Encounter Groups

[the Jester]

Would a thread full of encounter groups, grouped by level, be a useful tool for dms? I'll post a few here, then copy & paste the ones others post into this post. Then if you're looking for inspiration for an on-the-fly encounter, or even when prepping a dungeon encounter or something, you can poke in here and grab a ready-made encounter.

Please give your encounter a name, and list the monsters' levels and roles, as well as the total xp value of the encounter, so that I can easily organize the encounters by xp value. It doesn't hurt to give page references for the monsters, too, so that dms can easily find their stats.

For instance, I'll start with three encounters each at 2nd, 12th and 22nd level, and just keep adding to this initial post.

1st Level (1-624 xp)

Rats!
4 dire rats (MM 219; level 1 brutes)
4 giant rats (MM 219; level 1 minions)

Crazed Necromancer Wight and His Pets (500 xp)
7 crawling claws (OG 142; level 1 minions)
1 deathlock wight (MM 262; level 4 controller)
1 skeleton (MM 234; level 3 soldier)

Snake Handler (500 xp)
2 deathrattle vipers (MM 240; level 5 brutes)
1 goblin acolyte of Maglubiyet (MM2 131; level 1 controller)

Catch the Chicken (500 xp)
1 cockatrice (MM2 36; level 5 skirmisher)
8 kobold minions (MM 167; level 1 minions)
1 kobold slinger (MM 168; level 1 arrillery)

A Squirrelly Threat (500 xp)
1 dire squirrel nuthucker (level 1 artillery)
1 dire squirrel prankster (level 1 skirmisher)
1 kercpa treehopper (level 1 skirmisher)
2 kercpa archers (level 1 artillery)

Elf Squad (500 xp)
2 elf archers (MM 106; level 2 artillery)
2 elf scouts (MM 106; level 2 skirmishers)

Littered Graveyard (514 xp)
4 stirges (MM 248; level 1 lurkers)
3 tomb motes (OG 144; level 3 minions)

Kruthik Hive (518 xp)
2 kruthik young (MM 170; level 2 brutes)
1 kruthik adult (MM 170; level 4 brute)
3 kruthik hatchlings (MM 170; level 2 minions)

Spider-Friends (525 xp)
1 ettercap fang guard (MM 107; level 4 soldier)
1 deathjump spider (MM 246; level 4 skirmisher)
1 centipede swarm (MM2 33; level 4 skirmisher)

Bloody Falconer (550 xp)
3 blood hawks (MM2 142; level 1 skirmishers)
1 half-orc hunter (MM2 140; level 5 skirmisher)

Zombie Menace (600 xp)
8 zombie rotters (MM 274; level 1 minions [note: errata places at 1st, not 3rd level]) 200
1 gravehound (MM 274; level 3 brute) 150
2 zombies (MM 274; level 2 brutes) 250

2nd Level (625-749 xp)

Kobolds and Master (625 xp)
1 dragonborn soldier (MM 86; level 5 soldier)
2 kobold slingers (MM 168; level 1 artillery)
9 kobold minions (MM 167; level 1 minions)

Thieves on the Road (625 xp)
2 halfling thieves (MM 152; level 2 skirmishers)
1 elf archer (MM 106; level 2 artillery)
2 human bandits (MM 162; level 2 skirmishers)

I Have a Bridge to Sell You (643 xp)
1 half-elf con man (MM2 138; level 7 controller)
2 human bandits (MM 162; level 2 skirmishers)
3 human rabble (MM 162; level 2 minions)

Drakes in the Wild (650 xp)
2 spitting drakes (MM 91; level 3 artillery)
2 guard drakes (MM 90; level 2 brutes)
1 spiretop drake (MM 90; level 1 skirmisher)

Guardians of the Wizard's Lair (650 xp)
2 arbalesters (MM2 143; level 4 artillery)
2 mud mephits (level 2 brutes)
2 decrepit skeletons (MM 234; level 1 minions)

Servants of Yeenoghu (675 xp)
1 ghoul (MM 118; level 5 soldier)
1 gnoll demonic scourge (MM 132; level 8 brute)
1 hyena (MM 166; level 2 skirmisher)

3rd Level (750-874 xp)

