Interesting encounters are short descriptions of encounters that GMs can use to build on. They combine unique aspects of different types of foes, terrain, skill checks, weather, combat, etc in order to provide more unique challenges than hit monster; repeat.
In this encounter, inspired by Indiana Jones, we put the PCs in a mine car. The mine car is traveling through a large open cavern filled with other tracks all connected together. There are also several other mine cars and several rock platforms at the roughly same height as the tracks. The tracks are old and rickety and may have sections missing.
Of all of the possible tracks that the PCs can take, only 1 takes them safely out of this cavern. In order to reach it, the PCs will need to expend actions to flip switches to choose the appropriate tracks. In addition, when a break in the track is present, all of the passengers in the car must lean to pull the car up onto two wheel to proceed safely. Should a PC or the mine car leave the safety of the mine car tracks, it is a very long deadly fall to the bottom of the cavern.
In addition to the track challenges, the islands and mine cars contain lots of foes. These foes have ranged weapons that can not only hit PCs in the mine car, but can also potentially damage the mine car. Some foes may have ranged magic too. Passengers in the carts can also attempt to push / brake the mine cars to ram into other mine cars in front or behind them.
The foes are determined to stop the PCs from making it through the cavern. Whether killed or forced to fall to their deaths, the foes know they get to pick the PCs clean of items, food, and other supplies. Good foes for this encounter could include goblins, orcs, or just simply other hostile humanoids.
If the challenge isn't enough, add periodic hot geysers or lava flows to the cavern to increase the danger. You can use these to force the PCs to time their crossings of this features just right or that will take damage.
In this encounter, inspired by Indiana Jones, we put the PCs in a mine car. The mine car is traveling through a large open cavern filled with other tracks all connected together. There are also several other mine cars and several rock platforms at the roughly same height as the tracks. The tracks are old and rickety and may have sections missing.
Of all of the possible tracks that the PCs can take, only 1 takes them safely out of this cavern. In order to reach it, the PCs will need to expend actions to flip switches to choose the appropriate tracks. In addition, when a break in the track is present, all of the passengers in the car must lean to pull the car up onto two wheel to proceed safely. Should a PC or the mine car leave the safety of the mine car tracks, it is a very long deadly fall to the bottom of the cavern.
In addition to the track challenges, the islands and mine cars contain lots of foes. These foes have ranged weapons that can not only hit PCs in the mine car, but can also potentially damage the mine car. Some foes may have ranged magic too. Passengers in the carts can also attempt to push / brake the mine cars to ram into other mine cars in front or behind them.
The foes are determined to stop the PCs from making it through the cavern. Whether killed or forced to fall to their deaths, the foes know they get to pick the PCs clean of items, food, and other supplies. Good foes for this encounter could include goblins, orcs, or just simply other hostile humanoids.
If the challenge isn't enough, add periodic hot geysers or lava flows to the cavern to increase the danger. You can use these to force the PCs to time their crossings of this features just right or that will take damage.
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