It’s A Mimic!

B005 - Campaign Builder - Foundations: Dynamic Encounters


Listen Later

Dynamic Encounters are encounters that have more than a single action, and add depth beyond normal Dungeons & Dragons scenarios that players have seen before. They provide an infinite number of opportunities for surprises, improv, and creative reactions by players and dungeon masters alike. In this episode, Dan and Adam discuss the following:

Dynamic Encounters:

- combat-to-combat
- combat-to-exploration
- combat-to-roleplaying
- exploration-to-combat
- exploration-to-exploration
- exploration-to-roleplaying
- roleplaying-to-combat
- roleplaying-to-exploration
- roleplaying-to-roleplaying
- skill challenges
- downtime
- party politics

Other Dynamic Encounters:

- tactics (in-combat decisions)
- strategy (out-of-combat decisions)
- planning (meta decisions)
- puzzles (environmental problem-solving)
- riddles (language problem-solving)

Takeaways:

- dynamic encounters take place in a static location, using unexpected problems and stakes to increase engagement, while maintaining the same initiative
- downtime includes quest fulfillment, shopping, crafting, drinking, making money, and building relationships, among other simple character- or world-enhancing options
- action economy and initiative can be equally important tools to have in non-combat encounters
- know who the focus of every encounter is, and give everyone a rewarding turn in the spotlight
- "No plan survives contact with the enemy." - Moltke the Elder, Prussian Field Marshall
- "Plans are worthless, but planning is everything." - Dwight D. Eisenhower, American President 

Available On: iTunes | Spotify | Podbean | YouTube

Don’t forget to Like/Follow/Subscribe/Whatever when you listen!

Social: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Intro/Outro Music by: Cory Wiebe

Logo by: Kate Skidmore

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

It’s A Mimic!By It’s A Mimic!

  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5

4.5

38 ratings


More shows like It’s A Mimic!

View all
My Brother, My Brother And Me by The McElroys

My Brother, My Brother And Me

30,014 Listeners

The Besties by Chris Plante, Griffin McElroy, Justin McElroy, Russ Frushtick

The Besties

4,798 Listeners

Dungeon Master’s Block by The Block Party Network

Dungeon Master’s Block

584 Listeners

The Bill Simmons Podcast by The Ringer

The Bill Simmons Podcast

30,107 Listeners

Mastering Dungeons by Mastering Dungeons

Mastering Dungeons

168 Listeners

The Lazy RPG Podcast - D&D and RPG News and GM Prep from Sly Flourish by mike@slyflourish.com

The Lazy RPG Podcast - D&D and RPG News and GM Prep from Sly Flourish

178 Listeners

Dumb-Dumbs & Dragons: A D&D Podcast by Dumb-Dumbs & Dice

Dumb-Dumbs & Dragons: A D&D Podcast

276 Listeners

Dungeon Master of None by Robert Guthrie & Matt Drwenski

Dungeon Master of None

145 Listeners

Critical Role by Critical Role

Critical Role

10,470 Listeners

Dungeons & Dragons Lorecast by DnD Lorecast

Dungeons & Dragons Lorecast

104 Listeners

3 Wise DMs by The 3 Wise DMs

3 Wise DMs

47 Listeners

Red Web by Red Web

Red Web

3,742 Listeners

RPGBOT.Podcast by RPGBOT.net

RPGBOT.Podcast

75 Listeners

The Eldritch Lorecast by Ghostfire Gaming

The Eldritch Lorecast

52 Listeners

Sixteenth Minute (of Fame) by Cool Zone Media and iHeartPodcasts

Sixteenth Minute (of Fame)

800 Listeners