1d4 Encounter Motivations

Here's a short table I created to add motivations to random encounters with human, demihuman, and intelligent monsters. Each of these is intended to be used to modify a reaction roll, with different suggested interactions based on the reaction score. By adding a motivation to the encounter, new types of conflict (and in particular, non-violent conflict) emerge.

Using this table, an encounter with a caravan of gnome merchants on the road might turn into a scene of aggressive haggling over the value of the Magic-User's fancy hat. An encounter with a squad of orcs by the river might turn into a scene of the players becoming baptized into the faith of the orc god. These motivations are not intended to be prescriptive, and are best used to spark the imagination of your players. As always, observe how the players react to the situations you create and try to build off of their interest.

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When rolling a reaction roll, roll an additional 1d4 to determine a motivation.

1) Covetous - The encountered beings are obsessed with the most obviously valuable item in the adventuring party's possession.

• On a high reaction roll, they may seek to bargain or trade for this item, and they may not readily take "no" for an answer.
• On a low reaction roll, they may seek to take the item by force or subterfuge, perhaps by attempting to lead the party into an ambush or attacking them in the night.

2) Evangelical - The encountered beings belong to a faith or philosophical ethos, and they wish to make converts of the adventuring party.

• On a high reaction roll, they may seek to make a conversion through generosity and subtle coercion, sharing food, drink, and wisdom with the party, or even providing shelter and aid as a show of goodwill.
• On a low reaction roll, they may seek to make a conversion through force, employing violence and torture in an attempt to "correct the error of the party's ways." Religious characters may be singled out and given particularly harsh treatment until they recant their original beliefs.

3) Inquisitive - The encountered beings are seeking knowledge that they suspect the adventuring party may possess.

• On a high reaction roll, the curiosity these beings possess is genuine and benign. They may pose questions to the adventuring party about their origins, their experiences, or their current destination. They may be inclined to trade information, and can perhaps be persuaded to pursue a new line of research that might benefit the adventuring party.
• On a low reaction roll, they possess ill intentions, and any information they can obtain, whether freely given or extorted, will be put to use in the near or distant future to take advantage of or harm the adventuring party in some way.

4) Romantic - One (or more) of the encountered beings becomes enamored with a member of the adventuring party (presumably, though not necessarily, the individual with the highest Charisma score).

• On a high reaction roll, they act courteously (as much as they can muster), seeking to woe their paramour through poetry, song, acts of chivalry, or other well-intentioned displays of affection. If rejected, they may become sullen and abrasive, but would never think to harm the apple of their eye.
• On a low reaction roll, they become dangerously obsessed with obtaining their heart's desire, regardless of what anyone (including the individual in question) says or does. They may seek to "sweep them off their feet," abducting their heart's desire in the night, and will not think twice about bringing harm to anyone who gets in their way.