Example wilderness encounter table--What. The. Heck. 16 dragons?!?!

[Jeph]

Okay, take out your DMG. Turn to page 136. Look at the 8 red dragons and 8 gold dragons on the example encounter table. Now, am I missing something, or is one dragon from every age range of two warring species represented here? How the heck do the other creatures survive with 16 *DRAGONS* engaged in an all-out battle around? And what the heck would a party of 8th level adventurers who know anything about dragons be doing in the area?

Just, y'know, wondering, incase someone can explain this. I mean, it would be fine as the basis for a high (like, 18th or 19th) level adventure, but as an 8th level wilderness encounter table . . . huh?

 

[EricNoah]

Hmmm, interesting ... you're kind of treating it like "every monster on this list lives in this one particular area." I would treat a general encounter table like that as more of a list of what could appear in any given area if you don't already have it planned out.

 

[Henry]

I go Eric's route here. The random encounter tables is not a list of EVERYTHING that lives there, but what "could" be there. If you run into a red dragon, you won't find 15 other dragons living in the area, because there just isn't hunting room.

 

[Jeph]

Interesting idea, but that poses other problems--like, what do you do after encountering the first dragon? Are other dragon rolls simply "no encounter"?

Personally, as a GM, Dragons are important enough to be seperate from and above wilderness encounter tables, but then, that's just me. BADD, as some say.

 

[MeepoTheMighty]

In 2nd edition, the encounter tables for EVERY dungeon level and EVERY wilderness area had a chance of encountering a dragon somewhere. I always found it hard to believe that a dragon would ever be a wandering monster, but I guess that's why I don't design games.

 

[Umbran]

I always found it hard to believe that a dragon would ever be a wandering monster

Why? You figure the dragons are always sitting at home watching "Friends"? A dragon's got a large hunting area, right? Shoudn't it have to wander around that area, looking for vittles occasionally?

 

[MarauderX]

Yeah, it is a bit weird. That's why I don't use them from the DMG, I make my own, and usually they don't have many magical or huge critters on them. Typically they are loaded up with species that are part of a large community, such as formians, and have a bunch of humanoids on the list. I think I saw some better encounter tables on the EN boards somewhere, but can't find anything without the search.

 

[Bendris Noulg]

I always found it hard to believe that a dragon would ever be a wandering monster, but I guess that's why I don't design games.

ROFL..!

So, true. I've always made my own tables. Guess my Dragons are all couch patatoes.

 

[Angcuru]

Perhaps the dragons were a war party out to annihilate a race or two.

 

[Melan]

And in 1st edition, dragons weren't even solitary - they came in groups. Of course, they were a lot wimpier - which I kinda miss now and then.