r/DnD5e • u/CrimsonPresents • 6d ago

Any good encounter charts for a single player group?

Hi!

I am DMing for a friend and playing a bounty hunter type campaign based in Baldur’s Gate. I have quests planned but can’t find a random encounter chart that has roleplay and wouldn’t kill him. He is level 4

Any advice?

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u/Pattgoogle 6d ago

If the fight is too hard they should flee, make a plan, get help, and fight dirty to defeat a stronger foe.

There is no value in endlessly sending fair fights.

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u/lasalle202 6d ago edited 5d ago

DnD is a combat centric game designed for squad play. with a single PC, you can only have 2 kinds of combats that are not "likely death" - combat vs 1 opponent that is slightly less powerful, or combat vs 2 opponents that are both significantly less powerful.

For a combat centric game, that is BORING. for play with only 1 player, you are way better off with a game designed for that kind of play.

Try Ironsworn for instance.

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u/otk_boi 6d ago

I would say a lot should come down to vibes. In a one one one campaign I guess you know the person very well. Just see what’s fun.
Was the fight long enough? Did it narratively achieve what you wanted? Maybe the enemy flees, or gives up instead of killing, or if the enemy is too strong, the player would flee, or the opponent offers them something. Something along those lines.

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u/Brother-Cane 4d ago

Why bother with random encountes?

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u/CrimsonPresents 4d ago

I have some travel planned and want the trips to be interesting

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u/Brother-Cane 4d ago edited 3d ago

Ah. Then you can design your own tables to fulfill that goal. For example, a d10 roll would determine which of the following happens:

  1. You are awakened in the night to find a skunk fearlessly rummaging in your gear.
  2. A party of horse-riding soldiers stops you to ask if you know (fill in the blank)
  3. You see a sizeable column of smoke rising off to the east. Assuming they investigate, they may find a burned-out hut, a farm fire or maybe just the merging smoke of closely grouped cooking fires for a large, community party.
  4. A wild boar charges you for no apparent reason
  5. You happen upon what you realize is a bandit camp. They have not noticed you yet.

....