Biome-Aware Encounter Table Auto-Selection

[FirebrickRed]

Summary

Automatically select appropriate encounter tables based on player location (biome + time of day). Integrates with custom datapacks and reduces DM workload during travel.

Phase: 4 - DM Tools (Advanced)
Systems: Encounter System, Biome Detection, Automation

Prerequisites

• Random Encounter Table System #80 - Random Encounter Table System (MUST be completed first)
• Encounter Table Documentation & Examples #86 - Encounter Documentation (examples to build from)

Goals

• Detect player biome using Bukkit API
• Detect time of day (day/night/dusk/dawn)
• YAML configuration: biomes: [forest, plains] and time: day
• /dmencounter auto - Auto-select and roll on matching table
• /dmencounter watch enable - Notify DM on biome changes
• Tab completion shows biome-appropriate tables
• Works with custom datapack biomes

YAML Format

# DMContent/Encounters/forest_day.yml
id: forest_day_encounters
name: "Forest Daytime Encounters"

# Biome targeting
biomes:
  - forest
  - birch_forest
  - dark_forest
  - flower_forest
  # Supports vanilla + custom datapack biomes

time: day  # day, night, dusk, dawn, any

# Rest of encounter table...
encounters:
  1-10:
    description: "Peaceful forest"
    spawn: []

Biome Detection

// Bukkit API provides biome detection
Location loc = player.getLocation();
Biome biome = loc.getBlock().getBiome();

// Examples:
// - Biome.FOREST
// - Biome.DARK_FOREST
// - Custom datapack biomes work automatically!

Commands

# Auto-select table based on current location
/dmencounter auto
> Detected: Dark Forest biome, Night time
> Using table: "dark_forest_night_encounters"
> Rolling d20... Result: 14
> [Executes encounter]

# Watch for biome changes
/dmencounter watch enable
> Biome watch enabled

# Player moves to new biome
> You entered: Plains biome
> Suggested tables:
>   - plains_day_encounters
>   - grassland_travel
> Use /dmencounter auto or /dmencounter roll <table> <result>

# Disable watch
/dmencounter watch disable
> Biome watch disabled

Tab Completion Intelligence

# When in forest biome
/dmencounter roll <TAB>
> forest_day_encounters
> forest_night_encounters
> dark_forest_dangers
> [Other tables shown but grayed out]

Integration with Datapacks

# Works with custom biomes from datapacks!
# Example: Custom campaign datapack with "haunted_forest" biome

id: haunted_forest_encounters
name: "Haunted Forest Encounters"

biomes:
  - haunted_forest  # Custom biome from datapack
  - cursed_woods    # Another custom biome

# System auto-detects these

Features

• Biome detection: Vanilla + custom datapack biomes
• Time detection: Day/night cycle awareness
• Auto-selection: /dmencounter auto picks best match
• Watch mode: Notifies DM when crossing biomes
• Tab completion: Shows relevant tables first
• Fallback: If no match, shows all tables

Example Workflow

DM enables watch mode at session start:
/dmencounter watch enable

Party travels through wilderness:
> Entered: Forest biome (Day)
> Suggested: forest_day_encounters

Player: "I keep watch during travel"
DM: /dmencounter auto
> Using: Forest Daytime Encounters
> Rolled 8: "You spot a deer in the distance"

Party enters dark forest at night:
> Entered: Dark Forest biome (Night)
> Suggested: dark_forest_night_encounters
> Warning: Dangerous area!

DM: /dmencounter auto
> Using: Dark Forest Night Encounters
> Rolled 17: "Shadowy figures approach!"

Next Steps

No immediate next steps - this is an advanced feature enhancing the encounter system.

Related Issues

• Random Encounter Table System #80 - Random Encounter Table System (prerequisite)
• Encounter Table Documentation & Examples #86 - Encounter Documentation (provides biome-tagged examples)