# Breaking Conventional Thought With Random Tables ![rw-book-cover](https://slyflourish.com/images/sf_logo.png) URL:: https://slyflourish.com/breaking_conventional_thought.html Author:: Mike ## Highlights > Random tables, like those [found in the Dungeon Master's Guide](http://s3.amazonaws.com/slyflourish_content/dmg_tables.pdf), our own [Ancient Monuments](https://slyflourish.com/ancient_monuments.html), and the excellent [donjon random encounter generator](http://donjon.bin.sh/5e/random/#type=encounter;n_pc=4;level=3;difficulty=any;environment=Underdark) can break us out of our own conventional thought and steer us into new creative directions. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01g3797550yf5w63p9xj7vvejf)) > We might be tempted to use random tables during gameplay but even better is using them during game preparation. We can spend more time with these random tables and their results ot help us break away from conventional thought while preparing our game ahead of time. Rolling on random tables during game preparation gives us a good chance to throw out bad ideas and refine the good ones into something wonderful. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01g3798a2hp24s8ayq7cyc6qcd)) > Random tables help us break our thoughts away from the stereotypes we might fall back on when we're pressed to come up with an interesting location or encounter in our D&D game. Under the stress of running the game, our minds return to the familiar. When we roll on random tables as part of our preparation activity, it helps push our minds into new and uncharted waters. Roll some dice and let chaos guide our ideas. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01g3798y58gfe4rmck1ys9k73w)) --- Title: Breaking Conventional Thought With Random Tables Author: Mike Tags: readwise, articles date: 2024-01-30 --- # Breaking Conventional Thought With Random Tables ![rw-book-cover](https://slyflourish.com/images/sf_logo.png) URL:: https://slyflourish.com/breaking_conventional_thought.html Author:: Mike ## AI-Generated Summary In 1974 Brian Eno and Peter Schmidt built a set of cards designed to help people break out of conventional thought called Oblique Strategies. This deck of cards each contained an odd phrase such as ## Highlights > Random tables, like those [found in the Dungeon Master's Guide](http://s3.amazonaws.com/slyflourish_content/dmg_tables.pdf), our own [Ancient Monuments](https://slyflourish.com/ancient_monuments.html), and the excellent [donjon random encounter generator](http://donjon.bin.sh/5e/random/#type=encounter;n_pc=4;level=3;difficulty=any;environment=Underdark) can break us out of our own conventional thought and steer us into new creative directions. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01g3797550yf5w63p9xj7vvejf)) > We might be tempted to use random tables during gameplay but even better is using them during game preparation. We can spend more time with these random tables and their results ot help us break away from conventional thought while preparing our game ahead of time. Rolling on random tables during game preparation gives us a good chance to throw out bad ideas and refine the good ones into something wonderful. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01g3798a2hp24s8ayq7cyc6qcd)) > Random tables help us break our thoughts away from the stereotypes we might fall back on when we're pressed to come up with an interesting location or encounter in our D&D game. Under the stress of running the game, our minds return to the familiar. When we roll on random tables as part of our preparation activity, it helps push our minds into new and uncharted waters. Roll some dice and let chaos guide our ideas. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01g3798y58gfe4rmck1ys9k73w))