Travel & Exploration Lite

<div class='cover-header'>Travel & Exploration Lite</div>

<div class='cover-footer'>A lightweight ruleset for travel and exploration in D&D 5e</div>

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## Travel & Exploration Lite

#### Version 3.2
Travel & Exploration Lite is a lightweight ruleset for use in D&D 5e campaigns featuring exploration. The complexity and mechanical heft of other travel rules are traded for streamlined simplicity.

The intent is to invoke the feeling of being separated from the comforts of civilization without bogging down the game.

*Created by [Eric J. Earley](https://www.reddit.com/user/EricJEarley) using [GM Binder](https://www.gmbinder.com/)*

*Last updated 2020/12/07*

### A Day in the Wilds
This ruleset assumes a 24-hour day, and differentiates between travel days and camping days.

#### Travel Day
A travel day consists of **8 hours of travel**. There are two travel speeds for wilderness travel:

* Slow pace: 2 miles per hour, 16 miles per day
* Normal pace: 3 miles per hour, 24 miles per day

While traveling, adventurers can select from several **Travel Activities**. Traveling at a Slow pace grants advantage on some Travel Activities such as gathering and navigation. Such modifiers are detailed in the corresponding Activities sections.

##### Setting Up Camp
Though inns are generally much preferred (excepting those outlander types), a campsite can serve as an adventurer’s home away from home.

It takes 2 hours to set up or break down a camp. This time may be spent locating a suitable campground, clearing underbrush, setting up and taking down camp equipment, gathering firewood, and preparing meals.

#### Camping Day
Circumstances may warrant staying in place for a day or two. Stocking up on rations, exploring an area of interest, or recuperating from battle are all possible reasons travelers may set up camp for longer than just one night.

A camping day consists of **12 hours of Camping**, replacing the time normally dedicated to travel and camp set-up and take-down. While camping, adventurers can select from several **Camp Activities**.

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##### Mixing Travel and Camping
Some adventurers, particularly those sent on cartographic expeditions or otherwise not in a rush, might prefer a shorter travel day and more time at camp.

These travelers can choose to travel for only 4 hours and allocate the other 4 hours for Camp Activities.

#### Skill Trounces Luck
Travel and exploration are lengthy activities, thus success in the wilds is more often attributable to skill and training than to luck. This also means that certain environments may not pose a challenge to an adventuring party, and exploration checks made to navigate or survive in these environments may unnecessarily bog down play.

When making an ability check for any **Travel Activity** or **Camp Activity**, you can choose to instead use your *passive ability score*, which is calculated as:

**10 + all modifiers that normally apply to the check**

Add 5 if you have advantage on the check, and subtract 5 if you have disadvantage on the check.

### A Night in the Wilds
After a long day of travel, there is nothing adventurers anticipate more than taking time off their feet to enjoy a hot meal around a fire with their companions.
#### Free Time
Free Time is low-effort, but otherwise unstructured. Travelers who do not take Travel or Camp Activities during the day may also use this time for Free Time.

Free Time is up to player choice and DM discretion. Some examples of Free Time activities include sleeping or trancing, identifying or attuning to magic items, reading a book, writing, painting, crafting an item, sharpening weapons, maintaining armor, bathing, and grooming.

#### Resting
This module draws inspiration from the Gritty Realism resting variant in the DMG (*pg. 267*).

During travel, every 8-hour Rest period is considered a short rest and every third Rest period is considered a long rest.

<div class='footnote'>Part 1 | A Day in the Wilds</div>

<img src='https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/f/0a7ed9e3-3375-40fa-850c-d990401469af/d5y3er7-da3f67b0-50b3-41ca-9f9a-3ebdd1c1f17d.png/v1/fill/w_1024,h_576,q_80,strp/fantasy_landscape_by_atthespeedoffetus_d5y3er7-fullview.jpg?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJ1cm46YXBwOiIsImlzcyI6InVybjphcHA6Iiwib2JqIjpbW3siaGVpZ2h0IjoiPD01NzYiLCJwYXRoIjoiXC9mXC8wYTdlZDllMy0zMzc1LTQwZmEtODUwYy1kOTkwNDAxNDY5YWZcL2Q1eTNlcjctZGEzZjY3YjAtNTBiMy00MWNhLTlmOWEtM2ViZGQxYzFmMTdkLnBuZyIsIndpZHRoIjoiPD0xMDI0In1dXSwiYXVkIjpbInVybjpzZXJ2aWNlOmltYWdlLm9wZXJhdGlvbnMiXX0.ph-dXZtDZwtvIX-i7S1s8Y4gw6OEQRbyZO9SuxRoE6A' style='width:1000px; position:absolute; top:-200px; left:0px;'/>

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### Travel Activities
For every **4 hours of travel**, an adventurer can select **one** of the following Travel Activities. Each character rolls the appropriate ability check to determine their success.

