Hriston
Dungeon Master of Middle-earth (He/him)
In the game I'm currently running, the PCs are travelling through various terrain types, and there's a chance (which varies in frequency, depending on the terrain and level of inhabitation) of a random encounter. So far, I've only rolled on the actual random encounter table for the terrain to find out what sort of creature's encountered if I first rolled a 1 on a d10 or whatever, indicating that the encounter happens at that time, at which point it sort of comes out of nowhere (which isn't necessarily a bad thing). If I roll something else, nothing happens, and I move on.
It has occurred to me, however, that it might be more interesting if, upon entering a new type of terrain, I first roll on the encounter table for that terrain to select the encounter that will occur if a random encounter results from any checks made while in that terrain. and then foreshadow that encounter when describing the area to the players. For example, if upon entering a plains area I roll giant wasps on the encounter table, I can describe some abandoned giant wasp nests around the area before the PCs end up meeting the wasps or even of they never do so because an encounter in that area never happens.
If the encounter does happen, then I would cue up the next possible threat, and begin foreshadowing that type of creature being in the area as well.
Has anyone ever tried this sort of thing with random encounters, and how were the results if you did?
It has occurred to me, however, that it might be more interesting if, upon entering a new type of terrain, I first roll on the encounter table for that terrain to select the encounter that will occur if a random encounter results from any checks made while in that terrain. and then foreshadow that encounter when describing the area to the players. For example, if upon entering a plains area I roll giant wasps on the encounter table, I can describe some abandoned giant wasp nests around the area before the PCs end up meeting the wasps or even of they never do so because an encounter in that area never happens.
If the encounter does happen, then I would cue up the next possible threat, and begin foreshadowing that type of creature being in the area as well.
Has anyone ever tried this sort of thing with random encounters, and how were the results if you did?