Skip to content
COWBOYS & VIKINGSCompendium of the Wild Wastes

Game Master / Trouble Generator / Place Set

Place Set

Frame: A [mood] [site] with [feature], where [there] can be found. Watch for [danger]. [sense].

Mood (d4, all columns)

d4Mood
1Lively
2Deserted
3Tense
4Hushed

Site (d6)

d6WildsOutpostTownCityRoute
1CanyonTrading postSaloonRefineryRail depot
2Barrow fieldMine headChurchLonghallRiverboat deck
3Frozen lakeSteading longhouseBankDocksToll bridge
4Old-growth forestFortLivery stableMenagerieStagecoach inn
5Ley-scarred badlandsWaystation corralCourthouseOpera houseLongship landing
6River fordTrapper's campThing-stone in the town squareLower-ward tenementWater tower siding

Feature (d8)

d8WildsOutpostTownCityRoute
1A standing stone that humsA palisade of sharpened logsA balcony over the streetCatwalks over vats of essenceA telegraph office
2A natural stone bridgeA watchtower with a bellA bell towerA dragon prow mounted on the wallA great paddlewheel
3Bones of something hugeA dragon-carved mead hallA rune-painted vault doorCranes and stacked cargoA toll gate and chain
4A hot spring steaming in the snowA single shared wellA hanging treeRows of iron cagesA common room with a big hearth
5A rune-carved cliffAn ore-cart trackA raised boardwalkA gilded balcony boxShields hung along the gunwales
6A burned-out wagon circleA flagpole flying two flagsA sputtering essence lamp postNarrow alleys strung with laundryA water tank on stilts
7A cave mouth breathing warm airA forge that never coolsA back staircaseA ley conduit humming under the streetAn engine turntable
8Trees all bent one directionA graveyard bigger than the postA public notice boardA clock towerA ferry rope across the river

Danger (d10)

d10WildsOutpostTownCityRoute
1RockslidesThe palisade's blind sideCrossfire from the rooftopsA vat spillA runaway car
2Thin iceA collapsing shaftA mobThe watchA boiler explosion
3A beast's territoryJumpy sentriesA crooked deputyA crowd that turnsA fall into the river
4A ley surgeA feuding familyFire in the dry boardsAn escaped animalBandits at the bridge
5An ambush pointA loose beast in the pensA stampede down main streetA falling cargo loadA toll guard with a grudge
6Flash floodsThe powder storeA gang in the back roomA ley conduit ruptureA stampede at the depot
7QuicksandA sicknessA sniper in the bell towerA pickpocket gangA snag in the river
8The restless deadDrunk soldiersA rigged card gameA dead-end alleyA collapsing trestle
9Trails lost in fogThe jarl's temperA rotten boardwalkAn assassin in the crowdA stranger with a gun
10Poisoned waterA sealed door that shouldn't openAn essence lamp that burstsA building on fireA beast on the line

Who's There (d12)

d12WildsOutpostTownCityRoute
1A trapperThe traderThe sheriffRefinery workersTravelers
2A hermitMinersGamblersThe thane's warriorsThe train crew
3A hunting partyThe jarl's housecarlsThe preacherDockhandsRiver gamblers
4OutlawsCavalry troopersThe bankerThe menagerie keeperThe toll-keeper
5A lost childThe healerA gunslingerHigh societyFreight teamsters
6A seeressA wagon companyThe saloon singerA crime boss's runnersA lawman and his prisoner
7A survey crewThe blacksmithA newspapermanThe watchNorse traders
8A herd and its droversA shieldmaidenOld Norse eldersReportersA mail rider
9A ghostChildren at playCowhands in from the rangeA foreign delegationA company detective
10A beast-callerA traveling preacherThe undertakerStreet preachersA stowaway
11A band of exilesA fur buyerA circuit judgeLodge members in disguiseA track gang
12No one, though someone was here yesterdayA stranger no one invitedA traveling showStriking workersA family heading west

Sensory Detail (d20, all columns)

d20Sensory Detail
1Gunpowder hangs in the air
2Everything is coated in fine red dust
3A dog won't stop barking
4The air tastes of copper, the way it does before a surge
5Distant singing in the old Norse tongue
6Wind howls through every gap
7Dead quiet; even the birds have stopped
8Faint blue ley-light at the edge of vision
9Woodsmoke and roasting meat
10A sign creaking on rusted hinges
11Rain drumming on tin
12Flies, far too many of them
13Bells ringing somewhere, out of rhythm
14The ground trembles faintly underfoot
15A sweet smell of rot under the perfume
16Mud everywhere, sucking at every step
17A piano playing the same tune over and over
18Frost on everything, whatever the season
19Ravens watching from every perch
20Laughter that stops when the posse walks in