Swords & Stitchery - Old Time Sewing & Table Top Rpg Blog

Friday, April 17, 2026

D100 Random Space Encounters Table for Thirteen Parsecs: Beyond the Solar Frontier Rpg

The Solar Frontier is a vast and unpredictable expanse where hard sci-fi grit meets the wonder of the unknown. In Thirteen Parsecs, the O.G.R.E.S. system thrives on fast-paced, high-stakes situations.

Below is a custom D100 Space Encounter Table designed to fit the tone of the game—covering everything from industrial hazards and corporate shakedowns to the eerie isolationist horror the setting is known for.

D100 Space Encounter Table

Roll	Encounter Type	Description
01-05	Celestial Hazard	A sudden solar flare or micro-meteorite storm. Systems offline; pilots must make a Maneuver Check to avoid hull damage.
06-10	The Drift	A derelict cargo hauler, silent and dark. Scanners show life signs, but they’re "wrong." Potential for salvage or horror.
11-15	Corporate Patrol	A heavily armed Interstellar Conglomerate frigate. They demand a "safety inspection" (bribe or cargo seizure).
16-20	Distress Beacon	A civilian shuttle with a blown engine. It’s either a genuine cry for help or a clever Bounty Hunter trap.
21-25	Data Ghost	Your ship’s AI starts talking in a voice from a crew member's past. Is it a glitch, a virus, or a Psychic echo?
26-30	The Scavengers	A pack of Saurian or Remoni scrappers looking to "liberate" your engine parts while you're in transit.
31-35	Fuel Leak	A critical component fails. You are venting propellant. Roll a Technical/Slicer Check or be stranded in 1d6 hours.
36-40	Mystic Drifter	A lone Mystic Knight in a meditation pod. They offer a cryptic prophecy in exchange for a lift to the nearest star-gate.
41-45	Smuggler’s Cache	A hidden "dead drop" container anchored to an asteroid. Contains Illegal Tech or 1,000 Credits.
46-50	Void Sickness	The crew begins hallucinating due to a rare space-born spore. Fate Points might be needed to snap out of it.
51-55	Automated Toll	An ancient, pre-Frontier defense buoy demands a passcode no one has used in 200 years. Pay or be targeted.
56-60	The Refugee Fleet	A ragtag group of Canis or Felis ships fleeing a planetary collapse. They beg for water and medicine.
61-65	Ghost Signal	Scanners pick up a ship identical to yours, mimicking your every move. It disappears when you try to hail it.
66-70	Pirate Ambush	A "Blaster" lead boarding party uses a tractor beam. Prepare for Starship Combat.
71-75	Wormhole Ripple	A temporary rift opens. If entered, it cuts travel time by 50%, but roll for "Spatial Distortion" (Mutation or Damage).
76-80	Diplomatic Convoy	A high-priority Diplomat escort. Interference is a federal crime; helping them earns a powerful Patron.
81-85	The Swarm	A cloud of bio-mechanical nanites begins eating the hull. Requires an EVA mission to clear.
86-90	Mercenary Hail	A group of Augmented Mercs looking for work. They’re cheap, but they have a "bad reputation" with the law.
91-95	Temporal Echo	You see your own ship, destroyed, floating in the debris. It’s a "Possible Future" caused by Time Machine residue.
96-00	The Unknown	An entity beyond the 13-parsec limit. It doesn't use radio or light to communicate. It wants a "piece" of the crew.

How to Use This Table

01-30: Gritty/Hard Sci-Fi. Focus on resource management and mechanical failures.
31-70: Action & Intrigue. Focus on NPCs, factions, and ship-to-ship drama.
71-00: Science Fantasy/Horror. Lean into the "Beyond" aspect—psionics, weird physics, and the terrifyingly alien.

GM Tip: If the party is low on Fate Points, use a "Resource Attrition" encounter (31-35) to force them to spend points to avoid a disastrous outcome. If they are cruising comfortably, hit them with a "Corporate Patrol" (11-15) to test their social or combat standing.

If you're leaning into the "Used Future" aesthetic, space shouldn't feel like a playground; it should feel like a graveyard of industrial waste and corporate neglect. Everything is rusting, leaking, or held together with prayer and duct tape.

Here is a refined D100 Encounter Table tailored specifically for that gritty, low-oxygen, high-stress atmosphere.

