1001 Interesting Islands
A collection of 1001 Interesting Islands of all shapes and sizes¸ from tiny atolls to mountainous islands. They might have only sand and a few palm trees¸ or active volcanoes¸ high waterfalls¸ and native villages. There are castaways¸ treasure hunters¸ and¸ yes¸ pirates to be found there¸ not to mention the occasional giant crocodile¸ or giant ape.
1001 Interesting Islands
The adventurers¸ relaxing at last after weeks of hard and dangerous work¸ are enjoying their current task. In the sloop Swallow¸ they have been cruising around through numerous small tropical islands¸ looking for the brother of their patron¸ who was last seen heading for this area with what he believed was a treasure map.
GM: You're coming up on the largest island you've visited to date. It looks to be ten or twelve miles in diameter¸ with a volcanic peak at the center from which a faint trickle of smoke is rising. As you pass the north end¸ you see a jutting outcrop of rock that resembles a skull.
Party Leader: This may be the place. (after consulting with other players) We'll continue sailing around the island and see if there's a protected cove on the west side; that's what was supposedly on Jorgen's map.
Cleric: If there is a cove¸ maybe I can find some time to do some more fishing. A fish fry on the beach would be delicious.
Warrior: You and your fishing. We could be facing down a giant crocodile and you'd want to know if the fishing was any good in its pond. *grumbles*
GM: Yes¸ after a little while you see the cove you're expecting on the western side of the island.
Party Leader: This definitely looks like the place. We're going to drop anchor¸ go ashore¸ and start searching for signs of Jorgen and his companions.
GM: I think the pirates who have a small base there may have something to say about that...
Players¸ grabbing weapons: To arms!
Welcome to the "1001 Things" collections
This is a collection of 1001 islands of all shapes and sizes. They range from tiny atolls only a few acres in size to mountainous islands measuring hundreds of square miles. They might have only sand and a few palm trees¸ or active volcanoes¸ high waterfalls¸ and native villages. There are castaways¸ treasure hunters¸ and¸ yes¸ pirates to be found there¸ not to mention the occasional giant crocodile¸ or giant ape.
This collection is much more flexible in time and place than many of the others¸ which are primarily focused on fantasy¸ especially OSR-type fantasy¸ milieus. The islands could certainly be in any type of fantasy world. But they would also fit in perfectly to an early 20th-century pulp adventure campaign¸ or one set in the modern day¸ or even in a spacefaring game - with 1001 of them¸ you have enough to equip an entire watery planet! An island could be home to a necromancer¸ a millionaire recluse¸ a villain building a secret base¸ smugglers¸ outlaws¸ or just about anyone and anything else.
The natives could be anything from indigenous people to far-future colonists¸ with various sorts of industries ranging from whaling to phosphate mining providing reasons for settlements in the recent past¸ along with scientific research of all types. They could be friendly¸ hostile¸ or somewhere in between¸ which might depend on the relationship¸ if any¸ between the country they're affiliated with and the players' own. And then there are those enigmatic ruins....
These islands are suitable for campaigns of practically any genre. An island could be home to a necromancer or a villain's secret base¸ a futuristic mine or a lost missionary¸ or anything else you can dream of. No more "Um¸ it's