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The DMG mentions combat and non-combat encounters. By their names, these imply that they cover all forms of encounter: either it is or isn't a combat encounter. Is this true? Is everything in the game an encounter, from one of these types?

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"Combat" and "non-combat" covers pretty much anything that could happen in an encounter, by definition. – SevenSidedDie Dec 5 '12 at 19:53
So a skill challenge is an encounter? – Luke Burgin Dec 5 '12 at 21:07
Yes @LukeBurgin, a skill challange can be all or part of an encounter. – F. Randall Farmer Dec 5 '12 at 21:10
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I think @SevenSidedDie has answered... what Luke meant to ask, or gave Luke the information he actually wanted, but it also doesn't quite answer the actual question (which is tautological and therefore not that interesting). Luke, can I suggest that you edit your question to be more like "Does everything in 4e fall under a Combat Encounter or Non-Combat Encounter?" – KRyan Dec 5 '12 at 22:30
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Note that not all non-combat encounters have to be skill challenges. You might have a scene that doesn't fit the skill challenge mold, but still involves conflict and interesting consequences. An example is an exploration and trap-avoiding scene. I'd count such combats as encounters, especially for the purpose of assigning XP and milestones. – Gregory Avery-Weir Dec 5 '12 at 22:34
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2 Answers

up vote 6 down vote

Since the two terms are a boolean logical pair of X and !X (Not X), anything which is an encounter is, ipso facto, one or the other.

The term "Encounter" in D&D 4E has a specific meaning of a situation where some conflict to be resolved mechanically is present. Not all play of the game will be encounters - some is description, some is narrative, some is travel - but all "encounters" are either combats or not-combats.

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up vote 6 down vote

Combat is the main focus of D&D 4th edition. Everything that needs mechanics and isn't combat comes under the non-combat encounter rules.

Remember that not everything that happens has to be an encounter.

Relaxing in the tavern talking about your latest adventures isn't an encounter because there is nothing in conflict. It can turn into an non-combat encounter when Mr. Smith turns up to offer the party a job and the party negotiates payment. It will turn into a new combat encounter if they decide that Mr. Smith is an assassin who has poisoned their drinks during the discussion.

In the example of talking to a man on the street. Whether you make it an encounter or not depends on a few things.

  1. Does the group have an overarching goal that can be accomplished in one encounter (Get directions to the temple for example.)? If no, just let them talk as they like.
  2. Does the group have a significant chance of failure (For instance, the man could deliberately lie to the group.)? If no, just let them achieve their goal.
  3. Will failure be interesting? (If they believe the man, they could end up in a bad part of town and get jumped by bandits.) If no, just let them achieve their goal.
  4. Are there multiple actions where each one will substantially change the field (Building up trust with the man, while downplaying the fact you are from out-of-town or puffing yourselves up to look more dangerous)? If no, just use a single skill check.

If you can answer all 4 as yes, you can use an encounter. If not, just narrate the results to the players. You can also let your players narrate things, especially if they are just setting up details about their character and aren't really trying to achieve anything concrete.

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I think "Remember that not everything that happens has to be an encounter" gets at the crux of the confusion. – SevenSidedDie Dec 5 '12 at 19:56
If I was in a village and saw a man (random person) and decide to talk to him would that be an encounter if so how would I organise it? – Luke Burgin Dec 5 '12 at 20:06
@LukeBurgin in this case it could just be a simple exchange, possibly involving some checks (diplomacy to persuade, bluff to lie, insight to detect intent etc), but it probably isn't going to be a full skill challenge at that point, unless you have it planned as such. – wax eagle Dec 5 '12 at 20:08
Yeah got, so you just let players ask questions add some skill checks if required, but of it becomes an affair of multiple skill checks used against the ''man' it becomes a skill challenge?:) – Luke Burgin Dec 5 '12 at 20:16

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