The Gritty Frontier: D100 "Used Future" Encounters

Roll	Encounter	The "Grit" Factor
01-10	The Fuel Skimmer	A rusted derelict tethered to a gas giant. It’s been abandoned for years, but its fuel reserves are still 20% stable. Extracting it requires a Technical Check—failure triggers a leak.
11-20	Tax Collector	A local system "Governor" (essentially a warlord) demands a 15% cargo tax for using "their" lanes. They don't take credits; they want your spare parts or a crew member as "collateral."
21-30	Oxygen Scrubber Failure	The ship’s air turns metallic and stale. Everyone takes a penalty to Physical Checks until a replacement filter is found or scavenged from a passing wreck.
31-40	The "Free" Repair	You find an automated repair drone adrift. It fixes your hull, but it also installs a Corporate Tracker that pings your location to bounty hunters every 6 hours.
41-50	Corpse in the Airlock	You find a ship drifting with the airlock cycled open. Inside is a single body in a high-end suit holding a data-drive. The drive contains "Company Secrets" that make you a target.
51-60	Space Junk Storm	A massive cloud of orbital debris (discarded boosters, old satellites). It’s not "natural," it's trash. It’s like flying through a shotgun blast of jagged steel.
61-70	The Scab Freighter	A merchant ship crewed by workers on strike against a Mega-Corp. They are desperate and will trade rare info for basic rations and medicine.
71-80	Radiation Leak	A nearby pulsar or a leaky reactor on your own ship. You have 1d4 hours to find "Rad-Shielding" or suffer permanent Attribute loss.
81-90	The False Beacon	A distress signal that’s actually a pre-recorded loop from 20 years ago. The ship is a hollowed-out shell used as a blind for Saurian pirates.
91-00	The Black Spot	A silent, matte-black interceptor follows you at the edge of sensor range. It doesn't hail. It doesn't attack. It just watches. Every time you jump, it's there.

Implementation: The "Cost of Living"

In a Used Future setting, every victory should cost something. If the players survive an encounter, use the following "Wear and Tear" table to see what broke during the stress of the event:

Hydraulics: Ship movement is sluggish; -1 to Pilot rolls.
Internal Comms: You have to shout or use hand signals; tactical coordination is harder.
Food Replicator: It only produces "Nutrient Sludge" now. Morale drops.
Lighting: Most of the ship is in "Red Alert" dim mode to save power. Scanners are half-blind.

Key Themes for the GM

Aesthetics: Everything is stained with grease. Scanners flicker. The "low gravity" alarm has a persistent, annoying hum that nobody knows how to fix.
Economics: Credits are hard to find; barter is king. A crate of clean water is often worth more than a crate of laser pistols.
The Law: There is no "Space Police." There are only Corporate Security forces who protect assets, not people.

Thursday, April 16, 2026

New Flesh Rpg Adventure - Mission Brief: Operation "Threnody in Glass" Adapting The Cultclassic TV show T.H.E. Cat into our New Flesh campaign- "The Hemostat"

The PC's were contacted by The Ghost of Hong Kong after she took on an assignment from Tankana's corporate rivals.
I'm using The Ghost of Hong Kong: Targets as a reference. The events of Bidonville Blues adventure & the Thresher almost ended two PC's. This session report picks right up from

New Flesh Rpg Adventure - Mission Brief: Operation "Threnody in Glass" Adapting The Cultclassic TV show T.H.E. Cat into our New Flesh campaign - The Thresher

While the Thresher is recovering the corporations decided to send in an assassin monster to make a statement. In the surreal, biopunk streets of Avalidad (or Interzone), an assassin isn't just a professional with a gun; they are a manifestation of corporate biological property.

He appeared in the slick alleyways next to the resturant where the PC's were meeting Mae Ling Chen, the woman who is the Ghost.

Here is a corporate assassin NPC designed for Wretched New Flesh, leaning into the Cronenbergian body horror and "Spaghettipunk" grit of the setting.

NPC: Elias "The Hemostat" Thorne

Affiliation: Takeda Technologies (Internal Liquidation Division)

Role: High-Value Target Eraser / Biological Asset Retriever

Elias doesn’t use traditional firearms. He is a "Living Weapon" in the most literal sense—his own physiology has been rewritten by Takeda’s R&D to turn his circulatory system into a pressurized delivery mechanism for neurotoxins and bio-corrosives.

Appearance

Elias wears a bespoke, high-collared charcoal suit that appears to be made of a matte, rubberized silk. He is unnervingly still, moving with a fluid, predatory grace. His skin has a transluscent, wax-like quality, and if one looks closely, they can see faint, rhythmic pulses of neon-blue fluid moving through the veins in his neck. He carries a silver cane that serves as a focus for his psychotropic "scenting" abilities.

