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.

Roman Empire

Basic Information Roman Empire is the period of Ancient Rome from 27 BC to 476. This era starts with the rise of Gaius Octavian to be the first Emperor (functionally the end of the Roman Republic),...

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.

Technisches Hilfswerk

Basic Information The Technisches Hilfswerk (or THW for short) is a German agency that does technical, humanitarian, and logistical relief efforts both in Germany and around the world (such as during...

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.

Alfred Bulltop Stormalong

Basic Information Alfred Bulltop Stormalong (also sometimes Able-Bodied Stormalong or just Old Stormy) is a folk hero character from American folklore of the New England region, especially...

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.

College Loan Slavery - Student Debt Is Getting Way Out of Hand

Summary November 12, 2008: Recent American college and university graduates find themselves with high student debts and low job prospects as their country heads into a recession, leading to an...

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.

Grain-based Local Currency

Basic Information Grain-based Local Currency refers both to a form of monetary unit, and to one of the earliest economic systems to supplant pure barter. In such a system, money is minted/printed to...

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....

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...

Tektite

Basic Information When a meteor hits the ground it sometimes splashes molten metal and rock about the impact site. These gravel-sized blobs of melted mineral, once cooled off and solidified, are...

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...

Salt

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. MAT5:13 (NIV) ...

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...

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.

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...

Antimatter

Basic Information Antimatter is a bizarre form of matter that is often used in science fiction for fuel, explosives, robot brains, and other forms of applied phlebotinum. Each antiparticle of...

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...

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...

Truffle (fungus)

Basic Information A Truffle is a type of fungus which grows underground, generally feeding on the roots of trees. As a truffle matures and its spores ripen, it emits a powerful smell which attracts...

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...

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...

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...

Chocolate

Basic Information Chocolate is a substance derived from the beans of the Coco tree Theobroma cacao, indigenous to the Americas and used by the Amerindians since at least 1100BC. The name itself is...

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)...


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:

Christian Fundamentalist

Basic Information A Christian Fundamentalist is a Christian who subscribes to the theological principles outlined in The Fundamentals, a twelve volume series of theological papers published between...

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:

Turkey

Basic Information The Republic of Turkey is a country of 70 million people consisting of the Anatolian Peninsula and parts of Thrace. Its largest city is Istanbul, although the capital is Ankara. 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.

Yasukuni Shrine

Basic Information The Yasukuni Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan. It is dedicated to the kami of Japanese soldiers who died fighting for the Emperor of Japan. Currently, the names of...


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.

Grand Canyon

Basic Information The Grand Canyon is a steep-sided canyon carved by the Colorado River in the U.S. state of Arizona in North America. The Grand Canyon is 277 miles (446 km) long, up to 18 miles (29...

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.

Istanbul

The City of Cities. Istanbul, Constantinople, Byzantium, Miklagarth, Tsargrad, whatever you want to call it, it's the centre of the world. Basic Information The City (as I will call it from now on) is...

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