"There is a chase going on. Roll on other encounter tables as needed for pursuers and runaways."
Tables for Combat Terrain, Minor Treasures and Encounter Complications for Road Encounters. Result is from Road Encounter Complications.
Enhancements by terrain - feywild | road | sea | shadowfell
[Photo by Pat Whelen on Unsplash]
Road and Trail Encounter Enhancements
What makes this road encounter different? . Maybe the paths narrows along a cliff top or something is circling overhead. Maybe there is a wagon stacked with barrels or stepping stones over a stream. Or a creature might be setting up a large tent or carrying a potion of flying.
There is a 5e road random encounter generator at ChaosGen. And also a pdf of these and more tables at the DM's Guild as Road Encounters.
Road Encounter Tables - creatures | locations | non-combat | enhancements
Road Encounter Combat Terrain
| 1d8+1d12 | Road and Trail Encounter Combat |
|---|---|
| 2 | A small fortified watchtower |
| 3 | A large pile of logs |
| 4 | A deep pond with coins at the bottom |
| 5 | Top of a cliff on one side of the path or a pool with several toy boats |
| 6 | Steps to a defensible position |
| 7 | A wagon stacked with barrels or a makeshift barricade |
| 8 | Bottom of a cliff on one side of the path |
| 9 | A treehouse with a rope ladder or a fence topped with spikes |
| 10 | Stone steps leading to a ruined statue |
| 11 | An overturned cart and dead horse |
| 12 | A lit campfire or a deep crack in the ground |
| 13 | A wall topped with metal spikes |
| 14 | A beast pen holding goats (or horses) |
| 15 | A tall thorny hedge (or razorvine - DMG pg 110) |
| 16 | A cave mouth blocked by a simple wooden barricade |
| 17 | Stepping stones over a stream |
| 18 | A precarious stack of flagstones |
| 19 | A wide well with a rope and bucket |
| 20 | A hidden cache (Perception check to spot if near) with a potion of flying (or roll on Road Minor Treasures) |
Road Encounter Minor Treasures
| 1d20 | Road and Trail Encounter Minor Treasures |
|---|---|
| 2 | Box of ten fine elven wines, each worth 25 to 100 gp |
| 3 | Potion of Vitality or Potion of Invisibility |
| 4 | An invitation to an upcoming masked ball with up to six guests |
| 5 | Dust of Disappearance or 1d2 beans from a Bag of Beans |
| 6 | A crate with twenty square yards of silk |
| 7 | Potion of Flying or Potion of Speed |
| 8 | A beautiful rosewood walking stick with a bronze head worth 75 gp |
| 9 | Scroll of Protection - Beasts or Undead |
| 10 | A disguise kit or cartographer's tools |
| 11 | 1d4 Potions of Healing |
| 12 | A large tent that fits 8 Medium-size creatures or a set of bagpipes |
| 13 | Spell Scroll of guardian of faith (or phantom steed) |
| 14 | Tinker's tools or an exotic saddle |
| 15 | Potion of Mind Reading or Quaal's Feather Token - Bird |
| 16 | A set of dragonchess with silver pieces worth 250 gp |
| 17 | Spell Scroll of Mordenkainen's magnificent mansion (or control weather) |
| 18 | A guide of roadside taverns and inns within 100 miles. Includes a maps and ratings for ale, food, entertainment and chance of trouble |
| 19 | Elemental Gem (air or earth) |
| 20 | A spyglass |
Road Encounter Complications
| 1d8+1d12 | Road and Trail Encounter Complications |
|---|---|
| 2 | There is a hallucinatory terrain (or programmed illusion) spell here |
| 3 | The creatures are carrying a magic item or it is hidden nearby. Roll on Magic Items - Road |
| 4 | A group of resting mercenaries watch with interest. Roll on Monstrous Mercenaries lvl 1-4 (or 5-10) |
| 5 | There is a prisoner in the encounter or a lone traveler nearby. Roll on Quick Road NPCs |
| 6 | There is a hidden item or cache here. Roll on Minor Road Treasures |
| 7 | Something is circling above. Roll on Aerial Threats lvl 1-4 (or 5-10) |
| 8 | There is a patrol approaching. Roll on Warriors lvl 1-4 (or 5-10) |
| 9 | There is an overturned cart and a dead horse or roll on Road Combat Terrain |
| 10 | There is a second group of creatures nearby (roll again on the appropriate encounter table) |
| 11 | There is a herd of goats nearby or roll on Domesticated Animals |
| 12 | The path narrows along the top of a cliff or roll on Road Hazards & Obstacles |
| 13 | There are beasts as pets / guards (or nearby). Roll on Road Beasts |
| 14 | There is a hidden trail leading away to a cave or a shrine |
| 15 | There are beasts carrying items or with a vehicle. Roll on Beasts of Burden (or Road Mounts) |
| 16 | There is a chase going on. Roll on other encounter tables as needed for pursuers and runaways. |
| 17 | The road is blocked by mounds of rubble or roll on Road Hazards and Obstacles |
| 18 | There is a group of adventurers of similar level or lower level to the party in the area. They have a connection to the encounter. |
| 19 | There is a crossing to the Shadowfell or Feywild here or a portal to the Astral Plane |
| 20 | There is a roadside inn (or tavern) here |
More Encounter Tables
There is a 5e road random encounter generator at ChaosGen. And also a pdf of these and more tables at the DM's Guild as Road Encounters.
If you liked these there are D&D Generators at Chaos Gen, a monthly random tools Newsletter and an instagram of Random Tables.
