Encounters in Theros is a supplement from the Guild Adepts that supports the recent setting hardcover, Mystic Odysseys of Theros. The setting was designed for the Magic: the Gathering game and is based on Greek mythology, although it does many things differently. It is not a literal translation of Greece, although some elements are in common.

The supplement offers 74 short encounters that could be encountered during an adventure in Theros. They are divided into four categories:

• City encounters
• Wilderness encounters (that is, in the forest, plains, or desert)
• Mountain encounters
• Watery encounters (the coastland, sea, islands, and swamps)

Random tables allow you to let fate decide which encounter to use. The authors suggest that you roll to see if an encounter occurs once every 8 hours, with one occurring on a roll of 12 or higher on a d20.

The encounters vary from being simple challenges, which can quickly be dealt with and left behind, to adventure seeds that require more thought on the part of the players and Dungeon Master. Some could fill out one or more sessions, but those require further expansion by the DM. One thing is certain: Encounters in Theros is full of inspiring material.

This approach is not without problems. Of some concern is that the random tables are rarely useful. When you make a roll for an encounter on a sea voyage, you do not want to get one that requires the characters to be walking along a coastline. Nor, if the characters are in the open fields, to suddenly require a forest. Furthermore, there is no guidance in Encounters in Theros as to the challenge level of the scenarios. One battle has a wraith and an Underworld Cerberus – likely a challenge for sixth or seventh level characters – while another sets them against a lone Triton Shorestalker – a challenge rating 2!

Better labelling of encounters would help alleviate this issue: a description of the expected environment and the difficulty of the challenge.

However, if you take the product more in the spirit that it is written – as a source of encounters and adventure seeds for Theros – it fares very well indeed. I believe it is unlikely you will use all of it, but that is not necessary for it to be a good product.

A few highlights from my reading of the material:

• An encounter with hoplites chasing an enchanted rabbit. There are so many bad puns you could make, and the encounter offers some interesting decisions as well.
• A young woman desperately attempting to protect her brother from desecration by skeletons
• A debate with a philosopher about topics close to the adventurers’ lives
• An attack by giant-sized animals, which leads onto an entire quest

I am most impressed with one encounter that takes back primarily as a flashback: the characters awake after an event and must then detail for everyone what happened the previous night. Yes, this could be the plot of a comedy film, but the players could also make it a more serious affair. It is a technique that can lead to brilliant results.

Throughout the book, the text makes it obvious that the encounters are in Theros. Many encounters make use of the special characteristics of that world. The influence of the gods is noticeable, and the society evident throughout is different from that of regular Dungeons & Dragons. Of a certainty, there are familiar elements, as many of us know Greek mythology, but the designers have done an excellent job of making sure this feels like a Theros supplement and not just another D&D book.

Encounters in Theros is a great product, and, despite my niggles with aspects of its format, is a worthy companion to Mystic Odysseys of Theros. It is beautifully laid out and edited, and I recommend it highly!