#### Navigate
*INT (Navigator's Tools)*

Unless you are trekking the well-signed highways between cities, someone will need to take point and direct the party during their travels. The Navigation difficulty depends on the surrounding terrain:

| DC  | Description |
|:---:|:-----------:|
|  **None**  | Terrain has clear roads |
|  **5**  | Terrain has winding paths or is in flat, open landscape |
|  **10**  | Terrain lacks paths and is in rolling, open landscape |
|  **15**  | Terrain lacks paths and is in dense foliage |
|  **20**  | Terrain is obfuscated using illusions or other magic |
|  **25**  | Terrain is obfuscated using powerful magic |

When traveling at a Slow pace, Navigation checks are made with advantage. If the navigator fails the Navigation check, the party gets lost.

##### Getting lost
The DM can select a random direction for the party to travel, or can roll a d6 to make this decision; on a 6, the party may only slightly veer off course, but on a 1 the party may make no progress or even travel farther from their destination.

#### Track
*WIS (survival)*

Instead of traveling towards a known destination, sometimes adventurers need to track down another creature. The tracking difficulty is the higher of the Sneak DC of the tracked creature, or the Navigation DC of the terrain.

When traveling at a Slow pace, Tracking checks are made with advantage.

If the tracker fails the check by less than 5, they move in the direction of the tracked creature, but their speed is halved. If the check is failed by 5 or more, the party gets lost.

#### Keep Watch
*WIS (perception)*

When traveling in dangerous territory, the prudent adventuring party will have at least one person dedicated to Keeping Watch for threats.

Characters engaged in other actions may use their passive perception scores to Keep Watch.

When traveling at a Slow pace, Watch checks are made with advantage.

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#### Sneak
*DEX (stealth)*

Tables can turn without warning, and the hunter can find themselves the hunted. When this happens, travelers can attempt to cover their tracks and lose their pursuers.

A character makes a DEX (stealth) check for the entire party. If the party is moving at an Normal pace, this check is made at disadvantage.

#### Hunt & Forage
*WIS (survival)*

Shelter, food, and water are the three vital resources needed to survive. Adventurers can attempt to Hunt and Forage while traveling towards their destination.

The ease of Hunting and Foraging depends on the abundance of resources in the surrounding terrain. Make a WIS (survival) check and consult the table below to determine how many rations are gathered:

|Rations| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
|:-----:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|
|  **Fertile**  | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 |
|  **Average**  | 17 | 19 | 21 | 23 | 25 | 27 | 29 | -  |
|  **Scarce**   | 20 | 23 | 26 | 29 | -  | -  | -  | -  |
|  **Barren**   | 25 | 29 | -  | -  | -  | -  | -  | -  |

One ration is equivalent to one pound of food and one gallon of water, enough to sustain a small or medium creature for one day.

When traveling at a Slow pace, Hunting and Foraging checks are made with advantage.

Travelers will find greater success Hunting and Foraging if they do so while Camping, instead of Traveling. For more details, see the **Hunt & Forage** Camp Activity on the next page.

<div class='footnote'>Part 2 | Travel Activities</div>

<img src='http://mattstawicki.com/images/image_full/dragonlance/Lioness.jpg' style='width:850px; position:absolute; top:-190px; left:250px; transform:scaleX(-1);'/>

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### Camp Activities
For every **4 hours at camp**, an adventurer can select **one** of the following Camp Activities. Each character rolls the appropriate ability check to determine their success.

The **Treat Wounds** and **Meditate/Pray/Weave** activities are made at disadvantage for each attempt after the first.

#### Explore
*INT (investigation)*

Travelers simply passing through a region may encounter superficial landmarks, but discovering landmarks off the beaten path requires time dedicated to methodical Exploration. Those who take time to Explore can search for landmarks within a 4-mile radius.

