How does Town Event Countdown work in CRAWL!?

Question

Complete rules for Town Event Countdown in the CRAWL! tabletop RPG system, covering all mechanics and procedures.

Iron Brothers Games · Accepted Answer

Frame Table: | Roll | What You’re Accused Of                      | |------|---------------------------------------------| | 1    | Theft from a temple                         | | 2    | Arson in the market                         | | 3    | Murder of a noble’s servant                 | | 4    | Smuggling contraband                        | | 5    | Spying for a rival faction                  | | 6    | Treason / plotting against the lord         | Gambling Table: | Roll | Outcome                                     | |------|---------------------------------------------| | 1–2  | Lose it all (–2 PR or equivalent coin)      | | 3–4  | Break even                                  | | 5    | Double your take (+2 PR)                    | | 6    | Win big (+4 PR, but gain an enemy)          | Jobs Table: | Roll | The Work                                    | |------|---------------------------------------------| | 1    | Assassination disguised as “escort duty”    | | 2    | Smuggle cursed goods                        | | 3    | Spy on a faction leader                     | | 4    | Guard a caravan (trap)                      | | 5    | Dig out a blocked sewer (monster lair)      | | 6    | Retrieve item from dungeon for cheap pay    | Major Event Table: | Roll | Major Event                                                 | |------|-------------------------------------------------------------| | 1    | ENTRANCE MOVES. Churning shifts entrance d6 miles away      | | 2    | REFUGEE WAVE. 2d20 survivors from fallen settlement arrive  | | 3    | SIEGE ENGINE. Rival settlement demands tribute or war       | | 4    | KEEPER DIES. No arcanium transformation until replaced      | | 5    | MASS AFFLICTION. Disease/madness. Half pop quarantined      | | 6    | UPRISING. The desperate riot. Militia vs citizens           | | 7    | DEEP BREACH. Something huge emerges from entrance           | | 8    | TOTAL COLLAPSE. Major building falls, 3d10 casualties       | | 9    | WATER CRISIS. Well poisoned/dried. 3 days to fix or flee    | | 10   | CULT RISES. Hidden faction takes control through ritual     | | 11   | TRADE WAR. All routes blocked. No travel for 1d6 days       | | 12   | DOUBLE EVENT. Roll twice, both happen simultaneously        | Market Table: | Roll | What’s Cheap?                               | |------|---------------------------------------------| | 1    | Torches & rope (Supplies -1 PR each)        | | 2    | Weapons (one random type -1 PR)             | | 3    | Armor (light armor only -1 PR)              | | 4    | Spells (scrolls or tricks -1 PR)            | | 5    | Services (healing, lodging -1 PR)           | | 6    | Random junk (worthless, still -1 PR!)       | Merchant Table: | Roll | Exotic Goods for Sale (+1 PR each)          | |------|---------------------------------------------| | 1    | Potion of dubious quality                   | | 2    | Map fragment (GM plants info)               | | 3    | Minor magic item (GM’s choice)              | | 4    | Relic tied to a Faction (strings attached)  | Pickpocket Table: | Roll | What Did They Snatch?                       | |------|---------------------------------------------| | 1    | Coins (1d4 PR)                              | | 2    | Supplies (lose 1d3)                         | | 3    | Trinket (sentimental, not replaceable)      | | 4    | Important item (GM’s choice)                | Rivals Table: | Roll | Rival Situation                                            | |------|------------------------------------------------------------| | 1    | Claim a dungeon level. Your map shifts,                    | |      | target gone or harder to reach.                            | | 2    | Find a new entrance. Shortcut exists,                      | |      | but it's trapped or unstable.                              | | 3    | Return with loot. Prices rise: all                         | |      | Supplies +1 PR until next Event.                           | | 4    | Spread lies. Lose 1d4 Reputation;                          | |      | Parley against you is at Advantage.                        | | 5    | Public challenge. Duel or Parley contest.                  | |      | Losing costs you 1d4 PR.                                   | | 6    | Survivors crawl back. They'll sell a                       | |      | rumor, map, or cursed item (PR+1).                         | Rumors Table: | Roll | Rumor (true or false, GM decides)           | |------|---------------------------------------------| | 1    | Secret entrance to Bleakstone Delve         | | 2    | Cult hides relic under the temple           | | 3    | Noble’s heir is a vampire                   | | 4    | Rival adventurers plotting betrayal         | | 5    | Treasure buried in town cemetery            | | 6    | Dungeon monster sighted in the sewers       | Town Event Countdown Table: Town ticks like a dungeon. Roll whenever a week passes, major actions pile up, or the PCs draw too much attention. | ECD | Event                                                       | |-----|-------------------------------------------------------------| | 20  | QUIET DAY. Don't trust it                                   | | 19  | MARKET DAY. Supplies -1 PR. Roll Market Sub                 | | 18  | RIVALS. Another party moves. Roll Rival Sub                 | | 17  | CUTPURSES. Sleight or lose 1d4 coins. Roll Pickpocket       | | 16  | MERCHANT PRINCE. Rare wares +1 PR. Roll Merchant            | | 15  | SHORTAGE. Supplies +1 PR until next Event                   | | 14  | RUMOR FOR SALE. Pay 1 PR for info. Roll Rumor               | | 13  | FACTION STATIC. Advantage Faction rolls, risk entangle      | | 12  | WITCH-WEATHER. Black rain. Bush/Delv at Disadvantage        | | 11  | DUNGEON BLOCKED. Cave-in seals level. Rivals suspected      | | 10  | SHADY JOB. Mystery figure offers work. Roll Job Sub         | | 9   | PLAGUE DRIPS. Healing doubles. Healers charge 2x PR         | | 8   | FACTION FAVOR. Leader calls debt. Refuse = lose 1d4 Rep     | | 7   | WILD MAGIC. Roll Wild Magic Sub                             | | 6   | WIZARD GONE. Hedge-wizard vanishes. Debts = yours (1d4 PR)  | | 5   | BOUNTY BLOOD. Bounty on rival crew. Roll Rival Sub          | | 4   | GAMBLING DEN. Roll Gambling Sub                             | | 3   | LOOSE BEAST. Monster sighted. Panic until killed            | | 2   | TAX SHAKEDOWN. Add +1d4 PR or lose gear/blood               | | 1   | FRAME JOB. Rival faction pins crime. Roll Frame Sub         | | 0   | MAJOR EVENT. Roll on the Major Event subtable.  Reset to 20.| Wild Magic Table: | Roll | Effect                                      | |------|---------------------------------------------| | 1    | All PCs glow faintly                        | | 2    | Rain of fish                                | | 3    | A cow speaks in riddles                     | | 4    | Gravity hiccups (jump checks everywhere)    |

