June 2023 Giveaway: The Game Master's Book of Astonishing Random Tables *CONTEST COMPLETED

[@benegloff4792]

Thank you sooo much for the wonderful review!!!!! I am glad you enjoyed the book and found it useful!

[@GeekPhilosophy]

Thanks for such a great book!

[@jkoch7308]

#randomgeek I have "The Game Master's Book of Random Encounters", and I'm really happy they're publishing this book, and really happy with you're excellent review. Thanks for taking the time. With both books, minimal time, some dice, paper, and pencil, new, novice, or 'Nard GM's can easily knock together an evening's wort, or years of campaigning. I'm a fan of Matt David's "No prep GM" approach, ( though it's hard to do NO prep) so I'd love to add this to my solo and group play. Thanks again!

[@GeekPhilosophy]

Thanks for commenting! I’m not familiar with his approach yet, but I’ll have to check it out. Thanks again for the support!

[@ITSACRITICAL]

I just got the one of their books from 5 below and I love it! this book would be a great add to any collection.

[@Twalk40]

Big fan of random tables, saw this at Target and had to grab it.

[@bencarter1646]

I'm not in the right continent to be a RandomGeek, so this one is mainly to bolster the algorithm! On a related note though, and continuing the discussion about running the game for kids: kids love random stuff! I've made great use of the Trinkets table in the PHB to generate weird and distracting gewgaws. I have no idea (yet) how that music box, teeny silver skull and warm bit of obsidian will further the plot, but we'll get there! The Wild Magic table has also added some great oddities to encounters, like the unicorn that showed up briefly that one time. And the Chase Complications table is the main reason I run chases...

[@GeekPhilosophy]

Thanks for the support! Great tips about the Trinkets and the Wild Magic tables. I’ve used the Wild Magic table for environmental effects from glyphs and structures found on ancient ruins, etc. Thanks again for sharing!

[@killroy2478]

I have two of these books, I use them often and plan on getting the rest of the books

[@GeekPhilosophy]

Awesome! I’m releasing a video on the next one in the series soon. Stay tuned!

[@VA434]

I got mine in the mail yesterday can't wait to check it out tonight and read threw it

[@sonicexpert986]

#randomgeek I've seen and purchased a couple of their books already, this one looks great too!!

[@GeekPhilosophy]

Thanks for the support!

[@Ravenspath]

Great review! I have all the other books in the series and looking forward to this one as well. #randomgeek

[@GeekPhilosophy]

Thanks for the support!

[@ObsidianKnight90]

#randomgeek I have the first three books in the series and have been excited about getting this one. I find that random tables work great when used to stoke inspiration more so than as a replacement for creative worldbuilding. Then again, sometimes a PC wants to pick someone's pocket and it's really handy to have something you can roll on to make that work. I'm especially excited for how well this book could help with solo RPG play, especially the world-building section to help create a unique, weird world for you to explore.

[@GeekPhilosophy]

The worlduiliding and session-building sessions were the best parts of this book in my opinion. But the other sections actually had a lot of tables that fit into that category as well. Let me know how the solo-RPG play turns out - sounds interesting! Thanks for sharing! (edited - replied to the wrong comment originally - sorry!)

[@erikaubuchon436]

This book seems to be ridiculously comprehensive and super helpful for all GMs independent of experience! #randomgeek

[@GeekPhilosophy]

It really is! Thanks for your support, and good luck with the giveaway!

[@ZeusRahl]

I do appreciate your videos. Figured I should express my first experience with a random table. First time DM, using the random tables in XGtE for a forest, and I the players rolled 8 giant spiders. My players were all level one. I was super excited until I say that the 8 giant spiders were all CR1 creatures. My level 1 players didn’t stand a chance… I instantly nerfed their HP and damage die. Oops… be careful with random tables. They can be fun, but I hope to never kill a PC using from a random encounter (unless it has a tie in to the story, haha) #randomgeek

[@GeekPhilosophy]

I ran into a smilier thing in the past with random tables...and I don't think we're the only one's who have had that happen. 😀 Luckily you were able to think on your feet and make the change on the fly to adjust the encounter. Now if I use any random combat encounters, I create my own curated table ahead of time if I think I'll need them. Thank you for sharing!

[@charliecampbell9274]

terrific review, definitely gonna add this to the cart. #randomgeek

[@GeekPhilosophy]

Thanks for commenting! Appreciate the support!

[@pimpbisquick7036]

#randomgeek i have the NPC and random encounters book. Just ordered the traps and puzzles one. This one would be useful as well.

[@GeekPhilosophy]

Awesome! The NPC is my other favorite of the series. Good luck with the giveaway and thanks for supporting the channel!

[@Zr0din]

#RandomGeek, and I hope the adventures are fun. I hope the art style is not applied to any maps. I'm amazed that you didn't like the encounters book as much as this one. But that is combat and this book is everything? Is that what you are seeing?

