Random Plant Generator, aka RPG

[Scrasamax]

Idea: A Table or generator that presents at the push of a button a quick blurb describing a plant and a few possible uses.

Why? There is often a need for random plants in games, most often as herbal remedies, poisons or alchemical components and spell reagents.

What we will need:
Manfred, because he is good with this stuff
A table for spawning names, possibly a two column thingy that creates a compound name like Falhathian Tuberose or Arthian Dragonroot (setting + random noun + random plant part)

A table of generic plant information (leaf shape, climate, etc)

A table of plant usage (might have this be several tables that are picked by the generator as to what kind of plant part is chosen above)

A table of unique plant abilities (not all plants will have an entry in this section)
Healing agent
Poisonous Agent
alternate use (makes sleepy, makes hyper, etc)

thoughts, comments?

[valadaar]

Heh, I might sign up to taking this one on - I've wanted to build a generator.

[Dragonlordmax]

You'd need to make sure that the name fit the description and properties. Tuberose would be a great name for a flower, but a crummy one for a tree. Darkmind would work for a poison, but not for a food.

[valadaar]

I would disagree - there are actually a lot of herbs whose names seem abit off. Some plants have fairly innocuous names that belie thier dangers, eg. Foxglove and Monkshood.  Both seem nice in name and appearance, but both are rather toxic. Deadly Nightshade is an example of a name that matches.

Some adjectives such as 'wort' have special meaning typically associated with healing, so those should be taken in mind, but one race's poison might be another race's cure, depending on the knowlege of the people. 
"That plant can't heal - its worth nothing but rat poison!"
 "Thats cause you never figured out the right dosage!"

Most really effective poisons and healing agents can exchange roles in the right situations.  Even arsenic (not an herb, of course) can have theraputic uses in some cases.

But in short, I'd consider 'smart' names a nice to have, not a requirement

[Dragonlordmax]

Some plants have fairly innocuous names that belie thier dangers, eg. Foxglove and Monkshood.

But they both look reasonably like what they're named, particularly Monkshood. Appearance needs to be considered in addition to properties.

[manfred]

To make a tabular generator is easy enough, but seeing all the enthusiasm here means I should really ponder on the next generation of these little machines... smart names technology is a hard one.

And I like the plants idea! RPG as well!

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So: [ Setting/Location/Other + ] Random Noun + Random Plant Thing; each of them might have some impact on the details that follow; shape, size, coloration, effects, etc.

This may be fun.

[Ancient Gamer]

I can volunteer, then never do the job!

Good idea though!

[valadaar]

I'm serious about trying my hand at it. Though it would be easier if a back-end database were accessable, but then it would not be as easy as a little javascript.

[manfred]

AG: not to worry, there are always new temps sought in the Dataset Generation Department, so volunteering just a little is fine.

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val: "...it would be easier if a database were accessible, but then it would not be as easy..."

Welcome to my world.

[Murometz]

Plants are fun and easy! I'll volunteer too! (and maybe actually deliver half the plants I promise to :p  )

put me down for 20

[valadaar]

Well, heres the output of Phase 1 - Plant Name only.  Some are quite amusing...

LoveGourd
WagonRoot
GiantMelon
WortCreeper
IronLeaf
Silver VileShaft
Verigated CastleWeed
Teal DemonBerry
Cliff FireFinger
OrcFeather
ShantyWeed
SmithHerb
AnvilCress
ClimbingButtons
ElfCreeper
Ice AirThistle
Vile OgreTongue
ClericCress
Vile QuarrelTuber
Ferruginous ShieldLilly
FishFlower
Dwarf MaggotPoppy
Bog HammerBerry
CowFlower
Watchet DemonWeed
Bog BeetleHerb
Whey AbbotTendril
Verigated PhantomButtons
Castaneous AirRod
Vile SpiritFinger
Meline ArcaneEye
Ice MonkPoppy
Serrated MillerRoot
FireHerb
Desert MeekButtons
Cliff ElfCap
Giant IceCap
Serrated AxeFlower
BrushTongue
Furry PathosRoot
Verigated DaggerBerry
Dwarf BeetleThistle
Great ShantyBud
Verigated PhantomRod
Serrated DwarfShaft
GiantCreeper
Cliff WortFoot
Vile SpiderBerry
Furry BloodHerb
Mountain SmithPoppy
Desert EagleLilly
DaggerBerry
Dwarf BullThistle
WormCap
Giant MonkeyWood
Silver CreepingTongue
ShantyPoppy
Croceate IceBalm
MillerTendril
ArcaneHerb
StarBud
Porraceous ArcaneTongue
Verigated LanceThistle
HelmLeaf
Verigated SaintBerry
WarriorWeed
GhostFeather
MonkEye
BloodFlower
AxeBerry
Marsh LeapordPoppy
Bog LionMelon
Tan CrapRose
Tundra MonkMelon
Verigated OgreLilly
GooseCreeper
CreepingCreeper
CreepingTuber

These have already inspired Subs.  Yes, next version will address Middle-of-word capitalization.

[valadaar]

Think I'm going to remove a few words from the lists...

[manfred]

Not to forget this thread, val has already made a pretty good beta of the herb generator. see for yourself:

The Herbinator

[Kuseru Satsujin]

For generic plant information, a key thing to keep in mind would be what type of plant it is, i.e. a shrub, lichen, bush, flower, tree, grass, moss, fungoid, herb, yeast, mold, etc.

[Murometz]

Herbinator Revisited.

Likey! (scroll of stubs upcoming)

St. Duncan's Cow-Petal
Mountain Goblinbeard
Monkboon
Spritenettle

Wha-? (i challenge someone to write up one or more of these!  )

CavePriesttendril
Valhallen Hateweed
Broad-leaved Maggotpetal
Parasitic Priestwood

[Scrasamax]

THe basic idea I had with the Random Plant Generator was something a bit more in depth than a random plant name generator.

I had an idea of hitting the button and getting a display that had a plant name (which is totally covered above) but followed by some of the following bits of info:

1. What part of the plant is used? Basic idea was edible plants, so the basic list would be roots, seeds, fruit, flower, leaves, etc etc etc

2. Flavor - this would be basic, savory, spicy, salty, nutty, etc etc etc

3. Side Effects - makes you fat, good for eyes, enlarges the.. etc etc etc

So in the end you get something like the Teal Demonberry
Edible: yes
Part: Roots/bulb (like an onion)
Flavor: Spicy
SE: none

Later on you can add fluff text that the berries are brightly colored and highly toxic, hard to grow these around children, since curious fingers and mouths lead to tiny corpses

[valadaar]

THe basic idea I had with the Random Plant Generator was something a bit more in depth than a random plant name generator.

I had an idea of hitting the button and getting a display that had a plant name (which is totally covered above) but followed by some of the following bits of info:

1. What part of the plant is used? Basic idea was edible plants, so the basic list would be roots, seeds, fruit, flower, leaves, etc etc etc

2. Flavor - this would be basic, savory, spicy, salty, nutty, etc etc etc

3. Side Effects - makes you fat, good for eyes, enlarges the.. etc etc etc

So in the end you get something like the Teal Demonberry
Edible: yes
Part: Roots/bulb (like an onion)
Flavor: Spicy
SE: none

Later on you can add fluff text that the berries are brightly colored and highly toxic, hard to grow these around children, since curious fingers and mouths lead to tiny corpses

That is an entirely different kettle of .. plants.

I don't think it impossible, but might require a bit more in depth programming then might be appropriate for javascript.  I'd want a database or filesystem to draw upon rather then including stuff in the code in arrays for example.