Random Nations
rating: +1+x

This page serves as a quick and convenient way to create a random nation, similar to the way the Random Characters generator creates a character. Each nation consists of certain random elements within specific categories. These random elements in turn link to specific Arcana Wiki pages which have the appropriate tag (so that the Random Generator can find them).

This Random Generator is intended to get your creative juices flowing, not restrain you. Thus, discard anything that doesn't fit your own ideas!

As an example on how to use it, see the essay "Using the Random Nations Generator". Further examples ranging from constructing small villages to whole planets can be found on this blog

Note: The Random Page function presently does not refresh very often, so wait one or more minutes before reloading the page.


Government

This section covers the government and major organizations that exert power over the nation and the way people live.

Type of Government

All societies have some way of getting things done as a whole, and the type of government describes this aspect. However, few societies are examples of "pure" government types, so aspects of two or more government forms might be evident.

Choose this tab to give your nation a single government type, that's (relatively) easy to understand and envision.

Noocracy

Basic Information A Noocracy, or aristocracy of the wise , as defined by Plato, is a social and political system that is based on the priority of human mind . This differs from a geniocracy by not...

Powerful Organizations

This category lists powerful and/or famous organizations of the nation. As many of the possible entries are real world organizations, alter them to make them fit into your setting.

If you choose this tab, this organization holds tremendous power. They may control the government, the church, or other major aspects of society, either openly or covertly.

Thule Society

Basic Information The Thule Society was an occult secret society founded in Munich, Germany in 1911. It is most commonly known for sponsoring the predecessor of the Nazi Party. It was dissolved by the...

Major Personalities

Each nation has its share of powerful or famous individuals.

Use the entries in the following tabs as inspiration for such individuals. Only a very weird dimension-hopping or time-travel game would feature the actual people mentioned here. Instead, use the listings here as a inspirational concept to emulate when designing your own NPCs.

Fafnir

Basic Information In the Volsunga Saga, Fafnir is the name of a dwarf, son of a dwarvish king, strong of arm and fearless in spirit. He and his brother, Regin, killed their father to gain a treasure...

Major Political Issues

Each nation has "hot" political issues which are argued and fought over (physically or not). Use the entries in the following tabs as inspiration for what issues could divide your nation - or which are simply in the minds of the public at the moment.

Defiant N Korea launches rocket

Summary April 4, 2009: In defiance of international protests, North Korea has launched a missile from its Musudan-ri launch site, which allegedly carries an experimental communications satellite ....

Major Projects

Some nations have major national projects they pursue towards specific goals. There is some overlap with Organizations above, but projects are more about achieving certain goals than a general political, ideological, or economic motivation. Use the entries in the following tabs as inspiration.


Economy

This section covers the commerce, artisans, technology, and economic system of the nation.

Tech Level

To be added later.

Type of Economy

This category lists the type of economy the nation has.

Colonial Economy

Basic Information The Monopoly by Royal Decree system was applied in the Colonial Era, and it shaped (warped, even) the economy of the colonies. Most colonies were established by Charter Companies as...

Major Products and Exports

No nation exists in a vacuum. This part of the generator lists various trade goods - whether raw resources or advanced machinery. It is subdivided into several categories: raw resources, pre-industrial items, modern trade goods, sci-fi or futuristic items, and fantasy items. Use the tabs appropriate to your genre and setting. It helps make your nation more "real" if you use to use a few (d6?) items from earlier and simpler categories, as well. For example, a modern nation might mostly export modern items, but no doubt also has some natural resources to exploit.

Pig

The Pig, if I am not mistaken, Supplies us sausage, ham, and Bacon. Let others say his heart is big, I think it stupid of the Pig. Ogden Nash, The Pig Basic Information This article is a stub....

Tinder

Basic Information Tinder is an essential part of the fire-lighting process - it is the material that is ignited by the initial spark and from which the fire lighter expects the flame to propagate to...

Tumbaga

Basic Information Tumbaga is a word the Spanish used to refer to a type of gold/copper alloy commonly used in pre-Colombian Mesoamerica. The percentage of each metal varied from item to item, and...

Wolfsbane

Basic Information Wolfsbane, more properly known as Aconitum, but also as monk's hood or blue rocket (after its flowers) and as the -bane of a variety of other creatures, is a group of roughly 250...

Datura

Basic Information The name Datura can refer either to a family of plants comprising nine species of Solanaceae or to the blend of toxic alkaloids that can be extracted from them. The plants appear to...

Iron

Basic Information Iron is one of the most common elements on earth, but interestingly it occurs almost exclusively as various rocky ores that requires significant processing to extract the metal...

Major Imports

These categories are identical to those listed under "Exports", except that the nation has sufficient need of these trade goods to import them in significant quantities instead of exporting them.

Tumbaga

Basic Information Tumbaga is a word the Spanish used to refer to a type of gold/copper alloy commonly used in pre-Colombian Mesoamerica. The percentage of each metal varied from item to item, and...

Cattle

Basic Information Cattle (colloquially cows) are large domesticated ungulates. They are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, most commonly classified as Bos primigenius. Cattle are raised as...

