4e - Random encounter tables

[Sporemine]

These are for when the players wander off in an unexpected direction, the adventure makes a strange turn or you just have ten minutes to prepare, the random encounter tables are always good to have.

An encounter table follows a basic formula, all encounters are divided into four categories:

Easy:
Occur 15-20% of the time*
Party level -2 or more

Standard:
Occur 60% of the time
Party level or party level +1

Hard:
Occur 15-20% of the time*
Party level +2 or +3

Impossible:
Occur 5% of the time
Party level +4 or more

*one needs to be 15% and the other needs to be 20%, this makes a table more or less challenging depending on which is chosen.

Encounter tables can be (and usually are) devided into 5% increments so that encounters can be rolled on a D% or a D20. This also gives good variaton of encounters so that players don't keep fighting the same thing.

Here is an example table for a wilderness setting table, built for a group of four level one adventurers:

0-5 (1)
Easy:
1 Dire rat and 4 giant rats
200 exp total

6-10 (2)
Easy:
3 dire rats
300 exp total

11-15 (3)
Easy:
2 kobold skirmishers and 1 kobold slinger
300 exp total

16-20 (4)
Standard:
4 fire beetles
400 exp

21-25 (5)
Standard:
4 stormclaw scorpions
400 exp

26-30 (6)
Standard:
2 kobold skirmishers and 2 kobold warriors
400 exp

31-35 (7)
Standard:
2 zombies and 6 decrepit skeletons
400 exp

36-40 (8)
Standard:
16 giant rats
400 exp

41-45 (9)
Standard:
3 goblin warriors and 1 goblin blackblade
400 exp

46-50 (10)
Standard:
5 fire beetles
500 exp

51-55 (11)
Standard:
20 (yes 20) decrepit skeletons
500 exp

56-60 (12)
Standard:
4 zombies
500 exp

61-65 (13)
Standard:
3 rat swarms and 4 giant rats
500 exp

66-70 (14)
Standard:
3 kobold skirmisher and 2 kobold slingers
500 exp

71-75 (15)
Standard:
4 needlefang drake swarms
500 exp

76-80 (16)
Hard:
2 goblin hexers and 2 goblin skullcleavers
600 exp

81-85 (17)
Hard:
4 orc raiders
600 exp

86-90 (18)
Hard:
3 goblin blackblades and 4 goblin warriors
700 exp

91-95 (19)
Hard:
4 zombies and 8 decrepit skeletons
700 exp

96-100 (20)
Impossible:
4 kobold dragonshields 3 kobold slingers
800 exp
This is an example, if you want any other tables just ask or create your own. If you want any non-monster manual monsters, please include them.

Also if you want to take a crack at this on your own, go ahead. Any feedback that anybody has will also be appreciated.

Kudos

-Sporemine

[neuronphaser]

you can check my blog for some random encounter goodness for a dungeon crawl:

The Dungeon-Crawl

[Sporemine]

Looks good

-Sporemine

[the Jester]

I prefer my random encounters to be level-independent, and more based on the location's natural inhabitants.

But I like what you've done here.

[Sporemine]

I see what you mean jester, but this was only a basic example of what could be accomplished with the standard mechanic I am using.

Any monsters can be used for any level and setting. The mechanic works with encounter levels and environments, allowing better customization.

Keep it in mind if you want a table for specific monsters or a special area (or both)

Keep it in mind

-Sporemine

[Sporemine]

I am now taking requests for random encounter tables. If you want one I need the following things:

-The size of your group

-The area in which it's placed (swamp, mountains, goblin lair, etc.)

-Any non-monster manual monsters (Only Lv. and exp value are needed, though full stats are always good to have.)

-Party level

-Number of pcs

If you give me those and discribe what you have in mind, I'll try to make a table to your liking.

Kudos

-Sporemine