Some landmarks can be easy to find (such as a river or a hamlet), while others are hidden from all but the most keen-eyed pedestrian (such as the meeting place of a secret cult or an archmagi tower hidden by powerful illusions). The Exploration difficulty depends on the landmark:

| DC  | Description |
|:---:|:-----------:|
|  **None**  | Landmark is unmistakable |
|  **5**  | Landmark has a winding path |
|  **10**  | Landmark lacks path and is in rolling, open terrain |
|  **15**  | Landmark lacks path and is in dense terrain |
|  **20**  | Landmark is hidden, with active efforts to conceal existence through mundane means |
|  **25**  | Landmark is hidden using illusions or other magic |
|  **30**  | Landmark is hidden using powerful magic |

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#### Keep Watch
*WIS (perception)*

Even when taking a day off from traveling, threats can appear at a moment’s notice if one is not vigilant.

Characters engaged in other actions may use their passive perception scores to Keep Watch. If the watchperson spots a threat, they may alert others who are away from camp.

#### Camouflage
*DEX (stealth)*

Hiding one's tracks can be an effective method of ensuring an uneventful day at camp stays exactly that - uneventful. Characters may spend their time Camouflaging their camp and creating false tracks while covering their own to throw pursuers off their scent. A character makes a DEX (stealth) check for the entire party.

#### Hunt & Forage
*WIS (survival)*

Skilled survivalists may be able to Hunt and Forage on the move, but many find it easier to keep rations stocked by dedicating a day or two to gathering food and water.

The ease of Hunting and Foraging depends on the abundance of resources in the surrounding terrain. Make a WIS (survival) check, add +5 to the check, and consult the table for the **Hunt & Forage** Travel Activity on the previous page to determine how many rations are gathered.

#### Treat Wounds
*WIS (medicine)*

The wilds can be unforgiving, full of environmental dangers and unexpected encounters. Travelers sometimes find it necessary to take time to tend to their wounds and aches.

Make a DC 15 WIS (medicine) check. On a success, a number of creatures up to your WIS modifier (minimum 1) regain 1 hit die.

This increases to 2 hit dice at level 5, 3 hit dice at level 9, 4 hit dice at level 13, and 5 hit dice at level 17.

#### Meditate/Pray/Weave
*Spellcasting Ability*

Spells can be a valuable commodity in the wilds, and with rugged camping conditions making long rests an infrequent affair, some spellcasters may choose to spend their time at camp drawing from their source of magical power.

Make an ability check using the caster's spellcasting ability + proficiency bonus. The result from this ability check determines the number of spell points gained:

|Spell Points       | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
|:-----------------:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|
|  **Full Caster**  |12 |14 |16 |19 |22 |26 |
|  **Half Caster**  | 14 | 19 | 26 | - | - | - |
|  **Third Caster**  | 16 | 26 | - | - | - | - |

Spell points can be used to restore expended spell slots. The spell slots can have a combined level that is equal to or less than the number of spell points gained, and none of the slots can be of 6th level or higher.

<div class='footnote'>Part 3 | Camp Activities</div>

<img src='http://mattstawicki.com/images/image_full/fantasy/SettingUpCamp.jpg' style='width:450px; position:absolute; top:-80px; left:-30px;'/>

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### Variant Rules
The following rules are optional, but may enhance the game by providing additional strategic choices.

#### Forced Activity
There are times when adventurers must stay one step ahead of an enemy in pursuit, or spend every waking hour to secure enough rations to not go hungry. When such a time comes, they can forfeit 4 hours of Free Time to complete one additional Travel or Camp Activity. Each character must make a DC 10 Constitution saving throw (with disadvantage if performing the **Hunt & Forage** or **Explore** Camp Activities).

Likewise, for every 4 hours of Rest forfeited, characters must make a DC 15 Constitution saving throw (with disadvantage if performing the **Hunt & Forage** or **Explore** Camp Activities).

Characters suffer a level of exhaustion on a failed save.

#### Permanent Camps
When far from the comforts of civilized society, adventurers may wish to set up a more permanent base of operations from which they can recuperate and resupply. Such a base might have a permanent firepit, dedicated food preparation space, sitting areas, or even constructed shelters.

If adventurers spend at least 4 hours a day for 3 days developing a campsite, it becomes a Permanent Camp. Normal resting rules are used in Permanent Camps - every 8-hour Rest period is considered a long rest.

#### Rangers and Outlanders
Adventurers who are at home in the wilds are granted advantages above and beyond their proficiency in survival.

