Planning, plotting, and designing encounters for roleplaying can be half the fun of gamemastering or participating in group storytelling. This post will help you think both inside and outside the box for ways to confront, challenge, and entertain your characters!
There are a lot of things that could go into an encounter. Look at these menus and pick the one(s) that suit your current plan or inspire a brand new idea. All kinds of things could be part of a character’s experience, from tricks and traps to monsters and cool antagonists. Bookmark this page for later, ’cause you’ll wanna come back, and don’t forget to share with your friends using the share button at the bottom of the page. Enjoy… and happy plotting!
Encounter Elements
If you’re designing an encounter for roleplaying, see which triggers here help you plot the fun for your game. Any of the elements listed here could spark action, interest, and entertainment in your story. Mix and match for some rich twists!
- trap, trick, snare, booby trap, bomb, prank,
- magic spell, illusion, curse, blessing, aura, ward, talisman, guard,
- illusion, deception, red herring, false clue, fake whatever, facade, mirage,
- decision, dilemma, fork in the road, choice,
- monster, creature, beast, animal, foe, enemy,
- mind games, wit, intellectual battle, psychoanalysis, mental challenge, riddle, puzzle, shell game,
- posturing, diplomacy, debate,
- dressing down, haranguing, nagging, reprimand, write up, put on notice, tribunal, impugned,
- con, ruse, double-cross,
- army, hoard, mass, crowd, swarm, infestation,
- celebration, festival, wedding, coronation,
- anachronism, misplacement, incongruous element, paradox, time-warped object or character, something transcending time, other-worldly being,
- ironic twist, betrayal, situational irony, a big lie, deceit, cheating, backstabbing,
- festering, rot, decay, refuse, waste, garbage, blood, disgust,
- horror, fear, terror, anxiety, insanity, claustrophobia, tension, paranoia, panic, hysteria, phobia,
- disease, illness, sickness, allergens, plague, ague, affliction, flu, germs,
- poison, toxin, gas, fumes, vapors, agents, strange potion,
- downfall, bane, burden, curse, opposing force, torment, anathema, bete noire,
- the supernatural, spiritual,
- victim, helpless innocent, civilian bystander,
- friends, helpers, assistance, aid, benevolence, kindness,
- evil, treachery, malevolence, dread, doom,
- omen, prophecy, portent, warning,
- ooze, blob, jelly, goo, sticky mess, fluids, goop, glop, gunk,
- treasure, money, gold, jewelry, gems,
- magic, power, energy, divine power, radiance, faerie light,
- relics, artifacts,
- training, testing, teaching, coaching,
- signs, clues, hints,
- physical barrier, wall, obstruction, blockage, barricade,
- arena, gameshow, staged battle, competition, challenge,
- dare, quest, mission,
- gambling, game of chance, test of luck,
- abduction, kidnapping,
- thievery, stealing, theft, burglary,
- vandalism, ransacking, pillaging,
- rape, abuse, torture,
- sex, love, lust, passion, seduction,
- proposition, idea, proposal, offer, deal,
- barter, trade, exchange,
- switch, swap, change, changeling,
- birth, rebirth,
- passage, tunnel, cave entrance, warp-device-thingy,
- ceremony, rite, ritual, sacrifice, practice, communion, covenant,
- party, procession, festival, gathering, wedding, funeral, birth,
- death, deathbed, dying, last rites, final words, passing away, funeral,
- guard, protector, watch dog, sentinel, automated guardian,
- hand of god, angel, devil, demon, celestial message, heavenly order, deal with the devil,
- doorway, gate, portal, passage, secret door, key, loose panel, path, route, road, crossroads,
- hint, clue, evidence, puzzle piece,
- diversion, red herring, misdirection, trick,
- impostor, fake, forgery, imitation, mimic, doppleganger, evil twin,
- find something strange or check out the STUFF menus for more ideas
- see OBSTACLES under cre8opedia’s meta menu for ideas on story design elements for your campaign or adventuring world.
Characters for Encounters
Though almost anybody could be plunked in as a character when designing encounters, here is a list of effective trigger words to give you some ideas. Ranging from the mundane to the truly wicked, this collection should spark an idea. Of course, you can check out our CHARACTERS section for a wider selection anytime!
