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- I Cast...Brainstorm issue 15!
I Cast...Brainstorm issue 15!
A weekly newsletter of ideas and advice for D&D Dungeon Masters, players, and fans
Dave Palmer
July 18th, 2025
In partnership with
This week — Quick Treasure Generation for Random Monsters, and a New Monster
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In this issue...
Quick Treasure Generation for Random Encounters
There’s nothing players like more than finding treasure…wait, strike that — they probably like leveling up more. But finding treasure must be a close second. Published adventures will describe any loot for major encounters and locations, (on an NPC, in a treasure chest, etc.), but won’t always add treasure info for random encounters or less important NPCs. And sometimes you might make up an encounter on the fly, so what then?
The 2014 and 2024 5e DMG both have terrific rules for treasure generation, but if I need something quick at a moment’s notice, I use this formula and table to determine what the characters find. There are just two steps—
Step one — Determine the Total Value of Treasure.
Roll 1d8, multiply that number times the monster’s Challenge Rating (CR), and then multiply by the number of monsters — (1d8) * (CR) * (# of monsters)
Step two — Determine the Type of Treasure
Roll d100
01-20 — Trinkets and supplies
21-89 — Coins
90-99 — Coins, jewelry, gems (multiply the total value roll x10)
100 — Coins and a Magic item (Rarity is determined by CR)
CR 01-04 Common
CR 05-09 Uncommon
CR 10-14 Rare
CR 15-19 Very Rare
CR 20+ 1 Rare and 1 Very Rare
Examples
So this is what it looks like in practice…
Say the characters have just encountered 10 bandits that have a Challenge Rating (CR) of 1/8. I roll a d8 to determine the total treasure value — and roll a 4. Using the formula 4 X .125 x 10, the total value is 5 gp. Then I roll a d100 to determine the type of treasure — and roll a 78. That means the treasure will be in coin. Done!
What would the total treasure be for different d8 rolls for CR 1/8 monsters? Something like this —
d8 = 1 X .125 x 10 = 1.25 gp (1 gp, 2 silver, 5 copper)
d8 = 5 X .125 x 10 = 6.25 gp (6 gp, 2 silver, 5 copper)
d8 = 8 X .125 x 10 = 10 gp
If the monsters are 10 Gnolls, with a CR of 1/2, treasure values might look like this —
d8 = 1 X .5 x 10 = 5 gp
d8 = 5 X .5 x 10 = 25 gp
d8 = 8 X .5 x 10 = 40 gp
And if the characters run into 10 CR 2 creatures like Cultist Fanatics, treasure might be worth something like —
d8 = 1 X 2 x 10 = 20 gp
d8 = 5 X 2 x 10 = 100 gp
d8 = 8 X 2 x 10 = 160 gp
These all seem like reasonable amounts to me, but as always, adjust up or down (i.e. use a larger or smaller die than a d8), to fit your campaign, world and style.
Also, its worth noting that you may feel like certain monsters would naturally have a few coin on them (goblins, bandits), and some might not, (wolves, violet fungi), but treasure or other rewards are always at the DM’s discretion. Bandits might not have any coin, if they’ve had slim pickings for a while and are desperate for a score, and violet fungi might have something of value, left on the scattered corpses of past victims.
Amazing Random Treasure Generators
If you’d like to use something more detailed and flexible, I also use and LOVE these random treasure generators —
https://www.kassoon.com/dnd/5e/treasure-generator/
An amazing generator with so many options, and fun additions like “pickpocket loot” and “trade goods”
https://seppeverhavert.github.io/Indie-loot/
Generates hoards of treasure, has a simple interface, and adds really interesting and fun original items
https://5e.tools/lootgen.html
Robust, elegant design, based on the 2014 DMG rules
https://donjon.bin.sh/d20/treasure/index.cgi
This creator has so many great random generators available on their site, including a really granular and modifiable loot generator for any situation
A New Monster
I’m having so much fun DM-ing Rime of the Frostmaiden, and just may have added a few of these creatures to the tundra around Ten-Towns...but don’t tell the players!
Frost Lurker
Huge aberration, neutral
Armor Class 14
Hit Points 85 (10d12 + 26)
Speed 10 ft., climb 10 ft.
