Volo’s Lost Encounters is a collection of encounters created by Jean Lorber. These encounters are aimed at the 5th edition and are inspired by Volo’s Guide to Monsters sourcebook.

Disclaimer: We were provided with a free digital copy of Volo’s Lost Encounters.

The scenarios

The supplement consists of 5 encounters that are divided into the following parts:

Summary: Introduces the general idea and how your players run into the encounter
Setting: Explains where the scenario is best suited for
Background: Provides backstory information for the encounter
Running the Encounter: Information about the how-to
Encounter Areas: Describes where the encounter takes place
Resolution: Reveals the outcome and the rewards of the encounter

In the last 3 encounters, there is also a part called Developments that outlines a few potential outcomes. Understandably, you cannot predict every player’s actions, but this section is designed to help the GM run the encounter and moderate it to the players’ choices.

Each encounter includes a map with numbered areas to aid you while running the game. That way, you can track the players’ movements and guide them through the environment with a smoother pacing, so extra points for that.

Now, let’s get into the actual stories, avoiding spoilers. In the first encounter, the players are part of a travelling caravan that is attacked by a stone giant with a challenge rating of ~12. It is the toughest challenge of the supplement, but there is an option to lower the difficulty by avoiding the fight. The second story is about developing a strategy that balances combat and quick thinking to fight gnolls and hyenas while preventing a dark ritual from its completion, with a CR of around 8-10. In the third encounter, the players must decide whether to negotiate or fight when they come across a hobgoblin-led warband that has occupied a woodcutter’s camp and is now gathering supplies for a bigger army. The CR here is ~8. A paladin in love is willing to go to great lengths to prove it, even at the cost of his own identity. Your party’s role in the fourth story is to intervene in this twisted situation and free this noble soul from a hag’s influence with the CR ~6. Last but not least, the fifth encounter where what seems like an exploration escalates into a complex situation, forcing the party to choose between saving vulnerable orc whelps or fighting their way out.

Layout

Visual highlights, such as bold text or capitalized letters, mark details about monsters, NPC names, and skill checks, making them stand out for easier navigation through the document. Additionally, color-coded text boxes help distinguish the information between the players and the DM, with
red containing DM-exclusive content, while white should be read aloud to the players. This layout ensures clear and efficient narration, reducing the time to pause and search for information during the session.

Art

The art is primarily black and white. While the illustrations are minimalist, they effectively capture the essence of each encounter, in my opinion, without overwhelming the content. The cover really stands out with vibrant colors, featuring a dramatic scene of a party fleeing andit kinda reminds me of comic art, which I particularly enjoy.

Extras

The supplement also introduces 5 new monsters: the blighted dryad, a corrupted forest guardian; the booyagh caster, a goblin spellcaster; the derro and the derro raid boss-evil dwarfs; and the orc whelp-young and reckless.

Final Thoughts

Overall, Volo’s Lost Encounters is a well-designed collection of unique and diverse encounters that could enrich every 5e campaign. From the clear layout to the stories themselves, each encounter balances battle, creativity and player choice, offering GMs flexibility in challenging their party and running memorable encounters easily. You can check the adventure here.

Stay crafty,
Your favourite author.

This post contains affiliate links. By using them, you support the blog without any extra charge being applied to you.