ENCOUNTER DISTANCE

RANDOM DETERMINATION OF ENCOUNTER DISTANCE

In most cases, the DM will determine encounter distance based upon knowledge of the placement of creatures in the environment. Sometimes, random placement will be desired or called for.

ENCOUNTER DISTANCE INDOORS

When indoor encounters occur, the distance between concerned parties will be 5” to 10” (1d6+4) subject to the following modifying factors.

Line of Sight. If this is unobstructed and light is involved, the distance possible for determination of another party present is virtually infinite. It could likewise be sharply restricted due to obstructions.

Noise. If one party is making considerable noise which is discernible by the other party, the latter will have the options of fleeing or concealment; the former negating the encounter, the latter allowing distance to be 1” to 4” (1d4) before discovery by the noisy party.

Actual Area. If the encountered party is in a small area, distance between the two can be no greater than the maximum distance possible for discovery of the one by the other, i.e. opening a door into a 20 ft. by 20 ft. room will mean the distance between the two parties can be under 10 ft., 10 ft. or thereabouts, or 20 ft. (d6, 1-2 = striking distance, 3-4 = 10 ft. distance, 5-6 = 20 ft. distance).

Planned or Unplanned Appearance. The sudden precipitation of one party upon the other due to any of a number of factors (teleportation, dimension door spell, other magical means, a chute, etc.) will cause distance similar to that found when actual area is a factor.

Surprise. Surprise can only be a factor in close encounter situations. If either or both parties are surprised, the distance must be either 1” to 3” (1d3) or it must be less as determined by the actual area modifier. Thus if the actual area were a 40 ft. by 60 ft. room, if surprise exists, the distance between the parties will be 1” to 3” (1d3).

Light. The illumination factor or visual capability of the concerned parties will affect encounter distance as follows. (See Additional Rules, Exploration.) A light source reliance limits the maximum encounter distance to twice the normal vision radius of the source (2x radius of the light source). Infravision and/or ultravision operate only to the stated limit of their range and limit maximum encounter distance accordingly.

If either party is surprised, the encounter distance is determined by subtracting the value of surprise (as determined by the die which indicated that the condition existed) from normal encounter distance. 

Normal encounter distance is 6" to 24" (6d4). 

Thus, on a surprise roll of 1, for example, encounter distance is 5" to 23" (6d4 -1), on a 2 the distance is 4" to 22", etc. 

In addition to shortening encounter distance, surprise also allows the surprising party to have that number of segments as shown on the die as the surprise factor as free and unanswered activity to move, attack, flee, etc. (See SURPRISE.) 

In addition to modification for surprise, terrain will also modify encounter distance as follows:

Scrub = -1 per die on all 3's and 4's

Forest = -1 per die on all numbers (00's are possible)

Marsh = -1 per die on all 2's, 3's, and 4's

Plain, desert, hills, and mountains do not alter encounter distance variables unless one of the three modifying types of terrain also exists. If final encounter distance is 1" or less, then a confrontation will usually take place.

Confrontation: Confrontation indicates that the adventurers and some monster have met at close proximity, and some interaction is likely to take place. There are, however, modifying circumstances:

1. If the monsters are intelligent and would normally deem themselves to be weaker than the party of adventurers, then they will always seek to avoid such confrontation.

2. If the party of adventurers surprises the monsters and elects to flee the encounter, they may attempt to avoid confrontation by using free segments of action to move out of confrontation distance and evade the monsters.

Confrontation interaction can consist of any number of actions, singly or in combination — parley and reaction, spell casting, missile fire, melee combat, etc.