Volos
2019-05-18, 04:14 AM
I've been working on making my encounters suck less. To that end I've developed some Encounter Seeds. The bare mote of an idea for a scene or event for the players to stumble upon, or for that scene/event to stumble upon them. My list so far is rather extensive but I feel there is still room for improvement. They are very simple but set the tone for a random encounter that may or may not develop into a fight, roleplay scene, or series of skill checks. So, here is my Encounter Seeds as they are so far. If anyone else has some ideas for some, especially non-combat encounters, I'd love to see them.
EDIT:: I've updated the list to include ideas provided by the community as well as others I've been inspired to add from other sources.
Encounters While Stationary or Moving
Foes/NPCs Gathering Resources
Foraging for Food
Hunting Animals or Creatures
Collecting Treasure from Location
Collecting Loot from Bodies
Foraging for Herbs and Medicine
Collecting Water at Good Source
Foes/NPCs on the Road
At the Start of Travel
Lost during Travel
Midway Through Travel
Ambushed During Travel
Travel with Injured or Sick
Stuck in Snare or Trap
Crossing Terrain Hazard
At the End of Travel
Haunts
Ghost Unaware of Death
Ghost Angry About Death
Ghost Possessing Objects
Ghost Possessing the Living
Ghost Possessing the Dead
Ghost Possessing Animals
Fey
Playing with Wildlife
Making Plants Grow
Playing with Animals
Picking Fruit/Nuts
Obsessing Over Shiny's
Pulling a Prank
Playing at Host to NPCs
Enchanting NPCs
Natural Disasters
Flash Flooding
Wildfire
Tornado
Earthquake
Thunderstorm
Snowstorm/Rainstorm
Rockslide/Mudslide
Wild Magic
Encounters While Moving
Scenery Encounters
Excess of Animal Chatter/Activity
Lack of Animal Chatter/Activity
Dead Animal Corpses
Excess of Fish in River/Lake
Lack of Fish in River/Lake
Dead Fish in River/Lake
Excess of Fruit/Nut/Vegetables
Lack of Fruit/Nut/Vegetables
Spoiled Fruit/Nut/Vegetables
Abandoned/Broke Wagon/Boat
Path & Scenery Changes
Natural Hazard Reveals Hidden Treasure
Natural Hazard Reveals New Path
Natural Hazard Reveals Dead Body
Natural Hazard Reveals Monster Lair
Natural Hazard Conceals or Destroys Path
Natural Hazard Damages or Destroys Bridge
Natural Hazard Damages or Destroys Watchtower
Natural Hazard Damages or Destroys Cabin/Lodge
Overgrown Area Hampers Travel
Fallen Trees/Rocks Hampers Travel
Washed Out Ground Hampers Travel
Illusions Conceal Path Hampering Travel
Foe/NPC Encounters
NPC with Dead Allies
NPC with Wounded Allies
Wounded NPC with Allies
Child NPC Lost and Alone
NPC Offering Travel by Wagon/Boat
NPC Traveling Merchant, Selling Wares
NPC Traveling Merchant, Refusing to Sell
NPC with Illicit Items, Hiding or Concealing
NPC Return from Hunt with Prey/Trophy
NPC with Crashed/Broken Wagon/Boat
Foes/NPCs at Camp
Making Camp
Preparing Food
Sleeping & Keeping Watch
Being Ambushed
Defending Camp
Planning Movements
Breaking Camp
Foes/NPCs Setting an Ambush
Ambush during Travel
Ambush at Empty Camp/Lair
Ambush at Resource
Ambush at Trap
Ambush at Planted Treasure
Ambush at Dead Bodies
Ambush at Natural Hazard
Ambush at Food Source
Foes/NPCs Fighting
Winning a Fight
Evenly Matched
Losing the Fight
Fighting Pinned Foes
Being Pinned by Foes
Waiting on Reinforcements
Running from a Fight
Chasing Quarry
Foe/NPCs Encounters
Talking to Ally
Talking to Foe
Trading for Items
Threatening Subject
Stalking Subject
Tricking Subject
Toying with Subject
