Modern Era - Generators Guide for RPGs

RPG random generators for the modern era, from the edge of cyberpunk back to 80's madness.

[Image from This Automobile Does Not Exist]

Starting Points

80's cop films, the edge of cyberpunk, alternative modern settings, superheroes...

Modern is a difficult one for random generators. We all live in the modern world, so have an understanding of what it entails. Equally we all have are beliefs, opinions and prejudices that come with being a human. These impact what generators we find useful for a modern world.

Also where does the "Modern Era" begin? the 70's, 80's? With the Internet? And it looks very different across the world too!

Related Guides includes Cyberpunk Generators. And Modern PDFs are in another guide.

Aug 2024: Added Characters section and more generators. Oct 2023 - Added more generators

Modern Characters

chars | pdfs | tools | details | maps

Characters are a major draw for modern, with RanGen having the Quick Character Generators, supplemented by a Love Interest Generator that adds important details. And a Pet Generator if needed!

As an alternative Fake Name Generator will provide a characters details, based on real-world country, and This Person Does Not Exist can provide a generated photo.

For real world names, Fantasy Name Generators has many options separated by continent, under the 'Realm Names' header. Give them a Modern Profession from Mithril and Mages.

For a briefer generator, 7th Sanctum has a General Character Generator,

For something quite different Fantasy Name Generators has a whole category of 'Pop Culture' generators, including Marvel Names and Harry Potter. Examples include the Pokemon Description Generator at Fantasy Name Generators with a related Pokemon Name Generator.

For an NPC or character concept try the images of the Random Character Generator at GeneratorMix, with a characters from a film

Random PDFs

chars | pdfs | tools | details | maps

There is quite a selection of modern pdfs random tables. These are selected from the full Modern PDFs Guide.

The Book of Random Table: Modern from dicegeeks is full of 48 d100 tables for modern era.
For a different take, Sidequest Decks: Modern Crime, Spies, & Supers from Inkwell Ideas is a deck of 55 ideas for modern adventures.
Never Engine has a pwyw Espionage Mission Generator with 1 page, and another Military Mission Generator.
Grinning Skull Studios has a 100 Useless Items for all Modern RPGs to fill out things scavanged and looted.
A specific but certainly useful title is 100 Oddities for a Found Car from Skirmisher Publishing.

Modern Adventure Tools

chars | pdfs | tools | details | maps

For a vehicle, This Automobile Does Not Exist can give a picture, and RanGen a Vehicle Name. And for somewhere to stay or live, This Rental Does Not Exist give a made up place.

For something different, Cool Generator has a Random Image Generator with many different categories

PBE Games has all of their Generators on One Page. The modern section includes vehicles, cars & trucks, heavy trucks, motorcycles, unusual vehicles, residences and chinese restaurants. Plus Five Card Poke Hands and Seven Card Poker Hands

Modern Adventure Details

modern tools | pdfs | modern details | maps

For details of day to day things, Mithril and Mages has Business Name Generators, with Occupations by industry to fill out staff. Add a Street Name to the address. Or RanGen has a Brand Namer for larger scale.

Then fill out company details with an IT Department from Seventh Sanctum. There is also a Wrestling Moves, strange Pizzas, Corporation Name Generator and Moods Generator

Fantasy Name Generators has some description generators for modern, including Martial Art Descriptions, House Descriptions, and Shotguns (among others).

Scifi Ideas has a few modern options, with a Building Name Generator, Modern Town Name Generator and Company Name Generator. And their Flag Generator creates a simple visual flat

For something random, Springhole.net has a Random Music Band Generator.

The generators at GeneratorMix are of a different nature, selecting from a database of real world images with many gens available. Worthwhile for a modern game include Random Fast Foods, Random Cocktails, Random City Generator and Random Dance Generator!

Modern Maps

chars | pdfs | tools | details | maps

The Procedural City Generator by ProbableTrain on Itch.io creates a modern looking city to fill the area you choose (or are zoomed in on). It's possible to download a 3d version too.

For a modern map with no text details, This City Does Not Exist can help out.

For a different kind of map, Mithril and Mages has a Modern City Block Generator, detailing the types of building in a two block region, for a few different zones.