- foe, bitter enemy, arch nemesis, adversary, opponent, rival,
- monster, beast, creature, animal, mutant, humanoid, robot,
- leader, boss, head honcho, commander, chief, captain,
- guard, bodyguard, lookout, sentinel, city watch,
- fighter, soldier, warrior, mercenary, swashbuckler, musketeer,
- hitman, bounty hunter, vigilante, head hunter,
- robber, thief, burglar, thug, ruffian,
- wizard, magic user, sorcerer, witch,
- priest, cleric, holyman, witch, shaman, imam, rabbi,
- doctor, healer, physician, surgeon,
- ranger, scout, woodsman, sneak, spy, agent, rogue, hunting party, angler,
- elder, wise man,
- undead, zombie, skeleton warriors,
- seer, psychic, fortune teller, Nostradamus himself, diviner,
- gambler, loan shark, bookie,
- twit, freak, loony, madman, hermit, hag, fool,
- kid, child, infant, bully, jock, teen, outcast, innocent child, possessed kid,
- midwife, surgeon, nurse,
- prisoner, convict, someone in a stockade or cage,
- creep, weirdo, pervert, dirty old man, succubus, temptress, junkie prostitute, pimp,
- dealer, black-marketeer, underground operator,
- servant, butler, orderly, maid, bellhop, porter,
- innocent, bystander, gawker, onlooker, witness,
- rowdy crowd, belligerent naysayers, protestors, rioters, thugs, angry mob, lynch mob, town posse,
- merchant, peddler, vendor, artisan, artist,
- baker, cobbler, leather worker, brewer,
- camper, hiker, mountain climber, spelunker,
- scouting party, bounty hunter, neighborhood watch, patrol unit,
- royalty, nobility, king with entourage,
- vanguard of an army, scouts, forward observers, lookouts,
Stuff for Encounters
- weapons,
- traps, tricks,
- poison, toxin, gas, fumes, vapors, agents,
- potions, liquids, elixirs, drinks, concoction,
- containers, jars, barrels, bags, crates, a chest, trunk,
- furniture, cupboards, cabinets,
- food, rations, feast,
- fire, flame,
- tools, gear, equipment,
- toy, game, puzzle, trinket,
- souvenir,
- symbol, emblem,
- marking, writing,
- signage, warning, caution tape,
- building,
- pile, rubble,
- mass, blob,
- chalk figure, corpse, signs of a struggle, murder weapon,
- machinery, contraption, invention,
- light,
- magic items, relics, artifacts, objects of power, amulet, ring, goblet,
- treasure, booty, loot, bounty, plunder, payday, haul,
- statue, icon, bust, sculpture, cast, torso, simulacrum, effigy, relief,
- painting, fresco, design, pattern, motif, portrait,
- cage, stockade, iron maiden, rack, cross, pyre, stake, chains, shackles, jail,
- obstacles, barbed wire, brambles, debris, clutter,
- fence, barrier, rampart, breastwork, bulwark, palisade, wall,
Environments useful in Designing Encounters for Roleplaying Games
- castle, dungeon, cave system, keep, tunnel,
- guild hall, banquet hall, school, university, college,
- tavern, inn, pub, cafe,
- bridge, crossing, arch, terrace, balcony, pedway,
- camp, hideout, retreat,
- temple, shrine, graveyard, cemetery, tumulus, barrow, burial mound, holy garden,
- trash heap, garbage chute, dumpster, dump, slag heap,
- latrine, washroom, bathroom, outhouse,
- sewer, gutter,
- gully, gulch, ravine,
- waterfall, river, stream, brook, canal, channel,
- labyrinth, maze,
- mysterious dimension, tesseract, alternate plane,
- sanctuary, retreat, garden, spa, pool,
More Ideas on Designing Encounters for Roleplaying Games
- Characters get caught on a runaway bus, pilot-less airplane, wagon dragged by rampaging beasts of burden, a spooked horse.
- Furniture in a room becomes animated, either fighting or ensnaring the characters.
- A room of statues is bathed in magic or some type of powerful force. What do the statues do?
- A crossroads or fork in the road presents an adventuring party with some choice.
- sanctuary: in the midst of crazy adventuring, having a respite from the damage-inflicting battles is a welcome site for characters. Plan for some places where characters can rest up, heal, and train during the adventure. You can always fill these spaces with entertaining characters and diversions.