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<blockquote data-quote="Philotomy Jurament" data-source="post: 5332523" data-attributes="member: 20854">I use them, but I'm running one original D&amp;D campaign and one AD&amp;D (1e) campaign, so that's not unusual.I see wandering monsters (especially in the dungeon) as a challenge to player skill.&nbsp; In the editions I run, you get around 80% of your XP from successfully attaining your goal (i.e. acquiring treasure); killing monsters is worth comparatively little and uses up valuable resources (hit points, spells, items, et cetera).&nbsp; Killing wandering monsters, which typically carry little or not treasure, is a very poor risk:reward ratio.&nbsp; Players are much better off avoiding wandering monster encounters.&nbsp; Skillful players will do things like:<ul>
<li data-xf-list-type="ul">Avoid wasting lots of time in the dungeon (more time means more wandering monster checks)</li>
<li data-xf-list-type="ul">Avoid actions which might attract wandering monsters (loud hammering, battering, setting fires, etc.)</li>
<li data-xf-list-type="ul">Quickly evaluate the odds of an encounter being worth fighting, and possibly take another action rather than charging into battle</li>
<li data-xf-list-type="ul">Attempt to parley and negotiate with intelligent wandering monsters; they might not really want a fight, either...</li>
<li data-xf-list-type="ul">Flee from monsters, using spells (e.g. hold portal), spiked/wedged doors, dropped food, or dropped treasure to deter pursuit.</li>
<li data-xf-list-type="ul"> Et cetera</li>
</ul>Less experienced or capable players will end up encountering and fighting more wandering monsters, making them less efficient than a more skillful group.&nbsp; (This is *really* apparent when you DM for more than one group.&nbsp; I have one group of &quot;old hands&quot; who've been playing for years and one group of newbies, and I can definitely see the difference, although the newbies are rapidly improving as they learn from mistakes.)In summary, I don't see wandering monsters as an extra that just gets in the way of the adventure and can thus be excised.&nbsp; I see wandering monsters as a integral part of the challenge to the players.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Philotomy Jurament, post: 5332523, member: 20854"] I use them, but I'm running one original D&D campaign and one AD&D (1e) campaign, so that's not unusual. I see wandering monsters (especially in the dungeon) as a challenge to player skill. In the editions I run, you get around 80% of your XP from successfully attaining your goal (i.e. acquiring treasure); killing monsters is worth comparatively little and uses up valuable resources (hit points, spells, items, et cetera). Killing wandering monsters, which typically carry little or not treasure, is a very poor risk:reward ratio. Players are much better off avoiding wandering monster encounters. Skillful players will do things like: [list] [*]Avoid wasting lots of time in the dungeon (more time means more wandering monster checks) [*]Avoid actions which might attract wandering monsters (loud hammering, battering, setting fires, etc.) [*]Quickly evaluate the odds of an encounter being worth fighting, and possibly take another action rather than charging into battle [*]Attempt to parley and negotiate with intelligent wandering monsters; they might not really want a fight, either... [*]Flee from monsters, using spells (e.g. [i]hold portal[/i]), spiked/wedged doors, dropped food, or dropped treasure to deter pursuit. [*] Et cetera [/list] Less experienced or capable players will end up encountering and fighting more wandering monsters, making them less efficient than a more skillful group. (This is *really* apparent when you DM for more than one group. I have one group of "old hands" who've been playing for years and one group of newbies, and I can definitely see the difference, although the newbies are rapidly improving as they learn from mistakes.) In summary, I don't see wandering monsters as an extra that just gets in the way of the adventure and can thus be excised. I see wandering monsters as a integral part of the challenge to the players. [/QUOTE]

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