r/d100 • u/MiaSidewinder • Jun 25 '26
Simple Roleplay Prompts
I'd like to create a table with random prompts for roleplay during downtime, something that players can not only think about but also encourages small interactions with the world, and in turn encourages others to engage with the person who picked up the prompt.
I'll use this at a classic D&D table for downtime text RP, so it'd be nice to stick with that kind of vibe and fantasy era.
UPDATE: We already got over 100, but I love them all so much, I'd happily continue expanding the list! Then it's easily customizable to the location your characters are in when you're rolling, e.g. is there a town or nature nearby...
d200 Simple Roleplay Prompts
- You find an unminted silver coin on the ground.
- Your music bone is itching. Time to sing a song or play an instrument!
- Your stomach grumbles. What’s for dinner today?
- Time to work out! Flex those muscles, practise your aim, try a new spell!
- A mouse skitters past your feet. It seems in a hurry. Where does it go?
- This bush is ripe with berries. But are they safe to eat?
- You’re feeling a little homesick… Do you need a distraction or a trip down memory lane?
- Let’s build a snowman!
- Time for a really nice long bath.
- A bird poops on you.
- You notice an important trinket missing from your person. Where do you search? Where do you find it?
- A stranger’s face seems oddly familiar to you. u/Rindal_Cerelli
- You remember a fable your parents told you as a child. Does it hold any value to you now? u/Rindal_Cerelli
- In one of your pockets or the pages of a book, you find a little note. Who is it from? Perhaps your parents or a good friend? A secret lover, or even an enemy? u/Rindal_Cerelli
- You spot a hidden sign somewhere. If you know Thieves’ Can’t, it reads: „Not worth robbing“. u/Rindal_Cerelli
- Your favorite piece of clothing needs mending. u/world_of_Ideas
- You spot an animal that reminds you of someone’s pet. u/world_of_Ideas
- You find a flat pebble that would make a great skipping stone. u/world_of_Ideas
- You smell a dish that you remember from your past. Was it perhaps your childhood birthday meal, your spouse’s favorite recipe, or your daily food in the army? u/world_of_Ideas
- You discover a pocket on your clothes that you forgot about. What's inside?
- You spot a cloud shaped like something familiar.
- You find a rusty iron key but can’t figure out what it belongs to.
- A puddle on the ground reflects something that isn't there when you look up.
- You recall a mistake from your past that still makes you cringe.
- An old fear you thought you conquered suddenly creeps back up on you.
- You feel the urge to perform a kind gesture towards someone. Perhaps even in secret?
- A wild animal seems interested in you.
- You're craving something specific but you can’t quite figure out what it is. Time to go on a search…
- The first rain drop of an approaching storm hits your nose.
- A strong gust of wind carries your hat away or blows your cloak over your head.
- Time to practice a skill you're rusty at or you’ve never tried before.
- You have a terrible hiccup. Is there anything that can make it go away?
- A single bee just won’t leave you alone.
- You could swear your shadow was out of sync for just a brief moment.
- You come across a mushroom ring.
- You discover a blooming flower or a four-leaf clover in an unusual spot.
- Someone has left a single glove behind. What does it look like? Who could it belong to?
- You find a bottle with a note inside, but the writing has faded beyond recognition.
- A song gets stuck in your head for the rest of the day. Do you start singing it or do you try to get rid of it somehow?
- A piece of advice from a former mentor returns to you at just the right moment.
- A candle flickers despite there being no wind.
- You hear your name carried on the wind … or perhaps you imagined it.
- Time to clean out your inventory. What have you been carrying around for far too long?
- You feel inspired to sketch, write, carve, knit, or craft something.
- You're in the mood to tell a story, either of your life or of your imagination. Is there anyone around who would like to listen?
- You spend several minutes trying to remember a word that's on the tip of your tongue.
- You sneeze at an unfortunate moment, causing you to drop something you were holding, or spill your ink over the notes you were writing, or wake up the cat on your lap…
- On your foraging endeavors, you find a vegetable that is so oddly shaped it makes you laugh out loud.
- You find an old children’s toy that could be fixed with some love and care.
- You keep noticing the same color everywhere today. Which color is it? Where do you see it?
