CREATING ENCOUNTERS
Adventurers encounter people, locations, objects magical or mechanical, natural events, and situations or circumstances they must respond to or resolve to continue forward.
These encounters form the core scenes, plot, and action of the shared story in the adventure or mission and collectively shape the story arc of the campaign.
Core Encounter Design
☐ ENCOUNTER NAME
What memorable or catchy title will help you remember this Encounter?
☐ ENCOUNTER DESCRIPTION
What three things might happen to, or for, the Adventurers in this Encounter?
☐ ENCOUNTER STAKES
What do the Adventurers stand to gain, or lose, in this Encounter?
Additional Optional Encounter Design
☐ ENCOUNTER LOCATION
Where does the encounter take place?
☐ ENCOUNTER OR OPPOSITION
Who or what pauses or opposes the Adventurers progress?
☐ ENCOUNTER ON-RAMPS
What are 3 ways the Adventurers can become engaged in the Encounter?
☐ ENCOUNTER AVOIDED
What happens if the Adventurers completely try to avoid the Encounter?
☐ ENCOUNTER EXPLORED
What happens if the Adventurers cautiously explore the Encounter?
☐ ENCOUNTER PARLEYED
What happens if the Adventurers choose to talk their way through the Encounter?
☐ ENCOUNTER TRICKED
What happens if the Adventures choose to bluff or trick their way through the Encounter?
☐ ENCOUNTER FOUGHT
What happens if the Adventurers decide to fight their way through the Encounter?
☐ ENCOUNTER REWARD
What reward do the Adventurers get for successfully completing the Encounter?
☐ ENCOUNTER COMPLICATION
What happens if the Adventurers partly, rather than fully, succeed the Encounter?
☐ ENCOUNTER SETBACK
What happens if the Adventurers totally fail the Encounter?
Encounter Worksheet
| Core Details | |
|---|---|
| ENCOUNTER NAME | |
| ENCOUNTER DESCRIPTION | |
| ENCOUNTER STAKES | |
| Additional Details | |
| ENCOUNTER LOCATION | |
| ENCOUNTER OR OPPOSITION | |
| ENCOUNTER ON-RAMP 1 | |
| ENCOUNTER ON-RAMP 2 | |
| ENCOUNTER ON-RAMP 3 | |
| ENCOUNTER AVOIDED | |
| ENCOUNTER EXPLORED | |
| ENCOUNTER PARLEYED | |
| ENCOUNTER TRICKED | |
| ENCOUNTER FOUGHT | |
| ENCOUNTER REWARD(S) | |
| ENCOUNTER COMPLICATION(S) | |
| ENCOUNTER SETBACK(S) |
Picturing the Encounter
- Gravity
- Lighting
- Pressure
- Atmosphere
- Temperature
- Radiation
- Chemical Exposure - fuels?
- Bacterial
- Fires
- Electrical Shock
- Shifting Damaged Structure
Additional Resources
Roleplaying Tips #0011 - Top 5 Ways To More Compelling Encounters
Roleplaying Tips #0012 - Top 6 Ways To Use Encounters To Build A Compelling Campaign
Roleplaying Tips #0193 - 8 Tips For Improving Random Encounters
Roleplaying Tips #0265 - Crafting NPC Interaction Plans: Designing Encounters with Your Players In Mind
Roleplaying Tips #0299 - 150 Benign Urban Encounters
Roleplaying Tips #0301 - 120 Benign Wilderness Encounters
Roleplaying Tips #0307 - 100 Waterborne Encounters
Roleplaying Tips #0311 - More Waterborne Encounters & Events
Roleplaying Tips #0363 - It's About the Character Not The Player - Serving Up Characterization Encounters Part 1
Roleplaying Tips #0364 - Encounter Tips: Characterization Encounters Part 2
Roleplaying Tips #0374 - Personality-Driven Encounters
Roleplaying Tips #0495 - City Encounters Contest
Roleplaying Tips #0496 - How To Run Ripping City Encounters - 3 Tips
Roleplaying Tips #0500 - Top 100 City Encounters and Plots Part 1
Roleplaying Tips #0501 - Top 100 City Encounters and Plots Part 2 The Final 50
Roleplaying Tips #0555 - 10 Intriguing Swamp Encounters
Roleplaying Tips #0556 - 100 Roadside Encounters
Roleplaying Tips #0565 - Another 100 Great Roadside Encounters
Roleplaying Tips #0572 - 7 Tips On Creating Awesome Encounters On The Fly
Roleplaying Tips #0580 - 111 Random Forest Encounters
Roleplaying Tips #0633 - d100 Jungle Encounters
Roleplaying Tips #0657 - How To Create Great Non-Combat Encounters
Roleplaying Tips #0666 - Connecting Everyday Life Encounters To Your Campaign
Roleplaying Tips #0668 - 20 Children Encounters
Roleplaying Tips #0674 - Five Quick Tips to Solve Boring Travel Encounters
Roleplaying Tips #0715 - Encounter Seeds Formula Part II
Roleplaying Tips #0735 - Encounters Are Like My Favourite Zesty Game Food
Roleplaying Tips #0739 - Think About Encounters Like Game Tiles for Better 5 Room Dungeon Design
Roleplaying Tips #0746 - How To Rock Your Encounters With This Monster Design Tip
Roleplaying Tips #0765 - Make Encounters Intense
Roleplaying Tips #0771 - How to Avoid a TPK When GMing Intense Encounters
Roleplaying Tips #0778 - The Hook, Line & Sinkers Method Will Inspire Your Encounters
Roleplaying Tips #0797 - A Cracking Way To Conjure Compelling Encounters
Roleplaying Tips #0822 - Ambling Itinerant Roaming Encounters
Roleplaying Tips #0903 - Building Encounters On The Fly
Roleplaying Tips #0955 - Story Overlays - A Quick Storytelling Tip For Your Encounters
Roleplaying Tips #1006 - 5 Ways To Intensify Your Encounters
Roleplaying Tips #1112 - How Do Your Make Encounters More Interesting? -- Introducing the Chorus Line
Roleplaying Tips #1114 - Adventure Building Tip: Must All Encounters Advance The Plot?
Roleplaying Tips #1139 - How To Create Roleplay Encounters
Roleplaying Tips #1203 - 6 Tips On How To Tie Dungeon Encounters Together
Roleplaying Tips #1210 - How To Build Encounters On A Budget
Roleplaying Tips #1212 - 1d6 Ways To Create Urgency In Encounters