Building Encounters

What is an encounter?

Building the scene

Setting traps

Choosing Monsters

What is an encounter

An encounter can be a combat or roleplaying session in which players will spend their rounds utilizing their characters abilities and skill checks to determine the best way to resolve the scene.

A scene, would be for instance a group of adventurers enters a dungeon and a magical rockslide slams behind them trapping them. Another example would be your adventurers are a team of mystery solvers, they arrive at the scene of the place they were hired to investigate and encounter hints or traps that reveal clues as to who or what they are looking to find.

Some encounters do not need combat, such as the team runs from the ghost that's been haunting the town each time they see it, and figures out a way to trap it and reveal it's really old man Jenkins scaring off the tourists. Yeah, this is pretty Scooby Doo, but hey some people enjoy that.

If combat does occur it's important that you setup the scene with traps and monsters appropriate for their level. Don't throw a level 10 Legendary Mind Flayer at your level 3 party or they will die, likely even in the first round.

One thing that can drastically impact the player characters’ progress, and therefore the story you tell as the DM, is what level the characters will start as. In Crusaders, there are four tiers of play:

Tier 1 (Levels 1-5): Local Crusaders

• At this tier, heroes are just starting to make a name for themselves within their local community. They are the go-to individuals for solving issues and threats that are deemed unworthy by the Kingdom's Elite.

Tier 2 (Levels 6-10): Kingdom's Vanguard

• Heroes at this level have gained recognition beyond their local area, perhaps even at a provincial or state level. They are called upon to handle more significant threats that affect larger populations when the Elite are too busy.

Tier 3 (Levels 11-15): Kingdom's Elite

• These heroes have proven their mettle in various challenges and are known throughout the kingdom. They are trusted with missions of utmost importance, often directly from the ruling monarch or council.

Tier 4 (Levels 16-20): Crusaders of the World

• At the pinnacle of heroism, these individuals are legends in their own right. Their deeds are known across worlds, and they are the last line of defense against cataclysmic threats.

Building the Scene

Designate a starting point on your map for players to enter the Dungeon, Battle, or Other Roleplaying Scene you have set up. In an ambush scenario the players can place their tokens on the map and traps / monsters will be revealed as they are found.



Explain the general scenario they are going through and have them roll into initiative. During initiative they can roll skill checks and communicate with the environment as needed. If you're setting up an ambush they may say hello? Trying to see if anyone is out there, engage them with a minion who is hesitant about their arrival that will either threaten them, or speak kindly to them as the hidden monsters get into position around them. Typically you're trying to position the ambush to where 3 minions are on each player, and the Legendary Monster will appear in from

Spacing

The important thing to remember is that monsters can skill check players in combat. Use your monsters communication and skill checks to bring their personalities to life. Encounter math is done for DM's so that you just have to choose the setting and battle map.

Another tip is spacing matters. If you put all of your monsters in one spot on the map they will be subject to area of effect abilities which will make them die faster. The typical spacing you want for your monsters is anywhere from 10-60 feet apart before initiating combat.

Feel free to go to the backlines. If you roll a high perception on a monster have that monster communicate they are going to the back lines and go there. Classes have the ability to counter this like Taunt, and if they don't use them that's on the player not the DM. Your job is to create a fun authentic fight that the players can enjoy. Between skills and abilities they have plenty of agency.

The general rule of thumb is that you can reskin any monster to fit your scene's style, however the damage, health, AC and action economy is built for their level.

Choosing A Monster

Minions are monsters you use to either take actions for the stronger units like in games like Chess, or you can use them in the backlines to deal extra damage at range making the combats a little more difficult for melee characters.

Bruisers are standalone monsters great for laying down a lot of damage on a party very quickly.

Legendary creatures should be reserved for boss battles as they create high tension due to them being able to attack after each player's turn. Yikes!

Optimizing A Monster

Monsters have +3 to 1 skill check and saving throw of your choice that fits the monster's narrative. In addition, you can grant a creature 1 level of Resistance for each level of Vulnerability they have in another. Example. Say I want my creature to have Immunity to Nature and Earth damage, they would have Extreme Vulnerability to Fire and Solar damage.

Each creature or monster has special abilities known as maneuvers to help them feel more unique in combat. Below is a list of the monster types. The maneuvers can be used in combat to spice things up.

Minions - 1 Maneuver

Bruiser - 2 Maneuver

Legendary - 3 Maneuver

In addition to your maneuver each creature has a ranged attack and melee attack dealing the same damage. Flavor the ranged attack as you see fit per your monster.

Minions - 30 Range

Bruiser - 120 Range

Legendary - 240 Range

Legendary Monsters have 3 unique abilities that make them legendary.

Legendary Resistance - They can automatically succeed on a roll of the DM's choice once per round.

Legendary Vengeance - This allows the legendary minion to attack or skill check once after each player's turn.

Legendary Movement - They are immune to crowd control.

Specific Monster Type Features

Undead creatures have resistance to Necrotic & Dark damage and vulnerability to Radiant & Ethereal damage. In addition, They can see normally in darkness, both magical and nonmagical, to a distance of 120 feet as if it were bright light.

Plants have resistance to Nature & Water damage and vulnerability to Fire & Solar damage. Plants heal from damage taken by Water damage.

Aquan have resistance to Water damage and vulnerability to Lightning damage. Aquan creatures have a swimming speed and can breathe under water.

Constructs have resistance to Slashing & Piercing damage, and vulnerability to Force and Bludgeoning damage.

Aberration

Aquan

Avian

Beast

Celestial

Construct

Demon

Dragon

Elemental

Fey

Giant

Humanoid