Stat them up ! — a game & exercise to play everywhere

Hi all,

Just had a fun idea for a small game or exercise you can play everywhere.

It goes like this : when you see something interesting in your daily life or in a book, on the internet..., something that catches your attention as "potential gaming material" (and yes, I know that everything is gameable, I'm talking about things that immediately jump at you) : Stat. It. Up.

That's it. Just stat it up. Write it down in a notebook or on your phone. It's also fun on social networks, where you can post and add the #StatThemUp hashtag !

If you need more directions, here you go :

- use whatever system or lingua franca makes sense to you. Into the Odd, B/X with "as leather" indications, or nothing, or anything else you like.

- likewise, there's no fixed list of stuff you need to stat. In general, I recommend only the barest base stuff, and then only add stuff that you feel is necessary : speed, reactions, number appearing, a few important traits, whatever. You can use Chris McDowall's delicious 3 traits system, for example.

- stat what you want. NPCs / encounters, of course. But obstacles, traps, treasure, "dungeon rooms", factions, vehicles, anything is fair game !

- don't hesitate to send me your coolest stuff, either here in the comments or by tagging me on Bluesky (@joyeux scribe.bsky.social) ! I could do a compilation of the best material !

- as usual, the basic decency rules : no hateful / bigoted / fascist material, no AI/LLM generation for anything (even an inspiration picture you saw in passing). Also, remember it's a game for fun, not a means to insensitively comment on current news. (For ex., don't stat up Russian drones. They kill real people everyday.)

Here's the first example I posted on Bluesky earlier today after seeing this awesome bug picture:

Armored Bush Cricket (giant)

# appearing : 1-2

HP: 4d6 (or just pick between 12-15.)

Def: 3 (chitin body reduces damage.)

Atk: jaws, d6+2

Traits:

- jumps really well

- hemolymph squirt: DEX = avoid, WIL = keep moving despite the stench (after reflexion : no save — if you stand behind it, the ABC can squirt hemolymph on you. It sticks to skin and cloth, and the stench is strong and disgusting. WIL save to keep acting normally despite it)

- reaction roll indicates current hunger

- will leave you alone if offered enough food (3+ rations or their equivalent in cricket food: leaves, branches, other crickets, birds)

Of course, this short format is descriptive, not limitative.

Yes, the giant cricket can push you or make you fall prone, probably. Yes, you can give it creepy magic powers with these red eyes. Yes, the spikes on its back probably inflict d6 damage, perhaps even with a risk on staying impaled on them. Yes, you can try to fashion a cool shield from its spiky back. Yes, you can try to train it as a mount or a pet. Yes, perhaps it can emit really loud leg music. Perhaps its hemolymph also has interesting color or fluorescent properties, or perhaps it attracts bees. Perhaps there's a whole fantasy world whose concept is "modern day world, but insects replace people, animals and technology, and crickets are most often employed as musicians and office paper shredders".

So : go nuts, and #StatThemUp !