Random Exploration Areas

[Cruzel]

I would suggest a scripted method be added so that people can't enter these alone.  I've never witnessed it myself, but I've heard talks of people going in alone, killing the stuff and then taking all the loot and supplies within for themselves, and some stories of  people going into these areas and killing the stuff only to find the loot already gone.  It was my understanding these were supposed to be 'mini quests' for players to get others to come with them on, to get more supplies and do something outside the usual scripted norm. I don't really see it being anything like that as long as one PC can go in and do it themselves.

I think adding a few more of these areas with wilderness PCs in mind would be great, where only druids/rangers/other wilderness PCS(Maybe via DM flag as 'wilderness') can enter these areas, and they contain loot and supplies aimed specifically to help these kinds of PCs out.


Making some of these solo-only might be good as well, to appease the 'lone wanderer's' about who will cry about not being able to enter some of these alone.


So in short : Make three different types of random areas. One which requires a group, one for wildnerness PCs, and one for loners (These should have far less loot and such in them imo)

[BrittanyPanthas]

Some of these areas are designed to be done alone, but the most rewarding ones can't be done alone unless you're willing to invest far more than what you will receive in return, or not at all.

Disagree with some being more accessible to wilderness PCs.  They're already more accessible to them by virtue of the fact that they're already wandering the wilds and are more likely to stumble upon them.

[TheWastesAreFrozen]

This is the last thing wilderness PCs need since they are / were the ones often going in them alone and also the ones that find them first due to their nature.

Also, as BP said, some of the areas are designed for a single character. (so it seems) The others usually can't be done solo unless you're willing to spend more than you'll probably receive while taking a large risk.

[Oddysseous]

Random encounters are around.

[Oskar Maxon]

Random encounters are around.

What Cruzel's suggesting is an addition to them.

[Egon the Monkey]

I sort of agree. I play a PC who's built as a treasure hunter and general tricky guy. I can solo some of the low-powered encounters with buffs and Rogue skills, but have to call in some help if I run into a hefty combat one. That's as it should be. If you play a badass, your PC can smash the wilds. If you play a skilled rogue, you should be able to break into places alone. What you shouldn't be able to do as say, a druid or monk exploring, is to simply summon creatures onto all the traps to set them off or punch/evade traps and smash up locked boxes. However, on a few areas, I've known it to be possible and seen the results (area looted on all the trapped boxes but not the locked one etc.).

I don't think more scripting's the answer though, just a few additions to the area design. For "combat" encounters, make the best loot spawn in an unpickable box that the key for is on the toughest enemy, like for Wild Orcs. Or put some sneak-lootable chests early on, but then later chests guarded by an Ooze or something else it's clear has True Seeing, that would have to be fought or retreated from. Sneakiness pays off, but a full on attack gets you the most. For "traps" encounters, throw a few traps in that aren't removed when triggered, so you do need a trap handler to get the most out of it and can't "ghetto disarm" your way through.

Do that, and either you have to be specifically built for smash-and-grab raids, or you need to bring a friend along either as firepower or a device disabler. And, if someone does solo it without being able to deal with everything, the next group to find it gets the leftovers (trapped areas or mobs) and the remaining reward. Flagging an area  would be a rather daft OOC restriction. If you're capable enough to survive wandering around to find the area in the first place, you're capable enough to go in. If it's solo only, well why can't your exploring buddy come with you?

Besides, if Druid/Ranger items turn up as encounter loot for a PC unable to use them, they'll just sell them on! These PCs already have the greatest chance to find encounters by dint of moving more easily and rapidly about the wilds to locate them in the first place.