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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Arlough" data-source="post: 5529153" data-attributes="member: 79335">Back to back encounters can work very well.  It eats up resources and creates a tense feeling.Another one I have used is up to 7 encounters in one day (never made it past this) as that forces resource budgeting and builds large amounts of tension.And, as the DM, I can even force those situations.So, in a way, that can replace random encounters.What I am trying to do here is abstract out and replace random encounters in a different way that takes less time.  Basically, this is a way to consume surges and daily powers that doesn't involve actual encounters most of the time.  For example, in zones that are 1 - 5, you can't even get a random encounter. Instead, at worst, you roll to see if you lose surges.  And, you only have to make that roll 5% of the time in zones that are ATL 1, going up to 25% of the time in zones that are ATL 5.If you want to decrease the odds of running into unfriendlies, then do things to avoid them.The players can gain bounuses to the roll by stealthing or using nature to hide tracks, perception to go scouting, etc.Basically, if you hit the easy DC for that level, +1, moderate +3, and hard +5So then, even in areas that are ATL 16 (highly dangerous) you will only have a tactical (battle mat) encounter 50% of the time.  And with a little prep (using nature to hide your tracks and scouting for danger) you can reduce that to once again never happening at all.But, I can understand your stance on getting rid of random encounters, so how about this.<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Roll > Threat Level; the party passes without incident.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Roll <= Threat Level; some minor skirmishes, but none worth playing out. Everyone loses 1d4-1 surges in that time frame.*</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Roll <= Threat Level - 5; “We have an actual fight on your hands.” Everyone loses 1d4 surges in that time frame.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Roll <= Threat Level - 10; “Woah, where was that hiding!!!” Everyone loses 1d4+1 surges in that time frame</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Roll <= Threat level – 15; “I told you this was a bad idea!” Everyone loses 1d4+2 surges in that time frame.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Etc</li> </ul>If they wish, they can spend a Daily attack power to prevent the loss of 2 surges.This way, it completely eliminates the random tactical encounter while still having the cost of a hostile environment.</blockquote>

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