Deep in the Dungeon (750 xp)
1 green slime (MM2 173; level 4 lurker)
3 skeleton archers (OG 180; level 3 artillery)
5 decrepit skeletons (MM 234; level 1 minions)

Hidden Agenda (775 xp)
3 warforged soldiers (MM 261; level 4 soldiers)
1 warforged captain (MM 261; level 6 soldier leader)

Firenewt Bandits (775 xp)
1 firenewt cavalier (level 4 skirmisher)
1 giant strider (level 3 skirmisher)
2 firenewt bravo (level 3 brutes)
1 firenewt pyromancer (level 3 artillery)

Derro Raiders (800 xp)
2 derro slavers (level 4 skirmishers)
2 derro crossbowmen (level 4 artillery)
4 goblin cutters (MM 136; level 1 minions)

Ghoulish Enemies (800 xp)
3 ghouls (MM 118; level 5 soldiers)
1 rat swarm (MM 219; level 2 skirmisher)
3 giant rats (MM 219; level 1 minions)

Haunted by His Past (825 xp)
1 human berserker (MM 163; level 4 brute)
3 phantom warriors (MM 116; level 4 soldiers)
1 guard drake (MM 90; level 2 brute)

4th Level (875-999 xp)

Under the Bridge (875 xp)
2 trolls (MM 254; level 9 brute)
3 goblin cutters (MM 136; level 1 minions)

From the Lightless Depths (875 xp)
2 quaggoth savages (level 4 brutes)
3 quaggoth wigsplitters (level 4 soldiers)

Into the Crypt (900 xp)
2 corpse rat swarms (OG 197; level 4 soldiers)
1 gravehound (MM 274; level 3 brute)
2 ghouls (MM 118; level 5 soldiers)

Hobgoblin Town Watch (904 xp)
2 hobgoblin soldiers (MM 139; level 3 soldiers)
2 hobgoblin archers (MM 139; level 3 artillery)
8 hobgoblin grunts (MM 138; level 3 minions)

A Conniving Bunch (950 xp)
1 goblin underboss (MM 138; level 4 elite controller leader)
5 human bandits (MM 162; level 2 skirmishers)

5th Level (1000-1249 xp)

Faceless Foes (1000 xp)
3 pale reavers (OG 176; level 5 lurkers)
8 vampire spawn fleshrippers (MM 259; level 5 minions)

Escape from a Burning Building (1000 xp)
3 fire bats (MM 27; level 5 skirmishers)
2 flamespikers (MM2 99; level 5 soldiers)

Bird-Like Bandits (1014 xp)
1 kenku wing mage (MM2 153; level 5 artillery)
1 kenku trickster (level 6 controller)
3 kenku warriors (MM2 152; level 3 skirmishers)
4 kenku ruffians (MM2 152; level 3 minion skirmishers)

Song from the Crags (1050 xp)
3 harpies (MM 154; level 6 controllers)
2 violet fungi (level 3 lurkers)

6th Level (1250-1499 xp)

Highwaymen (1250 xp)
1 half-elf bandit captain (MM2 138) (level 6 skirmisher leader)
6 human bandits (MM 162) (level 2 skirmishers)
1 half-orc death mage (MM2 140; level 6 controller)

Gnoll Brigands (1250 xp)
3 gnoll marauders (MM 132; level 6 brutes)
2 gnoll claw fighters (MM 132; level 6 skirmishers)

Dragon! (1300 xp)
1 young white dragon (MM 84) (level 3 solo brute)
2 kobold wyrmpriests (MM 168) (level 3 artillery leaders)
1 wyrmwarped scaleshaper (Drac 225; level 6 controller leader)

Earth Denizens (1325 xp)
1 geonid (MM2 99; level 6 lurker)
1 duergar theurge (MM2 93; lvel 5 controller)
5 duergar guards (MM2 92; level 4 soldiers)

7th Level (1500-1849 xp)

Tentacled Horrors (1500 xp)
2 grells (MM 144; level 7 elite soldiers)
1 carrion crawler (MM 40; level 7 controller)

Advanced Fey Troops (1600 xp)
1 unicorn (MM 257; level 9 skirmisher leader)
2 eladrin arcane archers (MM2 96; level 5 artillery)
2 dryads (MM 96; level 9 skirmsierhs)

