Random Encounter Table ...?

[abk108]

I don't know how things should be handled in DCC RPG, but for my playtesting adventures i figured it would be nice to have some random encounter table, just because it gives me that "old d&d" flavour - in my 3E adventures every encounter was part of the story, or was already planned so i could study the monster and calculate xp and treasure correctly for the whole module

For my 2nd level adventure, the party has to undertake a long trip through the mountains, to reach a rendezvous point. The trip is expected to last 6-7 days. I have no experience on Random Encounters, so i tried to write this table (monsters will be my own version, using AD&D monster manual as a guide...)

Roll 1d10
1- goblin patrol (1d6+2 goblins)
2- wolf pack (1d4+1 wolves)
3- Ogre
4- Harpies (1d3)
5- Hydra, 5 heads, wounded
6- leucrotta
7- Bandits (1d4+2)
8- NO ENCOUNTERS
9- NO ENCOUNTERS
10- NO ENCOUNTERS

I thought that having some results "no encounters" would make sense otherwise, as mentioned in OOTS, players are going to expect to find 1 and only 1 encounter every day of travel.

PS: i'm not asking for R.E. tables to be added to the core book! I just want to know if :
1)having R.E. in DCCRPG seems fine (i have no exp in Appendix N sources);
2)this table seems fine for a 2nd level party.

[Ducaster]

EEek! You table scares the Hell out of me for 2nd level.. Does that help?

No seriously 1d3 Harpies? That's the Killer unless the party have really good missile users its deadly out in the open. ONE Harpy properly played would be interesting methinks

Contrariwise the Wolves seems under powered. But that may be what you were looking for yes/no? Some encounters I like the party to walk all over. (It makes 'em feel good for one thing) Others are nail biting challenges in their own right.

[abk108]

EEek! You table scares the Hell out of me for 2nd level.. Does that help?

No seriously 1d3 Harpies? That's the Killer unless the party have really good missile users its deadly out in the open. ONE Harpy properly played would be interesting methinks

Contrariwise the Wolves seems under powered. But that may be what you were looking for yes/no? Some encounters I like the party to walk all over. (It makes 'em feel good for one thing) Others are nail biting challenges in their own right.

Really?! I didn't expect that reaction!
I figure my monsters would be really underpowered versions, in order to be viable challenges!
I designed the table with some fights easier (goblins, wolves) than others (ogre, hydra)... i didn't expect harpies to be an issue
I don't want the daily encounter to be outright easy, the trip through the mountains must seem dangerous and not to be undertaken lightly... however here's my version of the creatures:

Goblin: HP 1d4, CA 11+1(padded armor), att +0 melee, +1 ranged;
Wolf : HP 1d8, CA 11, att +1 Bite 1d6
Ogre: HP 3d8+3, CA 12, att +5 Club 1d8+3;
Harpy: HP 1d6+1, CA 12, att +1 Claw 1d3+1; Screech (Will save DC 12 = 1 round stun)
Hydra* (wounded) : HP 5d8+5 -10, CA 13, att +6 Bite 1d5+1, Act 2d20;
Leucrotta : HP 2d8+2, CA 13, att +3 hoof/bite 1d4+1, Act 2d20;
Bandit : 1d8, CA 10+3(hide), att +0 melee, +0 ranged;

* Hydra is not Learnean - ie. does not grow multiple heads when one is cut off.

[finarvyn]

I like the table, but am not a fan of "no encounter" because I always roll a die to see if there is an encounter or not, then roll to see what it is. Clearly yours is designed to cut out that extra roll, but often my encounter check is more like 1/6 or 2/6 per day whereas yours is 7/10. I think if I was going to make such a high probability of an encounter then I'd throw in some mundane stuff like caravans, travelling merchants, gypsy clans, and so on. Not every encounter should be a monster bloodbath, in my opinion.

[abk108]

I like the table, but am not a fan of "no encounter" because I always roll a die to see if there is an encounter or not, then roll to see what it is. Clearly yours is designed to cut out that extra roll, but often my encounter check is more like 1/6 or 2/6 per day whereas yours is 7/10. I think if I was going to make such a high probability of an encounter then I'd throw in some mundane stuff like caravans, travelling merchants, gypsy clans, and so on. Not every encounter should be a monster bloodbath, in my opinion.

Mmmh that idea crossed my mind. Yep, i think that maybe i could make the roll 1d16,
with 1-10 as is, and then

11 No encounter
12 No encounter
13 Merchant Caravan
14 halfling gypsies
15 wandering minstrel
16 Foreign embassy envoy

That's around 44% monster, 31% no encounter, 25% NPC .... It still gives the sense of "dangerous roads" but without having the players say "i draw my sword" everytime they spot someone on the road.

