Playtest (A5E) Level Up Playtest Document #17: Journeys

Welcome to the 17th Level Up playtest document. This playtest document contains an abbreviated expression of the game’s Journey rules, which form an important part of the exploration pillar of play.

Level Up Playtest Document #17: Journeys — Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition (A5E)

This playtest document contains an abbreviated expression of the game’s Journey rules, which form an important part of the exploration pillar of play.

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[Morrus]

Well I just won a bet!

If there’s one truism in the world it is this: any forum discussion about travel rules in an RPG will inevitably and irrevocably turn into one about marching speeds within the first page.

 

[Waller]

Thats a modern continuous hike, that doesn’t account for rest stops, scouting, setting camp or random encounters (Ie its a forced march)
\

That's why it's only 8 hours, leaving 16 additional hours the for rest stops, scouting, camps and stuff.

 

[Steampunkette]

8 hours of marching, 8 hours of long rest, the remaining 8 hours are rest stops, meal breaks, regrouping.

You could definitely do 24-32 in that time. And your feet, legs, and back would ACHE from it.

As to the "You're wearing full armor!" argument. Full Armor isn't THAT heavy. Sure if you're wearing a full set of plate armor with associated padding, maille beneath, straps, and such you'd be looking at 30-50 pounds (Depending on style and your specific body structure). But unlike a Backpack, that weight is distributed across your form. Some of it is resting on your hips. Some of it is resting on your shoulders. Some of it is supported by straps squeezing across your torso, or arm, or thigh, breaking up the weight into more manageable pieces.

Because it was -designed- to move and fight in, which meant it couldn't be overbearing in any one aspect, or wear down your energy level too drastically since it'd leave you stranded in the middle of a battlefield if you collapsed from exhaustion.

Though, in all honesty, I would tell my player "You cannot travel overland in heavy armor without significantly losing speed unless you are mounted" And I have done so in the past.

And since heavy armor (and short legs) slow you down in combat, slap the "Slow" speed on anyone wearing heavy armor (or under 4ft in height) for overland travel. Make their "Fast" into unarmored (tall people) normal.

And heavily armored halflings move at a crawl. MUAHAHAHAHAAAA!

I mean... Break it down. The 24 hour a day march is 8 hours of walking. 24/8=3. Can you walk 3 miles in an hour and still have time to take a quick potty break, snag a cup of water, and get a few minutes of rest before doing it again? Then you can get 24 miles in 8 hours.

If you can manage an 18 minute mile you're capable of a 3 mile per hour speed with 6 minutes of faffing about and making no progress. If you can do one in 15 that gives you 15 minutes of faffing about. And if you walk a 12 minute mile, that's a whopping 24 minutes of just chilling with your friends on the trail.

24 miles in a day is very reasonable.

 

[chaoshead87]

I like this quite a bit. I REALLY like the use of the massive bonuses that 5e has, by granting extra money earned in the busking activity for example. I also like that there are examples of increased success on skill checks with a critical result, a second rumor on the gossip activity.

 

[tetrasodium]

Getting away from the marching speed debate I really like the doc but notice an omission in havens.
"For example, an inn is considered a haven, but a campsite where adventurers must take turns keeping watch through the night is not. " The bates motel is an inn & any number of factors could make an inn not restful. Adding a word like safe or proper might clear that very minor not marching speed issue

On Stealth & Vehicles, it says "stealth can not be used while journeying in a land vehicle" neatly shows a generally not well supported flavor of stealth that the skills could somehow handle elsewhere. Namely looking like you belong & faking it through social engineering. A stereotypical fleeing from the law type situation could carefully stealth though forests & such to avoid the well patrolled roads or they could buy that mule, wagon, & all of that farmer's produce to leisurely make their way across the border out of this wartorn kingdom disguised as farmers who intend to sell all of that produce covering their deadly weapons & nice shiny armor from prying eyes


Supplies & havens are an awesome thing but having the various journey activities folded into the journey rule rather than some isolated peg the GM can try to fit in is pretty awesome. I really like that there are examples of typical PC behavior like entertaining/thieving/etc & even better that casters aren't left out with that option to gather components. The inclusion of exotic terrains and a road(!!) in regions is a godsend too, it's funny how the focus on FR style makes people forget that travelingthrough a forest is very different from traveling through a forest with a road


"the important thing to keep in mind is that exploration challenges are designed to be very freeform, and that the solutions suggested are only suggestions. Creative player solutions or expenditure of resources should be rewarded" That makes me want to dance & I can't wait to see it. Just trying to get players to the point of looking outside their box & consider those kinds of things in o5e is really tough compared to past editions with more tools & guidance aimed at those kinds of goals but the payoffs are huge for everyone at the table

 

[Zaukrie]

On Stealth & Vehicles, it says "stealth can not be used while journeying in a land vehicle" neatly shows a generally not well supported flavor of stealth that the skills could somehow handle elsewhere. Namely looking like you belong & faking it through social engineering. A stereotypical fleeing from the law type situation could carefully stealth though forests & such to avoid the well patrolled roads or they could buy that mule, wagon, & all of that farmer's produce to leisurely make their way across the border out of this wartorn kingdom disguised as farmers who intend to sell all of that produce covering their deadly weapons & nice shiny armor from prying eyes

This paragraph is gold, btw.

 

[Morrus]

This paragraph is gold, btw.

That’s deception though not stealth.

 

[Zaukrie]

That’s deception though not stealth.

It's still gold....and kind of pedantic.

 

[R_J_K75]

I like the art alot in this section.

 

[dave2008]

The Romans used to march 20 miles in 5 hours at ‘regular’ pace, but that was an army, not an adventuring group which can move much faster.

I would serious doubt the source that provided you this information.