Forest Encounter Combat Terrain, Treasures and Complications for 5e

"The area is covered in tangled roots (difficult terrain)"

Tables for Combat Terrain and Minor Treasures and Encounter Complications for Forest Encounters. Result is from Forest Encounter Complications.

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Forest Encounter Enhancements

What makes this forest encounter different?

There might be a treehouse with a rope ladder or a rotten tree ready to fall. A creature might have a book on forest herbs or a tree feather token with them. There might be a herd of elk ready to stampede or an NPC trapped in webs.

There is a 5e Forest random encounter generator at ChaosGen. There is also a pdf of these and more tables at the DM's Guild as Forest Encounters.

Forest Encounter Tables - creatures | locations | non-combat | enhancements

Forest Combat Terrain

1d8+1d12	Forest Combat Terrain
2	A deep pond with many sparkling rocks at the bottom
3	A tall statue propped up by a tree or tree branch
4	A circle of distorted rocks or an area of quicksand (DMG pg 110)
5	1d3 wooden platforms in the trees or a giant bird's nest
6	A tree which is rotten. Any large noise or impact near it will cause it to fall.
7	Several hunting traps (PHB equipment) or a pit with a beast trapped inside
8	A firebreak cleared of foliage
9	An area of tangled roots (difficult terrain) or a recently dug hole with a spade beside it
10	Several hanging vines that can be used to swing over a pit or other barrier
11	Thick foliage (difficult terrain) or a falling net trap* (DMG pg 122)*
12	Stepping stones across a stream (or to an island)
13	A hedge of razorvine (DMG pg 110)
14	A treehouse with a wooden ladder or a wasp nest
15	A rope bridge between two trees (or over a barrier)
16	A cave entrance blocked by razorvine (DMG pg 110)
17	A fallen tree covered in poisonous fungi or a lone tree with a wooden platform
18	A large sculpture made of webbing (DMG pg 105)
19	The top of a foliage covered cliff or an arch of thorns that leads to the Feywild
20	A hidden cache (Perception check to spot if near) 1d2 beans from a Bag of Beans (or roll on Minor Forest Treasures)

Forest Minor Treasures

1d20	Forest Minor Treasures
2	An illustrated book of fey creatures and suggested gifts for them. Pages sometimes change or disappear for a few days.
3	Staff of the Python or Arrow of Slaying - Beasts
4	A chain of finely spun gold and glowing hair. Worth 500 gp
5	1d2 beans from a Bag of Beans or Elixir of Health
6	A quiver of 20 silvered arrows
7	Potion of Animal Friendship or Dust of Disappearance
8	Poisoner's kit or a book on forest herbs
9	Scroll of Protection - Plants (or Beasts)
10	Musical instrument (lyre, lute or pan flute)
11	1d4 Potions of Climbing (or Healing)
12	Artisan's tools (woodcarver's, leatherworker's or carpenter's)
13	Quaal's Feather Token - Tree (or Swan Boat)
14	A set of finely crafted panpipes with silver filigree. Worth 75 gp.
15	Spell Scroll of speak with plants (or conjure animals)
16	1d4 vials of anitoxin or 2d6 bottles of fine wine
17	Potion of Growth or Potion of Diminution
18	1d6 peridots worth 100 gp each. Each is marked with a Sylvan rune.
19	Spell Scroll of wall of thorns (or mirage arcana)
20	A lifelike painted wooden owl with a moving head. Worth 1000 gp.

Forest Encounter Complications

1d8+1d12	Forest Encounter Complications
2	A mirage arcana disguises a druid grove (or elven city)
3	There are lizardfolk (or roll on Forest Humanoids) here (or nearby) as allies (or servants / mercenaries)
4	There is a hidden item (or cache) here. A potion of animal friendship or roll on Minor Forest Treasures
5	There is a hedge of razorvine or roll on Forest Combat Terrain
6	There is a unicorn (or roll on Sylvan Creatures) here (or nearby).
7	There are stepping stones over a stream or roll on Forest Combat Terrain
8	There are dryads (or roll on Plant Creatures) here (or nearby).
9	The area is covered in tangled roots (difficult terrain) or roll on Forest Combat Terrain
10	There are apes here (or nearby) as pets (or guards). For alternatives roll on Forest Beasts
11	The animals and birds have all gone quiet or roll on Forest Hazards & Obstacles
12	There are recent tracks of gnolls (or roll on an appropriate encounter table) in the area
13	There is a herd of elk ready to stampede or roll on Forest Hazards and Obstacles
14	A hallucinatory terrain conceals a cave entrance (or a sacred place)
15	There is a forest fire and smoke or roll on Forest Hazards & Obstacles
16	There is an NPC here trapped in webs, in a magical sleep or otherwise incapacitated. Roll on Quick Forest NPCs
17	There is a party of satyrs (or scouts) nearby. Part of a larger hunt.
18	There is a crossing to the Feywild (or Shadowfell) here
19	The creatures are carrying a magic item (or it is hidden nearby). Roll on Magic Items - Forest
20	There is an adult green dragon (or pick from Forest Encounters Level 11+) those encountered try not to disturb.

More Encounter Tables