[nanstreet]

PS: i'm not asking for R.E. tables to be added to the core book! I just want to know if :
1)having R.E. in DCCRPG seems fine (i have no exp in Appendix N sources);
2)this table seems fine for a 2nd level party.

I like random encounters. I think it's adds to the let-the-dice-fall-where-they-may element. I find it makes things feel less scripted, too, because what the party finds on their journey isn't completely predetermined.

There's not a lot on your chart, but since the journey is only seven days I don't think there needs to be.

An encounter doesn't necessarily need to be an attack. I could see a small group of wolves following the party at a distance, trying to figure out what the party is doing in their territory rather than attacking them, for example. And howling every once and a while, to alert the rest of their pack. Something like that might freak a party out more than an outright attack.

[jmucchiello]

Actually, random encounter charts are the best place for non-linear die results:

Use 2d8:
2- Hydra, 5 heads, wounded
3- Harpies (1d3)
4- Ogre
5,6- Bandits (1d4+2)
7- goblin patrol (1d6+2 goblins)
8-10 No Encounter
11- Merchant Caravan
12- wolf pack (1d4+1 wolves)
13- leucrotta
14- halfling gypsies
15- wandering minstrel
16- Foreign embassy envoy

No encounters are (22/64) which is slighter greater than 1/3
"friendly" encounters are 12/64 = 3/16
"hostile" encounters are 30/64 or slightly less than 50%

[Ducaster]

Really?! I didn't expect that reaction!
I figure my monsters would be really underpowered versions, in order to be viable challenges!
I designed the table with some fights easier (goblins, wolves) than others (ogre, hydra)... i didn't expect harpies to be an issue
I don't want the daily encounter to be outright easy, the trip through the mountains must seem dangerous and not to be undertaken lightly... however here's my version of the creatures:

Goblin: HP 1d4, CA 11+1(padded armor), att +0 melee, +1 ranged;
Wolf : HP 1d8, CA 11, att +1 Bite 1d6
Ogre: HP 3d8+3, CA 12, att +5 Club 1d8+3;
Harpy: HP 1d6+1, CA 12, att +1 Claw 1d3+1; Screech (Will save DC 12 = 1 round stun)
Hydra* (wounded) : HP 5d8+5 -10, CA 13, att +6 Bite 1d5+1, Act 2d20;
Leucrotta : HP 2d8+2, CA 13, att +3 hoof/bite 1d4+1, Act 2d20;
Bandit : 1d8, CA 10+3(hide), att +0 melee, +0 ranged;

* Hydra is not Learnean - ie. does not grow multiple heads when one is cut off.

Okaay! I Think I see where your going now. I had in mind more 1st Ed Harpies with there hypnotic song and far more Hp than you were envisaging. The table might even be a tad under-powered then. My apologies for mistaking your intent.

You might even get the surprise I did when my group of mixed 1st & 0 Levels ambushed a Basilisk recently. They totaled it in a couple of rounds for no damage! Mind you they had had hours to stake out their ambush and were prepared to spell/luck burn as needed. Even so your Wounded Hydra might fall over more swiftly than you might think!

I would also like to applaud the suggestion for "Positive" encounters to be mixed in the list. Can't reward that PC paranoia that everyone is out to get them now can we!

[abk108]

Okaay! I Think I see where your going now. I had in mind more 1st Ed Harpies with there hypnotic song and far more Hp than you were envisaging. The table might even be a tad under-powered then. My apologies for mistaking your intent.

You might even get the surprise I did when my group of mixed 1st & 0 Levels ambushed a Basilisk recently. They totaled it in a couple of rounds for no damage! Mind you they had had hours to stake out their ambush and were prepared to spell/luck burn as needed. Even so your Wounded Hydra might fall over more swiftly than you might think!

I would also like to applaud the suggestion for "Positive" encounters to be mixed in the list. Can't reward that PC paranoia that everyone is out to get them now can we!

My group is quite shy of burning (luck & spellburning) i have to constatly remember them there's that option when they feel they just "can't roll that high..."

I don't mind a monster dying "too quickly", because i can just add a couple HP on the fly and have it last one more round. What's to fear is a monster that inexpectedly kills a PC :O

I designed the following non-combat encounters:

Merchants caravan : trades weapons, armors and goods.
Halfling Gypsies : they sell potions (generally not magical of course!), food and spices; they also share rumors for a price.
Wandering Minstrel : Shares myths, legends and tales. There's 50% chance that he's going the PCs way, so he'll suggest walking the road together; in this case you can roll another encounter for the day, if it's a monster the minstrel will help as a 1st level thief. During the night he will escape with 3d6 of the party gp, leaving a "i'm deeply sorry" note.
Foreign Embassy Envoy : roll 1d6: 1-2 humans 3-4-5 elves 6 dwarves; they offer a gift as a sign of their good will : roll 1d8 on appropriate table, it could be a silver dagger, some exotic fruit, a silk dress, and so on...