RPGaDay 2025 03: Tavern

I’m a big fan of the generators by New Big Dragon Games Unlimited, such as their d30 Sandbox Companion or their d30 DM Companion. When I first saw their loaded d30 die tables, where the ones and tens could give results on different tables at the same time, I was blown away. It was so simple! Yet so rich! In fact, it made me specifically buy a d30, despite being able to still roll using a 1d6 and a 1d10 at the same time. Now, my first idea was to create a tavern generator. As it turns out, the d30 Sandbox Companion already has an excellent one on pp. 36–37.

Historical Reference

Now, it does conflate inns with taverns¹ but it’s still pretty awesome. What it did not have yet, despite being quite extensive, is an indication of inn size. So, taking a reference from this Ye Ol’ Bed & Breakfast on medievalists.net, I noted down common features. 15th century English inns have:

1. A main hall;
2. A common area;
3. Stables;
4. A kitchen;
5. The innkeeper’s quarters;
6. Chambers.

There would be 4d4+1 individual chambers, with each having 1d3 beds available (i.e. 1-2: 1 bed; 3-4: 2 beds; 5-6: 3 beds). As far as the innkeeper goes, 85%–90% of innkeepers were male, so on a 1–2 on a d10, the innkeeper is female (usually having inherited the inn as a widow).

Sample Inn

Using the resources in the d30 Sandbox Companion and the added reference, that leads me to the following inn:

The Robber & Nomad Inn

• Clientele: Criminals & thieves
• Known for: Large collection of tankards
• Main food: Stewed beef ribs
• Physical Characteristics
  • Newly built, 1-story timber structure
  • Seven small rooms with feather matresses:
    • 2 singles;
    • 4 doubles;
    • 1 triple.
  • Main hall
  • Kitchen
  • Inkeeper’s quarters
  • Stables
  • Common area

EDIT: As I wrote the last couple of posts, for the post on Day 4, I realized I wanted to make random tables per day. So, here’s my post-draft addition of a random table to use! In this case, a quick and dirty little table to determine inn size, using a d30. Look, they can’t all be winners.

Look forward to more RPGaDay posts throughout the month!