Localized random hex encounters
Feb. 1st, 2024 06:49 pmHexcrawls often involve keying a location of interest to every hex, and rolling for random encounters that aren't location-linked beyond being suitable for the wider region. However, it seems to me like also keying a random encounter to each hex (likely linked with that hex's location of interest, such as 2d4 bandits for a hex whose location of interest is a bandit camp) and having your random encounter rolls involve a chance of getting a nearby linked encounter instead of a wider regional one would be worthwhile. Localized random encounters like this could serve as clues as to what points of interest could be found nearby, particularly if the party has been missing its rolls to discover actual locations by pure chance.

Of course, if a hex's keyed location of interest changes in some way, change the linked random encounter, too!
1d6 | Encounter Type |
---|---|
1-3 | Local (roll 1d10) |
4 | Nearby (roll 1d12) |
5-6 | Regional (roll on regional table) |

Of course, if a hex's keyed location of interest changes in some way, change the linked random encounter, too!