So I decided maybe we should actually look through and summarize the Adventure Books. As I mentioned earlier, I don’t have them all, but I do have 4 of them, so I’ll summarize those 4. Here is the first, Hoard of the Dragon Queen, which was also the first official adventure released for the 5E rules, other than the Lost Mines of Phandelver from the starter set, which [MENTION=6680839]Gau[/MENTION]chi already touched upon.
Here we go…
Hoard of the Dragon Queen
Episode 1- Greenest in Flames
8 Combat encounters are provided in detail, and 8 additional random encounters are mentioned as possible. Encounters include a variety of dangers and there is a loose time constraint at play. It is totally up to the DM how many of the encounters and which of them are used.
Episode 2- Raiders’ Camp
2 Combat encounters are provided in detail, the Camp location is described in detail and allows for the opportunity for several encounters: infiltration, exploration, possible combat, possible capture, how to escape
Episode 3- Dragon Hatchery
A site based dungeon crawl that consists of 10 to 12 possible combat encounters described in detail, 6 more wandering monster encounters are provided, and a couple of traps are included as well.
Episode 4- On the Road
A 40 day journey that is meant to serve mostly as social interaction, but there are also many encounters provided; 12 detailed encounters provided, and then an additional 4 connected events. The book suggests to pace these all as needed, and to supplement with random encounters as needed, but most days would certainly not meet the multiple encounter day expectation.
Episode 5- Construction Ahead
Travel north continues, and this chapter is meant to be narrated quickly. A list of random encounters is suggested if desired, but this is another chapter that is mostly social interaction and story development.
Episode 6- Castle Naerytar
2 day trip to the Castle, random encounter roll suggested every hour, 10 encounters described.
The Castle itself is a dynamic encounter location. There are several factions within the Castle, each with its own goals and desires, and relationships with other factions. There are several ways this can all go depending on how the PCs proceed. However, over 30 possible combats of varying difficulty exist within the Castle.
Episode 7- Hunting Lodge
A site based episode, over 10 different combat encounters are possible, but combat is not the only way to succeed here, although it is very likely. Time constraints for events in Episode 8 play a part in pacing this chapter.
Episode 8- Castle in the Clouds
Two sites in this chapter, the Village of Parnast and Skyreach Castle. Time constraints play a part here. The village consists of mostly investigative social interaction, but there are up to 3 possible encounters, mostly of minimal threat. Skyreach Castle is a dynamic location with several powerful enemies, and over 15 possible combat encounters provided, although some of these may be combined if the PCs trigger certain events.
So, of the 8 chapters in this adventure, 5 of them definitively allow for at least 6 to 8 encounters. 2 do not, but are not really intended to do that. And 1 is designed so that multiple encounters are possible, but it all depends highly on how the PCs behave. So, at the very least, we can eliminate the chatter that the designers don't follow their own guidelines at all. That's clearly false. To determine if they continue to follow these guidelines, we'll have to review the subsequent adventure books. I'll try and do similar summaries for the other ones that I own (Princes of the Apocalypse, Out of the Abyss, and Curse of Strahd).