Horror Amongst the Goblins (1650 xp)
1 barghest battle lord (MM2 20; level 7 controller)
1 werewolf (MM 181; level 8 brute)
4 goblin skullcleavers (MM 137; level 3 brutes)
2 dire wolves (MM 264; level 5 skirmishers)

Treasure Room Guardians
3 stone guardians (level 7 brutes)
1 chest mimic (level 7 elite lurker)

8th Level (1750-1999 xp)

Hellspawn (1750 xp)
3 spined devils (MM 66; level 6 skirmishers)
2 cambion hellswords (MM 39; level 8 brutes)
1 tiefling darkblade (MM 250; level 7 lurker)

Decimated Tribe of Bugbears (1850 xp)
3 bugbear warriors (MM 135; level 5 soldiers)
3 bugbear stranglers (MM 136; level 6 lurkers)
2 bugbear wardancers (MM2 130; level 6 skirmishers)

Alchemy Lab Gone Wild (1800 xp)
1 firelasher (MM 104; level 11 skirmisher)
1 shardstorm vortex (MM2 101; level 7 skirmisher)
2 iron cobras (MM 157; level 6 skirmishers)
1 brain in an armored jar (OG 140; level 9 artillery)

Looking for Captives (1875 xp)
2 meenlock raiders (level 7 skirmishers)
1 meenlock mindrender (level 7 controller)
1 blade spider (MM 246; level 10 brutes)
1 deathjump spider (MM 246; level 4 skirmisher)

9th Level (2000-2499 xp)

Shadowfell Forces (2050 xp)
3 shadar-kai chainfighters (MM 230; level 6 skirmishers)
1 shadar-kai witch (MM 231; level 7 controller)
4 shadow hounds (MM 160; level 6 skirmishers)

What's That Smell? (2250 xp)
4 troglodyte maulers (MM 252; level 6 soldiers)
3 troglodyte impalers (MM 252; level 7 artillery)
1 troglodyte curse chanter (MM 252; level 8 controller leader)

Chamber of the Mummies (2300 xp)
1 human cleric mummy lord (MM 192; level 13 elite controller)
2 mummy guardians (MM 192; level 8 brutes)

10th Level (2500-2999 xp)

Guardians of the Gateway (2500 xp)
1 duergar hellcaller (MM2 94; level 12 artillery)
4 hell hounds (MM 160; level 7 brutes)
1 chain devil (MM 62; level 11 skirmisher)

Two Heads are Better Than One (2500 xp)
1 ettin marauder (MM 108; level 10 elite soldier)
2 destrachans (MM 59; level 9 artillery)
7 orc warriors (MM 203; level 9 minions)

A Meeting Between Forces From Deep Underground (2800 xp)
1 dark stalker (MM 49; level 10 lurker)
1 oni mage (MM 201; level 10 elite lurker)
4 dark creepers (MM 49; level 4 skirmishers)
4 ogre thugs (MM 198; level 11 minions)

 

[hailstop]

Shouldn't this go in say, House Rules or something?

 

[the Jester]

It isn't really house rules, just groups of monsters- sort of prep work done for the dm in advance.

11th Level (3000-3499 xp)

Ogre Squad (3000 xp)
1 ogre warhulk (MM 199; level 11 elite brute)
1 dire bear (MM 29; level 11 elite brute)
5 ogre thugs (MM 198; level 11 minions)

Blessed of Ogremoch (3100 xp)
1 iron gorgon (MM 143; level 11 soldier)
1 rockfist smashers (MM2 100; level 10 brutes)
2 earth archon ground rager (MM 14; level 14 controller)

Forces of the Lower Temple (3200 xp)
1 skull lord (MM 236; level 10 artillery)
1 grell philosopher (MM 144; level 11 elite controller)
1 battle wight commander (MM 262; level 12 soldier leader)
2 battle wights (MM 262; level 9 soldiers)

The Darkness Comes Alive (3250 xp)
2 shadow demons (MotP 122; level 12 elite lurkers)
3 servile ghosts (OG 150; level 11 minions)

12th Level (3500- 3999 xp)

