Post date: Dec 12, 2011 3:41:25 AM
I love the fact that there are others who are just as passionate in improving their game as I am. A friend of mine recently did a podcast on the issue of building an encounter. I thought it was very good so here is the link the GoblinGuru's 3rd Episode on iTunes
http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/goblinguru.com/id481096331
In summary they identified that when building an encounter there should be three big things considered. Goal, Environment, and Adversaries.
What is the Goal of Encounter - what is the point of the encounter.
Ideas they suggested:
Is it to reveal a key plot point? If so make sure it comes out before the party member kills them
Something to do with a players back story? if so make sure it is very apparent lest the PC misses it.
Is it to test the 3 T's of the players? Their Tactics, Teamwork, and Talents
Is it just a 3 F encounter? Fluff, Filler, Fun - encounters that help them earn XP or just provide some relief or pass time.
Is it a learning experience for the GM? Have you always wanted to try out rule X or rule Y
Environment:
Try to avoid flat open plane encounters that happen only on sunny days.
Things to consider
If it is urban or rural?
Is it day or night?
Is it indoors or outdoors?
Are there special features you could add to create challenges to both players and GM?
Can you add weather - rain (with mud and concealment), snow, sand storm, extreme heat?
Add things that break up the flow of the battle field (cover, traps, hazards).
Adversaries:
What monsters are you putting there?
What special features do they have that you make sure the environment does not negate?
Does it make sense for the monster to be there (fire giant in a snow storm)?
When will they run away?
I applied these points when designing my last set piece battle, a group of super mutants were going to ambush the caravan the PCs were leading.
Goal: Test the players capabilities vs. Super mutants.
Environment: Mid day, mountainous, super mutants were using bear traps to guard their flank, lots of cover to allow them to get possibly get close to the PCs.
Adversaries: 4 melee brutes and a "trapper" who was a bit smarter than the brutes. Brutes would fight to the death, Trapper would flee if the last one left using a planned route of escape down a ravine.
I felt the battle went well and met the goal, the PCs are definitely bad-a$$ vs. equal sized groups of Super Mutants. So the next encounter I am going to try different mix and more, to eventually find that mix of dangerous success.