Encounters can be planned of course, but that is a part of the narrative, or perhaps what your players have pushed for. What happens next in the over arching story is determined by how the group interacts with the world around them and is most often times pre-determined before your gaming session.
It is the random encounter that can change the tide of the game, the strange predicament that can shift the mood or even make the over arching story of 'what is to come' a different experience. As a GM, those random encounters can be a very daunting task to undertake no matter how small. You can't plan for them, you can't know everything involved with them, and you certainly can't predict the outcome of them, because they should be just as random to you as your players.
Combative random encounters could easily be rolled and planned out before you start. Having two or three waiting in the wings is always an option, and generating the theme of that encounter to tie into your current narrative is entirely up to you. In my opinion, these are generally the best encounters for players, because we all get to roll dice and feel the thrill of risk. This is also the part of the game that is the most exciting, and normally ends with a high amount of character experience and loot.
The non-combat random encounter is where a masterful GM can generate a situation that the players can either role-play though, sidestep, or simply just experience. Some can lead to combat as well, giving players an opportunity to roll some dice. These encounters require a detailed understanding of a few key factors, and can be answered by simple questions;
- Exactly where are your PCs when the encounter occurs? Think about the natural environment, the weather conditions, and the climate of the region. What time of the day is it? What are the stages of the heavenly bodies?
- The types of others around, such as NPCs, monsters, and other groups of populous. Are you currently within a town or city? What could be occupying the area? Are there any calendar holidays being celebrated?
- The primary senses; Sight, Sound, Touch, Taste, and Smell. Do any of these senses overpower another? Which is the first sense to become aware? Are any senses hindered or disabled?
Every one of these factors are under your constant control, and need to be known before you start ANY random encounter. Knowing these key features can help you as a GM better lay out a situation while it is being presented.
There are an infinite number of encounters you can create that are not combat oriented, and can be as small or large in scale as your want. Coming up with what happens though should always be random, and can be done by rolling on a pre-generated table. The encounters do not have to be detailed on your table however, and can be vaguely written to make them fit your current situation.
These Non-Combat Random Encounters Tables will help anyone get started on generating encounters at the table quickly, and will allow the GM to fill in the blanks to help fit the campaign or setting. While the tables themselves wont give you an entire picture of what the encounter will be, it will help get the ball rolling for what will happen.
Random encounters are an important part of RPGs, and will give your world the feel of being real. Always keep your players thinking and feeling as if anything can happen! Just as in real life a mundane interaction, coincidence, or just something plain random can change the path of a character or result in dire circumstance. Make your players relate to their characters by providing them with the chaos of life.