DMs: Random Encounters?

[Asmor]

My PCs don't always distinguish.

DM: You see four slaad on the road up ahead.
PC: What are they doing?
DM: RIIIIIIIIBBIT!
PC: We start walking around them.
DM: Their eyes follow you. RIIIIIIBBIIIIIIIIT!
PC: Uh... FIREBALL!

Cheers, -- N

Ha, yours too? I recently had them encounter some myconids, and I didn't want them to attack the strange walking mushrooms right off the bat, so I arranged for them all to be very low on HP and have all their weapons and armor stripped off.

Their first instinct was still to hide and try to take them... Sigh...

More on topic for the post... I didn't vote because my answers somewhere in between yes and no. Usually I have pre-planned random encounters, if that makes any sense... I plan encounters ahead of time, some of which are relevant to the story and some of which aren't.

I don't generally use random encounter tables, but will if I ever need to light a fire under the players' collective asses.

 

[Roadkill101]

I use random encounter tables that I've designed. That way the creatures on the table will be appropriate to the environment. And I pre-stat any creatures on said tables, for in the event a random encounter happens, all I have to do is roll to determine the creature(s) in question.

 

[RFisher]

Yes.

I prefer to use my own, when I have them. I'll use a published one otherwise.

Sometimes I pick instead of rolling.

I'll also use published encounter tables as inspiration when creating placed encounters.

Edit: I try to make wandering encounters just as interesting & important as placed encounters. It's just that they can occur lots of places in the general area rather than in a specific place.

 

[Schmoe]

I love random encounters for a couple of reasons. First, they can help pick up the pace if a session is dragging. Second, they can provide additional flavor to highlight the differences of the current location from anywhere else the party may go. Finally, they introduce potential plots and story hooks that otherwise wouldn't happen. I've had great side-plots and storylines introduced by the roll of random dice, that otherwise wouldn't have seen the light of day. It's a fun DM challenge to integrate random encounters, and I think they make the game more vibrant and fun. Random encounter definitely does not have to mean random combat.

Granted, I usually ignore the suggested timing of random encounters. I usually just roll when the players are dragging or doing something likely to attract attention, or when a lot of time passes, or when I want to change the pacing of the session.

 

[Jhaelen]

Ditto.

Dittotoo.

 

[amethal]

All encounters are predetermined before the session begins.

I'm sure this isn't what you meant, but it gave me a very funny image.

DM: Ahead of you is the entrance to the Orc lair.

Players: We're running low on hit points; let's head back to the village inn to rest.

DM:You get back to the inn. Much to your surprise, you discover a bunch of Orcs have taken up residence in your room. Roll initiative!

 

[Nebulous]

I like to have an idea of what might be in the given area, and then pop it in there if needed. Usually, i have a set list of encounters and nothing more.

 

[Tonguez]

I run random events rather than random monsters

basically I determine 1. The PCs are walking through a forest in which dwells an owlbear and some deer

Encounter
1-6 the wind blows through the leaves
7-10 A herd of deer are spotted in a glade
11-13 A large stag leaps across the path ahead of you before disappearing into the bush (Note: The deer is heading east and appears frigthened)
14-16 you find the half eaten remains of a deer
17-19 you come across the spoor of some large animal (*survival check - it is a female Owlbear and about 2 hours old)
20 an Owlbear emerges from the trees and rears up on its hindquarters

 

[Lanefan]

I don't use tables but I do throw in what amount to random encounters, particularly if the characters are stopped in one place for any length of time. I roll some dice, and if they tell me something's disturbed the party while they're searching, resting, or whatever then I dream up something suitable on the fly. Sometimes, what they meet isn't even out to bend their noses into their faces, and on one or two occasions I can think of it's actually been someone's new PC blundering into the party...

If I happen to be running a canned module that has a useful wandering monster table I might use that, at least for ideas of what's suitable.

Lanefan

 

[RFisher]

I run random events rather than random monsters

Sometimes, what they meet isn't even out to bend their noses into their faces, and on one or two occasions I can think of it's actually been someone's new PC blundering into the party...

Yeah. Wandering encounters can be almost anything. Good wandering encounters--whether from a custom table or made up on-the-fly like Lanefane (or a little of both)--can really add a lot to the game.