Finally, a semi-official word on non-combat encounters

[Asmor]

Today's Ask Wizards finally has some advice on what should be treated as an encounter outside of combat.

An "encounter" is more than a combat, but also includes any other significant event in the game such as stopping to bash down a door, navigating a rickety bridge, or dealing with a trap. If the characters have a minute or two to catch their breath and rest, assume that the last encounter has ended and all per encounter abilities refresh.

Thoughts?

 

[werk]

So an encounter ends when the party has a minute or two.

It gives an example of bashing down a door as an encounter.

Bash down door + run in and fight. Two encounters? One encounter?

Thoughts?

 

[Rhun]

So an encounter ends when the party has a minute or two.

It gives an example of bashing down a door as an encounter.

Bash down door + run in and fight. Two encounters? One encounter?

Thoughts?

Bash down door + run in and fight is one encounter. Obviously, if there is something to fight in the room, it isn't going to wait a few minutes after you bash down the door to attack.

 

[Mark Chance]

Bash down door + run in and fight is one encounter. Obviously, if there is something to fight in the room, it isn't going to wait a few minutes after you bash down the door to attack.

Unless you make PCs subject to interaction skills.

"You bash down the door and rush into the room. The Liche Lord looks up from his Tome of Excrutiating Evil and raises a single bony digit.

'Just a moment,' it says in a voice as hollow as an empty tomb. 'I'd like to finish this paragraph and then get a few things from my secret chest before I destroy you for this unpardonably rude intrusion. Wait over there for me, please.'

It points to the far corner of the room where several comfortable chairs surround a walnut table on which has been laid out an assortment of refreshments. Since the Liche Lord rolled so well on its fast task Diplomacy check, all you are well-disposed to do as it asks, and thus you politely retire to the waiting area while the Liche Lord prepares for battle."

 

[Nail]

Ah, the Diplomacy skill.

One sure-fire way to p*ss players off!

 

[Mistwell]

Ah, the Diplomacy skill.

One sure-fire way to p*ss players off!

But it only works against NPCs.

"You can change the attitudes of others (nonplayer characters)".

 

[werk]

Bash down door + run in and fight is one encounter. Obviously, if there is something to fight in the room, it isn't going to wait a few minutes after you bash down the door to attack.

If you throw a switch during combat, it's all part of that encounter.
If you throw a switch when you are not in combat it's its own encounter.

LAME/

They are just trying to muddy the terms so they have more room for rhetoric...articles like these.

 

[Mistwell]

I think we are in for a lot of per-encounter items and abilities, and they need to refine the definition because of that.

 

[frankthedm]

Blech. Encounter should not be a duration in the D20 ruleset. In a more free form game that can work, but in the classified and codified 3E, it will cause problems like with barbarians* and attacks lauched after the first force is dispaced with.

Once per minute should have been fine. One per four rounds was what Binders use IIRC and that works for the vast majority of combats.

*IMHO Fatigue from rage should last as long as the rage did.

 

[Mistwell]

Blech. Encounter should not be a duration in the D20 ruleset. In a more free form game that can work, but in the classified and codified 3E, it will cause problems like with barbarians* and attacks lauched after the first force is dispaced with.

Once per minute should have been fine. One per four rounds was what Binders use IIRC and that works for the vast majority of combats.

*IMHO Fatigue from rage should last as long as the rage did.

I think it is a set-up for the 4e version of spells that function a certain number of times per encounter instead of with the current Vancian system.