Need some wilderness encounter building help/ideas

[Mengu]

Have their land caught in a turf war between gnolls and trolls. Normally the gnolls could easily outsmart the trolls, but there is a sinister triad of witches guiding the trolls for their own purpose. The gnolls perhaps got resourceful and struck a deal with a green dragon, not realizing the dragon will doublecross them since he likes the witches anyway, but fighting the PC's is in its agenda either way. Neither group wants the PC's involved in their turf war.

It would give opportunities for stealth and reconnaissance, pitting one group against the other, interrogating captives, and fending off their hunting parties.

 

[NewJeffCT]

Have their land caught in a turf war between gnolls and trolls. Normally the gnolls could easily outsmart the trolls, but there is a sinister triad of witches guiding the trolls for their own purpose. The gnolls perhaps got resourceful and struck a deal with a green dragon, not realizing the dragon will doublecross them since he likes the witches anyway, but fighting the PC's is in its agenda either way. Neither group wants the PC's involved in their turf war.

It would give opportunities for stealth and reconnaissance, pitting one group against the other, interrogating captives, and fending off their hunting parties.

i like it, brings together the hag idea (witches) as well as giving me the ability to use a series of encounters.

 

[Dr_Ruminahui]

If you don't mind picking up a new book, it sounds like Threats of Nentir Vale would be right up your ally - its chaulk full of monster groupings, reasons for those monsters to be together, and other plot hooks.

 

[AbdulAlhazred]

i like it, brings together the hag idea (witches) as well as giving me the ability to use a series of encounters.

Yeah, and if you create a few 'power players' and various alliances the PCs can potentially play off different factions against each other, or just upset the power balance and suddenly have a mess on their hands.

You could also think about wilderness hazards, natural disasters, etc. Being a wilderness you can create a few unique types of situations. A group of centaur archers that harass the party from a distance but can't be pinned down. Plenty of opportunities for ambushes other nastiness too. a path running along the bottom of a slope where logs and boulders can be piled and rained down. A stream that could be damed and water released. A forest fire that would drive the party into a bad tactical situation or trap them in the flames.

The party can have potential allies too. Some fey creatures perhaps (maybe in return for promises to maintain a large part of the land as wilderness). There could be some humans or another race around that can be allied with or at least traded with, perhaps leading to various power struggles.

And finally, there is no wilderness adventure that is complete without a bulette or two. LAND SHARK!!!!!

 

[NewJeffCT]

If you don't mind picking up a new book, it sounds like Threats of Nentir Vale would be right up your ally - its chaulk full of monster groupings, reasons for those monsters to be together, and other plot hooks.

I'll have to check out the book - maybe my local Borders still has one somewhere...

I'd XP you, but I need to spread it around more first.

 

[NewJeffCT]

Yeah, and if you create a few 'power players' and various alliances the PCs can potentially play off different factions against each other, or just upset the power balance and suddenly have a mess on their hands.

You could also think about wilderness hazards, natural disasters, etc. Being a wilderness you can create a few unique types of situations. A group of centaur archers that harass the party from a distance but can't be pinned down. Plenty of opportunities for ambushes other nastiness too. a path running along the bottom of a slope where logs and boulders can be piled and rained down. A stream that could be damed and water released. A forest fire that would drive the party into a bad tactical situation or trap them in the flames.

The party can have potential allies too. Some fey creatures perhaps (maybe in return for promises to maintain a large part of the land as wilderness). There could be some humans or another race around that can be allied with or at least traded with, perhaps leading to various power struggles.

And finally, there is no wilderness adventure that is complete without a bulette or two. LAND SHARK!!!!!

A load of good ideas here - thanks a bunch. XP awarded. And, I have some plans for some allies as well.

Since the group is level 8, I think a level 10 hydra solo could be good for a tough encounter as well (just picked up Monster Vault at Borders for 50% off)

 

[NewJeffCT]

and, picked up Monster Vault - Nentir Vale today at Borders. Thanks again for the suggestion.

 

[was]

putting together a fomorian raiding party looking for slaves might be interesting and open up some feywild/underdark avenues for you

 

[S'mon]

You can make some rolls on the 1e or 2e wilderness encounter tables, then stat those up as a level-appropriate encounter. IME since you probably only have 1 encounter in the day, it can go up to around EL+4 or so, higher with scads of minions, as long as the individual monsters aren't too tough. For large monster groups it can go to EL+6 or higher, but they won't normally all be ambushing the PCs at once, there may even be chances to short-rest while fighting them.

Example: I roll 30-300 Orcs - result 150 Orcs. Looking at my Orc stats, I can start off with an Orc Chief elite-8 (MM), add some elite-7 Chosen of Gruumsh (MM) bodyguards, a few level 6 orc storm shamans (MV), a bunch of orc warrior level 7 minions (MM - just use the 'level 9' stats but ATT +12), some level 6 dire boars, and loads & loads of orc drudge min-4s (MM) to round out the numbers. I might add some Orc Throngs from MV: TTNV. Ogres & Trolls optional.

As the PCs are 8th level I would probably not use any monsters below 6th level apart from the orc dudge minions, and they are basically scenery.