PC encounter a Campfire with hostiles in the forest, how to handle?

[Mansyno]

Hi,
i the party i GM for (pathfinder) is walking in the forest
they hear noises and spot through trees and bushes that there is a campfire with some ppl. they are probably hostile.
i need some ideas on how should i run this (at least the part before actual fighting starts and every1 rolls initiative)
never done it before or took part in as a player.
usually its the other way around (the party seats at the campfire and some mob sneak on them lol
thanks
Mansyno

[Kileanna]

First, it would be more interesting if everything wasn't too straightforward.

Let your players decide how they want to handle this and find a strategy.

Set some simple traps around the campsite in the main accesses. A rope with some metal items to make some noise and to alert the enemies is a simple but effective trap.

You can have a smaller patrol (maybe a couple) of enemies making vigilance around the campsite so the PCs can deal with them without giving the alarm if they play wisely but risk alerting all the enemies if they don't.

If they manage to capture the patrol alive without giving the alarm they might be able to interrogate them to gain some insight of what are they doing there.

You can have half of the people in the campsite be resting and unprepared so if PCs manage to stealth they will be rewarded with an easier fight.

You can have a couple of watchers on the top of a tree wielding bows and hidden so the PCs have to spot them and deal with them quickly so they don't give the alarm.

[Selvaxri]

1> How aware are the hostiles of their environment? are they on guard, expecting an attack, or acting leisurely as if they don't expect anything.

Let the PC's make a sense motive roll, to determine the campers could be potentially hostile, then as Kil suggests- let your PC's decide what to do next.