Amber

Basic Information Amber is a biologically derived precious stone which consists of fossilised tree resin. Most forms of amber are clear - or at least translucent - and of a shade between orange and...

Mana

Basic Information Mana (not to be confused with manna) is a concept of mystical energy found amongst the peoples of the Pacific Ocean and similar to the Oriental idea of chi (qi/ki/whatever). Mana...

Yak

Basic Information A Yak is a cloven-hoofed animal similar to cattle, but with very long hair. They are native to the mountainous and plateau regions of Tibet, Nepal, Myanmar, China, and Siberia. They...

Spider Silk

Basic Information Spider silk is silk produced by spiders. Like other forms of silk it is very strong for its mass and, in many cases, has good elastic properties - however it is not a particularly...

Olive

Basic Information The Olive is a low-growing, fruit bearing tree native to the Middle East and Mediterranean Basin, but found throughout Central Asia as far as China and naturalised as far away as...

Cold Iron

Gold is for the mistress silver for the maid Copper for the craftsman cunning at his trade. Good! said the Baron, sitting in his hall, But Iron Cold Iron is master of them all. (from)...

Rowan

Basic Information The Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia1), also known as the mountain-ash2 is a flowering broadleaf tree native to most of Eurasia north of the Mediterranean. Rowans do well in poor ground and...

Woad

Basic Information Isatis Tinctoria is a yellow flowering plant, native to Europe and related to cabbage and mustard. When the leaves of the plant are dried, powdered and fermented, they create a blue...


Religion

This section will help you choose or create the dominant religion(s) of your nation.

Forms of Worship

This aspect does not cover which entity is worshiped, but how - it describes the form religion takes in a society, whether the overall structure of the faith or specific observances which are of great cultural significance.

If you choose this tab, the single most important form of worship (or religious principle) in the nation's dominant religion is:

Material Sacrifice

Basic Information A material sacrifice is the third pillar of the sacrificial triad, along with its partners human and animal sacrifice and is - traditionally - the least of the three. Whilst the...

Worshiped Entities

This category lists the various entities that are worshiped by the people.


People

This section covers the demographics, culture, history, and even (if needed) species of the inhabitants of the random nation.

Major Races/Species

Many settings have an all-human population. If you permit different races, open this tab to add various non-human species or races. Naturally, since this random generator will widely mix races from mythology and fiction, the results will require some interpretation. Use the beings listed here as a base model and don't be afraid to alter the descriptions for your own campaign. For example, if you want to run a science fiction setting but come up with "Elf" as one of the species, then make a Recycled In Space variant of elves with similar traits but a science fiction veneer.

Assumed to be humans unless the nature of your campaign dictates otherwise.

Significant Creatures

This category lists the major "monsters" which might appear in this nation. If you want such monsters to appear in it, open the tab at the appropriate number and use it to build your encounter tables. Again, use these creatures as inspiration instead of trying to adhere to them slavishly - alter or throw out anything that doesn't fit into your campaign.

Sapient creatures might also appear here, in addition to the "Major race/species" category above. In this case, it means that those creatures are either solitary threats or at best live together in small family units instead of forming true societies of their own. For example, "Elves" under major races means there are entire cities of elves within the nation, or elves can be found in almost every city in the nation. "Elves" under significant creatures are probably more sinister fairy-tale folk, who exist in hidden enclaves or live as deranged hermits in the deep wilds.

Cultural Influences

This category gives you various real world or fictional cultures you can model your nation after.

If you choose this tab, the primary influence / model for your culture will be:

Fantastica

Basic Information Fantastica is the setting of most of the children's novel The Neverending Story by Michael Ende. See gateway fantasy. List of Locations List of Characters Childlike Empress Gmork ...

History

This category lists famous past events of the nation. Most of these events are real world historic entries from the List of Centuries, so it is again necessary to adjust them to come up with something appropriate for your own campaign. Others are "generic events" (such as War) from elsewhere in the wiki.

Petrozavodsk Incident

Basic Information Petrozavodsk Incident or Pertozavodsk Wonder (Russian: Петрозаводское Диво) is an anomalous event witnessed by thousands of people living across Karelia and Leningrad region of USSR....


Geography

This section deals with the land, biosphere, and geography, but also any man-made places of significant history and importance.

Dominant Terrain

This category lists the major terrain types of the nation.

Cave

ZAPHOD: Wee hoo! Hey, what a cave, man! Hey we could really ARTHUR: We could really what? ZAPHOD: We could really, you know BE in this cave. ARTHUR: We are in this cave. ZAPHOD: And what a wild...

Famous Locations

This category lists famous locations located within the nation. Again, use these entries as base models instead of using them directly - it won't work as well if your players recognize the landmarks from the real world.

Abandoned Laboratory Of Studying A Human Brain

Summary November 15, 2007: Unnamed people entered a laboratory in Moscow where the Soviet Armed Forces conducted experiments on human and animal brains and took photos of the abandoned experiments....

Unless otherwise stated, the content of this page is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License