Weird Science Scenario Generator - Biology Edition

The following collection of random tables is my submission to the 2024 N@tO Tech Start-Up Jam. These tables can be used to create scenarios with a Weird Science theme, specifically ones that deal with biology, biotech and medicine. You won't get a fully playable scenario, but hopefully it's enough to get started or to serve as inspiration.

The Background

The group performing Weird Science is:

1. New Life Fertility
2. USAMRIID
3. Genetic Agricultural Products
4. Students at Miskatonic Medical School
5. A bunch of biohackers
6. A large pharmaceutical or cosmetics company
7. A biotech start-up
8. The CDC

They are doing research on:

1. Neuroscience
2. Microbiology
3. Biomaterials
4. Genetics
5. Synthetic biology
6. Proteomics
7. Reproductive biology
8. Biochemistry

They are connected to the Mythos, because:

1. One of the researchers is influenced by a Great Old One: 1) Shub-Niggurath; 2) Abhoth; 3) Eihort; 4) Ubbo-Sathla.
2. The research is based on previous work by: 1) Majestic-12; 2) Herbert West; 3) a WW2 Karotechia project; 4) a medieval alchemist.
3. Another faction manipulated the research project for their own purposes: 1) the Mi-go; 2) the Disciples of the Worm; 3) March Technologies; 4) the Deep Ones.
4. There is no connection to the established Mythos.

An experiment caused an incursion of the unnatural, resulting in the following threat:

1. A monstrous creature was created. Roll on the Creatures table.
2. An outbreak of an unnatural disease. Roll on the Diseases table.
3. One or more individuals have acquired psychic powers. Roll on the Psychic Powers table.
4. The experiment caused terrible mutations. Roll on the Mutations tables.

Threat Tables

Use the following tables to create creatures/monsters and unnatural diseases or to select mutations or psychic powers.

Creatures

The entity is:

1. A vertebrate: 1) Humanoid; 2) Piscine (fish-like); 3) Reptiloid; 4) resembling a non-human mammal.
2. An invertebrate: 1) Insectoid; 2) Worm-like; 3) Crustacean; 4) Snail-like.
3. Plant-like (e.g. it has tendrils, capable of photosynthesis, etc.)
4. Fungal (e.g. spores, secretion of digestive enzymes, etc.)
5. A mass of flesh and tentacles.
6. Roll again twice and combine the results.

The creature consumes:

1. Human organs or body fluid: 1) heart muscle tissue; 2) lymph; 3) bones; 4) body fat.
2. Radiation: 1) x-rays; 2) gamma rays; 3) starlight; 4) radio waves.
3. Chemical substances: 1) motor oil; 2) hydrochloric acid; 3) liquid nitrogen; 4) RDX, TNT and other explosives.
4. Thoughts and memories

The creature’s mode of reproduction is:

1. Parasitoid: it uses a host body to breed its offspring.
2. Oviparous: it lays eggs.
3. Viviparous: it carries its offspring inside its own body.
4. Fission: the creature splits itself into two or more clones.

The creature is especially dangerous, because:

1. It reproduces very quickly.
2. It is an apex predator and can camouflage itself very well.
3. It transmits a disease. Roll on the Diseases table.
4. Contact with it can cause mutations. Roll on the Mutations table.

The creature has the following weakness:

1. Pure oxygen.
2. Temperatures below freezing.
3. It starves if it does not eat every 24 hours.
4. None.

Diseases

The pathogen is a:

1. Virus
2. Bacterium
3. Fungus
4. Prion
5. Microscopic parasite
6. A lifeform unknown to modern science

The pathogen is unusual, because:

1. It is made of exotic matter or energy.
2. It seems to be intelligent and highly adaptive.
3. It cannot be stopped by conventional protective equipment.
4. It grants the infected knowledge of the unnatural and hypergeometry.

The disease is transmitted:

1. By breathing the same air as someone infected.
2. Through direct or indirect physical contact.
3. Through sexual contact only.
4. Through small higher-dimensional tunnels created by the pathogen.

