City Block Generator Update

Finally made time to update the City Block Generator from the prototype image-based system to an ajax/html based system. The image based system is still available as well.

Zone types mimic modern cities in the United States. Frequency for business/building types are based roughly on commonality of those types. The Everything option treats all types as common thus producing some odd results.

Floor Plan: Diner

A classic diner is the focus of this week’s floor plan. Between working overtime and a cold, I didn’t manage to add many details. The plan is sufficiently complete to be useful in a modern setting. Perhaps I will revisit it to add windows and more fixtures.

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Floor Plan: Convenience Store

More tinkering with Inkscape for producing floor plans. This week features a corner convenience store; something akin to a stand-alone corner shop like a 7-11.

Convenience Store Floor Plan

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Still working on making the original SVG files available.

Floor Plan Friday: Oversized Garage

Tinkering with Inkscape. Simple floor plan of a large detached garage. Pondering a few floor plans in the new year.

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If you were to scavenge, you might find:

1. Mechanics Tools
2. 7 Gallons of Kerosene
3. Honda Accord
4. Boat, 19′, Fish and Ski
5. 15 Boxes of 12 Gauge Skeet Ammo (375 Shells)
6. 3 Radio Controlled Helicopters and Parts
7. Refrigerator with 1.3 cases of beer and two dozen bait worms
8. Snow blower
9. High Octane, Leaded Racing Gas, 13 gallons
10. Motorcycle, Honda Valkyrie
11. Oil, Lubricants, and maintenance items
12. Pneumatic Air Nailer and Builder Supplies
13. 1 KW Generator
14. 27 empty 22 ounce bottles
15. Four year old laptop
16. Large Cabin Style Tent w/ Broken Pole
17. Dashboard Style 12V Solar Charger
18. Two Propane Cylinders, 15 lb. Partially Full
19. Homemade Beer Brewing Table, w/ 3 Burners (LPG)
20. Resin Skull, with motion activated glowing eyes

[Wordpress thwarts me. No SVG support. Then images that go from large to small, to original. Meh.]

Modern Occupation Generator Update

Previously, the Modern Occupation Generator was only a drill-down selection tool. The process was useful if the user possessed a general idea of the career desired. If not, drill-down selection could be tedious.

I added a second option on the same page, which allows purely random generation. Now users can merely click a button to generate up to 25 random job titles across all job sectors.

City/Town Name Generator Update

City and towns names for Brazil and Australia were added to the database bringing the name count to over 33,000. More to come as I feel the data collection urge. Random selection from the generator remains grouped by country.

Compendium of Modern Jobs

I’ve been neck deep in data for a few weeks. Processing, converting, formatting to fit the needs of the pointy haired boss guy. Not a drop of it related to gaming. I’ve built a dozen software tools to import, export, convert and publish the data. So why not find a strange data source for RPG inspiration? I came across one data set over at the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The BLS publishes a lot of data. Most of it arcane and strange. If you toss out the excess information, something useful for role playing lies underneath.

Ever wondered what the guy walking down the street did as a career? Or got asked what some random NPC that meant nothing to a campaign did for a living? Wondered what some fellow did before he was trapped in his current, mind numbing job? All reasonable questions in a modern or post-modern/apocalypse games. Generally, any answer works but occasionally you want something specific. Maybe as a hook. Perhaps just to not tread down a well worn path yet again. Maybe you just need a little inspiration for a few key NPC’s who will be part of a larger plot but are struggling for a little history.

Jobs. Occupations. The BLS data covers it well. Go figure. With minimal formatting and zero data correction, I give you the Compendium of Modern Occupations. Covering 24 occupation categories and over six thousand individual job titles, the compendium should get ideas flowing on jobs and careers.

At first, I was going to convert the data into a random generator. Occasionally, its nice just to have a huge, voluminous list to page through until something hits you. The random generator can come later. Perhaps tomorrow.

Drop me a comment if you find it of use. I might be motivated to edit the data if you do.