Say I'm GMing Kingmaker (or well, I am) and I roll a random encounter of 5 wolves in the hills. I know that I should roll a random starting distance for hills based on the environmental rules, but after that I'm lost.
Does the random starting distance indicate when both sides can see each other or are perception checks still needed?
If they are needed what is the DC for perception checks - I know it's -1 to the roll for every 10ft of distance, but I don't know the base DC
Thoughts?
Say I'm GMing Kingmaker (or well, I am) and I roll a random encounter of 5 wolves in the hills. I know that I should roll a random starting distance for hills based on the environmental rules, but after that I'm lost.
Does the random starting distance indicate when both sides can see each other or are perception checks still needed?
If they are needed what is the DC for perception checks - I know it's -1 to the roll for every 10ft of distance, but I don't know the base DC
Thoughts?
The way I run it, is unless one side has made an effort to hide itself, (e.g. the party is explicitly moving stealthily over a long distance or the creatures are waiting to ambush what ever comes by) then the encounter distance is when both sides initially spot each other.
The way I run it, is unless one side has made an effort to hide itself, (e.g. the party is explicitly moving stealthily over a long distance or the creatures are waiting to ambush what ever comes by) then the encounter distance is when both sides initially spot each other.Say I'm GMing Kingmaker (or well, I am) and I roll a random encounter of 5 wolves in the hills. I know that I should roll a random starting distance for hills based on the environmental rules, but after that I'm lost.
Does the random starting distance indicate when both sides can see each other or are perception checks still needed?
If they are needed what is the DC for perception checks - I know it's -1 to the roll for every 10ft of distance, but I don't know the base DC
Thoughts?
Base DC is assumed to be 0, though there isn't really a hard/fast way to determine when an encounter starts. You can have everyone roll for initiative when the PC's and enemies spot one another or one spots the other. In the case of wolves, when the hunting call is sounded is another option (basically the players get one round to prepare while the wolves run to close the distance). Or you can design an ambush. Or when one side approaches the other in a threatening manner/draws weapons/starts doing an obviously aggressive action (for intillegent enemies casting any kind of spell can be construed as aggressive especially if one side lacks spellcasters). Etc.
Also not all random encounters have to even be combats (especially if a way above their CR encounter gets rolled). They can just as easily be used to show details about the enviroment, or how dangerous Creature X is and not to mess with creature X who happens to also live in this area.
Example 1: Party is entering an area that has been blighted by an evil witch/necromancer/Demon Lord/Gygax. Those wolves could be described as malnurished and sick. Rather than fighting the party, they could whimper and go right on past them as if they were fleeing the area.
Example 2: The Ubernaughtilus lives in this forest. The encounter mostly involves the thunder of its footsteps, the sound of falling trees, and maybe the screams of nearby a nearby animal after every other animal has gone quiet.
But I digress.
You as the DM decide how this encounter unfolds. It can be as generic or as interesting as you make it.
If you want the wolves to sneak up on the party, they can sneak up (Perception vs Stealth).
If you want the wolves to trail the party, fleeing if approached, as they try to run the party down. You can do that too (Perception/Survival vs Wolves Stealth/Track DC to get the drop on them).
If you want the encounter on an open field at noon (Decide distance and if you want the party to have a chance to miss the oncoming danger).
If you want it at night as they are resting (Decide Party's Night Watch rotation and Percept vs Stealth).
If you want the wolves to rain down from the sky, (Fly to determine how well the falling wolf-missiles approach their mark, vs Perception to notice falling wolves). Etc.