Question about encounter mix

[Ramlatus]

I'm looking for any kind of recommended encounter mix for adventures. I can work something out myself, but it would be a total guess as to if I have the ratios in a good range or not. Since I am basically having to find and train players from scratch, I wan to make sure they have a really good experience. That way they might keep playing.

[wraithstrike]

I need more info.
I think you saying number of monsters, vs traps vs social based challenges, but I am not sure.

[Ramlatus]

wraithstrike wrote:

I need more info.

I think you saying number of monsters, vs traps vs social based challenges, but I am not sure.

Correct. Combat encounters, vs trap encounters, vs hazard encounters, vs roleplaying/story encounters, etc.

[wraithstrike]

The ratio of these will vary from group to group, and session to session.

Even within each encounter type there are several different things you can do.

Asking the players what they did or did not like after every few sessions until you get their preferences down is not a bad idea also.

If they all come with different ideas you will probably have to play more toward some players than other for certain sessions, but be sure to give everyone something they enjoy.

I normally start off with social challenges which involve trying to get information. The players then decide to go after the target which usually means combat, and maybe a trap thrown in depending on where things take place.

Sometimes mixing encounters such as fighting in a room with traps, and the PC's not knowing what triggers the traps can be fun.