How to Run Effective Encounters in Dungeons and Dragons

You can greatly improve your Dungeon Mastering by spending a few minutes thinking ahead about the encounters your player characters will be facing.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Dungeons and Dragons Players' Handbook
• Dungeons and Dragons Dungeon Master's Guide
• Dungeons and Dragons Monster Manual
• Other sources for Dungeons and Dragons encounters (optional)

1. Know the monster's stats. Know what their special abilities, special attacks, and special qualities are. Know what their weaknesses are, and do what you can to shore up those weaknesses.

2. If a monster is intelligent, you have to play it as if it is intelligent. For example, if there is a ring of invisibility in the bugbear's treasure horde, there's a good chance it will be on his finger. Probably, if the characters are encountering something in its own lair, it has a good idea of the layout and knows the most effective spots from which to fight, for example.

3. Try to vary a bit how monsters will enter combat. If, every time you play Dungeons and Dragons the minotaur is going to charge, your players will get used to defending against a charge. If, however, this particular minotaur favors a composite longbow, you may be able to buy as many as two full rounds of surprise.

4. Make a point to use the environment in which monsters find themselves. The fact of the matter is that trees, abandoned buildings and even dungeon walls make great tactical tools in the hands of the right monster. Part of the draw of Dungeons and Dragons is the fantasy setting; you should use that setting to your advantage.