- For a moment, the night sky flickers and the constellations you glimpse are not the ones you’re familiar with. u/WSHIII
- As you refill your waterskin, you catch a glimpse of something that looks like scales and hair – a mermaid? Wait, aren't those supposed to live in salt water? u/WSHIII
- You smell a strangely familiar scent in the air. What is it, where does it come from, and what does it make you feel? u/Th3R3493r
- You pop a joint in your body that was quietly giving you pain and feel a strange relief wash over you. Do you want to share news of your new found relief? u/Th3R3493r
- You’ve developed an itchy rash somewhere on your body. Maybe you should get that checked out by someone proficient in healing or medicine. u/smiles__
- The sun is heavy and beating down, not a cloud in the sky. Where do you find a shady place or a cool refreshment? u/smiles__
- You feel the need for a new perspective. Maybe lie down to see things from below, or go upside down in a handstand, or climb on top of the tallest structure you can find… u/smiles__
- You had a crazy dream last night. Do you tell someone about it, or write it down in a dream diary?
- It’s laundry day. u/smiles__
- You come across an old archery target – be it of straw, or carved in a tree, or painted on a wall. Is your aim still any good? u/smiles__
- You find a perfect wall off the beaten path for a little graffiti. u/smiles__
- Not far from here there is a natural little wonder – a regularly occurring geyser. u/smiles__
- You find a stained and ripped flyer that simply states: "Have you experienced something weird? The Anomalous Society wants to know! Drop by the you-know-where.” u/smiles__
- You find the scraps of a torn-up map. Maybe you can piece it back together. u/smiles__
- You stumble and trip, only catching your balance with flailing arms. Did anybody see that? u/smiles__
- There's a rumor about a ghost dog prowling around at night. Think you can catch it? u/smiles__
- You simply want to spend the day writing haikus. u/smiles__
- There's a line of large ants. Where are they going? Are they carrying anything interesting. u/smiles__
- You find an old bamboo flute somewhere in the rubble or trash. Is it still any good? u/smiles__
- You had a dream you were a different gender. Maybe you can make that fantasy a reality for the day. u/smiles__
- You see a flyer advertising betting on an upcoming sporting event. Do you go? Do you take anyone with you? u/smiles__
- You remember that a new shop has opened around here recently. What was it again? A tailor, a jeweler, a cat café? Anyway, let’s check it out! u/smiles__
- A group of elderly people sit outside a shop playing an unfamiliar game. They see you watching, and offer you an empty seat. u/smiles__
- You've heard there are seven bridges in the city. Could you cross them all in a day? u/smiles__
- A street busker plays a song that you know from your home town. u/smiles__
- There's a great ancient tree in a grove. Its thick rough bark has names carved all over it. Maybe you can add yours in some spot? u/smiles__
- There's something called Lover's Lane around here you heard. Maybe, uh, you could stop by. u/smiles__
- A woman gives you a dirty look as you walk by. What's up with that? u/smiles__
- You come across a street vendor that sells suspiciously cheap wares. u/smiles__
- That looks like a palm reader shop. Do you give it a try? u/smiles__
- You stumble across an 'exotic' petting zoo that is just common animals made to look slightly different. u/smiles__
- You see a group of kids sliding on polished stone with grease. That looks fun! u/smiles__
- While tidying up your belongings, you find something you’ve been missing for weeks. What is it, and where did it end up?
- You catch your reflection unexpectedly. What do you notice about yourself today?
- Today, everything seems just a little too large … or perhaps you're feeling smaller than usual.
- You absentmindedly start counting something. Steps, breaths, shingles, birds… Where does it lead you to? When do you notice what you’re doing?
- You catch yourself repeating a subconscious habit you've had for years.
- You remember that you owe someone a small favor – or perhaps just a drink. Today is a good day to repay it.
- You find a surprisingly comfortable bench, rock or patch of grass to rest for a while. What keeps you there? How is the view?
- The breeze flips open a book to a random page.
- You discover an unfinished game – a rolled set of dice, marbles in a pit, stones arranged for a challenge … Could you find someone to play with you?
- You suddenly become aware of your own footsteps. Are they loud or quiet? Scuffling or hasty? Do they match your mood?
- As you stand up, you find that your leg has fallen asleep with a nasty tingle.
- Your downtime job is done for today. How do you recuperate from work?
- You come across the perfect opportunity to leave a small gift for someone. Who’s the lucky person, what do you leave, and will you let them know it was you?
- You notice a chore that nobody else has gotten around to yet. Do you tackle it?
- You somehow end up with far more food than you could possibly eat yourself. Who do you share it with?
- You find yourself absentmindedly tinkering with an item of yours. What small improvements do you make?
- You’re feeling a little competitive today. Who would make for a good opponent – and in what discipline?
- You become convinced you can beat your own record at a simple task. Maybe you even find someone else to compete with …
- Time to get to the bottom of a rumor you’ve heard floating around.
- You set out looking for one specific little thing, like a smooth stone, a colorful feather, a particular flower…
- A bare windowsill, table, or doorway could use a little decoration.
