How do you use Random Encounters or Wandering Monsters?

[dreaded_beast]

I've DMed my first 3 sessions so far and they have been pretty enjoyable for the most part. I'm starting to learn that the more planning I do, the more enjoyable the game is for me and possibly my player, who says she is having fun so far. Last session was mainly roleplaying (no combat, but rolls were made like spot and search, etc.). The session was short, around 2-and-a-half hours.

One aspect of the game that I want to try is the concept of the random encounter and wandering monsters. I've always like the idea of a "living" world, where you can meet all manner of creatures and people that have no real bearing on the actual "adventure" or "plot".

Any suggestions on how to do this or what preparations I should make?

 

[Crothian]

I stage encounters that feel like random encounters, I don't decide when or where they happen though. I'll have about a dozen prepared at a time and then randomly get one when I feel an encounter is needed. The encounters are fully defined as well as any other encounters I have so they feel the same.

 

[Shallown]

I personally don't use "random" encounters. Not in the sense of rolling on a chart or having a 1 in 6 chance of someone walking by. I do it occasionally in cities, but more as a means of inspiration then anything. Now the characters run into "random" encounters. Meaning things not dealing directly with the plot or the characters goals. The old lady on the street begging for a coin etc. These are planned out by me. The encounter may be set to happen between 3-4 pm and if the characters aren't where the encounter is it doesn't happen. In other words the universe exist around everyone not just them.

I am God in the universe. Not God over the players but I determine everything about the world. I take players ideas and use them. I steal ideas from the board and from other places. But I am the universe. All but the players, who enjoy free will.

But that's just me.

When I use to do it. Its not hard to thumb through the Monster manual and pick out what might be lurking about in the surrounding terrain. This is easier if you maintain a smaller gaming area for the players to adventure in. If there is no desert that makes one less list to make. It sort of takes you deciding what could be around. If you leave off goblins, it may be a good idea to know why. A random encounter list can lead to a lot of ideas. Even if I don't use one in my games they still are useful tools for making your universe.

later

 

[el-remmen]

I have tables for various areas of the world, with creatures listed by frequency to that area - but I don't actually roll on them - I just them as a basis to craft encounter I think will be fun and suitable for the PCs - especially when they are travelling from place to place.

In their last overland journey the PCs met:

A band of barbarian who had taken other adventurers hostage.

A chimera that they avoided.

A half-ogre ranger and his bear family companions

A whole crap-load of black orcs, when they took a short cut under the mountains that the half-ogre showed them in return for some axes and other gear he could not make for himself out in the wilderness.

 

[S'mon]

I like nice simple d6-based random encounter tables; six different encounters that can be used randomly or selected from. I have d% tables but rarely use them.

 

[Piratecat]

I handle things the same way that Crothian does: logical planned encounters, inserted when things start getting boring.

 

[billd91]

One aspect of the game that I want to try is the concept of the random encounter and wandering monsters. I've always like the idea of a "living" world, where you can meet all manner of creatures and people that have no real bearing on the actual "adventure" or "plot".

Any suggestions on how to do this or what preparations I should make?

I generally make up my own encounter table based on where the PCs are and then roll up a set before the session starts so I don't have to roll and look stuff up during the game. If the players are feeling especially harried, I'll skip the wandering encounters for a while.
As far as the creatures on the list, I put in whatever seems a reasonable fit for the region/town/dungeon without regard for CR. After all, it's a dangerous world out there. If you're going to go adventuring, you may encounter something you can't handle. Really powerful creatures aren't very common though, and I try to play them as realistically as possible. Super-predators may be dangerous, but they're usually also lazy and will go for easy kills of horses if possible, for example.

 

[Hjorimir]

I'm in the Crothian/P-Kitty camp. I will add that I theme my 'random' encounter write-ups by terrain. This isn't so important at low levels. However, one day those pesky PCs will start to teleport on you. You really come off looking like a pro when they teleport a thousand miles off to the northern glacier and you have some appropriate (well rounded) encounters ready to go.

 

[EricNoah]

I use encounter "menus" -- I can pick appetizers, main courses, or desserts as desired.

If you are doing to set up random encounters (or even a menu but arranged by frequency), I like the 1d12+1d8 charts that they used in 2E -- they made a nice "curve" with very rare creatures at either end and common creatures in the middle.

Also don't limit yourself to creatures -- a patch of quicksand, a sudden storm, or strange noises can also be fun encounters.

 

[CombatWombat51]

I don't use random encounter charts, though I'd kinda like to. Instead, I lazily roll 1d10 to determine the alignment of the encounte, with a 10 indicating something too stupid to be aligned, like animals. Then I roll a d4 for the number of somethings. Then I roll 1d20, minus the result of 1d6-1 (minimum of 1). The total of the d20 is the CR of the thing(s) to be encountered. Since I have alignment, number encountered, CR, and the terrain (which is wherever the PC's happen to be), I can easily pick something quick out of the MM, or just use a classed NPC.

For classes, I roll a d12, with a 12 meaning multi-classed. I only use 4 races, and I roll 1d10-6 (minimum of 1). A 1 is human, a 2 is elf, a 3 is centaur, and a 4 is a tiefling.

I often don't use certain parts of the equation if they're not appropriate; I just choose what I want. It's not extremely precise, and it goes off of the "encounters aren't tailored for the PC's" idea, but there you have it.