Iron Brothers Games · Answer

Compared to Dungeons & Dragons 5e and Old-School Essentials (OSE), CRAWL! simplifies mechanics while maintaining tactical depth. Frame Table: | Roll | What You’re Accused Of                      | |------|---------------------------------------------| | 1    | Theft from a temple                         | | 2    | Arson in the market                         | | 3    | Murder of a noble’s servant                 | | 4    | Smuggling contraband                        | | 5    | Spying for a rival faction                  | | 6    | Treason / plotting against the lord         | Gambling Table: | Roll | Outcome                                     | |------|---------------------------------------------| | 1–2  | Lose it all (–2 PR or equivalent coin)      | | 3–4  | Break even                                  | | 5    | Double your take (+2 PR)                    | | 6    | Win big (+4 PR, but gain an enemy)          | Jobs Table: | Roll | The Work                                    | |------|---------------------------------------------| | 1    | Assassination disguised as “escort duty”    | | 2    | Smuggle cursed goods                        | | 3    | Spy on a faction leader                     | | 4    | Guard a caravan (trap)                      | | 5    | Dig out a blocked sewer (monster lair)      | | 6    | Retrieve item from dungeon for cheap pay    | Major Event Table: | Roll | Major Event                                                 | |------|-------------------------------------------------------------| | 1    | ENTRANCE MOVES. Churning shifts entrance d6 miles away      | | 2    | REFUGEE WAVE. 2d20 survivors from fallen settlement arrive  | | 3    | SIEGE ENGINE. Rival settlement demands tribute or war       | | 4    | KEEPER DIES. No arcanium transformation until replaced      | | 5    | MASS AFFLICTION. Disease/madness. Half pop quarantined      | | 6    | UPRISING. The desperate riot. Militia vs citizens           | | 7    | DEEP BREACH. Something huge emerges from entrance           | | 8    | TOTAL COLLAPSE. Major building falls, 3d10 casualties       | | 9    | WATER CRISIS. Well poisoned/dried. 3 days to fix or flee    | | 10   | CULT RISES. Hidden faction takes control through ritual     | | 11   | TRADE WAR. All routes blocked. No travel for 1d6 days       | | 12   | DOUBLE EVENT. Roll twice, both happen simultaneously        | Market Table: | Roll | What’s Cheap?                               | |------|---------------------------------------------| | 1    | Torches & rope (Supplies -1 PR each)        | | 2    | Weapons (one random type -1 PR)             | | 3    | Armor (light armor only -1 PR)              | | 4    | Spells (scrolls or tricks -1 PR)            | | 5    | Services (healing, lodging -1 PR)           | | 6    | Random junk (worthless, still -1 PR!)       | Merchant Table: | Roll | Exotic Goods for Sale (+1 PR each)          | |------|---------------------------------------------| | 1    | Potion of dubious quality                   | | 2    | Map fragment (GM plants info)               | | 3    | Minor magic item (GM’s choice)              | | 4    | Relic tied to a Faction (strings attached)  | Pickpocket Table: | Roll | What Did They Snatch?                       | |------|---------------------------------------------| | 1    | Coins (1d4 PR)                              | | 2    | Supplies (lose 1d3)                         | | 3    | Trinket (sentimental, not replaceable)      | | 4    | Important item (GM’s choice)                | Rivals Table: | Roll | Rival Situation                                            | |------|------------------------------------------------------------| | 1    | Claim a dungeon level. Your map shifts,                    | |      | target gone or harder to reach.                            | | 2    | Find a new entrance. Shortcut exists,                      | |      | but it's trapped or unstable.                              | | 3    | Return with loot. Prices rise: all                         | |      | Supplies +1 PR until next Event.                           | | 4    | Spread lies. Lose 1d4 Reputation;                          | |      | Parley against you is at Advantage.                        | | 5    | Public challenge. Duel or Parley contest.                  | |      | Losing costs you 1d4 PR.                                   | | 6    | Survivors crawl back. They'll sell a                       | |      | rumor, map, or cursed item (PR+1).                         | Rumors Table: | Roll | Rumor (true or false, GM decides)           | |------|---------------------------------------------| | 1    | Secret entrance to Bleakstone Delve         | | 2    | Cult hides relic under the temple           | | 3    | Noble’s heir is a vampire                   | | 4    | Rival adventurers plotting betrayal         | | 5    | Treasure buried in town cemetery            | | 6    | Dungeon monster sighted in the sewers       | Town Event Countdown Table: Town ticks like a dungeon. Roll whenever a week passes, major actions pile up, or the PCs draw too much attention. | ECD | Event                                                       | |-----|-------------------------------------------------------------| | 20  | QUIET DAY. Don't trust it                                   | | 19  | MARKET DAY. Supplies -1 PR. Roll Market Sub                 | | 18  | RIVALS. Another party moves. Roll Rival Sub                 | | 17  | CUTPURSES. Sleight or lose 1d4 coins. Roll Pickpocket       | | 16  | MERCHANT PRINCE. Rare wares +1 PR. Roll Merchant            | | 15  | SHORTAGE. Supplies +1 PR until next Event                   | | 14  | RUMOR FOR SALE. Pay 1 PR for info. Roll Rumor               | | 13  | FACTION STATIC. Advantage Faction rolls, risk entangle      | | 12  | WITCH-WEATHER. Black rain. Bush/Delv at Disadvantage        | | 11  | DUNGEON BLOCKED. Cave-in seals level. Rivals suspected      | | 10  | SHADY JOB. Mystery figure offers work. Roll Job Sub         | | 9   | PLAGUE DRIPS. Healing doubles. Healers charge 2x PR         | | 8   | FACTION FAVOR. Leader calls debt. Refuse = lose 1d4 Rep     | | 7   | WILD MAGIC. Roll Wild Magic Sub                             | | 6   | WIZARD GONE. Hedge-wizard vanishes. Debts = yours (1d4 PR)  | | 5   | BOUNTY BLOOD. Bounty on rival crew. Roll Rival Sub          | | 4   | GAMBLING DEN. Roll Gambling Sub                             | | 3   | LOOSE BEAST. Monster sighted. Panic until killed            | | 2   | TAX SHAKEDOWN. Add +1d4 PR or lose gear/blood               | | 1   | FRAME JOB. Rival faction pins crime. Roll Frame Sub         | | 0   | MAJOR EVENT. Roll on the Major Event subtable.  Reset to 20.| Wild Magic Table: | Roll | Effect                                      | |------|---------------------------------------------| | 1    | All PCs glow faintly                        | | 2    | Rain of fish                                | | 3    | A cow speaks in riddles                     | | 4    | Gravity hiccups (jump checks everywhere)    |

Town Event Countdown

Frame Table

Gambling Table

Jobs Table

Major Event Table

Market Table

Merchant Table

Pickpocket Table

Rivals Table

Rumors Table

Town Event Countdown Table

Wild Magic Table

Experience the Unified d20 Roll