After the Battle is Over (3500 xp)
4 cadaver collectors (level 12 soldiers)
2 warforged anvilpriests (MM2 207; level 8 controller leaders)

Stalkers on the Streets (3575 xp)
1 vampire lord (MM 258; level 11 elite lurker)
2 vortex wraiths (OG 192; level 9 soldiers)
3 worgs (MM 265; level 9 brutes)
3 vampire spawn bloodhunters (MM 259; level 10 minions)

Amhupthet and his Attendants (3600 xp)
1 mummy lord (MM 192; level 13 elite controller)
1 lamia (MM 174; level 12 elite controller)
4 servile ghosts (OG 150; level 11 minions)

Duergar Trapsmith (3750 xp)
1 duergar fleshtearer (MM2 93; level 11 lurker)
1 shield guardian (MM 149) (level 14 soldier)
1 dweomer eater (behind a hidden panel until released) (MM2 179; level 11 skirmisher)
1 cave-in trap (as the hazard, but triggered by the duergar) (DMG 91; level 13 lurker)
1 electrified floor trap (DMG 91; level 10 obstacle)
1 giant rolling boulder trap (DMG2 69; level 14 minion blaster)

22nd Level (19,200 - 24,899 xp)

Legions of Avernus (20,950 xp)
1 war devil (MM 67; level 22 brute leaders)
20 legion devil legionnaires (MM 64; level 21 minions)

The Knight of Storms (22,600 xp)
1 behir stormsteed (MM2 23; level 24 soldier)
1 dragonborn paladin death knight (MM 51; level 25 elite soldier)
2 shardstorm vortex whirlwinds (MM2; level 23 minion skirmisher)

Keepers of the Magnesium Spirit (24,600 xp)
1 magnesium spirit (level 21 elite soldier)
4 cambion hellfire magus (MM 39; level 18 artillery)
1 human insane noble (MM2 146; level 23 elite skirmisher)

28th Level

Far Realms Incursion (66,250 xp)
1 gibbering orb (MM 127; level 27 solo controller)
5 lich vestiges (MM 176; level 26 minions)

 

[the Jester]

Does anyone else think this could be useful, or am I just amusing myself here?

 

[Dr_Ruminahui]

Not so much for me, but then I don't use the set monsters in the various MMs either...

That said, I may be in the minority here.

 

[Jhaelen]

Does anyone else think this could be useful, or am I just amusing myself here?

I think, to be useful, at a minimum, there needs to be a short text explaining tactics. I.e. how do the different monsters work together, what synergies are there that make this particular encounter group exciting or interesting?

Even better if they came together with a (generic) encounter area. Then you could just drop them into your game. It might be useful to pick a particular encounter area (e.g. traveling along a road, camping in a tower ruin, etc.) and provide encounter groups for different levels.

Essentially, something that would be similar to the 'Vicious Venues' article series over at WotC but without the background/plot info.

 

[eamon]

For this to be useful, it'd need to be on some vaguely wiki like page, however, as a thread this'll be completely unmaintainable - and unnavigable.

 

[Derulbaskul]

Dang... I can't give you XP again.

Yes, very useful. Thanks for posting!

 

[Infiniti2000]

Kind of useful. I use the DDI monster builder and copy/paste into a document, thus I can print out all the stat blocks together. For me to use this, I would just reference the critters and look them up in the monster builder. What would be more useful would be if I could import each of these encounters into the holding pen. Obviously, that requires a code change by WotC, so it's not your fault!

 

[the Jester]

I think, to be useful, at a minimum, there needs to be a short text explaining tactics. I.e. how do the different monsters work together, what synergies are there that make this particular encounter group exciting or interesting?

Even better if they came together with a (generic) encounter area. Then you could just drop them into your game. It might be useful to pick a particular encounter area (e.g. traveling along a road, camping in a tower ruin, etc.) and provide encounter groups for different levels.

Way too much work for the purposes of this thread. If you take a look at the Rate Your Encounters thread, though, you'll see a lot of what you're asking for. What I'm doing is more akin to the encounter groups listed at the end of most of the entries in the Monster Manual; the titles that I'm sticking on them are just enough to give the dm some ideas.