DM screen: "Encounter Distance"

Post/Author/DateTimePost
#1

cassmi

Jan 21, 2015 11:32:20

This may be a silly question but what, exactly, does the "Encounter Distance" table on the new DM screen refer to? Does it mean the distance where two groups can possibly see each other or does it mean the distance between encounters when traveling (e.g. One encounter every 6d6 x 10 feet)? I'm guessing it's the latter?

#2

AaronOfBarbaria

Jan 21, 2015 12:04:14

Encounter distance is used only when it has been determined that an encounter has occured that doesn't have an obvious set of starting points for the participants - such as when you are traveling and come across monsters/npcs that are also traveling.

 

It's the number of feet between the nearest opponents on the battlefield (usually whoever is in the front of the PC party's marching order and the closest monster/NPC encountered) prior to any actions within the encounter taking place.

#3

bawylie

Jan 21, 2015 12:04:29

Isn't it the distance between either "side" of a combat encounter? 

 

"The baddies are (rolls dice) 37 feet away."

#4

alienux

Jan 21, 2015 13:08:47

bawylie wrote:
#5

Sword_of_Spirit

Jan 21, 2015 15:21:16

This is only on the screen? It's not in my DMG. I do not like that.

 

(Reply to #5)

AaronOfBarbaria

Sword_of_Spirit wrote:
#7

Sword_of_Spirit

Jan 21, 2015 16:59:39

Random encounter distances seem an awful lot like a DM's rule (it was in prior DMGs), even if it is a suggestion rather than hard rule, rather than just a game aid like one might expect on the DM's screen. That's how it differs from the other generators you list. I'd prefer a rule like that to be in the DMG, rather than exiled to a peripheral product like a DM's screen.

 

 

#8

cassmi

Jan 22, 2015 6:26:21

Thanks for the answers. I wasn't sure if this 5e version of encounter distance follows the earlier versions, or if it's something different. Indeed, it's weird that it wasn't included in the DMG because it seems like such a basic piece of information, as far as outdoor encounter generation goes. Sure, it's one of those things you can just decide on the fly but roll tables are always helpful.