232• Combat challenges

Combat Challenge Complications

Six bandits in a Deep chamber might be a combat chal-
d20 Twists About the Target or their Allies
lenge, but it doesn’t give the GM much to work with
when it comes time to make the encounter interesting. 1 They are or have access to spellcasters or
The tables on these pages offer complications and twists mages of some kind
you can throw into the situation to enliven an otherwise 2 They have a useful magical power uncommon
banal brawl. Simply pick the tables that are most rele- to their kind
vant to the situation and roll or select options to spice
things up. 3 An unusually strong ally serves the group’s
leader for its own reasons
d12 What’s Going On Right Now?
4 The group is divided into parties or factions
1 They lost a fight or had an accident, and are that cooperate poorly with each other
tending their wounded
5 Killing them would enrage a seemingly-
2 They’re absorbed in eating a meal unrelated person or group
3 They’re arguing over some pertinent matter
6 They have some reason to mistake the PCs for
4 They’re busy trying to repair a broken object allies or hirelings
or structure of importance to them
7 One member is a secret traitor in service to
5 They’re having some sort of religious ritual some other cause or group
6 They’re resting after hard labor
8 Another group would pay very well or be
7 They’re interrogating a prisoner or suspected very pleased at the death of the target
traitor to the group
9 Eliminating this target would somehow
8 They’re training or practicing their skills release or remove a check on a dire foe
9 They’re drinking or celebrating some win
10 The target wants to get a member of their
10 There’s a tense leadership showdown group killed in a deniable way, and will try
11 They’re lolling around in indolent idleness to use the PCs to do it
12 They’re conducting the business of daily life 11 They’re religious zealots who may or may not
and other duties of common necessity have some blessing or affiliation that fits
12 They’re searching for something that the PCs
d12 What Problems Do They Have? may or may not be able to help them find
1 An ambitious underling plots against the 13 The leader is desperately in love with one of
leader or undermines their control their underlings or vice-versa
2 They’re arguing over the fair division of some 14 They’re tampering with some object or
recently-gained spoils structural feature that’s extremely dangerous
3 Some are seriously ill with a disease 15 They’re foreign to the other examples of their
4 The leader is being foolish or irrational, creature type around here, having come from
driven by their own desires far off for their own reasons
5 They’re overconfident and careless 16 They fight in an effective but abnormal way
6 They’ve lost some treasure precious to them for their type or nature
7 The underlings are ignoring the leader’s will 17 Their leader has ensured that some dire
8 They’ve been afflicted by some danger of consequence will ensue if they are killed
their current environment 18 Some portion of the group would really
9 They’re out of food or some other supply rather not fight but are feeling compelled by
their peers or the leader
10 They’re being targeted by some hostile rival
or dangerous local denizen 19 Some other group has a spy or observer who
11 They’ve been driven from their usual home by is watching during a potential conflict
an enemy or a natural hazard 20 The leader is an impostor or catspaw of some
12 Some of their members have been taken power that would normally be their enemy,
prisoner or lost. and acts as best they can to serve them
 Combat challenges •233

d12 What’s That Bestial Monster Doing? d12 Wilderness Lair Complications
1 It’s eaten recently and is lolling around, 1 Hazardous flora make up a natural trap for
disinclined to hunt new prey those ignorant of their perils
2 It’s fighting with another of its kind over a 2 Numerous deadfalls or covered pits have
mate been placed on side paths here
3 It’s guarding cubs, eggs, or a recent kill 3 The lair is positioned somewhere that has an
4 It’s currently hunting something else but might excellent view of most approaches to it
choose to select the PCs as new prey 4 You need to go underwater or through some
5 It’s asleep or torpid, and has probably noxious gas in order to reach the habitable
chosen a seemingly-safe spot to do so part of the lair

6 It’s playing after the manner of its kind 5 It’s surrounded by some natural peril,
radioactive zone, arratu, or other hazard
7 It’s patrolling its territory to repel intruders or
rivals for mates 6 There’s a nest or lair of some dangerous
animal obstructing easy entrance, but the
8 It’s fleeing, having been driven out by a foe occupants know how to deal with them
or a more powerful rival
7 A fearsome local predator has been tamed
9 It licks its wounds after a hard battle, perhaps or pacified and will attack intruders
still surrounded by the corpses of its prey and
their remaining belongings 8 The lair’s built at least partially into some
ancient structure or ruin
10 It’s digging, marking, or otherwise preparing
its new lair, and may have a mate helping 9 The lair’s inside the hunting territory of some
it do so dreadful creature

11 It’s grooming itself or engaging in behavior 10 It extremely well-concealed amid the terrain
specific to its type of creature 11 Unrelated people are also living in or near
12 It’s starving, and is ravenous for prey that it it, and disturbing them would be hazardous
might not dare attack in more prosperous 12 It’s contaminated with soured magical energy,
times a damaged Working, or some other curse

d12 Urban Dwelling Complications d12 Deep Chamber Complications

1 An inquisitive neighbor is always watching 1 A dangerous standing magical effect is
the place present in the room
2 The guards are unusually vigilant and 2 Part of the structure is fragile and prone to
attentive to their duties for some reason collapse if damaged
3 The target’s living quarters are uncommonly 3 There’s some noxious gas or substance
difficult to access tainting certain areas
4 There’s a dangerous beast guarding the 4 A dangerous fall is possible in some part of
grounds of the place the room
5 The dwelling is unusually well-fortified 5 An ancient guardian risks being awakened
6 Servants and minions are thick in the halls by disturbances here
7 The owner has access to some kind of 6 Strange ancient engines churn nearby and
magical ward or divine blessing can cause dire injury to the careless
8 The place is right next to a very vigilant and 7 There are secret passages here
dangerous neighbor that will respond to 8 The room is very vertical in its shape
alarms or disorders 9 A certain path must be known to safely cross
9 The interior is mazey, abnormal, or difficult to a particularly treacherous surface
navigate for some reason 10 It’s somehow prone to flooding or currently
10 Poor repairs or recent damage makes the a swampy mess
place dangerous to unknowing outsiders 11 A valuable object here is extremely fragile
11 There are several traps or alarms there 12 Some ancient magic or Deep functionality
12 It’s connected to some kind of underground has been repurposed for a purpose
passages or ancient tunnels convenient to the current occupants