Polycule

Generator
v1.0
Create your very own polycule, for
roleplaying games or other fiction
by Fen Slattery (they/them)

fenslattery.com
sublimemarch.itch.io
Step 1: Determine polycule size.
How many members does this polycule have?

1.1: Roll 1d6.

Does the polycule have a countable size? That is, can a
person accurately count with certainty the number of
members in the polycule?

1-5 The polycule has a countable size. Go to 1.2.

6 The polycule has a non countable size. Go to 1.3. You will

skip step 2, as the polycule is also not knowable.

1.2: Roll 3d6.

3-17 This is the number of members the polycule has. Proceed

to step 2.

18 Roll again, adding 15 to the value.

1.3: Roll 1d6.
Why does the polycule not have a countable size? Then,
proceed to step 3.

1 Because members are nearly constantly breaking up and

getting back together again.
2 Because many members are in relationships listed as “it’s
complicated” with one another.

3 Because members are way too busy with work or other

responsibilities to bother to keep track of relationships
within their polycule.

4 Because the very existence of this polycule is a secret.

5-6 Because members of this polycule don’t believe in labels.

Step 2: Determine polycule

knowability.
Are all members of the polycule known to all other
members? Or are some partners unknown to others they are
connected to?

2.1: Roll 1d6.

1-2 All members can easily rattle off at least the names of

every other person in the polycule and how they are
connected to one another, and will recognize one another
on sight. Go to 2.2.
3-4 Members are hazy about the names of some other
members, but will recognize one another as members of
the same polycule. Go to 2.2.

5 Most members have not seen one another, but are

vaguely aware of each other. Go to Step 3.

6 Members are not aware of the existence of anyone they

are not directly in a relationship with. Go to Step 3.

2.2: Roll 1d6.

Why do all members of this polycule recognize one another
as members of the same polycule? Then, go to Step 3.

1-4 Because they have a shared Google Calendar for events

and dates.

5 Because they have a yearly get-together with every

member of the polycule present.

6 Because someone made a polycule “yearbook” of sorts

with all their photos in it.
Step 3: Determine polycule
assortativity.
Do polycule members tend to form relationships with similar
people vs dissimilar people? Similarity can be defined by
gender, socio-economic status, race, values, occupation,
physical ability, or any other salient characteristic.

3.1: Roll 1d6.

1 All members are almost uncannily similar to one another,

to the point that outsiders may commonly mistake them
for one another. Roll on table 3.3 five times.

2-5 Members all have some major things in common, but are
otherwise diverse. Go to 3.2.

6 Members are incredibly diverse, coming from a wide

variety of backgrounds and identities. There is no one
single quality they all share. Go to Step 4.

3.2: Roll 1d4.

This is the number of things all members have in common.
Roll on table 3.3 a number of times equal to this value.

3.3: Roll 1d20.

What notable characteristic do all members of the polycule
share? Roll again if you land on a duplicate. If you get
something that appears to contradict another result you’ve
rolled, the most recent result is the true one; the other either
used to be true, or is an in-joke. Then, proceed to Step 4.

1 Everyone in this polycule is trans.

2 They’re all lesbians, Harold.

3 They all work at the same company.

4 They’re all sex workers.

5 Everyone belongs to the same ethnic group or race.

6 They all share a religion or faith, or are all nontheists.

7 Everyone is into the occult.

8 They all make video games.

9 They’re all anarchists.

10 Everyone has the same fashion aesthetic.

11 They’re all furries.

12 They all have a chronic health issue or a disability.

13 They’re all socialists.

14 All members play a musical instrument.

15 Everyone has a pet.

16 They’re all bisexual or pansexual.

17 None of them know how to drive.

18 They all make zines.

19 They all have depression.

20 Everyone is broke.
Step 4: Determine polycule
network closure.
Is a member’s partner’s partner also likely to be their
partner?

4.1: Roll 1d6.

1 The polycule is just one long line, or a closed circle. A
member does not have any partners in common with their
partners. Go to 4.2.

2-3 Low closure. Some members have partners in common

with their partners. Go to 4.2.

4-5 High closure. Most members have partners in common

with their partners. Go to 4.3.

6 Literally everyone is dating everyone else. Go to 4.3.

4.2: Roll 1d6.

Why does the polycule have low network closure? Then, go
to Step 5.

1 Because members are all hella anxious.

2-3 Because members are generally all bad at telling when

someone else is interested in them.

4 Because members like to give their partner(s) lots of

space in their other relationships and aren’t close with
their partner’s partner(s).

5 Because members just aren’t attracted to the types of

people their partner(s) date.

6 Because members have a hard time maintaining many

simultaneous relationships.
4.3: Roll 1d6.
Why does the polycule have high network closure? Then, go
to Step 5.

1 Because members really enjoy collecting as many

partners as possible.
2-3 Because members are all horny as shit.

4 Because members always end up getting really close with

their partner’s partner(s) to the point where they end up
dating them, too.

5 Because members find the types of people their

partner(s) date to be totally their type.

6 Because the polycule just spends enough time together

that they all end up dating.

Step 5: Determine polycule

propinquity.
Are members more likely to have more ties with
geographically close people?

5.1: Roll 1d10.

1 This polycule is so geographically close that they all live in
the same building, on the same plot of land, or in some
other community exclusive to them.
2-4 Most members live in the same neighborhood as one
another. Several are roommates or share housing with
one another.

5-7 Most members live in the same city with some members
being in long-distance relationships. Most do not live
together.

8-9 All members are either cohabitating with partners, or are

long-distance from one another.

10 None of them live in the same city, and are all long-
distance from one another.

Step 6: Determine bridge

presence.
Is there a single person who is the only link between two
clusters in the polycule?

6.1: Roll 1d6.

1-4 There is no single bridge connecting two areas of the
polycule.
5 There is one person who, via their relationships, connects
two separate groups, and it’s always been this way.

6 There is one person who, via their relationships, connects

two separate groups, and it’s new development. Roll on
6.2.

6.2: Roll 1d2.

In what way is this bridge member a new development?

1 Until a month ago, these two halves of the polycule were

completely separate, until this specific member gained a
new partner, which added a new huge network of
partners to the polycule.

2 Until a month ago, there was another person whose

relationship connected these two areas of the polycule,
but they ended one of their relationships. Now, only a
single person serves as a bridge.