Suggesion for handling encounters while travelling

[Blackbrrd]

I am currently running Heathen (from Dungeon magazine 155) and there is some overland travel with encounters spread out across the travel.

Ordinarily all the encounters would have happened on different days and there would not have been much feeling of increasing danger.

I decided to try a little houserule and told the players that to make them think about when to use daily powers, try to conserve healing surges etc, they wouldn't be "allowed" to take a rest before after 3-5 encounters.

This has worked out quite nicely. After three encounters the players are really feeling the danger of the area. I think I will throw one more "optional" encounter at them, where they can decide to not engage the enemy if they don't want to, because they are low on resources.

 

[Derren]

As long as the players don't question why they suddenly can't rest any more even though several days pass then go for it.

But if they do you will have a lot of trouble finding a non metagaming answer.

 

[Hereticus]

1) Ambush the characters at night with lesser encounters. Barrage the campsite with arrows while a few minions attack in malee. I've done this numerous times to harass the characters, not kill them. It keeps them paranoid and on their toes.

2) Allow them to spot a monster or a few circling overhead. Give them plenty of time to react and make a defensive strategy. Then attack from out of range by dropping rocks or logs from the sky. Make them defend their mounts and wagons.

3) Give them a river to cross, but in a way that divides the party in half. Once divided, attack half the group and allow the others that have better ranged attacks to also participate from the other side.

4) When crossing a swamp, mountain or desert, give them poor choices where to make camp, and eliminate the availability of food and drinkable water.

 

[JoeNotCharles]

A suggestion I saw in the House Rules thread is to just say that an extended rest doesn't have any effect unless you've passed a milestone. You're allowed to sleep, it just doesn't recharge anything unless you've had more than one encounter. (And, per the rules, the DM is allowed to declare a milestone after single encounters that they think were big enough to warrant it, every two encounters is just the standard.)

 

[GenghisDon]

That's an interesting house rule Joenotcharles, it could be great for outdoor adventures.