Over the years, I’ve seen plenty of write-ups for fortune teller NPCs that rely strictly on high-level divination spells. But let’s be honest—most fortune tellers in a fantasy setting aren’t powerful arch-mages. They are shrewd, sharp-eyed business owners who know how to read a room, leverage an information network, and tell paying customers exactly what they want to hear.
Here is a simple, flexible framework for running fortune tellers using a d20 "magic 8-ball" model, where real accuracy is a mechanic you can scale.
1. The Accuracy Rating (d8 Basis)
Instead of rolling raw wisdom checks, assign your fortune teller an Accuracy Rating from 1 to 8. Each point of accuracy represents a 1-in-8 chance (12.5%) that their prediction will be dead-on accurate or draw from actual, concrete truth.
When a player asks a yes/no question, roll a d8:
If the d8 roll is equal to or lower than the NPC's Accuracy Rating: The fortune teller reveals the actual truth or an accurate prediction.
If the d8 roll is higher: Roll on the d20 Response Table below to generate a convincing, thematic response.
2. The d20 Response Table
When the fortune teller is guessing or faking it, roll a d20 to determine her answer.
Notice the weight of the table: 10 Positive, 5 Non-Committal, and 5 Negative. Above all else, fortune telling is a business—and happy customers come back to spend more coin!
| d20 Roll | Tone | Response / Prediction |
| 1 | Positive | It is certain. |
| 2 | Positive | It is decidedly so. |
| 3 | Positive | Without a doubt. |
| 4 | Positive | Yes, definitely. |
| 5 | Positive | You may rely on it. |
| 6 | Positive | As I see it, yes. |
| 7 | Positive | Most likely. |
| 8 | Positive | Outlook good. |
| 9 | Positive | Yes. |
| 1 | Positive | Signs point to yes. |
| 11 | Non-Committal | Reply hazy, try again. |
| 12 | Non-Committal | Ask again later. |
| 13 | Non-Committal | Better not tell you now. |
| 14 | Non-Committal | Cannot predict now. |
| 15 | Non-Committal | Concentrate and ask again. |
| 16 | Negative | Don't count on it. |
| 17 | Negative | My reply is no. |
| 18 | Negative | My sources say no. |
| 19 | Negative | Outlook not so good. |
| 20 | Negative | Very doubtful. |
3. Pricing the Service
As a rule of thumb, a fortune teller charges 50 coins per point of Accuracy Rating per question answered.
Whether those coins are copper, silver, or gold depends on your campaign's economy and the wealth of the clients. Shrewd fortune tellers always size up their visitors before quoting a price, charging richer adventurers far more to create the illusion of higher quality.
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| Madam Dubrova, NPC created by Gerald "Redcap" Williams |
Featured NPC: Madam Dubrova
To put this into practice, consider Madam Dubrova, a seasoned local reader.
Accuracy Rating: 3 in 8 (37.5% true accuracy).
Standard Fee: 150 gold coins per question (assuming a well-off party).
Class/Background: Low-level Cleric or Druid, supplementing her natural instincts with minor divinations.
The Secret Network
Madam Dubrova doesn't just rely on psychic intuition or minor magic—she deals in real intelligence.
She maintains an intricate web of informants throughout the city:
Debtors in High Places: Servants, clerks, and guards who owe her money or favors, pass along private gossip.
Her Familiar: Her cat prowls the alleys and rooftops, listening at windows and scouting for her.
By weaving real, hyper-specific pieces of local news into her sessions, Dubrova easily convinces adventurers that her readings are supernatural. If players want real answers, they'll have to shell out the coin—or figure out where her "prophecies" are actually coming from.
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| Right Click and Save, to download table. |
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