Handling Animal
Trained Animals
Lost in the Wild
Guarding Dead Owner
Guarding Wounded Owner
With Liter of Young
Carrying Fresh Prey
Hunting Live Prey
Caught in Trap
Stuck in Natural Hazard
Wild Animals or Monsters
Sleeping in Unusual Place
Sleeping in Den/Lair
Guarding Den/Lair
Hunting Prey as a Pack
Hunting NPC as a Pack
Eating Food/Prey
Marking/Patrolling Territory
Fighting for Alpha Status
Fighting for Mates
Caught in a Snare/Trap
Baby Monster/Animal in Unusual Place
Powerful Monster Slain in Unusual Place
Pests or Vermin
Swarm Attacking NPCs
Swarm Eating Carcasses
Swarm Destroying Vegetation
Swarm Wandering Area
Two Swarms Clashing
Sea of Swarms Overtake Area
Locations
Stone Ruins of Humanoid Origin
Stone Ruins of Magical Origin
Stone Ruins of Alien Origin
Abandoned Ghost Town
Ruined Mine/Sawmill/Quarry
Primitive Worked Stone Caves
Advanced Worked Stone Caves
Decrepit Watchtower
Abandoned Hunting Cabin/Lodge
Empty Natural Tree Houses
Empty Natural Hill Burrows
Magically Hidden Forgotten Cabin/Lodge
Signs, Markings, Warnings
Drawing or Mark on Small Landmark
Drawing or Mark on Large Landmark
Signpost on Path Warning of Hazard
Signpost on Path Warning of Monster
Signpost with Location Directions & Distances
Signpost with Bad Location Directions & Distances
Directional Marker Pointing Away From Path
Directional Marker Pointing Way You Came
Directional Marker Pointing Way You're Going
Altered Plants/Roots/Vines to Spell Words
Altered Plants/Roots/Vines to Make Spell Runes
Dead Body Laid to Point in a Direction
Intentional Trail/Path Markers Left by NPC
Unintentional Trail/Path Markers Left by NPC
Strange Findings
Statue of NPC in Unusual Place
Statue of Monster in Unusual Place
Golem posing as Statue in Unusual Place
Mundane Crafting Furniture in Unusual Place
Cache of Useless Items in Unusual Place
Oddly Colored Animal in Unusual Place
Magical Light Object in Unusual Place
Magic Weapon/Tool Stuck in Natural Feature
Old Illusion of NPC Still Functioning
Old Illusion of Bridge/Path Still Functioning
EDIT:: I've updated the list to include ideas provided by the community as well as others I've been inspired to add from other sources.
Encounters While Stationary or Moving
Foes/NPCs Gathering Resources
Foraging for Food
Hunting Animals or Creatures
Collecting Treasure from Location
Collecting Loot from Bodies
Foraging for Herbs and Medicine
Collecting Water at Good Source
Foes/NPCs on the Road
At the Start of Travel
Lost during Travel
Midway Through Travel
Ambushed During Travel
Travel with Injured or Sick
Stuck in Snare or Trap
Crossing Terrain Hazard
At the End of Travel
Haunts
Ghost Unaware of Death
Ghost Angry About Death
Ghost Possessing Objects
Ghost Possessing the Living
Ghost Possessing the Dead
Ghost Possessing Animals
Fey
Playing with Wildlife
Making Plants Grow
Playing with Animals
Picking Fruit/Nuts
Obsessing Over Shiny's
Pulling a Prank
Playing at Host to NPCs
Enchanting NPCs
Natural Disasters
Flash Flooding
Wildfire
Tornado
Earthquake
Thunderstorm
Snowstorm/Rainstorm
Rockslide/Mudslide
Wild Magic
Encounters While Moving
Scenery Encounters
Excess of Animal Chatter/Activity
Lack of Animal Chatter/Activity
Dead Animal Corpses
Excess of Fish in River/Lake
Lack of Fish in River/Lake
Dead Fish in River/Lake
Excess of Fruit/Nut/Vegetables
Lack of Fruit/Nut/Vegetables
Spoiled Fruit/Nut/Vegetables
Abandoned/Broke Wagon/Boat
Path & Scenery Changes
Natural Hazard Reveals Hidden Treasure