[@GeekPhilosophy]

I liked both of the books, but for me, this one is a little more well-rounded. I honestly rarely use many random combat encounters, and when I do, I tend to make my own tables to have it fit my session better. But, I find all of the other categories really helpful in this book. That's just my play-style though, your milage may vary 🙂 The art style for the one-shot maps is similar to what's in the other books, although the maps are greyscale. Similar to the Random Encounters book. Thanks again for your support!

[@GeekPhilosophy]

Congratulations! You were randomly selected as our Game Master's Book of Astonishing Random Tables winner! To claim your prize, please email us at [e-mail] so we can give you instructions on how to provide shipping information. Thanks again for supporting the channel!

[@Zr0din]

@@GeekPhilosophy verify XJQCIQN7RT - Hope this works! Email sent, and Thanks again.

[@GeekPhilosophy]

Thanks! We'll have the book out asap!

[@simontemplar3359]

This is great news! I have a few of the other "GMs guide to" editions and they're excellent. I was blown away at the quality of the books. I ordered this but am still waiting for the relaase. Can't wait! Seems even better than expected. The only other one I'd add for sure is the dungeon/trap guide. #randomgeek

[@GeekPhilosophy]

I find the Traps/Puzzles/Dungeons book and the NPC book really useful for me as a GM. I reference them all the time when prepping for games. Thanks for sharing!

[@jkoch7308]

I've thought about the traps book, but I always thought traps kind of unfair to players, what's your take?

[@GeekPhilosophy]

I think it depends on the group. I’ve had players that were really into dungeon delving and discovering ancient traps to disarm. Sort of like Indiana Jones. I think if the players understand that it’s part of the game, and there are ways to detect the traps and disarm them, they can be a blast! (Pun intended) The trick is not making them be the only way to do something. If the game stalls out because they couldn’t succeed at disarming a trap, that can be a bummer.

[@jkoch7308]

@@GeekPhilosophyOk. That's the thing I don't like about traps, the " this is a choke point you must overcome or the play stalls out" idea. I've more or less decided, "whatever it is, there has to be ways through/around it for the PC's, or I can't use it."

[@GeekPhilosophy]

Yeah I’m not a fan of the “only one way” either. I try to treat traps, riddles, puzzles, and even monsters in a similar way. I try to ensure there are multiple ways to deal with them. Better yet - the players can come up with their own unique ways that make sense to the game and story. Thanks again for your input!

[@mpruett10]

This is a must-have for a new GM. #randomgeek

[@moshtradamus92]

thanks for the review! #randomgeek

[@GeekPhilosophy]

Thanks for the support! good luck!

[@colemancampbell5069]

I’ve all three books from this series, traps, npcs, and random encounters, love them all #randomgeek

[@RIVERSRPGChannel]

Sounds really cool I like random tables. #randomgeek

[@GeekPhilosophy]

Good luck in the contest, and thanks for the support!

[@Deraine]

Honestly this is a really solid review. The algorithm works sometimes! Subbed. #randomgeek

[@GeekPhilosophy]

Thanks so much! Appreciate the support! Good luck with the giveaway!

[@sugestedmoore5221]

#randomgeek. I have all three others. My favorite supplements.

[@GeekPhilosophy]

I’m a big fan of the series. Good luck with the giveaway, and thanks for the support!

[@martywalsh1088]

Getting started as a DM. Sounds like a great resource #randomgeek

[@GeekPhilosophy]

Awesome! Welcome to the DM club! Thanks for supporting the channel 🙂

[@harrykern3841]

I have the traps and puzzles book and the NPC book, and i can not recommend this book series enough. They have inspired so many great ideas that I would have never thought of otherwise. #randomgeek

[@GeekPhilosophy]

Thanks for sharing!

[@DGB_Smyth]

Thanks for the review. I have their Traps and Puzzles book; and while I do enjoy it, I wish they were less catered to only 5e and more applicable to other ttrpg systems. Sometimes their hyper specificity to D&D makes them less useful for the community and other ttrpg systems. Maybe the random table book will be better? (Check out the books Fable Tables I and II for random tables, they are great!) #randomgeek

[@GeekPhilosophy]

I would say that this one also likely geared toward 5e first (they include the OGL in the back). That said - I think it would be useful for most fantasy TTRPGs. Especially the worldbuilding and session-building sections. If found them great as sources for inspiration for my own campaign world. Thanks for commenting!

[@drewsexton9424]

This is my chance to make up for the last contest i fumbled lol XD #randomgeek

[@GeekPhilosophy]

Good luck! We appreciate all your support!

[@joshuahodges9137]

#randomgeek I've got all the other books in this series, can't wait to get this one too! Love the pickpocketing table. Why are players murderers and thieves, yet claim moral high ground and want to be "the good guys"? :D

[@GeekPhilosophy]

LOL! Yes! I've been pretty lucky in recent years - most of my players have been sticking to law-abiding characters. But it's always good to have a few tables like this just in case 😀 Thanks for commenting!