Encounter Distances are guidelines onthe distance between the PC and other creatures in an encounter based on terrain, audible distances, and outdoor visibility etc... The latter can be adjucated using Perception. The Dm determine Encounter Distance and if there's Surprise based on what everyone can see/perceive and if some creatures are hidden or distracted etc
This is basically the distance where creatures notice eachother (not necessarily when combat starts, but it could).
You can see pretty far on a clear day, but most places are going to have a lot of factors blocking vision at long distance (trees, bushes, structures, hills, tall grass, even just atmospheric refraction (mirage, etc)).
Hello all
Can someone please explain what this is & how to use the table on the DM screen?
I’ve tried searching the answer myself but only get what the distances should be but not what this mechanic actually is
My guess is this is the distance (given terrain) a DM positions the minis on a combat map for the opposing sides at beginning of encounter perhaps?
If so, how does Audible Distance & Visibility Outdoors come into play?
Encounter Distances are guidelines onthe distance between the PC and other creatures in an encounter based on terrain, audible distances, and outdoor visibility etc... The latter can be adjucated using Perception. The Dm determine Encounter Distance and if there's Surprise based on what everyone can see/perceive and if some creatures are hidden or distracted etc
This is basically the distance where creatures notice eachother (not necessarily when combat starts, but it could).
You can see pretty far on a clear day, but most places are going to have a lot of factors blocking vision at long distance (trees, bushes, structures, hills, tall grass, even just atmospheric refraction (mirage, etc)).
If you use minis it will be the distance between them on the map. If you don't, it will be the distance between them in Theater of the Mind.
Got it now, thanks 🙏🏾
Ahhh understood
Thank you for the clarity 🙏🏾