Prominent symptoms of the disease:

1. Physical: 1) Alzheimer-like neurodegeneration; 2) multiple organ failure; 3) necrosis of skin and muscle tissue; 4) cholinergic crisis, similar to the effects of a nerve agent.
2. Mental disorders: 1) hydrophobia; 2) erotomania; 3) conversion disorder; 4) Cotard’s delusion.
3. The infected attract 1) rodents; 2) Ghouls; 3) a Hunting Horror 4) the attention of Shub-Niggurath.
4. The disease causes a mutation. Roll on the Mutations table.
5. A parasite is nesting inside the infected. Roll on the Creatures table to determine the nature of the parasite.
6. Roll again twice and combine the results.

Mutations

The mutation causes:

1. Skin turning 1) into tooth enamel; 2) translucent; 3) into chitin; 4) into carbon fibers.
2. Growth of an additional 1) head; 2) heart; 3) arm; 4) pair of eyes.
3. Growth of alien reproductive organs: 1) ovipositor; 2) an egg sac attached to the abdomen; 3) lactating teats; 4) a self-fertilizing ovaries and uterus.
4. The eyes 1) turn into compound eyes; 2) can see infrared and UV light; 3) merge into one large eye; 4) turn into diamond.
5. Unnatural 1) strength; 2) intelligence; 3) flexibility; 4) attractiveness.
6. Roll again twice and combine the results.

Psychic Powers

The psychic is capable of:

1. Pyrokinesis: they can create and control fire.
2. Telekinesis: they can move objects with their mind.
3. Telepathy: they can transmit and read thoughts.
4. Precognition: they can see events that happen in the future.
5. Psychic surgery: they can heal others.
6. Psychometry: they can obtain knowledge about a person or an object by touching it.

Hooks and Complications

Use the following tables to decide what the inciting incident was that caught Delta Green’s attention. Alternatively, you can of course develop your own based on the threat that you rolled up in the previous sections.
The threat causes:

1. Deaths
2. Disappearances
3. Self-harm/suicides
4. Public exposure of the unnatural
5. Destruction of property or infrastructure
6. Roll again twice and combine the results

Delta Green learns of these events through:

1. A Friendly
2. Intercepted communications
3. Social media
4. A whistleblower
5. The ravings of a psychiatric patient
6. A tip from another faction: 1) March Technologies; 2) the other Delta Green; 3) PISCES; 4) the Yithians.

During their investigation the Agents have to deal with a complication:

1. The group responsible for the incursion is protected by 1) an army of lawyers; 2) hired mercenaries; 3) their connections to the federal government; 4) hypergeometry.
2. Another faction is also interested in the events: 1) March Technologies; 2) GRU SV-8; 3) a cultist/sorcerer; 4) PX Penumbra.
3. The case officer wants the Agents to recover a specimen of the threat.
4. An Agent’s bond is somehow involved.
5. The threat cannot be eliminated, only contained.
6. The Agents have very little time before things turn catastrophic.

NPCs

The following tables can be used to roll up key NPCs for your scenario or serve as inspiration.
Their occupation:

1. Head researcher
2. Grad student
3. Test subject
4. Lab technician
5. Administrator
6. Lab animal caretaker
7. Attending physician
8. CDC epidemiologist

Descriptors:

1. Arrogant
2. Overworked
3. Nosy
4. Susceptible
5. Charming
6. Absent-minded

Motivation:

1. Greed
2. Revenge
3. Curiosity
4. Power
5. Ego
6. Self-destructiveness

Locations

The following list of locations can serve as points of interest in your Agent’s investigation. Choose something that is appropriate for your scenario or let the dice decide.

1. Quarantine facility
2. University campus
3. Cryonics facility
4. Operating room
5. BSL-4 laboratory
6. Biotech start-up offices
7. Blood bank
8. Research greenhouse
9. Pharmaceutical plant
10. Fertility clinic
11. Biobank
12. Cosmetics laboratory