Warpiglet
Adventurer
Hello all!
After reading many of the great ideas on En World about making things it occurred to me that one of these wiki threads could have a lot of utility.
As a result (I hope I understand how this works) I would like to start a thread that essentially collects encounter ideas. After much analysis, many posters note that the challenge of an encounter is only partially in the creatures you might face with their attendant challenge ratings. Orcs are orcs...but orcs on a bridge over a chasm with the party objective on the other side are another matter. If the bridge sways, another challenge emerges. If the orcs can release caged flying pets to harass fliers, we have yet another wrinkle!
I would like posters to include some encounter ideas with various setups. They could even be creature-free so that the reader could insert their own tailored challenge but provide a good idea that could even be dropped on a random encounter to give it flavor.
The other thought is this: a well designed encounter can give anyone a challenge. Very well optimized characters can still fail, average characters can really shine. The real impetus of course is to create a resource that DMs can use to reduce prep before sessions!
Perhaps having a format would help give some structure:
1. Encounter Narrative Description (i.e. free form overview paragraph including possible objectives) (Adenturers seeking entry into hold must cross guarded swaying bridge in X rounds. Guards will attempts to shove over edge first or otherwise impede those crossing...and so on).
2. Particular geographic features
3. Skills that are required to navigate the challenge (e.g. Athletics/Acrobatics/Investigation, etc.)
4. Additional variables (e.g. must be completed in X rounds, etc. or Y occurs)
5. Unique hazards (e.g. magical items, forces or fields leading to Z effect)
6. Consequences of failure (e.g. X will arrive within Y rounds unless item is locked in magically sealed chest)
7. Recommended number or type of opponents and suggestions for substitution.
I look forward to recommendations and ideas!
After reading many of the great ideas on En World about making things it occurred to me that one of these wiki threads could have a lot of utility.
As a result (I hope I understand how this works) I would like to start a thread that essentially collects encounter ideas. After much analysis, many posters note that the challenge of an encounter is only partially in the creatures you might face with their attendant challenge ratings. Orcs are orcs...but orcs on a bridge over a chasm with the party objective on the other side are another matter. If the bridge sways, another challenge emerges. If the orcs can release caged flying pets to harass fliers, we have yet another wrinkle!
I would like posters to include some encounter ideas with various setups. They could even be creature-free so that the reader could insert their own tailored challenge but provide a good idea that could even be dropped on a random encounter to give it flavor.
The other thought is this: a well designed encounter can give anyone a challenge. Very well optimized characters can still fail, average characters can really shine. The real impetus of course is to create a resource that DMs can use to reduce prep before sessions!
Perhaps having a format would help give some structure:
1. Encounter Narrative Description (i.e. free form overview paragraph including possible objectives) (Adenturers seeking entry into hold must cross guarded swaying bridge in X rounds. Guards will attempts to shove over edge first or otherwise impede those crossing...and so on).
2. Particular geographic features
3. Skills that are required to navigate the challenge (e.g. Athletics/Acrobatics/Investigation, etc.)
4. Additional variables (e.g. must be completed in X rounds, etc. or Y occurs)
5. Unique hazards (e.g. magical items, forces or fields leading to Z effect)
6. Consequences of failure (e.g. X will arrive within Y rounds unless item is locked in magically sealed chest)
7. Recommended number or type of opponents and suggestions for substitution.
I look forward to recommendations and ideas!
