Encounter Distance (DMG)

Dungeon Master Guide

Ch 11: Encounters
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Encounters
What is an Encounter?
Planned Encounters
Keys • Triggers Combining Keys and Triggers
Random Encounters
Should You Use Random Encounters? Characteristics of Random Encounter Tables
Creating Encounter Tables
The 2-20 Table The Percentile Table Dungeon Encounter Tables Wildernesss Encounter Tables Special Encounter Tables Spicing Up Encounter Tables Table 54: 2-20 Encounter Table Table 55: Dungeon Level
DMing Encounters
Encounter Checks Is This Encounter Necessary? Encounter Size Table 56: Frequency & Chance of Wilderness Encounters
Surprise
Table 57: Surprise Modifiers
Encounter Distance
Table 58: Encounter Distance
Encounter Reactions
Table 59: Encounter Reactions
Fixing Things in Play
The Encounter is Too Difficult The Encounter Gave Away Too Much Treasure The Encounter Was Too Easy

Once an encounter occurs, it is necessary to know the range at which the creatures might first be noticed. This distance is dependent first on whether or not either group is surprised or, if no surprise occurs, on the type of terrain the encounter occurs in. Encounter distances for different conditions and terrains are listed on Table 58.

Table 58: Encounter Distance

Situation or Terrain	Range in Feet
Both groups surprised	3d6
One group surprised	4d6
No surprise:
Smoke or heavy fog	6d6
Jungle or dense forest	1d10 x 10
Light forest	2d6 x 10
Scrub, brush or bush	2d12 x 10
Grassland, little cover	5d10 x 10
Nighttime or dungeon	Limit of sight

In situations where no cover is possible, encounters will occur at the limit of vision unless special circumstances dictate otherwise.

While it is possible to spot another group at quite a distance, the characters or creatures may not be able to identify them immediately. The observation ranges given in the Player's Handbook may require creatures to close in order to make a positive identification.