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The Metamorphica (Classic)

Overview

The Metamorphica is a broad mutation toolkit designed for system-agnostic use. It provides high-volume random tables and categorized mutation descriptions suitable for fantasy, post-apocalyptic, and weird-science campaigns.

Core Table Architecture

The book uses a main 1d1000 index with category bands:

  • 1-200: Body Form
  • 201-400: Body Function
  • 401-500: Mind Behaviours
  • 501-600: Mind Cognition
  • 601-700: Psychic Powers
  • 701-1000: Supernatural Attributes

It also provides category-specific roll formulas (for example, 1d100+400 for behaviours and 1d300+700 for supernatural attributes), which makes targeted generation easy.

Appendices and Alternate Modes

  • Appendix 1: Body-part, color, and creature support tables.
  • Appendix 2: Alternate generation tables (beneficial only, detrimental only, appearance shifts, super powers, mutant features).
  • Appendix 3/4: Character generation guidance by campaign type and creature type.

This structure supports both broad "anything can happen" mutation and tone-calibrated mutation.

Practical Use Patterns

  • High-chaos mode: roll on full 1d1000 for wild settings.
  • Curated mode: restrict to one category for tighter tone control.
  • Campaign-template mode: use appendices to align mutation profile with genre.

Design Value

Compared to compact mutation tables, Metamorphica offers significantly more control surfaces while still keeping random generation fast. It is especially strong when a campaign needs mutation to be a persistent subsystem instead of a one-off event.

See Also

Sources

  • https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/115703/the-metamorphica-classic-edition