How about implementing some random wildlife encounters while traveling off the roads. For example: wild boars/large spiders in the dense forest, poisonous snakes/frogs in the swamps, scorpions/sidewinders in the steppes, bear/snow leopards in the tundra, mountain lions/rams in the mountains/hills.
You could give inherent abilities/perks to some of the wildlife, like spiders could ensnare with a web like using a net. Or a ram could knock you over a precipice causing damage like using a shield bash.
A wise general wins before the battle, while the ignorant general must fight to win - Zhuge Liang
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