Character abilities to impact the chance of random encounters?

[Boomerang Nebula]

drsparnum wrote:

Hi

I'm looking for suggestions (because I don't think there is anything official) on how a character could increase/decrease the chances of a random encounter.

For example...a ranger in her favored terrain makes a DC20 survival check and can increase/decrease the chances by 50%.

Anyone have suggestions?

I'm specifically thinking of doing this in an upcoming skulls and shackles adventure path where the players might want to increase encounters during piracy and decrease encounters when just trying to go from point A to point B.

I don’t know of any ability like you describe, and what you have suggested sounds like a good house rule. In some circumstances other skills like Knowledge (local) and Knowledge (planes) could be substituted too.

[Mark Hoover 330]

I'll second BN: start with the Knowledge skills. Dungeoneering might tell you the migration patterns of Darkmantles; Arcana warns you what dragon-kin might live in the area and how to avoid them. Then there's alchemy or prestidigitation to create smells. Many creatures might be lured or repelled by the right scent and knowledge or survival could inform a PC.

As for class abilities to help with this, I'd imagine any class that can craft traps, set down Alarm spells or glyphs, craft alchemical items or has bonuses to monster lore checks would all be at an advantage. If you're in an enclosed environment like cave tunnels or dense jungle, having magic to seal off the path behind you or progress without making sound or leaving tracks would keep things from following you.

The biggest thing is that players need to anticipate this and plan accordingly. Not a lot of folks think to bring Brewed Reek with them on an adventure, but if you know you're heading into an area with mites (Fey creatures with the Scent ability) you might pick some up to obscure your path with a stench so foul it deters the mites from your area.