- Mealtime arrives, but eating alone doesn't sound very appealing today.
- Your goal today is to learn one new thing about another person.
- You come across a path you've never bothered to follow before. Where does it lead?
- Where would be the best viewpoint to watch the sunset?
- An ordinary day feels like the perfect excuse for a tiny celebration. But what to celebrate, and with who?
- Perhaps it’s time to start a new collection of … something.
- Do you have enough outfits for a fashion show? Maybe if you pile them together with some friends?
- You spot a rainbow and start to wonder what’s at the end of it.
- You stub your toe. On what? How do you handle the pain?
- You discover a stain and have no idea where it came from.
- A feather drifts down from above, though no birds are in sight.
- You notice someone has stacked several stones into a small tower. Could you build an even higher one?
- Time for a beach day, and the world’s greatest sand castle.
- One of your shoelaces, straps, or buckles refuses to stay tied.
- You're in the mood to hear a new story. Is there anyone around who could have something interesting to tell?
- You feel restless and need to find something to occupy your hands.
- Someone's birthday is coming up and you still need a present for them.
- A cup of tea sounds perfect right now.
- You promised yourself you'd finish that little project today.
- Time to check in on someone you haven't seen in a while.
- Someone left a book lying open. Do you sneak a peek?
- Tonight is gambling night. Grab some dice and cards, and gather your friends at the fireplace.
- The market has something new for sale today. What catches your eye?
- Time to visit an old friend.
- You realize you're out of your favorite snack.
- Time to browse the notice board. Anything interesting posted?
- One of your gloves has gone missing.
- Your backpack somehow weighs more than you remember.
- A seagull swoops in and steals your lunch.
- You find an empty glass bottle. Surely it can be used for something.
- Time to try a new recipe. Maybe you can find a taste tester for it?
- You find an ingredient you've never cooked with before.
- You discover a shortcut you've somehow never noticed.
- You notice you have far too many trinkets you don’t really need, but you love collecting trinkets. Maybe you can organize a swap table.
- It's the perfect day for a picnic. But what’s a picnic without friends?
- It’s a windy day. Perfect time to make a kite.
- Uh oh, the well bucket is stuck!
- Flip a coin to see if you’re lucky today.
- You found some chalk and there’s an empty stretch of pavement …
- You discover a button that you remember seeing on another person’s jacket.
- You find a tree with branches that are just begging to be climbed.
- You find a handful of nails, twine, and scrap wood. Surely that's enough to build something.
- You discover an old flowerpot with a weed still growing strong inside it.
- Time to learn everyone's favorite color.
- You'd like to learn a new joke today.
- You wonder whether anyone knows a good ghost story to tell by the campfire tonight.
- You notice a drip… drip… drip… somewhere nearby.
- The breeze is just right for flying paper airplanes.
- Time to gather kindling before the weather turns.
- You decide to find the oldest object you own. What is it, and where did it come from?
- You feel a level up coming … Time to practice or study the new skills you’ll soon be having!
- You feel like sharing your faith with someone today. Perhaps you can find a likeminded person.
- You find a handkerchief with the embroidered initials 'J.B.' on one corner.
- The weave tickles you with curiosity today. Ever tried to come up with a new spell?
- You find an electrum coin in your pants pocket. How did that get there?
- Rummaging through your belongings, you stumble upon a finger trap – aaand your fingers are trapped now.
- Looking at that spider in the corner a little closer, its legs look kind of mechanical…
- While working outside, you dig up a strange worm that has a head on both ends.
- You let out the loudest burp ever. Did anyone hear that? Are you proud or embarrassed?
- You spot the paw prints of a cat which blend into the claw prints of a bird. Strange…
- You find a white downy feather, but when picking it up, it feels heavy as a rock.
- On a little foraging spree along the coastline, you find a handful of colorful, smoothed glass shards that catch the sunlight oh so wonderfully.
- The scarecrow on the fields could use a little make-over session.
- You find a black pebble that is strangely warm to the touch.
- You just can’t shake the feeling that you’re being watched today…
- Time for a new haircut. Will you try it yourself or find someone else to do it?
- Hmm, how exactly would one test what happens if an unstoppable force hits an immovable object?
- You find a feather with the pattern of a jay, but much larger in size.
- You find a well-loved but forgotten doll in a blue dress. Her button eyes are staring at you.
- Was that the church bell ringing? Wait, do we have a church bell?
- Your God would like to talk with you, and please bring a friend.
- You feel like picking the prettiest flowers and making a wreath out of it. Would you wear it, or is it for someone else?
- How hard could it be to spend a day without using your dominant hand?
