Hello Dungeon,
I have a request for an article that would help dungeon masters everywhere: Just some simple Random Encounter Tables.
They could be installed amidst your (very useful) articles at the end of your magazine. Just one table per issue. Like "Dark Forest", "Desert Wasteland", "Village Surroundings", or "Frontier Mountain". Using the any or all monster ressources.
This is just an idea, and I understand if you guys say no. Thanks for listening.
Ultradan
* takes notes *
Interesting idea, Dan. ;)
I agree that is an interesting idea... would the editors be interested in seeing something along these lines as far as CW articles?
It's one of the only things that nobody has done yet. I find myself still using the same encounter tables from the old 1st edition DM Guide.
I can even imagine a complete book filled with random encounter tables for every type of terrain and every range of EL(Low-Mid-High).
Ultradan
It's one of the only things that nobody has done yet. I find myself still using the same encounter tables from the old 1st edition DM Guide.
I can even imagine a complete book filled with random encounter tables for every type of terrain and every range of EL(Low-Mid-High).
Ultradan
Nice idea Dan... hope you don't mind if I steal it! I'm determined to give Russell Brown a run for his money as king of the Campaign Workbook!
- Ashavan
Nice idea Dan... hope you don't mind if I steal it! I'm determined to give Russell Brown a run for his money as king of the Campaign Workbook!
- Ashavan
Go ahead buddy! As long as it gets done. I'm probably gonna start a spreadsheet with every monster out there and see what I can do with that.
Ultradan
Check out AEG's Toolbox book. It has lots of encounter tables in it, though it's mostly MM stuff, but really useful nonetheless.
It's one of the only things that nobody has done yet. I find myself still using the same encounter tables from the old 1st edition DM Guide.
I can even imagine a complete book filled with random encounter tables for every type of terrain and every range of EL(Low-Mid-High).
Ultradan
I'll second the suggestion of Toolbox. It's a great book.
Or Necromancer's (?) "The Mother of All Encounter Tables".
I'd like to see any groups fully fleshed out on the table (if you can meet a bunch of goblins led by a L3 fighter and a L5 adept - stat 'em out).
That part is harder to do than you think... the campaign workback format doesn't have room for much more than 3 stat blocks of any size. Remember that an average stat block runs somewhere in the neighborhood of 250 words, and can easily get to four or even 500 words. With a 1250 word format, the writers have to keep stat blocks to a minimum in Campaign Workbooks.
This makes standard humanoid creatures with class levels the most difficult things to include - unless you use the default stats from the MM. Any creature from a non MM source would have to be stated out, and therefore would use one of those three slots. I suppose in a very low level encounter table four stat blocks might be possible, but that word count gets real tight real fast.
- Ashavan
Any creature from a non MM source would have to be stated out
instead of stating it out you could include a note in the follow up text about what to replace it with from the monster manual if the stats are not available, maybe.
This makes standard humanoid creatures with class levels the most difficult things to include - unless you use the default stats from the MM.
I addition to Wes's fine point, you can get away with PHB races/classes if you don't mind referencing the NPCs in the DMG.
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Nice idea Dan... hope you don't mind if I steal it! I'm determined to give Russell Brown a run for his money as king of the Campaign Workbook!- Ashavan
*blushes*
I Didn't know we had a king. I though we were an autonomous collective!This does sound like a great Idea, Dan. I'd love to have some tables like these too. I wonder if I'd have a better chance at getting an adventure proposal accepted if I generated it randomly from the tables you and Ashavan come up with.
*blushes*
I Didn't know we had a king. I though we were an autonomous collective!This does sound like a great Idea, Dan. I'd love to have some tables like these too. I wonder if I'd have a better chance at getting an adventure proposal accepted if I generated it randomly from the tables you and Ashavan come up with.
Russell -
You've gotten twice as many CWs in as anyone else... it's amazing! If you have a secret to your seemingly endless supply of ideas, I'd love to hear it! ;)
As for adventure proposals... I haven't had great luck either (crosses fingers for the three currently in the black hole) so I feel your pain.
- Ashavan
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When it comes to tables:
The Ruins of Undermountain Boxed-Sets from 2E had some very cool dungeon-dressing tables like things to find lying in a corridor, sound, smells, and a lot more. Those were very helpful to add "feeling" to a dungeon. Unfortunately I've lost them during my last move...
Such tables would be nice to have!!!