tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-635379548184654899.post4262799174503810550..comments2023-03-23T05:35:02.388-04:00Comments on Boring, Absurd, Contemptible: Random Encounter MontageMadMadMadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00547245319916609429noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-635379548184654899.post-43613078459887219882013-05-11T21:07:41.440-04:002013-05-11T21:07:41.440-04:00Sure does! Thanks! Sure does! Thanks! Hanknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-635379548184654899.post-55149750551562588862013-05-05T23:27:09.997-04:002013-05-05T23:27:09.997-04:00FYI, I just posted a clarification below...FYI, I just posted a clarification below...MadMadMadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00547245319916609429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-635379548184654899.post-53472122619437648672013-05-05T22:55:18.409-04:002013-05-05T22:55:18.409-04:00Hi Hank,
I'm happy to clarify! The process is...Hi Hank,<br /><br />I'm happy to clarify! The process is a lot like a Skill Challenge, except the penalty for failure isn't a set-back and potential failure of the challenge, since (presumably) you want the players to arrive at their destination. Instead, failure is what prompts the random encounter.<br /><br />By way of example, I'll use the same scenario with three possible outcomes. (I'll draw from my list of D6 skills, but any skill list will work.) <br /><br />A party of four is making the trek up a mountain to the ancient ruins. The journey will take a full day of travel, so the DM decides to make each player roll one skill check. She decides on a target of 15 for the of encounter. She turns it over to the players to describe the montage and make their rolls.<br /><br />Shirley the Mage rolls Survival, and describes a scene in the montage where the party is in a ravine, and she's determining direction based on the position of the sun.<br />Dennis the Thief rolls his Climbing skill and describes hanging on to a cliff face with one hand while he boosts Shirley up to the ledge above them.<br />Steve the Cleric uses his Swimming skill to dive into a pool and swim to a cave behind a waterfall, where he discovers an ancient staircase carved into the living rock.<br />Ron the Fighter rolls Stamina, and describes his Arnold muscles rippling as he humps up the mountain carrying all the gear that the other girly-men couldn't manage.<br /><br />Now in the first outcome, everyone makes the target roll. Brilliant! The party gets to the top of the mountain without incident.<br /><br />In the second outcome, Steve the Cleric fails his Swimming check. This triggers an encounter, and Steve is at the center. After the montage, the DM describes the weary party dragging themselves over one last ridge, where they finally see the ruins. Steve puts a foot up on a log, which gives way and sends him tumbling down a hill. When he looks up, he sees six pairs of orc eyes staring at him, wondering how he fell into their camp. Roll initiative!<br /><br />In the third outcome, Steve the Cleric and Dennis the Thief both botch their rolls. Now at the end of the montage the party will still encounter six orcs, but the second failure steps it up a notch - the six orcs are bivouacking with two ogres.<br /><br />Does that clear it up?MadMadMadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00547245319916609429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-635379548184654899.post-74642121600981723372013-05-04T19:46:08.696-04:002013-05-04T19:46:08.696-04:00I really want to steal/borrow this idea as I like ...I really want to steal/borrow this idea as I like to have the players roll for as many things as possible (it makes them responsible). However, I do not totally understand the process you are describing. Could you provide me a couple of examples to show me what it would look like at the table? <br />Thanks for your time! Hanknoreply@blogger.com