Number Appearing

[Finarvyn]

Page 3 of Monsters & Treasure begins the standard monster list. Of particular note is the "Number Appearing" column.

For example, a party of Orcs is listed as 30-300. I suppose I could roll 30d10 or 1d10*30 or other options to arrive at a total (since I don't think the rules ever state exactly how to determine this roll) but either way this would seem to generate around 150 orcs, which is a pretty large number for a low level party of adventurers.

In all fairness, note this quote from M&T

Referee's option: Increase or decrease according to party concerned (used primarily only for out-door encounters).

I know that this was designed to cover large-party type movement across the wilderness, but does anyone ever use this number as stated in the book?

[crimhthanthegreat]

Yes, we do on occasion. One of things I do is roll to determine the total number of orcs if we have a large powerful group (or even a group that is not so large or so powerful [sometimes you have to run and be chased for a few days) that is going into the orcs territory. That means the orcs will also be joined by several other monsters that are more powerful. We also have times that a large band of orcs will invade human lands and split into several raiding parties and then rejoin as they leave. This roll is also used in several other situations also.

[Finarvyn]

I'm just thinking that this could be fun -- run a camapign using the "number appering" and let the party know that they get to encounter whatever you roll. That might get rid of some of the "well, if it's there I guess we're supposed to be able to kill it" mentality.

[crimhthanthegreat]

I think that is one of the reasons that it is there. Attacking everything on sight is not how the game was originally played. While there was hack n slash there is and was alot more to the game than that.

[murquhart72]

The number appearing is meant to be the full-on size of a force (typically from a lair or "liar"). 30-300 orcs wouldn't all be coming through the same doorway, but would be filling out a village or town, scattered everywhere.
The numbers are obviously easy to generate randomly with dice, but, like everything else termed #-# in the game, I think the actual number should be chosen by a trustworthy Referee. I do that for damage and such as well (sometimes).