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How to Play · Chapter 8

Encounters

An encounter is a scene prepared before play: which monsters, where they stand, when more arrive and what it is worth. During a session the GM starts it.

  • For the GM
The Forest Road Ambush encounter: the encounter list, Overview, its map with monster markers, Monsters and Placement.
An encounter: setup
  1. 1Encounter list Location, monster count, difficulty and map.
  2. 2Overview Type, readiness, difficulty estimate and party.
  3. 3Location and map
  4. 4Monsters Who fights, and in which wave.
  5. 5Placement Starting markers placed on the map.
The right column of the Forest Road Ambush encounter: Waves, Trigger, Rewards, Story and GM Notes.
An encounter: waves, rewards and notes
  1. 1Waves When later monsters join the fight.
  2. 2Trigger What starts the encounter.
  3. 3Rewards XP, money and items for winning.
  4. 4Story The story step it comes from and leads to.
  5. 5GM Notes Tips only the GM sees.

How to use it

  • Open Encounters, pick one or tap + New. Filter by Location or Type.
  • Each card on the page has its own Edit.
  • Overview shows its type, whether it is Ready, an estimated difficulty from the monsters' XP and the party's levels.

Step by step

  1. Choose a type: Combat, Social, Exploration, Trap, Mixed or Custom.
  2. Pick the location and map.
  3. Add monsters and how many.
  4. Place their starting markers on the map (Placement).
  5. Optionally split them into waves.
  6. Set the trigger, rewards and story links, and write GM Notes.

Parts of an Encounter

  • Placement shows how many starting markers are placed and how many monsters still have no place.
  • Waves hold monsters back until later, for example "When a goblin shouts".
  • Trigger records how it is meant to start: Manual, Enter Location, Enter Map Area, Interact With Object, Story Node or Custom. It is a note for you; the encounter still starts when you choose Start encounter.
  • Rewards list XP, money and items. Story shows which story step it is Triggered By and which it Advances.

Starting an Encounter in Play For the GM

  • In the session choose Start encounter and pick it. Its monsters appear on their starting markers and initiative is rolled, which switches the location to combat.
  • A monster whose square is taken waits off the map for you to place it.
  • End combat returns the location to Free Play.

Important rules

  • Encounters are prepared before play and started by the GM.
  • Difficulty is an estimate, shown as such.

Common questions

Does an encounter start by itself when players enter?

No. The trigger is a reminder; you start it.