Random Encounters?

[Andrew D. Gable]

So how about it, do you use 'em?

Me, not really, only in certain areas of the campaign world (near dimensional vortices, usually).

 

[Crothian]

Do I use encounters that only have a chance of occuring: Yes.

Do these encounters get randomly rolled on a table: No.

So, which are you asking for?

 

[Andrew D. Gable]

The second, sorry. I'll change the poll to reflect this.

NM, I can't. Can a mod do it for me?

 

[Greybar]

I voted "No", though I wouldn't add the humorous superlative.

I thought about it for a bit, and realized I hadn't used a random encounter table for years and years. I've used non-plot driving encounters, which could be considered a similar thing, but they generally had a purpose.

For example: wolves circling the camp one night let the PCs know the land is wild, but the wolves stayed away with a simple demonstration of force that showed they weren't easy food.

The random encounter version has an attack by those wolves that don't retreat until they've taken 50-100% losses.

entirely a style thing, I'd assume

John

 

[MerricB]

Whilst not in every area of the campaign (some adventures I don't use them), in general I always use random encounters.

Wilderness encounters, dungeon encounters... even city encounters, assuming I can find those tables.

They move the game away from the purely static and predictable.

Cheers!

 

[Crothian]

I don't use them, but they aren't the Devil. I like to have encounters planned. Now, many encounters don't get used or I'll place them somewherte besides where I decided to. However, the charts usually have encounters ranging from very weak to things that would be a TPK, and I like a little more control then that.

 

[Olive]

However, the charts usually have encounters ranging from very weak to things that would be a TPK, and I like a little more control then that.

i use them, bit i make my own charts, and tend to not use the role if its gonna kill the party... but my problem with most published charts is like what crothian says.

 

[Fenes 2]

I do not use encounters rolled on a chart, but I often let random luck decide if the PCs encounter some additional trouble.

As an example, if the PCs are fleeing from a band of smugglers in a port town by crashing through the locked door of a storehouse, then there may be a lsight chance (1 in 6 is my favourite) that they just crashed a meeting between pirates and their contacts. I also sometimes use this method to decide whether or not they meet the watch while carrying strange luggage like a captive or wounded through the streets at night.

The encounter itself is always tailored to the party, not randomly rolled.

 

[Gizzard]

I try and keep a "random encounter" list handy. I generate it between sessions. I keep rolling on a published table until I get something that makes sense in my campaign, then I roll up a random motivation off my own table. The idea is to give each encounter a bit of personality.

So, I use a lot of random inputs to create the encounter. I use a random die roll to determine when the encounter happens. But its not exactly random like, "You have run into something... -shake shake roll -....and its a ...um....Glabrazu. It says it hates you and attacks."

 

[johnsemlak]

I certainly think random encounters provide an essential element of surprise, unpredictability, and tension in the game. I use then if possible. So I voted the first option.

I wondering of DMs hide their roles on random encounters (or wandering monsters), or do they build the tension and make the rolls right in front of the players ('OK let's see if something unexpected comes along...mmmm...Uh oh, I was hoping you wouldn't have to face one of these..."