Encounters in ME-PBM

    by Darin Fitzpatrick


    Because some previously published explanations of encounter investigation are not entirely clear to some readers, I would like to explain the encounter process as I understand it. This information is based on both experience and conversations with GSI.


    Types of Encounters

    Encounters come in two basic types: army encounters and character encounters. Army encounters show up as reports by the army commander. They do not allow any response. Character encounters show up either as something to be investigated (a hidden path, cave entrance, underground maze, etc.), or as a specific situation with a list of options. They only occur for characters traveling alone or with a company.


    Occurrence of Encounters

    A random function determines whether an encounter occurs. If one does occur, it is reported late in the turn sequence -- after movement. Thus the encounter takes place at a character's new location. If several characters are at the same location, it is randomly determined who will get the encounter.

    If the encounter is not reported to any character, you can't interact with it. For example, if you move to Amon Lhaw, but don't get a report of either seeing the High Seat or finding a hidden path, you cannot use the chair. I once tried this, issuing order 285. I got the response that no circumstances were around to react to. Later in the turn, I encountered the chair after all.

    Since encounters take place after movement, moving a new character to an encounter location involves another random function. If the encounter is an NPC, it may move away before your character gets there. (Dragon chasing is a good example of this.) Also, Gandalf will still be in an encounter hex after he interacts with an army, but he will leave the next turn -- before a second encounter can occur.


    Responses to Encounters

    Army encounters do not allow any response. They are over by the time they are reported. Unknown encounters are meant to be investigated, using the order 290, InvEnc. This order will cause you to get the full encounter description the next turn, assuming you stay in the hex. I don't know if you can investigate, move the investigating character away, move a new character to the hex, and still get the full encounter.

    Some encounters, when investigated, will simply happen, without allowing any response. A typical example is the spirits & wights who guard some hidden artifacts. You either beat them or you don't.

    If you give order 285 after an unknown encounter, you will experience the full encounter as if you had already seen its description. If you guessed what the encounter was, you might have given the correct response. Otherwise you are shooting in the dark, and may or may not have a response that "fits" the encounter. You might want to try this for encounters that don't move (Amon Lhaw, Lonely Mountain, Paths of the Dead) or if you can see an NPC in a pop center.

    If a character gets a report of an unknown encounter, another character in the same hex, and of the same nation, can issue the InvEnc order. Note that this is more limited than the ReacEnc order. Full encounters with a list of responses require the order 285, ReacEnc. I have not seen a difference between giving the "FLEE" response and simply ignoring the encounter, although some may differentiate the two. Riddles also require order 285.

    Another character of any nation in the same hex can also respond to the encounter. I don't think you have to be friendly with the first character's nation, so you could get a Nation Message that so-and- so had an encounter at your location and "steal" the encounter. It is possible that you have to be in a company with the first character (or of the same nation) in order to do this, but I've never tried it.

    If more than one character gives a response, they will all have the encounter. Of course, if one defeats an NPC, the others cannot also encounter it.

    A character with or in command of an army cannot have a character encounter. They can therefore not respond to a character encounter seen by another character. The rulebook blatantly misstates this; it should read, "Only characters traveling alone or with a company can respond...."


    Success in Encounters

    Some encounters are pure combat, and they seem to be based solely on challenge rank, including all artifacts. The spirits & wights that guard hidden artifacts seem to work the same way. Certain artifacts give bonuses when fighting certain types of creatures (undead, spiders, wolves, etc.)

    Others will be easier for characters with certain skills; GSI specifically states this fact. Except for agents stealing from sleeping dragons, I have never seen any compilation of skill-based success rates in encounters. This would make a very interesting project.

    Allegiance clearly influences some encounters. Nation may also play a part. It is also possible that certain specific characters can succeed in an encounter. The "NAME" response for dragons implies this; it might prove true for Aragorn and the Paths of the Dead.

    Some luck is also clearly involved in the outcome of an encounter. A powerful character giving the "right" response can still die.

    I hope I have cleared up some confusion without creating more. Encounters can have a very great influence on the game and can also be a lot of fun. Be prepared, and enjoy!


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