Using the Weird Science Scenario Generator

My last post was about the Weird Science Scenario Generator, which is essentially just a bunch of random tables to generate biology-themed Weird Science scenarios for Delta Green. In this post I use the scenario generator to come up with an outline for a scenario, just to see if we get something sensible and interesting.

We start with the background of the scenario and have to determine what kind of group is responsible for the incursion of the unnatural. I got the following:

A biotech start-up that researches reproductive biology has an employee that is influenced by the Great Old One Abhoth. Their work results in the creation of an unnatural disease.

Nice! Now we roll on the Disease table to see what this disease is like:

The disease is spread by an intelligent virus that is transmitted via sexual contact. It triggers the growth of a parasite inside the infected.

We can roll on the Creature table to get a better idea what the parasite is and what it can do:

The parasite resembles a fungus that consumes RDX, TNT, and other explosive material. It uses the host body to lay eggs and breed its offspring. It reproduces very quickly, but it is sensitive to temperatures below freezing.

Now that we know what the threat is we have to determine how Delta Green learns about it. For this we use the tables under Hooks and Complications:

Through monitoring of social media posts Delta Green becomes aware of a recent string of self-harm/suicide incidents. Delta Green sends the Agents to check it out. However, there is a complication: the case officer wants the Agents to recover a specimen of either the virus or the parasite.

Finally, we have additional tables for NPCs and locations. From the scenario background we already know that there is someone working for the biotech start-up that is influenced by Abhoth. Let's use the NPC tables to determine some details about them:

The bad guy is a charming grad student who is motivated by their desire for power.

We could also roll on the Locations table, but we already know that the biotech company works on reproductive biology, so a fertility clinic is the natural choice out of all the options. However, we can turn to this table if we need additional locations later on.

Let's fill out some gaps between the elements that we have so far and create a scenario outline:

• Delta Green becomes aware of a series of self-harm incidents. It would make sense if the victims of the unnatural disease are the one that do this. And we know that they are infected with a parasite that eats explosives, so maybe the victims are hurting themselves through the consumption of fireworks or similar.
• By investigating the victims the Agents can find out about the parasite. The case officer demands that they recover a specimen, which means that the Agents themselves could become infected in the process.
• Furthermore, the Agents can find out that the victims have all been customers at the same fertility clinic. So the victims are pregnant or are at least trying to become pregnant.
• Looking into the fertility clinic reveals that it is operated by a biotech start-up. We know that the parasite growth was induced by a virus, so maybe the start-up researches virotherapy for fertility issues.
• Deeper investigation leads the Agents to the grad student, who created the unnatural virus in the first place. The grad student could be doing their PhD at the local university, but is currently doing an internship at the start-up.

I'm not going to turn this into a fully playable scenario, but I think this is already a good start. Here are the things that would need some fleshing out:

• NPCs: the infected victims and additional employees of the start-up.
• Locations: the offices of the start-up and the lab where the unnatural virus was created.
• The Bad Guy: how exactly are they connected to Abhoth and why did they create the virus.
• The disease: mechanics for the disease, in case an Agent gets infected.
• Resolution: what do the Agents have to do to resolve the situation? What kind of danger could the Bad Guy pose? Is there a cure for the disease?

So there is still lots to do, but I think the scenario generator did its job by providing the background and inspiration.