I need yer help!!! QUICK! (please)

[Ashy]

Ok- I'm starting a new game tonight with some 13/14 year olds, many of them have never played before. We are all first level, starting off in a foothills/mountain terrain. What would be the best random encounters I could toss at them? I've got lots of monster books (all the WotC ones, all the SSS ones, and the Penumbra Bestiary) - so try and limit the choices to those books.

THANKS!!!

 

[Sfounder]

Go basic. Use Kobolds, goblins, dire rats etc. Best to get the cliches out of the way!

 

[morbiczer]

My advice is basically the same as the previous poster's: keep it simple.

 

[BiggusGeekus]

kobolds & bandits.

Keep it simple.

The players start out in a small town. They are asked to deliver a letter of import to the next town over for a small reward of 40gp. They do (this town is bigger and they can buy more supplies here if they need to). They encounter bandits on the way (2 1st level rogues).

When they return they discover their town has been attacked by kobolds! The tracks lead to a small cave to the east. The kobolds are in the cave and their security is lax because they were up all night raiding and whatnot. Each area in the cave has 3-4 kobolds. One of the rooms has their pet krenshar. The last room has the kobold boss who has one level of sorceror and is accompanied by two kobold guards.

This should work out to at least four encounters. The kobolds and krenshar can be run straight out of the book. You'll have to prepare the 1st level rogues and kobold sorceror though.

Easy. Quick. And a good start for early teens.

 

[Enkhidu]

I agree - for new players, the first time they see a goblin or a kobold (and if I know you, you'll make sure not to name them but to give only descriptions at first) is a a big deal. Give them the basics.

 

[Djeta Thernadier]

Goblins, maybe a couple of orcs that aren't very big. Definately keep it simple.

 

[Kyramus]

some 13/14 year olds..... is this like 2-3 or 10-11 or 25-30 teenagers?

level 1? keep to the low spectrum. kobolds, level 1 warriors, skeletons, zombies, vermin (small ones), stirges and such.

The above crew could be using an old graveyard as a hiding place. kobolds were inspecting to see if there is something of worth. the bandits use it as a hide out, the skeletons and zombies and vermin are natural hazards. it might even lead to something bigger later, like someone is burried here for the PC's to dig up, turns out the bandits or kobolds got to the crypt first and the PCs have to chase down the kobolds or the bandits.

anyway, follow the flow, give them something to do and let things fall into place. sometimes ad libbing a game makes for great fun.

I once ad libbed iwth a friends master maze and I ended up unconsciously having them run through the dungeon in tomb raider (the first movie with the big multiarmed statue) was fun and it fit well. It was only until about 2-3 weeks after , when one of the players was watching tomb raider with his children did he realize that he went through the same adventure, including being on top of the wooded swinging thing. lol.

 

[LGodamus]

give em an Ogre..start em out tough....lol

Just kidding...Biggus seems to have the right idea.

 

[Dr. Harry]

Ok- I'm starting a new game tonight with some 13/14 year olds, many of them have never played before. We are all first level, starting off in a foothills/mountain terrain. What would be the best random encounters I could toss at them? I've got lots of monster books (all the WotC ones, all the SSS ones, and the Penumbra Bestiary) - so try and limit the choices to those books.

THANKS!!!

While the other posters are quite correct, I'd also throw something big and funky in, to give them the sense of the "big fight" and -- maybe -- teach when to run like smegging hell. I recommend an Owlbear - a stupid monster when examined closely, but, forgive me, I've always had a soft spot for 'em. Perhaps you could make it wounded or cowardly, to give the players a chance.

 

[Rel]

Regardless of what you pick, I think you should have these encounters be more meaningful than merely "random". Whatever critters you use, give them some sort of distinctive marking or trait that you could use to link them to a larger plot element.

If you use Goblins or Kobolds, have their arrows fletched with distinctive red feathers. Later the PC's travel through a valley and spot a flock of unusual red birds.

If you use Orcs, have them lack much in the way of armor and use exotic weapons. Later the players find that they were being trained by an evil Monk.

Use some Twig Blights and have there be an evil Druid behind a plot to drive all outsiders from these hills with his army of plant creatures.

You don't need to make it an overcomplicated plot if you already have plenty planned. But I think it is the little touches like that, which make these encounters memorables instead of just "some mooks we slaughtered on the way to the REAL adventure".