Camping in the wilderness offers breathtaking vistas and unforgettable memories, but as I learned the hard way on my hike in Philmont, it's the multitude of small discomforts that truly wear you down. These aren't climactic monster battles, but the insidious grind of the environment itself. If you want to remind PCs that nature is brutal, here's a list of minor inconviences that a reminder of just how tough the life of an advenurer can be.
The Relentless Gnawing of the Wilderness
The wild is a beautiful, yet indifferent, adversary. It doesn't need to conjure ancient evils to wear you down; it just needs time and persistence. At Philmont, these aggravations manifested in various forms, chipping away at comfort and focus:- Bug Bites: A single mosquito is a minor annoyance. Hundreds of them, day after day, transform into a pervasive torment. The constant itching, the buzzing in your ears, the swollen welts – it distracts, irritates, and makes concentration a battle. In the wilderness, these aren't just cosmetic; they impact your ability to focus. My crew was bedeviled by mosquitoes -- we were excited to find water sources but aggravated by bug bites at every turn. My son wore a short sleeve shirt the first day and had 20+ bites where he was exposed.
- Mild Hypothermia: Getting soaked in a sudden storm can quickly lead to shivering, chattering teeth, and a profound, bone-deep cold. This isn't just discomfort; it's the body struggling to maintain core temperature, making fine motor control difficult and decision-making sluggish. We got caught in a hailstorm that transformed to rain and the whipping wind pushed me into a hypothermic spiral where I couldn't hold food to even eat; my crew had to huddle around me to keep me warm.
- Sunburn: Hours under an unforgiving sun, especially at higher altitudes, result in skin that's tender, hot, and painful to the touch. Every movement can sting, and exposed areas feel like they're on fire, making it hard to relax, rest, or focus on anything but the burning sensation. We all wore broad-brimmed "cowboy-style" hats and "gators" -- neck covers -- to keep our necks protected. One of our crew got a third-degree burn on just his thumb because that was the one spot that wasn't completely covered by his hiking gloves.
- Blisters: The insidious creep of a hot spot on your foot, turning into a raw, open blister, is a hiker's bane. Each step becomes a searing reminder of the friction, turning a simple walk into a hobbling ordeal that can dramatically slow progress and drain morale. All of us on the hike suffered from blisters; one of our adult crew members was an expert because his son was a soccer player, and he helped apply moleskin so we were still able to walk.
- Poor Sleep: The symphony of buzzing insects, the hard, uneven ground, and the ever-present chill or heat make restful sleep a luxury. Tossing and turning, unable to find comfort, leads to waking up feeling more tired than when you lay down, compounding every other discomfort. Anxiety and whipping wind at night (sometimes roaring, sometimes slapping tents while we tried to sleep within them) were a constant challenge, along with uncomfortable rocks beneath our tents or concerns that we'd put our tents down in potential flood zones.
- Bruising from Climbing: Scrambling over rocks, pushing through tight crevices, or taking an unexpected tumble leads to a collection of aches and tender spots. These bruises are constant dull reminders of exertion, making subsequent physical activity more painful and draining. I had bruises all over my shins and lost some grip strength in my fingertips from grabbing onto rocks.
- Scratches from Undergrowth: Dense thickets and thorny bushes aren't just obstacles; they're relentless aggressors. Every minute spent pushing through scrub results in new scrapes and cuts, a constant minor injury that adds up to widespread irritation and potential for infection. And mind the hiker behind you--more than once I pushed through branches only to have them whip back in the face of the person next in our marching order.
When Inconveniences Impede Adventure
In D&D, these inconveniences can translate into real mechanical penalties. DMs can use these as narrative tools to make wilderness adventures feel gritty without resorting to complex new rules.- Bug bites, when severe enough, can impose disadvantage on Dexterity Tests due to constant scratching and swatting, or even on Concentration checks for spells if the irritation is overwhelming. A swarm of buzzing insects could even be treated as a minor area-of-effect nuisance, requiring frequent Wisdom saving throws to avoid losing Reactions.
- Mild hypothermia, resulting from being drenched in a storm, might deal 1 point of Cold damage and impose disadvantage on Dexterity Tests due to shivering. This effect persists until the character is warmed and dried.
- Sunburn could deal 1 point of Fire damage for every hour spent exposed to the sun without protection, and might impose Concentration checks as the character struggles with the stinging pain.
- Blisters are particularly debilitating. They might inflict 1 point of Bludgeoning damage for every hour of travel. If left untreated for a full day, they could reduce the character's speed by 10 until treated and rested, reflecting the excruciating pain of walking on raw skin. This would require medical treatment (e.g., a DC 10 Wisdom (Medicine) check or a healer's kit use) and a full day of light activity or rest to recover.
- Poor sleep due to bugs or rocky surfaces directly impacts rest rules. If a character fails to get at least 6 hours of restful sleep due to environmental factors, they don't gain the benefits of a long rest. After two successive nights of poor sleep, they could gain one level of exhaustion, which applies disadvantage on ability checks. Subsequent poor nights could quickly escalate this to more severe levels of exhaustion.
- Bruising from climbing might inflict 1 point of Bludgeoning damage for every hour spent climbing. If multiple such incidents occur, or if a character takes additional damage while already bruised, the pain could impose disadvantage on Strength (Athletics) checks or even require Concentration checks if they take further damage while focusing on an activity.
- Scratching from undergrowth could deal 1 point of Slashing damage for every hour spent traveling through dense scrub, representing numerous minor cuts. These accumulating injuries could lead to a persistent low-level drain on hit points and resources, necessitating bandages or minor healing spells.
