"1d6+1 blink dogs are looking for ways to defeat nearby displacer beasts"
Wilderness random encounters using the monster manual
Monster Manual Encounters - City | Dungeon | Wilds
Wilderness Encounters using Monster Manual
Random encounters in the Wilderness with a mix of non-combat, low-level, mid level, beasts and locations. The tables have a sub-theme of bulls and hunting.
For Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition using the Monster Manual.
Inspired by my D&D Encounter Generator and available on DM's Guild along with similar tables
Wilderness Encounters Low Level (1-4)
| 1d20 | Wilderness Encounters Low Level (1-4) |
|---|---|
| 1 | A tribal warrior herding several goats and dreaming of a life of adventure |
| 2 | A few bandits are singing rude songs and invite you to join them |
| 3 | Several merfolk on a quest, unsure if have followed the correct river |
| 4 | A laughing veteran is training a pair of young wolves some tricks |
| 5 | 1 dryad suspects any strangers of being in league with bull demons |
| 6 | 1d4+2 axe beaks investigating a dead body or roll on Wilderness Beasts |
| 7 | 1d6+1 blink dogs are looking for ways to defeat nearby displacer beasts |
| 8 | 1d3 insect swarms have been attracted by the magic of a feywild portal |
| 9 | 1 minotaur skeleton who protects several scared but well fed oxen |
| 10 | 1d3 scarecrows are guarding a grove with rare herbs for a local druid |
| 11 | 1 giant boar has found an area of truffles or roll on Wilderness Beasts |
| 12 | 2d4+2 needle blights are being drawn to a place of evil nearby |
| 13 | 1 manticore is scouting for creatures or beasts to hunt with its master |
| 14 | 1d4 scouts mounted on giant bats are patrolling for a local faction |
| 15 | 1 minotaur who expects to be offered meat. A local druid often feeds it |
| 16 | 1d4+1 pixies and a faerie dragon (indigo) play tricks on strangers |
| 17 | 1 ettin looking for someone to settle an argument between it's heads |
| 18 | 1d4+2 pegasi looking for a companion that went missing with an elf |
| 19 | 1d3 giant spiders and 1 awakened tree who ambush anyone with an axe |
| 20 | 2d4+2 orcs led by 1 orog wearing bull masks. They are on a hunt |
Wilderness Encounters Mid Level (5-10)
| 1d20 | Wilderness Encounters Mid Level |
|---|---|
| 1 | A ghost of a ranger who tried stopping savage hunts by evil creatures |
| 2 | A mage is searching for a rare herb to use in a magical ritual |
| 3 | A good knight mounted on a giant elk seeking allies to fight a great evil |
| 4 | A stone giant is making repairs to ancient stonework |
| 5 | A pack consisting of 1 werewolf, 1 winter wolf, 2 worgs and 1d6 wolves. They will leave others alone in exchange for meat or domestic animals |
| 6 | 1 orc warchief is feeding 1 griffon mount in barding (armor class 14) |
| 7 | 1 evil druid in a bull mask and 1d3 displacer beasts. They organize hunts |
| 8 | 1d4+2 bugbears with 2d4 goblins and 1d3 hobgoblins led by 1 bugbear chief. They are following the tracks of a large bull |
| 9 | 1 berserker riding a chariot pulled by 1d4+2 polar bears, singing loudly |
| 10 | 1 wyvern that tries to snatch a mount or pack beast to take to its young |
| 11 | 1 shambling mound controlled by 1 banshee who trades for beautiful art |
| 12 | 1d3 lamias and 2d4 jackalweres are following a vision of an old tomb |
| 13 | 2d6 lizardfolk and 1 lizard king/queen feeding 1 sacred giant crocodile |
| 14 | 1 renegade frost giant is the protector of the surrounding wilderness |
| 15 | 1d3 orc eyes of Gruumsh riding gorgons are following humanoid tracks |
| 16 | 1 nycaloth has been bound to protect the area around old ruins |
| 17 | 1d3 giant apes throw rocks at any perceived threats to their young |
| 18 | 1 guardian naga watches over several nearby portals to the Feywild |
| 19 | 1 behir is seeking shambling mounds. It loves using lightning on them |
| 20 | 1 adult white dragon wants revenge on a tribe of orcs (higher level) |
Wilderness Beast Encounters
| 1d20 | Wilderness Beast Encounters |
|---|---|
| 1-2 | 1d4 giant goats or 1d4 crocodiles |
| 3-4 | 1d4+1 apes. One of them is carrying a bulging leather bag |
| 5-6 | 2d6 deer or 2d6 blood hawks |
| 7-8 | 1 pteranodon with a saddle and a hopeful look |
| 9-10 | 1d2 black bears or 1 triceratops |
| 11-12 | 1d4+1 giant wasps with strange markings belong to a nearby tribe |
| 13-14 | 2d4 wolves or 2d6 camels |
| 15-16 | 1d6 vultures led by 1 giant vulture trailing a wounded creature |
| 17-18 | 1d4 axe beaks or 1 giant toad |
| 19-20 | 1d4 giant bats often hunted by locals as potential mounts |
Wilderness Locations
| 1d20 | Wilderness Locations |
|---|---|
| 1-2 | Ford across a shallow river. There is a sack hanging from a tree |
| 3-4 | Wide Ravine with a bridge that is disguised by a hallucinatory terrain |
| 5-6 | Standing Stones surround a shrine to the moon. A corpse lies here |
| 7-8 | Old Trail leads through tall trees. Colored stones surround one tree |
| 9-10 | Ruins of a mill. It is surrounded by patches of razorvine (DMG pg 110) |
| 11-12 | Meadow of long grass. There are tracks of a monster under an hour old |
| 13-14 | Waterfall leads to a small lake with an island. A tent is set by a tree |
| 15-16 | Hut on stilts near an ivy-covered monument. There is a charred wagon |
| 17-18 | Spring that feeds into a fish-filled stream. Red flowers cover the area |
| 19-20 | Log Piles surrounded by mud. One area is quicksand (DMG pg 110) |
More Encounters
These tables and more like it are available on DM's Guild in Monster Manual Encounters - City, Dungeon and Wilderness.
If you liked these there are D&D Generators at Chaos Gen, a monthly random tools Newsletter and an instagram of Random Tables.
