Small villages and rural communities, often surrounded by a patchwork of farms, make for a safe and cozy existence with the most threatening events involving an angry bear harassing livestock. Adventurers journeying through this region can expect little danger, and a high number of social encounters.

Terrains. Forest, grassland, hills, settlement, subterranean, swamp, temple.

Tiers. Country Shires are usually tier 0 or tier 1 regions. Often used as the starting area in a campaign, it would be unusual to find tier 3 or 4 country shires.

Weather. 1–8 clear, 9–12 overcast, 13–16 rain, 17–19 mist, 20–25 snow. 

Journey Activities. Adventurers gain advantage on checks made to Busk, Chronicle, Gossip, Harvest, and Rob. 

Friendly Locals. Adventurers gain an expertise die on Charisma checks made against people local to the region.

Haven. The whole of this area counts as a haven . Travelers can always recover from fatigue and strife when taking a long rest, even when camping.

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Country Shire Exploring Tier 0

1 Axe beak (monster)
2–3 Badger (monster)
4–5 Bridge of stones (exploration)
6–7 Bandit (monster)
8–9 Blink dog (monster)
10–31 Travel scenery
32–33 Bloodhawk (monster)
34–35 Centaur (monster)
36–37 Deer (monster)
38–39 Enchanted windmill (exploration)
40–41 Druid (monster)
42 Faerie dragon (monster)
43–44 Giant badger (monster)
45–46 End of hibernation (exploration)
47–48 Giant poisonous snake (monster)
49–50 Goblin (monster)
51–52 Hawk (monster)
53–54 Forested hills (exploration)
55–56 Lizard (monster)
57–58 Noble (monster)
59–60 Hail storm (exploration)
61–63 Poisonous snake (monster)
64–65 River dragon wyrmling (monster)
66–67 Haze (exploration)
68–70 Scarecrow (monster)
71–72 Scout (monster)
73–74 Lost item (exploration)
75–76 Soldier  (monster)
77–80 Public ceremony (exploration)
81–82 Warrior (monster)
83–84 Wolf (monster)
85–99 Social Encounter  
100 Mushroom ring (exploration)

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Country Shire Exploring Tier 1

1 Ankheg (monster)
2–3 Bandit captain (monster)
4–5 Bridge of stones (exploration)
6–7 Bugbear (monster)
8–9 Doppelganger (monster)
10–27 Travel scenery  
28–29 Druid (monster)
30–31 Ettin (monster)
32–33 Counterfeit goods (exploration)
34–35 Ghast (monster)
36–37 Ghost (monster)
38–39 Enchanted windmill (exploration)
40–41 Ghoul (monster)
42 Goblin boss or goblin warlock  (monster)
43–44 End of hibernation (exploration)
45–46 Griffon (monster)
47–48 Guard squad (monster)
49–51 Stampede (exploration)
52–54 Harpy (monster)
55–57 Hobgoblin captain (monster)
58–59 Flood (exploration)
60–61 Jackalope (monster)
62–63 Jackalwere (monster)
64–65 Labyrinthine ravines (exploration)
66–67 Knight (monster)
68–69 Kobold broodguard or kobold sorcerer (monster)
70–71 Mushroom ring (exploration)
72–73 Lamia (monster)
74–75 Manticore (monster)
76–77 Pests (exploration)
78–79 Ogre (monster)
80–81 Phase spider (monster)
82–83 Private property (exploration)
84–85 Veteran (monster)
86–87 Warrior band (monster)
88–89 Thunderstorm (exploration)
90–99 Social Encounter  
100 Green lake (exploration)

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Country Shire Exploring Tier 2

1–3 Alchemist (monster)
4–5 Dense fog (exploration)
6–7 Ankheg queen (monster)
8–9 Bandit captain (monster)
10–17 Travel scenery   
18–19 Berserker (monster)
20–21 Blackguard (monster)
22–23 Faerie ring (exploration)
24–25 Bugbear chief (monster)
26–27 Bulette (monster)
28–29 Flash flood (exploration)
30–31 Champion warrior (monster)
32–34 Cyclops (monster)
35–36 Green lake (exploration)
37–38 Doppelganger (monster)
39–42 Flying lion (monster)
43–45 Hail deluge (exploration)
46–47 Griffon (monster)
48–49 Half-red dragon veteran (monster)
50–51 Living land (exploration)
52–54 High priest (monster)
55–56 Hill giant (monster)
57–59  Magical overgrowth (exploration)
60–61 Manticore (monster)
62–63 Owlbear (monster)
64–65 Rot grubs (exploration)
66–67 Pegasus (monster)
68–69 Revenant (monster)
70–71 Sinkhole (exploration)
72–73 Scarecrow harvester (monster)
74–75 Soldier squad (monster)
76–77 Voracious pests (exploration)
78–79 Stone giant (monster)
80–81 Strider   (monster)
82–83 White elk (exploration)
84–85 Warrior band (monster)
86–87 Werebear (monster)
88–89 Wild magic zone (exploration)
90–91 Wyvern (monster)
92–99 Social Encounter  
100 Fey glade (exploration)

