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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Storm-Bringer" data-source="post: 4107921" data-attributes="member: 57832">So your view (I'm not being snarky) is a campaign world in quantum flux?I wouldn't necessarily expect the lone ogre out in the wilderness to be the same as any other ogre.  In fact, I would expect that ogre to be rather tougher than average, or they would be part of a pack like other ogres.This is what I was getting at:  Howdrowf specifically is to be the solo encounter Darkfist sends after the players.  What is he before he gets sent out?  Is he still a solo?  This may lead to extra work having to 'stat' out other ogres or creatures at the castle to match, to keep the challenge the same.  He could very well be Darkfist's lieutenent, but then you have a pack of ogres and a mini-boss, which means you will have to adjust their numbers accordingly, or add some lower-level creatures to compensate for the fewer ogres (even if Howdrowf is set as a seperate encounter, the pack of ogres and whatnot will have to be adjusted somewhat downward due to resource usage).  If the players are diverted before they reach the castle, Dirk can send out Howdrowf and the numbers of ogres at the castle can be increased again.  If the players go directly for Castle Darkfist, Dirk won't send out Howdrowf, and the number of ogres is larger, but no leader (maybe).  I am pretty sure that if a solo is adequate for a party by itself, a solo and a regular encounter's worth of 'normal' creatures will be nigh impossible.Either way, the composition of Dirk's ogre minions depends on the actions of the party.  Of course, you can always use the magician's greatest trick, where you offer a choice but decide the outcome anyway*.  For the most part, the player's probably won't notice.  However, that will require you to have the stats for a standard ogre and a solo ogre handy. It may be extremely quick to add the solo template, but either way, you are adding handle time to an encounter.To summarize, the entire world outside the character's 'sphere of perception' is in a state of flux, only to be determined when the character's act.  Is that a fair assessment?*Quick version for clarity:  Magician has a coin in their right fist, offers you to choose between their hands.  You choose the right hand: "I will put that one behind my back, and show you the other one!"  You choose the left hand:  "I will reveal that hand to you!"</blockquote>

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