Random Encounters — Pop-Up Moments
An Encounter is a quiz or challenge that can interrupt a player's session unprompted — a pop-up moment rather than something sitting on the map waiting to be clicked. Use these sparingly for a spike of surprise and engagement; too many and they start to feel like an interruption rather than a delight.
Spending EP on Encounters
Encounters are gated by Energy Points — a player needs EP available to trigger or respond to one. This is the main reason EP exists as its own currency: it naturally rate-limits how often a player is pulled into an unplanned moment, no matter how the Encounter itself is configured.
When to Reach for One
Use an Encounter when you want a moment of unpredictability inside an otherwise planned path. It's an optional layer — a straightforward Adventure without any Encounters is a completely valid, often clearer, design.