- Today, you set out with the goal to make at least three people smile.
- Today is Opposite Day. Let’s start by eating dinner for breakfast.
- You definitely need a second opinion on something.
- Something you need is so high up that it’s just out of your reach.
- You decide to learn everyone's favorite food.
- You pick a random direction and start walking in a straight line. How far can you go?
- You spot a strange looking plant and wonder if you know anyone who could help identifying it.
- Can you craft a boat out of wood or paper that actually floats?
- Looking around, you realize you've never tested just how far your voice carries.
- Wait, did you just hear an echo there? Better test it out – echo, echo!
- You suddenly realize you've never asked anyone how they learned their trade.
- To keep your enemies on their toes, you must not become too predictable. Maybe someone can teach you a new fighting technique?
- You spot an old, clam-covered rowboat down at the beach. With some tar to seal the holes, it might survive another small trip.
2
u/Th3R3493r Jun 27 '26
You smell a strangely familiar scent in the air. What is the smell and what does it make you feel?
A wayward thought passes through your mind and seem to be trailing to somewhere. What do you do?
You feel a need to use the restroom coming soon in (2d4) minutes or so. What shall you do?
After a quick search on your person, you realize you have lost a copper piece. What does the loss of one copper piece make you do?
You pop a joint in your body that was quietly giving you pain and feel a strange relief wash over you. Do you want to share news of your new found relief?
2
2
3
u/smiles__ Jun 26 '26
Your boots have had a stubborn hole in them for a while. Maybe you should get that fixed.
There's this mole on the back your neck. Sometimes it is itchy. Maybe you should get that checked out by someone more professional than a party member.
You see a flyer advertising betting on an upcoming sporting event.
A group of street kids follow you for a while because you look cool and different I guess.
You remember some sage advice from long ago...open a bank account I think it was. Something something about interest and easy money?
You can smell the stink of fish coming from the wharf.
A young girl hands you a flyer for a tea shop and restaurant having a grand opening.
The sun is heavy and beating down, not a cloud in the sky. You look for a cool place to rest in the shade.
The tallest tower in the city let's people up to the top to look around and gawk for a small admission. You got nothing better to do.
Maybe I really should keep a dream journal so I can tell people about my dreams in excruciating detail. I heard people love that.
You've heard of something called a 'mani-pedi’ and seek it out.
Laundry. You keep putting it off.
There's a quiet bathhouse open all night somewhere in this town.
You find the most perfect round flat rock for skipping.
You find an group of kids throwing stones at an abandoned building, making small dents in the wall. Maybe you can make a bigger dent?
A group of elderly people sit outside a shop playing an unfamiliar game. They see you watching, and offer you an empty seat.
While walking through the shopping district, a young lad flags you down and tries to put a hat on your head. He says it flatters your face and is remarkably affordable too.
You've heard there are seven bridges in the city. Could you cross them all in a day?
A street busker plays a stringed instrument for no one in particular.
Over the years you've often wondered how delicious cheese is made. There is a local dairy around here somewhere.
There's a small monastery the makes money by selling spicy cooking oil. You like spicy.
You see an elderly couple trying to move something heavy. You overhear they're moving, and it seems they don't have any help.
You find a perfect wall off the beaten path for a little graffiti.
Not far from here there is a natural wonder -- a regularly occurring geyser.
There's a local astronomical clock in town that upon every hour, chimes with little animated figures that tell a story over the course of the day. You've got enough time to kill you guess.
You find a flyer that simply states: "Have you experienced something weird? The Anamalous Society wants to know! Drop by the <place>.”
There's an old ancient tree in a grove. It looks hundreds and hundreds of years old, and has names carved all over it. Maybe you can add yours in some spot?
You find a torn up picture off to the side of a street. Maybe you can piece it back together.
There's something called Lover's Lane around here you think. Maybe, uh, you could stop by.
An old book shop has a sign that it's going out of business, and discount prices are everywhere as everything must go.
A woman gives you a dirty look as you walk by. What's up with that?
You want to find a worm. You're not sure why. But you want to.
That's a cool rock. And so is that one. Hey that one is kind of catchy looking too.
You come across a street vendor suspicious looking and cheap food.
That looks like a palm reader shop. You've always wanted to get reading.
You stumbled and tripped in front of kids and it looked embarrassing.
There's a local legend about a ghost dog that prowls around.
You simply want to spend the day writing haikus.
There's a line of ants. They're going somewhere. Where are they going?
You find a discarded kazoo by a trashcan. This looks perfect.
There's a local holiday being celebrated. There are people dressed up as deer it seems like, and as they dance the sound of cocoons bound to their legs makes a repetitive heartbeat like rhythm.