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Country Shire Exploring Tier 3

1–4 Adult copper dragon (monster)
5–7 Blackguard (monster)
8–10 Cambion (monster)
11–16 Travel scenery  
17–19 Champion warrior (monster)
20–22 Cyclops (monster)
23–25 Gorgon (monster)
26–28 Caught in the crossfire (exploration)
29–31 Harpy (monster)
32–34 High priest (monster)
35–37 Hill giant (monster)
38–39 Choking smoke (exploration)
40–42 Hobgoblin warlord (monster)
43–45 Holy knight (monster)
46–48 Knight captain (monster)
49–51 Cursed waterway (exploration)
52–54 Ogre mage (monster)
55–57 Rakshasa (monster)
58–61 Roc (monster)
62–64 Endless plummet (exploration)
65–69 Soldier squad (monster)
70–73 Stone giant stonetalker (monster)
74–76 Troll or dread troll (monster)
77–79 Fey glade (exploration)
80–82 Vampire (monster)
83–85 Werebear (monster)
86–88 Wraith (monster)
89–90 Perilous cliff path (exploration)
91–92 Wyvern (monster)
93–99 Social Encounter  
100 Hallowed ground (exploration)

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Country Shire Exploring Tier 4

1–5 Ancient copper dragon (monster)
6–10 Hill giant (monster)
11–16 Travel scenery  
17–21 Hill giant chief (monster)
22–26 Hobgoblin warlord (monster)
27–31 Corrupted druid grove  (exploration)
32–36 Holy knight (monster)
37–42 Knight captain (monster)
43–47 Forest fire (exploration)
48–53 Rakshasa (monster)
55–60 Stone giant stonetalker (monster)
61–65 Hallowed ground (exploration)
66–71 Troll or dread troll  (monster)
72–76 Vampire (monster)
77–81 Malfunctioning planar portal (exploration)
82–87 Wraith  (monster)
88–94 Wraith lord (monster)
95–100 Social Encounter  

These deserts are notorious for their many capricious ruins, the devastated landscape the biggest mark left upon the world by the forgotten civilizations that once flourished there. Monsters aplenty roam the wastes as well, so adventurers journeying through it encounter many creatures and constructed terrain exploration challenges.

Terrains. Desert, laboratory, mountains, ruins, subterranean, swamp, temple, tomb.

Tiers. Blasted Badlands tend to be tier 2 and above. 

Weather. 1–10 clear, 11–25 overcast.

Journey Activities. Adventurers gain advantage on checks made to Scout, but disadvantage on checks made to Befriend Animal, Gossip, and Rob. It is not possible to Busk, Harvest, or Hunt and Gather.

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Blasted Badlands Exploring Tier 0

1–3 Bandit (monster)

4–5 Cockatrice (monster)

6–7 Cultist (monster)

8–9 Cutthroat (monster)

10–19 Travel scenery

20–21 Ettercap (monster)

22–23 Gargoyle (monster)

24–25 Gelatinous cube (monster)

26–27 Ghoul (monster)

28–29 Bridge of stones (exploration)

30–31 Giant centipede (monster)

32–34 Giant wolf spider (monster)

35–37 Goblin (monster)

38–42 Gray ooze (monster)

43–45 Enchanted windmill (exploration)

46–48 Grick (monster)

49–51 Grimlock (monster)

52–54 Hyena ^G (monster)

55–57 Jackal  (monster)

58–59 Hail storm (exploration)

60–61 Kobold (monster)

62–64 Lizard ^G  (monster)

65–66 Ochre jelly (monster)

67–69 Haze (exploration)

70–71 Ogrekin (monster)

72–74 Poisonous snake ^G (monster)

75–77 Lost item (exploration)

78–80 Rat ^G (monster)

81–83 Skeleton (monster)

84–86 Spider ^G (monster)

87–88 Zombie (monster)

89–90 Sea of sand (exploration)

91–99 Social Encounter

100 Labyrinthine ravines (exploration)

^GOn an odd result, use the giant version of this creature instead.

