Random Nations
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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.

Feudalism

Basic Information Feudalism is a blanket term used to describe the forms of government common to Europe during the middle ages] (although similar forms existed in other places at other times). Central...

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.

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

Basic Information UNESCO was set up in 1946. It encourages countries to get together on matters such as education, culture and science. See Also: Sources Bibliography 1. full source reference Game...

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.

Henry Okah

Basic Information Henry Okah is the creator of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND). Under his guidance, MEND wreaked havoc in the Niger Delta of Nigeria, diverting extracted...

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.

Police - U.S. teens were hit men for Mexican cartel

Summary March 13, 2009: Three American teenagers were initiated as assassins for the Mexican Gulf Cartel, one of Mexico's two major drug cartels. They were recruited into a group called Los Zetas ...

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.

Scrip

Basic Information A scrip is a substitute currency, issued by a power centre that lacks either the authority, ability or will to issue a true currency. Historically, scrips have often been used 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.

Calluna

Basic Information Calluna Vulgaris, more commonly known as Heather or Ling, is a flowering plant common to the Heath (habitat) and Moorland of Europe. It thrives in acidic soil, such as found in many...

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...

Sphagnum

Basic Information Sphagnum is a type of moss commonly found in peat bogs. It can soak up lots of water (over 20 times its dry weight in water). Sphagnum has a acidic ph which is the reason why bogs...

Narwhal

Basic Information The narwhal is a species of whale most noteworthy for it's horn . A single tooth on the left side of the mouth of male narwhals grows very long (~10 feet / 3 meters!), and has a...

Whale

Farewell to Tarwathie Adieu Mormond Hill And the dear land of Crimmond I bid you farewell I'm bound off for Greenland And ready to sail In hopes to find riches In hunting the whale (from) Farewell to...

Linen

Basic Information Linen is a textile made from flax - historically the main alternative to cotton cloth for those parts of the world where cotton was less available. Evidence suggests that it may be...

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.

Sheep

I have wood for sheep - (archetypal Settlers of Catan player) Basic Information Sheep (singular also sheep) are ruminating, quadruped ungulates kept as livestock. The archaeological record suggests...

Wool

Basic Information Wool is, crudely put, sheep hair and has a long and extensive tradition of being appropriated by humans for use in textiles. The term may also be extended to the hair of other...

Silphium

Basic Information Silphium was (being now extinct) a herb, probably similar to giant fennel (but with large heart-shaped seeds), which was much regarded in the classical Mediterranean and near East,...

Water

Basic Information Water is the liquid version of the substance also known as ice when solid, or steam when heated into a mist. Water is also often used as a general term to refer to that substance in...

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...

Flax

Basic Information Flax is blue flowered, fibrous plant whose Latin name (Linum usitatissimum) asserts that it is the most useful . There is a certain amount of truth to this assertion. The best known...

Moly

Holy Moley! Captain Marvel Basic Information According to Greek mythology, the herb Moly was said to be a rare but powerful plant with the ability to protect the user from hostile magic. Homer...

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...

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...

Copper

Basic Information Copper is a soft, reddish metallic element, prone to forming blueish or greenish salts on weathering. Being an (entry level) noble metal it is one of the few that occur in nature in...


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:

Ship Burial

Basic Information By default, a ship burial refers to a burial in which the deceased is placed inside a ship prior to interment. Unlike a canoe burial, the ship is then actually buried, typically...

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:

South Korea

Basic Information This article is a stub. Please expand on it! See Also Event/News: South Korea's first rocket ready - at last Event/News: Spider-infested ship turned back from Guam landing - and the...

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.

Tulipomania

Basic Information Tulipomania (also called Tulip Mania, Tulip Fever, or Tulpenmanie) was the oldest documented speculative bubble where a fashionable rage for something led to crazy escalating prices,...


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.

River

Now those who sail the Big Pond Will tell you of its mystery They'll brag of all those battles And all the bloody history But talk to any river-dog Who sails upon the Gleniwent He'll say God made the...

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.

Federation Of Damanhur

Basic Information The Federation of Damanhur is a spiritual community/commune located in the Piedmont region of northern Italy, about 50 km (30 miles) north of the city of Turin. It was founded in...

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