Does Your Game Have Random Encounters?

[Desdichado]

I use the Angry GM strategy, also published by Bardzilla as Improved Travel. It replaces the random encounters mechanic and works for any system.

 

[Vael]

Most of the time I run published adventures, so I'll use a random encounter mechanic if one is included. When I'm not doing that ... I generally plan encounters, even in the spur of the moment

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

It depends on the adventure and system.

 

[Gorgon Zee]

Slight Aside: "Not really, maybe once or twice in an adventure" is an oxymoron for me as I generally have one or two combats ONLY in an adventure.

In general I tend to plan out likely paths for an adventure, and script encounters for them, but my players commonly will then do something different, and I will often use a random encounter for that. Or semi-random.

I've been running Pendragon for the last few years, and I've been using the following system for unscripted encounters:

• I choose a set of potential adversaries based on the play situation -- about a half-dozen to a dozen.
• A player makes a skill roll to see how well they can read the situation (hunting or battle are common)., That determines how many random cards they get and choose one from.
• I often have a set of special encounters for critical rolls.

It works nicely for Pendragon as the fiction supports the action ("I succeed at hunting" -- "you pick up the spoor of a panther and a wyvern, which do you follow ...") and blends player knowledge, GM scene-setting, and character abilities nicely.

You could easily adapt it to a random encounter table -- basic success the players get the choice of 2 encounters, 5+_ over they get three, and critical they get a special.

 

[aramis erak]

Vote for the option that best fits your table, and add any clarification or nuance in the comments.

My current game has no random encounters in core, but has some as setting elements.

My typical game has significant numbers of random encounters.

I like RE's when the system supports random encounters well.

 

[aramis erak]

Slight Aside: "Not really, maybe once or twice in an adventure" is an oxymoron for me as I generally have one or two combats ONLY in an adventure.

encounter ≠ combat.
Many encounters can be non-combat. Most fun one recently: Ron of Go, wandering merchant stoneman. He offered to trade some things.

 

[arbados]

I definitely use random encounters, but they are from a list of various encounters I've already scripted and prepared. Depending on the game situation and player choices they might encounter some of these or none. It all depends on dice rolls for things such as Perception as well as decisions. Decisions are as simple as whether they choose the mountain pass or swamp to get to their destination. Random encounters would be planned for each so depending on where they chose to go these may occur. However, I know this is old school, but random encounters occur if a player rolls a certain number on a dice. The dice rolled can vary from a D4 to a D20 depending on how dangerous and populated that terrain area is. If the player matched my number on the same dice the random encounter happens. It's completely random, but players have fun rolling the dice and then seeing if an encounter happens due to their dice roll. Random encounters are not always harmful and are often favorable or fun role playing. Gotta have random encounters in a game or else things are too scripted.

 

[loverdrive]

I quite like random encounters, and I find great joy in making tables to generate them.

As an unsolicited advice: you should use different dice for different tables, say, d8 for a type of an undead warrior, d6 for its weapon and d4 for its armor -- that way you can roll them all at once to get everything you need.

 

[Older Beholder]

I'll write down a bunch of random encounters when planning an adventure or a session, but then some will just be more interesting, or there might be a clear narrative where it would make sense to run them in a specific order. So, I'll end up not using them randomly during play.

 

[The Soloist]

At the opposite end of the spectrum, when I play solo, every encounter is random and I have to retcon the meaning and the reason using solo tools like word association, event lists and tarot cards.