth book from the left: Casus Belli, issue No.4.
1D6 --> 2. Start counting from the beginning.

1D100 --> 63. Harlequin.

Location2 (from Book Five)
1D4 --> 1. Shelf No.1.
1D6 --> 4. Start counting from the right.
1D30 --> 28. 28th book from the right: Les Érudits de l'Ambigu, issue No.3.
1D6 --> 4. Start counting from the end.

1D100 --> 11. Dagori Inkarth.

Element (from Book Six)
1D4 --> 3. Shelf No.3.
1D6 --> 5. Start counting from the right.
1D30 --> 21. 21st book from the right: The Middle Sea Empire.
1D6 --> 3. Start counting from the beginning.

1D100 --> 56. tsunami.

Result: A Space Alien asks the PCs to go to the darkened streets towards the Palace to free a Greater Vampire. Tricked by the Space Alien, the PCs will end up confronting Harlequin in Dagori Inkarth. During the course of the adventure, a tsunami will feature prominently.

Ouch, this is a tough one. Given the disparate elements, I think the best setting for this scenario seed is Glorantha In Space:

A Space Alien meets the PCs in whatever shady town they're currently located. He has some metamorphosis powers that allow him to pass for human. He has a close relative who is a Rune Lord of Vivamort (a 'Greater Vampire'), and who is currently a prisoner in the Obsidian Palace on planet Esrola. The space alien tricks the PCs into believing that he is a quiet human space trader whose brother was kidnapped by rival Argan Argar merchants and who is detained in the cells beneath the Obsidian Palace on planet Esrola.
Whilst travelling towards planet Esrola, the PCs are caught in a geomagnetic storm (the 'tsunami'), and are blown off course to planet Dagori Inkarth instead, where they will have to defeat an Eurmali trickster (the 'Harlequin') before being able to leave the planet. The trickster being a trickster, he will reveal the PCs that the phoney kidnapped brother is actually a chaotic cultist.
The PCs will then probably want to take care of the space alien OR — should they not believe the trickster — they will have to fight their way through the dungeons of the Obsidian Palace and ultimately confront the Vampire, possibly on their spacecraft during the return trip!