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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Quickleaf" data-source="post: 8822188" data-attributes="member: 20323">I don't think your proposal is necessarily solving your problem.For example, you mention one of your "Encounter Deck Confounders" being "make an Athletics check or hit by falling rock."OK, but how does that even address your initial complaint – stagnant combats with a lack of movement?This is a pretty common design mistake: Thinking that if we throw the kitchen sink of options at a problem, that the problem will somehow be masked or fall by the wayside. Instead it's more like "treating" a specific medical condition with a bunch of "well this might work" that never address the underlying problem.Instead I'd go back to that original complaint – we have stagnant combats with a lack of movement – and ask "how can I encourage the players to move more?"Here's an example of applying that to a simple Troll on the Bridge encounter: PCs come to a 40-foot bridge spanning a roaring river chasm. Troll climbs up, slams club, and says in broken Common "i'll eat whoever tries to cross."Now it's time to interrogate the encounter idea: What encourages the PCs to move? Why not just pincushion the troll with arrows/spells? Or close to melee and carve it up 10th-level PC style? Let's brainstorm...<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Maybe there's a waterfall or heavy mists or statues acting as cover that prevent a clear shot to the troll?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Maybe when the troll slams its club the entire bridge shudders and some stones fall into the river below, hinting that it's an unstable structure?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Maybe there are lurking shadows under the bridge hinting that there are more trolls in hiding?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Maybe the party needs to rapidly reach the other side before (a) enemies or a hazard catch up to them from behind? (b) the light of the Sidhelein Moon fades and the way into the secret citadel is lost for another month? (c) the curse/disease/poison afflicting one of them reaches its apex and they die or transform before reaching the cure on the other side?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Maybe the troll's obscene shouting causes stalactites overhead to rattle in the shadows of the PCs' torchlight, suggesting certain areas of the bridge/surrounds could be struck if the stalactites were to fall?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Maybe in framing the scene you describe a NPC get knocked 15 feet through the air by the troll's club, dropping them into the river below, hinting this troll has a special push attack?</li> </ul></blockquote>

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