Characters with the *Outlander* background make **Hunt & Forage** checks with advantage.

Rangers with the *Natural Explorer* feature take **Navigate**, **Track**, and **Sneak** Travel Activities with advantage. Furthermore, they can **Keep Watch** while simultaneously performing other Activities. Lastly, the number of rations received from **Hunt & Forage** Activities is doubled.

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#### Hunting Dogs
Dogs can provide more than just companionship and protection. When properly trained, they can be invaluable members of an expedition into the wilderness by helping track and hunt. When a hunting dog helps an adventurer with a **Track**, **Hunt & Forage**, or **Keep Watch** check, that check is made with advantage.

A trained hunting dog can be purchased from trainers for 100gp. Hunting dogs use the *Mastiff* stat block in the PHB (*pg. 307*) and require one ration of food and water per day.

#### Spell Rebalancing
Spellcasters may find they are at a disadvantage without the regular comforts of a long rest. To counter this, choose one of the following two options to boost spellcasters during travel.

##### Spell Recovery on Short Rests
At the end of each 8-hour short rest, full casters restore a number of expended spell slots with a combined level that is equal to or less than their proficiency modifier. None of the slots can be of 5th level or higher.

##### Long Spell Durations during Travel
Spells with an 8-hour duration are in effect for the same 8-hour window across three travel days (or until the beginning of the next Long Rest).

Spells with a 24-hour duration are in effect for 72 hours (or until the end of the next Long Rest).

#### Weather
Beautiful weather can lighten the spirits of travelers just as much as lousy weather can impart despair and fatigue.

Windy weather can interfere with ranged attacks. At the top of each round of combat, roll a d4. On a 4, ranged attacks are made at disadvantage.

Likewise, precipitation can make tracking difficult. When it is precipitating, the **Track** Activity is made at disadvantage, but **Sneak** and **Camouflage** Activities are made at advantage.

Stormy weather combines wind and precipitation. In addition, checks to **Keep Watch** are made at disadvantage.

<!--At dawn each day, roll a d10 and use the table below to determine the temperature for the *following* day, adding the modifier for the *current* weather to the roll:

|Season| Very Cold | Cold | Typical | Warm | Very Warm  |
|:----:|:----------------:|:-----------:|:-------:|:-----------:|:----------------:|
|  **Spring**  | 1 | 2-3 | 4-7 | 8-9 | 10 |
|  **Summer**  | - | 1 | 2-6 | 7-8 | 9-10 |
|  **Autumn**  | 1 | 2-3 | 4-7 | 8-9 | 10 |
|  **Winter**  | 1-2 | 3-4 | 5-9 | 10 | - |

Temperature generally has no mechanical effect on gameplay. However, the DM may rule that extreme temperatures in inhospitable climates trigger checks for Extreme Cold and Extreme Heat, as described in the DMG (*pg. 110*).

At dawn, roll a d20 and use the table below to determine the weather for the *following* day:

|Season| Clear | Wind | Precipitation | Storm |
|:----:|:-----:|:----:|:-------------:|:-----:|
|  **Spring**  | 1-14 | 15-16 | 17-19 | 20 |
|  **Summer**  | 1-12 | 13-16 | 17-19 | 20 |
|  **Autumn**  | 1-14 | 15-17 | 18-19 | 20 |
|  **Winter**  | 1-12 | 13-15 | 16-19 | 20 |
-->

### Alternative Travel Rules
For DMs interested in a different travel and exploration experience, consider the following modules:

* [Into the Wild](https://media.wizards.com/2018/dnd/downloads/UA_IntoTheWild.pdf) – Unearthed Arcana
* [Expanded Travel Rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/UnearthedArcana/comments/9lo385/rules_the_expanded_travel_rules/) - DracoDruid
* [City and Wild](https://www.dmsguild.com/product/226033/City-and-Wild) - Ignacio Portilla
* [Overland Travel](https://youtu.be/HbODWX9ATBo) – Dael Kingsmill
* [Getting There is Half the Fun](https://theangrygm.com/getting-there-is-half-the-fun/) – Angry GM