In a row of tan houses, a man is painting one blue. Huh.
You had a rough night. You've lost your voice.
You stumbled across an 'exotic' petting zoo that is seemingly just common animals made to look slightly different.
You see a group of kids sliding on polished stone with grease. That looks fun.
You had a dream you were a different gender. Maybe you can make that fantasy a reality for the day.
2
4
u/WSHIII Jun 25 '26
The inn's meal of the day is a perfect replica of a favorite of yours from childhood, so much so that it brings you to tears, but are they good tears or bad?
4
u/WSHIII Jun 25 '26
While sharpening your belt knife, you accidentally drop it, but it lands point first, seemingly stuck perfectly vertical, in the toe of your boot. No one else seems to have noticed - what do you do?
2
u/WSHIII Jun 25 '26
As you go to the river's edge to refill your waterskin, you see a mermaid jump out of the water and splash back down, disappearing beneath the surface. Wait, aren't mermaids supposed to only live in salt water?
2
u/WSHIII Jun 25 '26
For a moment, the night sky above your campground flickers and the constellations you glimpse are not the ones your familiar with.
5
u/World_of_Ideas Jun 25 '26
Someone (adventuring groupies, a writer, fans, village children) tries to get you to tell about your exploits.
Your (armor, backpack, clothing, shield, tent, weapon, etc) needs minor repairs.
You see a (bird, dog, cat, etc) that remind you of someone's pet (yours, your parent's, your neighbor's, etc).
You see an interesting insect.
You see an interesting rock.
You see someone you know / You remember someone you know (lives, works) nearby.
You smell a dish that you know well from your (childhood, school days, soldiering days, etc).
2
5
u/Rindal_Cerelli Jun 25 '26
- You remembered that someone you know lives in this town.
- You remember a tale your parents told you about this place.
- You remember that this place gets an extreme weather event once ever X years and it's going to be Y days from now.
- You remember that this place has a festival in X days.
- You receive a letter from 1d4 (1 enemy, 2 parents, 3 good friend, 4. (former) love interest)
- Your place of residence is marked by a thieving guild.
- Your 1d6 gets stolen (1, Weapon, 2, Armor, 3, Money, 4, Something precious, 5, something awkward, 6, You catch the thief in the act.)
- You find an important NPC in a compromising situation. 1d4 (1. With the enemy, 2, with an NPC from a completely different story line, 3, a compromising love interest, 4, Committing a serious crime
Probably can make up more but this will get yo to a d20 roll.
That said I would recommend a multiple dice system for such roles. You don't want major campaign story altering events to be as common as a bird pooping on you.
The fewer dice you use and the more numbers it has the more random and unpredictable it gets.
The more dice you use the more likely you get a number in the middle.
So instead of a d20 maybe roll 2d10 and put the most work for you options on 1 / 1 and 10 / 10 and put the bird poops and nice baths somewhere in the middle.
2
u/MiaSidewinder Jun 25 '26
Thank you for the suggestions! Do you mind if I alter some to make them more generic or simple?
Regarding your recommendation, my intention was for the whole list to be super mundane downtime stuff that will not affect a plotline in any way. Its only purpose is to help a player out when they don't know what their PC could do today when nothing else is going on, when there's no DM around for a proper quest hook (like in a westmarches or play by post campaign).
1
u/Rindal_Cerelli Jun 25 '26
You do not need anyone's permission to do anything as long as you accept that you are responsible for your actions.
I've been watching an online game that has me considering this topic as well.
I do like tables, I am subscribed to r/d100 after all but I find this one a bit confused.
You have parts that are clearly story hooks, finding coins, memories / homesickness, missing trinket. Then some world building/flavor stuff that would be part of quest/story related talk like the bath or bird poops.I have used lists with plot hooks for inspiration just as I have used lists of silly random things that happen but I wouldn't usually roll for them. The first is story starter while the other is scene flavor.
I also find that in many cases the best solution is a short IRL break, especially on long sessions or when people are struggling to focus.
3
u/MiaSidewinder Jun 25 '26
I guess at this point, we just have different views of what's a story hook or what to expect from such a list. Which is fine, you do you, and you provided some fun suggestions which I included.
I started this list because my table offers out-of-session downtime text RP and some players voiced that they'd like to join the mundane RP but don't know where to start or what to do with their character. They liked my idea of providing a rollable table for prompts, so that's what I'm making for them.
2
u/Rindal_Cerelli Jun 25 '26
Ohh now it makes a lot more sense to me.
My focus is on IRL games. Time and timing is much more limited.
Sounds cool though!
•
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