Natural Hazard Reveals New Path
Natural Hazard Reveals Dead Body
Natural Hazard Reveals Monster Lair
Natural Hazard Conceals or Destroys Path
Natural Hazard Damages or Destroys Bridge
Natural Hazard Damages or Destroys Watchtower
Natural Hazard Damages or Destroys Cabin/Lodge
Overgrown Area Hampers Travel
Fallen Trees/Rocks Hampers Travel
Washed Out Ground Hampers Travel
Illusions Conceal Path Hampering Travel
Foe/NPC Encounters
NPC with Dead Allies
NPC with Wounded Allies
Wounded NPC with Allies
Child NPC Lost and Alone
NPC Offering Travel by Wagon/Boat
NPC Traveling Merchant, Selling Wares
NPC Traveling Merchant, Refusing to Sell
NPC with Illicit Items, Hiding or Concealing
NPC Return from Hunt with Prey/Trophy
NPC with Crashed/Broken Wagon/Boat
Foes/NPCs at Camp
Making Camp
Preparing Food
Sleeping & Keeping Watch
Being Ambushed
Defending Camp
Planning Movements
Breaking Camp
Foes/NPCs Setting an Ambush
Ambush during Travel
Ambush at Empty Camp/Lair
Ambush at Resource
Ambush at Trap
Ambush at Planted Treasure
Ambush at Dead Bodies
Ambush at Natural Hazard
Ambush at Food Source
Foes/NPCs Fighting
Winning a Fight
Evenly Matched
Losing the Fight
Fighting Pinned Foes
Being Pinned by Foes
Waiting on Reinforcements
Running from a Fight
Chasing Quarry
Foe/NPCs Encounters
Talking to Ally
Talking to Foe
Trading for Items
Threatening Subject
Stalking Subject
Tricking Subject
Toying with Subject
Handling Animal
Trained Animals
Lost in the Wild
Guarding Dead Owner
Guarding Wounded Owner
With Liter of Young
Carrying Fresh Prey
Hunting Live Prey
Caught in Trap
Stuck in Natural Hazard
Wild Animals or Monsters
Sleeping in Unusual Place
Sleeping in Den/Lair
Guarding Den/Lair
Hunting Prey as a Pack
Hunting NPC as a Pack
Eating Food/Prey
Marking/Patrolling Territory
Fighting for Alpha Status
Fighting for Mates
Caught in a Snare/Trap
Baby Monster/Animal in Unusual Place
Powerful Monster Slain in Unusual Place
Pests or Vermin
Swarm Attacking NPCs
Swarm Eating Carcasses
Swarm Destroying Vegetation
Swarm Wandering Area
Two Swarms Clashing
Sea of Swarms Overtake Area
Locations
Stone Ruins of Humanoid Origin
Stone Ruins of Magical Origin
Stone Ruins of Alien Origin
Abandoned Ghost Town
Ruined Mine/Sawmill/Quarry
Primitive Worked Stone Caves
Advanced Worked Stone Caves
Decrepit Watchtower
Abandoned Hunting Cabin/Lodge
Empty Natural Tree Houses
Empty Natural Hill Burrows
Magically Hidden Forgotten Cabin/Lodge
Signs, Markings, Warnings
Drawing or Mark on Small Landmark
Drawing or Mark on Large Landmark
Signpost on Path Warning of Hazard
Signpost on Path Warning of Monster
Signpost with Location Directions & Distances
Signpost with Bad Location Directions & Distances
Directional Marker Pointing Away From Path
Directional Marker Pointing Way You Came
Directional Marker Pointing Way You're Going
Altered Plants/Roots/Vines to Spell Words
Altered Plants/Roots/Vines to Make Spell Runes
Dead Body Laid to Point in a Direction
Intentional Trail/Path Markers Left by NPC
Unintentional Trail/Path Markers Left by NPC
Strange Findings
Statue of NPC in Unusual Place
Statue of Monster in Unusual Place
Golem posing as Statue in Unusual Place
Mundane Crafting Furniture in Unusual Place
Cache of Useless Items in Unusual Place
Oddly Colored Animal in Unusual Place
Magical Light Object in Unusual Place
Magic Weapon/Tool Stuck in Natural Feature
Old Illusion of NPC Still Functioning
Old Illusion of Bridge/Path Still Functioning