Encounters#

Use these to get started. Over time, replace them with encounters that better suit your particular corner of the Known Worlds.

Use the reaction table when an encountered NPC or starship’s disposition to the PCs is not known or obvious.

Port Encounters#

Assume skill rank 1 in any weapons carried, unless otherwise noted. Most won’t be carrying illegal weapons without good reason, even if listed with them. Use law level, reaction, and good judgment.

d66	Encounter	Notes / Equipment
11	3d6 revolutionaries	Improvised weapons. 1 in 3 has a pistol, one leader with a carbine
12	1d6 zealots	Knives
13	2d6 revelers	Booze
14	3d6 nomads	Scatterguns, elaborately decorated vacc suits
15	3d6 tourists	Cameras
16	1d6 + 3 noble family & entourage	In a grav skiff.VIPs: Rapiers, concealed light armor.Bodyguards: Laser Carbines, combat armor with heraldic emblems.
21	2d6 miners	Laser drills (mount as medium melee, ignore light armor)
22	2d6 soldiers	Carbines. 4-in-6 chance of light armor, otherwise combat armor.
23	2d6 pirates	Scatterguns, Cutlasses.
24	1d6 crime syndicate toughs	Knives, pistols, big-shouldered suits
25	1d6 buskers	Musical instruments, 3-in-6 conceal knives
26	1d6 trade cog crew	Scatterguns, light armor, vacc suits
31	1d6 students	Books, hot takes
32	5d6 religious pilgrims	Unwavering faith, weaponized self-righteousness, religious paraphernalia, walking sticks that double as staves (long melee)
33	1d6 stevedores	Strength-assist exo-skeletons
34	1d6 office workers	Slop bowls
35	1d6 merchants	Selling a random trade good
36	1d6 beggars	Bowls, signs. 2-in-6 chance of an old dog
41	1d6 commonwealth dragoons	Laser carbines, collapsible halberds, combat armor. Skill 3 in carried weapons. 2-in-6 chance of power armor
42	1d6 ranchers with 5d6 beeves	Cattle prods (long melee, 1d6 damage)
43	2d6 stray cats	Claws, teeth (short melee, 1 damage)
44	1d6 fugitives	3-in-6 chance still in bright jumpsuits
45	1d6 muggers	Concealed knives & pistols
46	3d6 protestors	improvised weapons, skill 0
51	1d6 off-duty law enforcement officers	pistols, paranoia
52	2d6 officers escorting 3d6 bound convicts	Pistols, stun batons (medium melee, non-lethal)
53	1d6 flaneurs / flaneuses	Concealed daggers and pistols with elaborate hilts, fashionable clothes
54	2d6 politician and entourage	Anagathic smiles, concealed light armor
55	1d6 hunters	Long rifles, pistols
56	1d6 adventurers	Pistols and equal mix scatterguns & carbines. 2-in-6 chance they are flaunting the law and have all the above weapons. Light armor.
61	2d6 trade caravan	Beasts of burden, trucks, or grav-skiffs depending on local Tech level
62	1d6 researchers	Insatiable curiosity, expensive equipment
63	1d6 journalists	Swarm of hovering camera drones
64	1d6 street food hawkers	Skewers of charred meat
65	2d6 refugees	Whatever they could carry, stuffed into mismatched bags and luggage
66	1d6 artists	Printed manifestoes, portable art supplies

Ship Encounters#

When a ship encounter occurs, roll 1d6 on one of the encounter tables below, based on either the local Tech or Authority characteristic, whichever is higher.

Encountered ships have a 50% chance of either moving towards or away from the local world.

Use the Trade Goods tables to determine cargo on board ships as needed.

Pirates will take any opportunity to attack vulnerable trade vessels. Local patrols will usually ask for documentation and cargo manifests.

Tech or Population 1-2#

Pirate Trade Cog
Trade Cog (2-in-6 chance pirates)
Cruiser (2-in-6 chance pirates, otherwise military)
Fast Sloop (3-in-6 chance smuggling contraband)
Mass Hauler
Local Patrol (4-in-6 chance Patrol Cutter, otherwise Gunboat)

Tech or Population 3-4#

Trade Cog (2-in-6 chance pirates)
Cruiser (2-in-6 chance pirates, otherwise military)
Military Frigate
Mass Hauler
Passenger Barge
Local Patrol (3-in-6 chance Patrol Cutter, otherwise Gunboat)

Tech or Population 5-6#

Cruiser (2-in-6 chance pirates, otherwise military)
Military Frigate
Trade Cog
Mass Hauler
Passenger Barge
Local Patrol (2-in-6 chance Patrol Cutter, otherwise Gunboat)