STR 20 (+5) DEX 16 (+3) CON 16 (+3) INT 2 (-4) WIS 15 (+2) CHA 9 (-1)
Skills — Athletics +7, Stealth +6
Damage Resistances — fire; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical weapons
Damage — Immunities cold
Senses — tremorsense 120’, blindsight 30’, passive Perception 12
Languages —
Challenge 8 (3,900 XP)
Proficiency Bonus +3
Treasure — 8d10x100 gp value of coin, gems, and jewelry, and 1d3 Uncommon or Rare magic items
Special Traits
Movement Detection
The lurker above has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks when using tremorsense.
Damage Transfer
While it is grappling a creature, the frost lurker takes only half the damage dealt to it, and the grappled creature takes the other half.
Actions
Slam
Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 17 (3d8 + 5) bludgeoning damage and the target is grappled (escape DC 15) . The frost lurker cannot grapple or use its Slam attack on another target.
Smother
The frost lurker wraps itself around one grappled creature of Large size or smaller, completely enclosing it. The grappled target is restrained, blinded, no longer able to speak or use spells with verbal components, and can’t breath. At the start of each of the target’s turns, the target takes 17 (3d8 + 4) bludgeoning damage as the frost lurker crushes it so it can be consumed.
About
A frost lurker is a carnivore found in snowy environments that preys on any living creatures that that come within reach. They are huge at full size and roughly circular in shape, measuring anywhere from 15 to 20 feet across, and about 2 feet thick at the center, and only a few inches thick at the edges. They’re extremely territorial, and are never encountered with others of their kind. A typical frost lurker has a hunting territory of several square miles, and will travel slowly only if necessary. When it detects nearby movement, stops and waits for its prey, sinking down so its white, textured flesh blends in perfectly with the surface snow. When prey reaches the center of the creature, the lurker wraps itself around its prey so it can consume it. Any treasure collected by the creature would be found inside it’s stomach.
There may or may not be a Frost Lurker in this actual photo of Icewind Dale.
Brainstorming Links
If you love D&D and other RPGs as much as I do, you probably already know about the folks below, who are real inspirations to me. If you haven’t already, please check ‘em out!
The Arcane Library — masterpiece adventures, and Shadowdark, too!
https://www.thearcanelibrary.com
The Angry DM — so angry….so many great ideas….
https://theangrygm.com/
DMDave — on point analysis of D&D rules, and a ton of fun ideas
https://bsky.app/profile/dmdave.bsky.social
RPGBot — whip smart critique and explanations of 5e rules
https://rpgbot.net/
Sly Flourish — a DM’s best friend who is also a better DM
https://www.slyflourish.com/
Treantmonk — years of helpful advice and clever ideas
https://www.youtube.com/@TreantmonksTemple
If you like I Cast…Brainstorm!, you might also like TTRPG Insider — a terrific newsletter with the latest in news about the RPG industry.
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What I’m DM-ing
A weekly Curse of Strahd campaign via Roll20 using 2014 5th edition rules
A weekly Rime of the Frostmaiden campaign, in-person, with 2024 5th edition rules
A series of one-shots in a bi-weekly game at a bar in LA. If you’re interested in joining in, please reach out — invites are sent via Partiful. Or you can sign up at Ye Rustic Inn — 1831 Hillhurst Ave, Los Angeles, California.
Two different campaigns with my kids, (Rime and Storm Kings Thunder) when schedules align
What I’m Playing
A 5th ed. Dragonlance campaign as a 9th level Tinker Gnome Gadgeteer Rogue, named Professor Flondersnoot
About to start playing Vecna: Eve of Ruin as Clybb Thistlebridge, a 9th level Halfling great-weapon Fighter
And in all my free time, I play a LOT of Hearthstone! I’m currently stuck at mid-gold in Standard, but if you want to play, find me at BigKahuna (#1802)
Gifts for Gamers
You can also check out great gifts for the gamers in your life at Total Party Kits, which features all-original designs by yours truly on shirts, hats, mugs and other gifts!
www.totalpartykits.etsy.com
I Cast…Brainstorm! subscribers can save 10% off everything in the store.
If you have an online store that sells D&D or TTRPG themed things, let me know — I’d love to add it here.
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The original ideas in this issue of I Cast….Brainstorm! are covered under the Creative Commons BY-SA license — all content is free to use (including commercially) and change, with proper attribution.
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