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<blockquote data-quote="JRRNeiklot" data-source="post: 4044832" data-attributes="member: 717"><p>I use both.&nbsp; I design an adventure with tailored encounters, though it's possible that deep in the orc warrens lies an ancient evil that either the pcs or the orcs may awaken and lay waste to them both.&nbsp; But mostly, the encounters are within range of the party's ability; however, I do make notes on the campaign map.&nbsp; Keep on the borderlands is HERE, the slavelords are operating in THIS area, a huge red dragon is rumored to be over HERE, etc.&nbsp; I do not ask them to go to those areas, but they are welcome to if they wish.&nbsp; I also allow for an &quot;impossible&quot; encounter on the wandering monster charts.&nbsp; If a couple of manticores show up where a first level party is camping, they can attack and most likely die, quietly creep away, hide and watch the mating ritual, etc.&nbsp; Every encounter need not end in combat.&nbsp; I remember one campaign where a red dragon kept accosting low level pcs.&nbsp; He started out as a random encounter.&nbsp; He let them live in exchange for their horses.&nbsp; A few weeks later, he showed up again, ate more horses.&nbsp; Eventually the pcs gained a few levels and managed to drive him off nursing his wounds.&nbsp; LAter on, they even defeated the dragon in his lair.&nbsp; It was one of the most memorable adventures I ever ran and it started out as just a random encounter.&nbsp; Something like 99-00 on the encounter chart because his lair was nearby.&nbsp; Tailoring every encounter to the pcs level ruins my suspension of disbelief as both a dm and as a player.</p></blockquote><p></p>

[QUOTE="JRRNeiklot, post: 4044832, member: 717"] I use both. I design an adventure with tailored encounters, though it's possible that deep in the orc warrens lies an ancient evil that either the pcs or the orcs may awaken and lay waste to them both. But mostly, the encounters are within range of the party's ability; however, I do make notes on the campaign map. Keep on the borderlands is HERE, the slavelords are operating in THIS area, a huge red dragon is rumored to be over HERE, etc. I do not ask them to go to those areas, but they are welcome to if they wish. I also allow for an "impossible" encounter on the wandering monster charts. If a couple of manticores show up where a first level party is camping, they can attack and most likely die, quietly creep away, hide and watch the mating ritual, etc. Every encounter need not end in combat. I remember one campaign where a red dragon kept accosting low level pcs. He started out as a random encounter. He let them live in exchange for their horses. A few weeks later, he showed up again, ate more horses. Eventually the pcs gained a few levels and managed to drive him off nursing his wounds. LAter on, they even defeated the dragon in his lair. It was one of the most memorable adventures I ever ran and it started out as just a random encounter. Something like 99-00 on the encounter chart because his lair was nearby. Tailoring every encounter to the pcs level ruins my suspension of disbelief as both a dm and as a player. [/QUOTE]

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