D&D 5E Pulling an all-nighter

[not-so-newguy]

A few weeks ago, we played a long siege where two tribes of goblins harassed the PCs throughout the night that culminated in a large battle just before dawn (siege of Sukiskyn from Night's Dark Terror). After the battle was over, I ruled that the PCs would incur Forced March checks for traveling because they had been awake for 24 hours. Although this seems pretty sensible to me, one of the players complained that this was too severe.


Since I couldn't find any rules on the subject, could somebody enlighten me? Are there rules for this situation that I missed in the DMG or PHB? Do you have a house rule that may work better?

 

[iserith]

Forced March is typically for when character travel more than 8 hours in a day. So while I think it's reasonable to ask for an ability check to fight against fatigue brought on by a full day and night of battle, the Forced March rules aren't necessarily applicable. A single Constitution check at a reasonable DC would be sufficient in my view to resolve any uncertainty as to whether they could make it through 8 hours of travel. Beyond that point, the Forced March rules would start to apply.

Did the player who suggested the check was too severe have another suggestion?

 

[not-so-newguy]

No suggestions from the player, so I stuck to my ruling. A single check for eight hours makes sense.

How about this? DC 12 con check after 4 hours travel.

 

[iserith]

No suggestions from the player, so I stuck to my ruling. A single check for eight hours makes sense.

How about this? DC 12 con check after 4 hours travel.

It really depends on what you're trying to accomplish here. If it's prohibitively difficult and costly, they'll probably choose to rest. What are the consequences of resting? Why are they choosing to push their limits? Do you expect there to be challenges during their travel where exhaustion might come into play?

 

[hejtmane]

No suggestions from the player, so I stuck to my ruling. A single check for eight hours makes sense.

How about this? DC 12 con check after 4 hours travel.

I would also factor in the environment on my save on a road lower dc check paved road even lower but traveling in the upper mountains altitude makes it harder so i increase the save; then swamp travel you know you have to worry about rodents of usual size etc etc. I mean it sounds reasonable to me battle wary soldiers on doing DC checks for long marches

 

[not-so-newguy]

It really depends on what you're trying to accomplish here. If it's prohibitively difficult and costly, they'll probably choose to rest. What are the consequences of resting? Why are they choosing to push their limits? Do you expect there to be challenges during their travel where exhaustion might come into play?

The situation has passed, so I am looking for a house rule that I can consistently use in the future. I plan to run this module again for a different group at some time and use the siege as a starting point for the adventure.

I suggested DC 12 because ...it just feels right. Having worked several part time jobs at the same time before, it's something with which I have had real life experience. Sometimes I'd be fine; though, more often than not, I'd have trouble focusing.

 

[iserith]

The situation has passed, so I am looking for a house rule that I can consistently use in the future. I plan to run this module again for a different group at some time and use the siege as a starting point for the adventure.

I suggested DC 12 because ...it just feels right. Having worked several part time jobs at the same time before, it's something with which I have had real life experience. Sometimes I'd be fine; though, more often than not, I'd have trouble focusing.

I would not suggest instituting a standing house rule. Instead, I recommend putting it out there only as part of the stakes of a dramatic situation that is unfolding. The invading army is marching on the PCs' hometown. The PCs have just finishing battling elsewhere all day and night. Do they hurry to their hometown and risk exhaustion, but get there before the army arrives? Or do they rest, then travel, but arrive when the enemies are already at the gates? This is a meaningful, difficult decision to make and probably doesn't come up often, so a standing house rule is likely unnecessary. If there's nothing interesting at stake, it's not worth thinking about it in my view.

Depending on the party, a DC 12 probably means one or more PCs fail. Those with proficiency in Con saves will probably already have a decent Con. Others will likely have +1 at best on average which makes it a coin toss.

 

[ExploderWizard]

If the PCs don't rest after being up and active for 24 hours straight just assign a level of exhaustion. Its easy enough to cure with some rest and even easier to make worse by pushing on.