tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4930065815010914887.post2150769888625605773..comments2023-07-01T05:04:43.376-07:00Comments on Really Bad Eggs: Random Encounters That Don't SuckBlack Vulmeahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04270071699114783644noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4930065815010914887.post-60310767274174534422017-10-01T15:25:22.554-07:002017-10-01T15:25:22.554-07:00I came to similar conclusions while reading an OSR...I came to similar conclusions while reading an OSR hexrcawl. Some of the hex descriptions were very colorful, memorable, encounters that could easily be put into a Chance Encounters table. Ruprechthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00139664977453444000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4930065815010914887.post-6704572258233383842012-12-10T13:15:57.640-08:002012-12-10T13:15:57.640-08:00"For example, this batch of soldiers was pret...<i>"For example, this batch of soldiers was pretty disciplined, and had papers identifying their parent unit. But that batch of marauders wore mismatched uniforms, were low on ammunition, and had a sketch map of a few nearby towns, marked with targets for later hits."</i><br /><br />And that's really all it takes - you could use the exact same stats for the members of each group, and yet each encounter will be memorable and distinctive, with opportunities and challenges arising from them.Black Vulmeahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04270071699114783644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4930065815010914887.post-82687898556669202292012-12-06T16:59:04.802-08:002012-12-06T16:59:04.802-08:00{Hit publish too soon}. So, I am looking forward t...{Hit publish too soon}. So, I am looking forward to more of this, and to try to build something more useful into some of my current games.Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13103472744612438430noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4930065815010914887.post-36696360406472673472012-12-06T16:57:50.344-08:002012-12-06T16:57:50.344-08:00I think I've said this before, but I fell in l...I think I've said this before, but I fell in love with "chance encounters" when I started GMing Twilight:2000, back in the day. I would roll up encounters in advance of games, and then try to come up with at least a little variety and backstory on what they were up to, and how they could inform the players about the world.<br /><br />For example, this batch of soldiers was pretty disciplined, and had papers identifying their parent unit. But that batch of marauders wore mismatched uniforms, were low on ammunition, and had a sketch map of a few nearby towns, marked with targets for later hits.Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13103472744612438430noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4930065815010914887.post-65864043548566371002012-12-06T13:11:32.568-08:002012-12-06T13:11:32.568-08:00I've heard it said that our ability to discern...I've heard it said that our ability to discern patterns from chaos is one of people's greatest abilities and worst faults at the same time.Black Vulmeahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04270071699114783644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4930065815010914887.post-55777737890663758682012-12-05T14:27:48.708-08:002012-12-05T14:27:48.708-08:00Griffin Mountain is still my favorite Chaosium sup...Griffin Mountain is still my favorite Chaosium supplement (well I guess after the original Cults of Prax).<br /><br />D&D Random Encounter tables actually gave me a very practical and personal example of how humans will try to link random events - that early practice is one reason that I never get attached to conspiracy theories in the RW. The other reason being a generally held belief that most people don't keep secrets well.<br /><br />I recall frequently linking any two or three encounters I rolled as a DM back in the mid 1970s - e.g. roll Orcs for the first encoutner then Ogre for the second - presto! The Ogre is either the muscle or the big boss for the Orc Tribe. Socrates_Is_Mortalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11979487483897210762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4930065815010914887.post-66419287079613864202012-12-04T19:23:54.482-08:002012-12-04T19:23:54.482-08:00Thanks, Matthew - the first example is posted now....Thanks, Matthew - the first example is posted now.Black Vulmeahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04270071699114783644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4930065815010914887.post-46829821015052459422012-12-04T14:33:12.352-08:002012-12-04T14:33:12.352-08:00Random encounters are "strands in space leadi...Random encounters are "strands in space leading off into the undiscovered portions of the game-world" and "part of the game-world delivery system." These are excellent descriptions and very much in line with my approach these days. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of this series.Matthew Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17343263539473683579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4930065815010914887.post-52952106788077803922012-12-04T13:32:21.280-08:002012-12-04T13:32:21.280-08:00I suppose that makes me a Master of the Obvious, t...I suppose that makes me a Master of the Obvious, then?<br /><br />Reading forum discussions on random encounters suggests to me that it's not really all that obvious, though, as the linked thread shows. It seems to me that there are a lot of misconceptions about how random encounters can be used more effectively, even when all you start with is, Orcs (1-4).Black Vulmeahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04270071699114783644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4930065815010914887.post-4351729172101335122012-12-04T13:28:30.533-08:002012-12-04T13:28:30.533-08:00I hope this was helpful.I hope this was helpful.Black Vulmeahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04270071699114783644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4930065815010914887.post-91906494238778872402012-12-04T13:05:14.736-08:002012-12-04T13:05:14.736-08:00Very cool. I've been thinking along similar li...Very cool. I've been thinking along similar lines recently.R Parkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18411907126909551409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4930065815010914887.post-60447758319351180892012-12-04T10:09:45.216-08:002012-12-04T10:09:45.216-08:00All news to me. Thanks, Mike.
As usual, I learn s...All news to me. Thanks, Mike.<br /><br />As usual, I learn something I needed to know to run a better game from you deciding to write up a detailed post on something that, to you and many others, is a Blinding Flash of the Obvious. Flambeauxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00133131881423202010noreply@blogger.com