<div style='margin-top:20px;'></div>
 
> ##### Art Credits
> * [Borderland Explorer, by LucasGraciano](https://www.deviantart.com/lucasgraciano/art/Borderland-Explorer-633466037)
> * [Fantasy Landscape, by Jason Coates](https://www.deviantart.com/atthespeedoffetus/art/Fantasy-Landscape-359596915)
> * [Lioness, by Matt Stawicki](http://mattstawicki.com/detail1.php?image=Lioness)
> * [Setting up Camp, by Matt Stawicki](http://mattstawicki.com/detail1.php?image=SettingUpCamp)
> * [Bjersig Torrsen, by Djon Harris](https://dionharris.artstation.com/projects/86mPR)

<div class='footnote'>Part 4 | Variant Rules</div>

<img src='https://cdnb.artstation.com/p/assets/images/images/011/588/313/large/dion-harris-bjersig-torrsen.jpg' style='width:310px; position:absolute; left: 60px; bottom: -20px;  mix-blend-mode:multiply'/>

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<center>
 
 # Travel & Exploration Quick Reference
 
</center>

#### Travel Activities
| Activity | Ability Check | Slow Pace | Normal Pace |
|:---|:---|:---:|:---:|
| **Navigate** | INT (Navigator's Tools) | Advantage | - |
| **Track** | WIS (Survival) | Advantage | - |
| **Keep Watch** | WIS (Perception)  | Advantage | - |
| **Sneak** | DEX (Stealth) | - | Disadvantage |
| **Hunt & Forage** | WIS (Survival) | Advantage | - |

</div>

#### Hunt & Forage
|Rations| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
|:-----:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|
|  **Fertile**  | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 |
|  **Average**  | 17 | 19 | 21 | 23 | 25 | 27 | 29 | -  |
|  **Scarce**   | 20 | 23 | 26 | 29 | -  | -  | -  | -  |
|  **Barren**   | 25 | 29 | -  | -  | -  | -  | -  | -  |

</div>

#### Track
If the check is failed by less than 5, the party moves in the direction of the tracked creature, but speed is halved. If the check is failed by 5 or more, the party gets lost.

</div>

#### Navigate
| DC  | Description |
|:---:|:-----------:|
|  **None**  | Terrain has clear roads |
|  **5**  | Terrain has winding paths, or lacks paths but is in flat landscape |
|  **10**  | Terrain lacks paths but is in open landscape |
|  **15**  | Terrain lacks paths and is in dense foliage |
|  **20**  | Terrain is obfuscated using illusions or other magic |
|  **25**  | Terrain is obfuscated using powerful magic |

</div>

</div>

****

#### Camp Activities
| Activity | Ability Check |
|:---|:---|
| **Explore** | INT (Investigation) |
| **Keep Watch** | WIS (Perception)  |
| **Camouflage** | DEX (Stealth) |
| **Hunt & Forage** | WIS (Survival) + 5 |
| **Treat Wounds** | WIS (Medicine) |
| **Meditate/Pray/Weave** | Spellcasting Ability |

</div>

</div>

#### Treat Wounds (DC 15)
On a success, a number of creatures up to your WIS modifier (minimum 1) regain 1 hit die.

This increases to 2 hit dice at level 5, 3 hit dice at level 9, 4 hit dice at level 13, and 5 hit dice at level 17.

</div>

#### Meditate/Pray/Weave

</div>

#### Explore
| DC  | Description |
|:---:|:-----------:|
|  **None**  | Landmark is unmistakable |
|  **5**  | Landmark has clear path |
|  **10**  | Landmark lacks path but is in open terrain |
|  **15**  | Landmark lacks path and is in dense terrain |
|  **20**  | Landmark is hidden, with active efforts to conceal existence through mundane means |
|  **25**  | Landmark is hidden using illusions or other magic |
|  **30**  | Landmark is hidden using powerful magic |

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Travel

Exploration

Lite
 
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 <div class='back-cover-text'>
 
Travel and Exploration Lite is a lightweight ruleset for use in D&D 5e campaigns featuring exploration. The complexity and mechanical heft of other travel rules are traded for streamlined simplicity.

The intent is to invoke the feeling of being separated from the comforts of civilization without bogging down the game.

For more entries in the Homebrew Lite series, check out:

[Crafting & Imbuing Lite](https://www.gmbinder.com/share/-LuG4xzxCUzGNAhH4cqU)

[Learning & Language Lite](https://www.gmbinder.com/share/-MH342ePwvKAy8JLf26O)

[Dueling Lite](https://www.gmbinder.com/share/-MEZTCpfgHod1UJKyHNr)

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