“Gone But Not Forgotten”- Out of the D&D Encounters Box #4
Introduction:
Not every encounter is a stop-gap intended to act as filler or a way to make an other wise long journey more memorable. Sometimes an encounter can alter the entire plan that the players have…simply because of a choice. We’ve seen this dynamic over and over again in movies, TV, books, etc.
As DMs, we also know that the wild card of player choice will always alter any plans made when a DM over-plans. Therefore, it’s sometimes a good idea to use this factor to one’s own advantage. Player curiousity, greed, aggression, stubborness and so on can be to a DMs advantage when the set-up is right. They key is not to use this too often or your players will become so paranoid as to go nowhere and do nothing without tedious over-prep on their part.
However, used sparingly, you can fish the players into a whole series of events, all because of one tiny choice or another.
Then you have stopped having an encounter. Now you have an adventure.
May 27, 2016
0
“All That Remains” Out of the Box D&D Encounters #3
Introduction:
Not every encounter needs to be combat related. Many DMs struggle with those moments when the party is wounded, unarmed, or in some for of other distress where combat would not be advised. I’ve been there myself. In some of these cases, DMs will still choose to make encounter rolls in the open, or will want to break up perhaps a long (and likely boring) recovery for the players with some excitement that does not further endanger them.
The old trope of having them spot deer or other relatively harmless wildlife can get old.
However, there’s no reason that an encounter needs to be a creature at all. It could be an event or strange location that stands alone as an interesting moment. These events or locations can spawn further adventures with the right descriptions, or if they spark some imagination in your player base.
In any regard, such encounters can break the monotony of the same-same and perhaps even take a campaign in new and interesting directions.
I hope you enjoy such an offering. I present-
Out of the Box D&D Encounters #3 – “All That Remains.”
“A Friend in Need”- Out of The Box D&D Encounters #2
Out of The Box D&D Encounters #2 - "A Friend in Need" Environment: Variable** Suggested Level: 5-7 ** The environment for this encounter was originally intended as a Wilderness encounter, but there’s no reason why such a location might be found in an urban environment. It could even...
“Chickening Out”- Out of the Box D&D Encounters #1
We’ve all had those moment. Writer’s Block. You’re out of ideas. Something unexpected happens and you’re not sure how to handle it. A player takes your story down an unintended path and the urban adventure you planned on is now on the road.I’ve been there.
“Out of the Box” encounters are intended to be a resource for those who are looking for an event or encounter to either fill a gap in time or story to fill, or to provide a story hook that leads elsewhere. Most are wilderness encounters of one kind or another, by clever writing could take many and convert them into dungeon or urban encounters too.
Now all the ideas that knock around inside my head can have a home.
Some are dangerous. Some are just for colour. Some are merely descriptions of environments. Many come from small notes tucked away inside the Monster Manual, Dungeon Master’s Guide, or this random-thought-generator I call a brain.
Welcome to “Out of the Box”.
