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DMtools: Encounters on the road

Updated: Jul 23, 2023

*Dragon Magazine September 2000 (by Dawn Ibach)

random encounters

The old magazines hold so many small treasures. This list is may not be the coolest of them all, it is really helpful. You as a DM may be completely stuck and you may just need a little nudge into a direction.


For example, I may have rolled hunter without game. This could be that the hunter is either sad and he returns home without any food for his family, or he is heavily wounded and needs assistance. Perhaps he is now the hunted instead of the hunter.


Your imagination will take you where you need to be with just a little nudge.



01 Merchant with cart*

02 Merchant with wagon*

03 Merchant with several wagons*

04 Merchant with laden pack animals

05 Merchant, foreign

06 Craftsman with wares

07 Healer or herbalist and wagon

08 Charlatan healer and wagon

09 Trapper with skins

10 Hunter with game

11 Hunter without game

12 Fisherman with catch

13 Fisherman without catch

14 Tinker

15 Circus

16 Acting troupe

17 Pedestrian with pet

18 Pedestrian, lost

19 Pedestrian, foreign

20 Gypsies

21 Right of way dispute

22 Horse thieves

23 Horse merchant with wares

24 Cattle rustlers

25 Hangman's tree with occupant(s)

26 Post with hanging cage(s)

27 Adventurers, on foot

28 Adventurers, mounted

29 Farmers

30 Herdsmen

31 Military patrol

32 Road sign

33 Road sign, incorrect

34 Bridge, stone

35 Bridge, wooden

36 Logging wagons

37 Foot racers

38 Young apprentice on errand

39 Messenger

40 Messenger, mounted

41 Children playing game

42 Dog tied to tree, friendly or mean

43 laborers on foot

44 Wagon of laborers

45 Toll collector, legitimate

46 Toil collector, false

47 Woman with basket of berries, fruit, vegetables, or flowers

48 Famous adventurer( s), mounted

49 Refugees

50 Family moving

51 Abandoned wagon

52 Wagon with broken wheel*

53 Wagon with lame draft animal*

54 Wagon with stubborn draft animal*

55 Religious pilgrims

56 Ceremony to god of travel

57 Slave wagon

58 Prisoner wagon

59 Outlaw(s)

60 Fire wagon

61 Prospector(s)

62 Humanoid tracks

63 Monster tracks

64 Funeral procession

65 Wedding procession

66 local hero's homecoming

67 Enamored couple, strolling

68 Enamored couple, riding

69 Enamored couple, eloping

70 Bounty hunter

71 Construction crew

72 Domestic animal, blocking road

73 Domestic herd, blocking road

74 Bandits

75 Lone woman, cowled

76 Mercenary

77 Humanoid outcast

78 Monk with cart or wagon*

79 Young boy with cart or wagon*

80 Adventurers with cart or wagon*

81 Canal

82 Border patrol tower

83 Hayride

84 Warning sign

85 Patch of Wildflowers

86 Birds of prey, circling

87 Duck crossing

88 Deer crossing

89 Wounded pet or wild animal

go Traveler, resting

91 Porter, looking for work

92 Fist fight

93 Young female noble and male escort

94 Young female noble and maid

95 Curtained litter with bearers

96 Young noble and friends

97 Wealthy citizen in carriage

98 Wealthy citizen on litter

99 Noble and retainers

100 Royalty and guards


More help needed?:

1 Comment


johnny.dunn45
johnny.dunn45
May 11, 2023

Thank you again for these! These are actually quite useful. :-)

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