Encounter locations

[Oryan77]

I've realized that I'm not very good at inventing interesting locations to have encounters take place at.

For example, if it's a fight out in a field, I never think to map out terrain on the battlemap. Things like trees yes, or a rock (if I'm on top of my game ), but I never think of making the terrain more interesting. Like having the encounter take place on a fallen log over a stream, or a narrow trail between steep cliffs. Or maybe the PC's battlefield happens to be the edge of a farm and there's a fence and a corn field close that they can interact with. I'd even like things involving an abandoned wagon on the side of the road. Even using weather would be nice.

I started wondering if my random encounters are getting boring because it's the same thing...plop down some minis on the map, possibly draw a few trees, and say, you encounter 5 goblins that jumped out of some bushes. I think props & terrain would help spice it up.

Is there a website or even a book that gives ideas to spice up a battlefield?

 

[Shadowslayer]

If you look to the Miniatures line...say, buy a Starter set, there's 4 poster maps there. Also, the Fantastic Locations series each come with 4 poster maps.

They'll get you thinking about battlefields and various types of terrain and ways you can lay them out. I'm now amassing a pretty good number of battlemaps that I've drawn out on 1 inch easel paper. (because holding up the game while you draw it out is just...bleah. Much better to have it made ahead of time)

Really, just lining up the baddies and hacking it out on a flat field can be fun....but I think D&D really shines when using different types of terrain for encounters.

Just be careful that its the kind of game you want to have before you start. It does make things a lot more board-gamey. I've made my peace with that, but its not for everyone.

 

[jmucchiello]

Add elevation to your fields. Most of the Earth is not very flat. A small ravine or "cliffface" can add interesting effects to the battlefield.

 

[Oryan77]

I started looking at a bunch of Dundjinni maps that people have created. They are giving me a few ideas!

 

[The Shaman]

Try some of the various popular geography magazines, like National Geographic. You can pick them up by the boxfull cheap at used book stores - while you're there, see about a used geomorphology text book to use as a reference on landforms.

 

[Bagpuss]

Is there a website or even a book that gives ideas to spice up a battlefield?

If you don't mind spending money the Mastering Iron Heroes PDF is worth having a look at.

While written for the Iron Heroes rulebook it actually is easy to adapt to normal D&D and has a whole section on things to make your battlefield more interesting and interactive.

Here's Chapter 4's content.

Chapter Four: Combat
Zones: Interactive Environments
Types of Zones
Condition Zones
Event Zones
Action Zones
Terrain Effects
Generic Terrain
Aquatic Terrain
Arctic Terrain
Arcane Terrain
Forest Terrain
Desert Terrain
Marsh Terrain
Mountain and Hill Terrain
Urban and Interior Terrain
Mobile Terrain
Mobile Terrain in Combat
Weather Effects
Precipitation
Wind
Temperature
Combat in Darkness
Finding and Attacking Targets
Moving in the Dark
Running Encounters
Underwater Combat
Miscellaneous States and Conditions
Falling Damage
Incorporeal
Invisibility
Starvation and Thirst

And a preview article about the zones in the book.

 

[Tonguez]

I like the look of those Zones.

IMC I use a similar (albeit much less developed) mechanic of simply placing a Skill DC on every Encounter area.

Encounter: 3 goblins in a cavern.
Areas: Area 1 Slope up from entrance, Area 2 ledge at top
Conditions: Area 1 Climb Check DC 10 (uneven 12 ft slope), Area 2 Balance DC 10 (uneven ground)
Features: Area 1: Uneven slope, Scree Area 2 Goblins have higher ground
and cover whilst PCs are climbing