Does getting lost matter?

Psikerlord · October 04, 2017, 09:36:44 PM

In a wilderness exploration game, does it matter if the PCs get lost?

Assuming they can forage for food/water, wont getting lost just mean it takes longer to reach their destination? So more random encounters perhaps?

Other than that, why does becoming lost while exploring a wilderness area matter?

Bren · October 04, 2017, 09:55:10 PM

Quote from: Psikerlord;998308In a wilderness exploration game, does it matter if the PCs get lost?

Assuming they can forage for food/water, wont getting lost just mean it takes longer to reach their destination? So more random encounters perhaps?

Other than that, why does becoming lost while exploring a wilderness area matter?

You may not be able to forage for food.
Your equipment may deteriorate due to time, weather, and other hazards of the journey.
There may be a clock ticking.
While lost you may wander into an area where "Here there be dragons!"
While lost the GM may use a more dangerous random encounter table.
Getting unlost may require interacting with wizards, djinn, beggars, and such who may cause additional complications.

Gronan of Simmerya · October 04, 2017, 09:59:51 PM

Pretty much what Bren said. We never considered getting lost catastrophic, though -- we were looking for adventure, after all.

But that's why we didn't venture into the wilderness until fifth or sixth level.

Bren · October 04, 2017, 10:38:45 PM

Quote from: Gronan of Simmerya;998324Pretty much what Bren said. We never considered getting lost catastrophic, though -- we were looking for adventure, after all.

And some of Sinbad's best adventures started after he was lost.

danskmacabre · October 04, 2017, 10:53:23 PM

As was described to me as a player many years ago..
You may end up in "The land of blank hexes!!!" Here be Dragons!

tenbones · October 05, 2017, 12:22:05 AM

As with all circumstances in your game - a GM has to make it matter. If indeed it should matter.

Psikerlord · October 05, 2017, 12:28:39 AM

Thanks all yes this is helpful!

JeremyR · October 05, 2017, 12:30:54 AM

I'm going to say "yes".

Part of the game aspect of exploring is knowing how far you can go without going back for safety/shelter/supplies. While it's true that in the wilderness you can probably forage/find water, you still likely will be using up some non-replensishable resources every day. So getting lost reduces those resources and thus complicates the game for the better, I think.

darthfozzywig · October 05, 2017, 02:09:28 AM

Good answers.

Steven Mitchell · October 05, 2017, 01:51:17 PM

Getting lost is a lot like a pit trap. If it's at the start of things, the pit fairly obvious or you can take it, and nothing else is going on directly around it--it's not a big deal, usually. If it happens on your way out, in a cobwebbed minor passage that you had earmarked for escape, with everyone beat up and just two steps ahead of the vengeful goblin hordes mad that you took their idol--it might be a bigger deal.

Gronan of Simmerya · October 05, 2017, 02:27:49 PM

That is why you should make sure you speak Jovito.

Dumarest · October 05, 2017, 02:28:03 PM

Quote from: Psikerlord;998308In a wilderness exploration game, does it matter if the PCs get lost?

Only if there is a time limit on getting somewhere.

Quote from: Psikerlord;998308Assuming they can forage for food/water, wont getting lost just mean it takes longer to reach their destination? So more random encounters perhaps?

Yes.

Quote from: Psikerlord;998308Other than that, why does becoming lost while exploring a wilderness area matter?

It doesn't.

Willie the Duck · October 05, 2017, 02:30:11 PM

If you have no clock ticking, and you have no goals (and you can successfully forage), then perhaps getting lost isn't the worst thing in the world. The real problem with getting lost is either 1) it is attrition to your resources, or 2) it is keeping you from your goals. If it doesn't meet either of those criteria, it isn't really a problem.

OTOH, if the wandering monsters are of no serious threat, such that you aren't too worried about running into another several days worth of them, is the amount of gp/xp/loot you are getting off them really worth your time? If the answer is yes, then are you really lost? Sounds like your right where you want to be.

Steven Mitchell · October 05, 2017, 03:16:33 PM

Quote from: Willie the Duck;998485OTOH, if the wandering monsters are of no serious threat, such that you aren't too worried about running into another several days worth of them, is the amount of gp/xp/loot you are getting off them really worth your time? If the answer is yes, then are you really lost? Sounds like your right where you want to be.

I'm seeing a Knights of the Dinner Table strip here, where the gang gets lost in a wilderness area that is a poor return of their time, just tough enough to not roll over, but not so much to really accomplish anything. "Oh no, our XP and gold per hour ratio has fallen into the worst lull since the infamous Spastic Goblins of Fools Gold Hill incident!"

Gronan of Simmerya · October 05, 2017, 03:23:40 PM

That's why wandering monsters have no treasure, and monster XP is chump change, in original OD&D.

To prevent what DID happen in a KODT strip, where Dave was wandering through the woods banging cooking pots together to draw wandering monsters for XP.