TEXT: The "Aladdin" Technique - an easy way to spontaneously spice up RPG encounter ideas, solo or 
  otherwise 
    
  STEP 1: Write an encounter set-up in a single sentence. Bracket-off each key element, action 
  word/phrase, and descriptor, but not any references to the PCs. (I aim for six items.) 
    
  So, in an opera-themed fantasy world, I’ve currently got two PCs on a treasure hunt in cold-hearted 
  Princess Turandot’s exotic kingdom. I wrote the following encounter set-up: 
    
  Orsini and Guglio try to [break into] an [old] [tomb] while [being pursued by] [Turandot’s] [warriors]. 
    
  STEP 2 - Al: Randomly select one element or descriptor and alter it with inspirational help from a 
  random idea generator like Mythic or Story Cubes. 
    
  I had 6 elements and descriptors in my set-up sentence. I rolled a d6 and got a 2 for the [old] descriptor. I 
  rolled a Story Cube and got an image of waves. So, I altered my sentence into: 
    
  Orsini and Guglio try to [break into] a [submerged] [tomb] while [being pursued by] [Turandot’s] 
  [warriors]. 
    
  STEP 3 - Add: Randomly select one element or descriptor and add a word or phrase immediately before 
  or after it with inspirational help from a random idea generator. 
    
  I rolled a d6 again and got a 5 for the [Turandot’s] descriptor. I rolled a Story Cube and got an image of a 
  person dancing. So, my sentence became: 
    
  Orsini and Guglio try to [break into] a [submerged] [tomb] while [being pursued by] [Turandot’s] 
  [capoeira] [warriors]. 
    
  A weirdly satisfying development! 
    
  STEP 4 - In: Create intrigue by following the encounter set-up sentence with an ambiguous question 
  devised via inspirational help from a random idea generator. 
    
  I rolled a Story Cube and got an image of an apple. That gave me the final version of the encounter 
  concept: 
    
  Orsini and Guglio try to break into a submerged tomb while being pursued by Turandot’s capoeira 
  warriors. But what is the nature of the strange fruit growing out of the water surrounding the tomb? 
    
  And that’s it! In four steps, the encounter has been embellished in ways the player(s) could never have 
  expected! 
  https://plus.google.com/113913096608545423730/posts/2VCXxWkmVHQ  Accessed 8/29/2017 
  
SOURCE: textdata/thevault/Solo/2. GM Emulators & Generic Solo Rules/The Aladdin Technique.pdf