The Horror (The "New Flesh" Twist)

Elias’s primary "augmentation" is a Biological Pressurized Gland located behind his sternum. When he "bleeds," he controls the spray. He can rupture the capillaries in his palms or eyes to spray a fine mist of hallucinogenic "Red Dust" or high-velocity acidic bile. His "Sins" lean heavily toward Envy—he despises those with natural, un-augmented bodies and takes pleasure in "recycling" their organic parts.

Stats (Wretched System)

Attribute	Score
Muscle	12
Brains	14
Wits	16
Agility	15
Toughness	13
Magnetism	11
Sex-Appeal	9

Hit Dice: 6 (High survivability for an assassin)
Virtue/Sin: Diligence / Envy
Skills: Stealth (+4), Tracking (+3), Bio-Alchemy (+2), Intimidation (+3)

Special Abilities

The Hemostatic Spray: Elias can take 1d4 damage to himself to spray a 10ft cone of caustic blood. Targets must save vs. Agility or take 2d6 damage and be blinded for 1 round.
Takeda Neuro-Link: He is immune to fear and psychological manipulation; his brain is "hard-wired" to corporate loyalty protocols.
Scent of Fear: Through his psionic augmentations, Elias can track any target whose "biological signature" (DNA sample or scent) he has acquired, gaining a +4 to tracking rolls within Avalidad.

Roleplaying Hooks

The Pursuit: The player characters have stolen a prototype bio-container from a Takeda lab. Elias hasn't been sent to kill them immediately—he is "herding" them into a more secluded sector of the city to avoid a public scene.
The Contract: Elias approaches the players in a seedy bar. He needs "expendable assets" to flush out a rogue scientist. He offers them a large sum of Credits, but his presence alone causes the room's temperature to seem to drop.
The Flaw: Elias is beginning to "glitch." His bio-fluids are becoming unstable, and he occasionally experiences "vivid flesh-dreams" where he forgets he is a corporate tool. He might spare a PC if they remind him of his lost humanity—for a price.

GM Note: In the spirit of Wretched New Flesh, describe Elias not by his gear, but by the sounds his body makes—the wet clicking of his valves, the hiss of his breath, and the chemical smell of a hospital ward that follows him.

We had two agents of the Phoenix Initiative down hit directly in their faces after rolling ones and nearly failing saves. The rest of the PC's concentrated fire on "The Hemostat" driving him off and then it was time for the party to save their comrades. The party decided to regroup at Casa Del Gato (House of the Cat).

Wednesday, April 15, 2026

OSR Commentary Adapting I2: Dwellers In The Forbidden City by David Cook To The Barrows & Borderlands Rpg

Adapting David Cook’s 1981 classic I2: Dwellers of the Forbidden City for a modern, grit-forward system like Barrows & Borderlands (B&B) requires shifting the focus from "heroic monster-slaying" to "tactical survival and factional maneuvering." This blog post picks right up from

OSR Commentary Adapting C1: The Hidden Shrine of Tamoachan To The Barrows & Borderlands Rpg

The Forbidden City is essentially a "megadungeon" turned inside out. Here is how to translate its pulpy, lost-world atmosphere into the mechanical rigors of B&B.

1. The Core Atmosphere: Decay & Resource Scarcity

In B&B, inventory slots and light sources are life. The Forbidden City shouldn't just be "hidden"—it should be a resource sink.

The Jungle Trek: Treat the journey to the city as a series of Navigation Checks. Failure doesn't just mean getting lost; it means losing Rations or taking Fatigue levels before even reaching the gates.
Verticality: The city is a massive crater. Use B&B’s climbing and encumbrance rules to make descending into the city a literal "point of no return."

2. Faction Warfare (The Social Engine)

The strength of I2 is the three-way war between the Bugbears, Mongrelfolk, and Yuan-ti. In B&B, combat is deadly, so players should be encouraged to use the Reaction Table.

Faction	B&B Archetype	Disposition	Hook
Mongrelfolk	Scavengers / Outcasts	Skittish	Will trade secrets for "pure" food or scrap metal.
Bugbears	Heavy Infantry	Aggressive	Looking for "conscripts" (meat shields) for their next raid.
Yuan-ti	Eldritch Cultists	Manipulative	Will offer "blessings" (mutations) in exchange for live sacrifices.

3. Mechanical Conversions

B&B usually scales lower than AD&D. To keep the "Forbidden" feel, monsters should be dangerous but predictable in their behaviors.

The Yuan-ti (The Apex Predators)

Don't just give them high HP. Give them Special Abilities that interact with B&B’s conditions:

Hypnotic Gaze: Target must make a Will Save or be Stunned for 1 round.
Toxic Blood: If a Yuan-ti takes Slashing damage, adjacent players must check vs. Poison or take 1d4 damage.

The Tasloi (The Nuisance)

These should be B&B "Minions." They don't do much damage, but they excel at Stealing Items. Have them target a player’s "Utility Slot" (potions, torches) rather than their HP.

4. Hazard & Exploration Tweaks

The environment is as much an enemy as the inhabitants.

The Great Swamp: Movement is halved. Any roll of a "Natural 1" on an attack or dodge results in being Mired (requires a Strength check to move).
The Horrors in the Pits: Use the Ablative Armor rules for creatures like the Aboleth or Pan Lung (the oriental dragon). Players shouldn't be able to "swing" their way through these; they need to find environmental weaknesses.

5. Loot & Treasure

B&B focuses on "Wealth vs. Weight."

The Yuan-ti Hoard: Instead of just "1,000 gold," describe it as Heavy Golden Idols. They are worth a fortune but take up 3 slots each and impose a penalty on Stealth checks due to clinking.
Ancient Tech: Treat any found magic items as Relics with limited charges. Once they're gone, the item becomes a "Curiosity" worth gold but no longer functional.

GM Tip: The "Forbidden City" functions best when the players feel like they are caught in a pressure cooker. Keep track of Time Turns. Every hour spent debating is another chance for a rival faction's hunting party to find them.

Since you’re leaning into the lethality, we need to ensure the climax at the Temple of the Yuan-ti feels like a "survival horror" event rather than a fair fight. In Barrows & Borderlands, a lethal boss isn't just a bag of hit points; it’s a force of nature that requires the players to sacrifice resources or limbs to survive.

Here is how to tune the final encounter for maximum tension.

The "Final Boss": The Yuan-ti Abomination

In the original module, this is often a high-level priest. For a lethal B&B conversion, we’ll treat it as a Lesser Horror.

Stats & Dread Logic

Aura of Cold Blood: Any PC starting their turn within 10ft must pass a Will Save or take a penalty to their next Attack roll as their lizard-brain triggers a freeze response.
Multi-Attack: The Abomination attacks twice: once with a Scimitar (1d8+2) and once with a Constrict (see below).

The "Constrict" Mechanic (The Death Spiral)

If the Abomination hits with its tail, the player is Grappled.

Automatic Damage: The player takes 1d6 crushing damage at the start of every turn.
Resource Loss: To represent the ribs cracking, the player must choose: take an extra 1d6 damage OR permanently destroy one item in their Inventory Slots (shield shatters, potion vials break, etc.).

Environmental Hazards: The Sacrificial Pit

The fight shouldn't take place on a flat floor. The Temple is crumbling.

Slippery Blood/Oil: The floor around the altar is "Difficult Terrain." Any Dash action requires a Dexterity Check or the player falls Prone, granting the Yuan-ti Advantage on its next strike.
The Snaking Pillars: The Abomination can use its move action to vanish into the rafters. If the players lose sight of it, the next attack is a Surprise Attack (likely targeting the character with the lowest Armor).

The "Hard Choice" Victory

To make it feel like an authentic old-school module, give the players a way to win that doesn't involve "bonking it until it dies," but comes at a high cost:

The Sacrifice	The Mechanical Result
Topple the Great Idol	Requires 2 players to spend their full turn. Crushes the boss for massive damage but collapses the exit, forcing a dangerous escape through the "Unexplored Tunnels."
Ignite the Swamp Gas	If players have a torch, they can ignite the vents. Deals 3d6 AOE damage to everyone. The boss dies, but players must check for Permanent Scars/Burns.
Offer a Blood Debt	A player can "Accept the Mark." The boss stops attacking, but that player now has a Yuan-ti Taint, suffering a permanent penalty to Charisma and a future plot hook.

Implementation Advice

Note: Do not hide the lethality. Describe the "piles of bleached adventurer bones" and the "unnatural speed" of the creature. In B&B, players should only engage in a lethal boss fight if they’ve failed to find a clever way to bypass it—or if they are desperate for the loot.