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Blasted Badlands Exploring Tier 1

1–3 Bandit captain (monster)

4–5 Banshee (monster)

6–7 Basilisk (monster)

8–9 Black pudding (monster)

10–17 Travel scenery

18–19 Cult fanatic (monster)

20–21 Cutthroat (monster)

22–23 Doppelganger (monster)

24–25 Ettin (monster)

26–27 Flood (exploration)

28–29 Gargoyle (monster)

30–31 Gelatinous cube (monster)

32–34 Ghast (monster)

35–36 Ghost (monster)

37–38 Labyrinthine ravines (exploration)

39–42 Ghoul (monster)

43–45 Goblin boss or goblin warlock (monster)

46–48 Grimlock technical (monster)

49–51 Intellect devourer (monster)

52–54 Pests (exploration)

55–56 Kobold broodguard or kobold sorcerer (monster)

57–58 Mimic (monster)

60–61 Mummy (monster)

62–63 Ogre (monster)

64–66 Pit trap (exploration)

67–69 Ogre zombie (monster)

70–71 Shadow (monster)

72–73 Skeletal champion (monster)

74–75 Skeleton horde (monster)

76–77 Quicksand (exploration)

78–79 Specter (monster)

80–81 Walking statue (monster)

82–83 Wererat (monster)

84–85 Werewolf (monster)

86–87 Thunderstorm (exploration)

88–89 Zombie horde (monster)

90–91 Zombie knight (monster)

92–99 Social Encounter

100 Rot grubs (exploration)

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Blasted Badlands Exploring Tier 2

1–3 Acid field (exploration)

4–5 Cursed temple (exploration)

6–8 Air elemental ^G (monster)

9–10 Black pudding (monster)

12–17 Travel scenery  

18–19 Cambion (monster)

20–21 Clay guardian (monster)

22–23 Dense fog (exploration)

24–25 Enchanted statue (exploration)

26–27 Cyclops (monster)

28–30 Earth elemental ^G (monster)

31–32 Flash flood  (exploration)

33–35 Ettin (monster)

36–38 Fire elemental ^G (monster)

39–40 Flimsy rope bridge (exploration)

41–42 Green lake (exploration)

43–44 Flesh guardian (monster)

45–46 Guardian naga (monster)

47–48 Hail deluge (exploration)

49–50 Half-red dragon veteran (monster)

51–52 Half-shadow dragon assassin (monster)

53–54 Lethal outgassing (exploration)

55–56 Rot grubs (exploration)

57–58 Mage (monster)

60–61 Mummy (monster)

62–63 Sandstorm (exploration)

64–66 Night hag (monster)

67–69 Ogre mage (monster)

70–71 Shattered earth (exploration)

72–73 Tornado (exploration)

74–75 Revenant (monster)

76–77 Shield guardian (monster)

78–79 Voracious pests (exploration)

80–81 Skeletal tyrannosaurus rex (monster)

82–83 Stone guardian (monster)

84–85 Wild magic zone  (exploration)

86–88 Water elemental ^G (monster)

89–91 Wraith (monster)

92–99 Social Encounter  

100 Cursed waterway (exploration)

^G On an odd result, use the giant version of this creature instead.

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Blasted Badlands Exploring Tier 3

1–3 Adult emerald dragon (monster)

4–6 Bridge of sorrow (exploration)

7–9 Banshee (monster)

10–12 Behir (monster)

13–18 Travel scenery

19–21 Blackguard (monster)

22–24 Cambion (monster)

25–27 Choking smoke (exploration)

28–30 Clay guardian (monster)

31–33 Cyclops myrmidon (monster)

34–36 Cursed waterway (exploration)

37–39 Forgotten god (monster)

40–42 Iron guardian (monster)

43–45 Endless plummet (exploration)

46–48 Mummy lord (monster)

49–51 Night hag (monster)

52–54 Lifeless desolation (exploration)

55–57 Sphinx (monster)

58–61 Spirit naga (monster)

62–64 Primordial tornado (exploration)

65–69 Stone guardian (monster)

70–73 Troll  or dread troll (monster)

74–76 Sphere of annihilation (exploration)

77–79 Vampire (monster)

80–82 Werewolf (monster)

83–85 Sunspots (exploration)

86–88 Wraith lord (monster)

89–91 Young red dragon zombie (monster)

92–99 Social Encounter

100 Malfunctioning planar portal (exploration)

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Blasted Badlands Exploring Tier 4

1–5 Corrupted druid grove (exploration)

6–10 Adult gold dragon (monster)

11–16 Travel scenery

17–21 Ancient emerald dragon (monster)

22–26 Divine war (exploration)

27–31 Demilich (monster)

32–36 God corpse (exploration)

37–42 Dread knight (monster)

43–47 Hallowed ground (exploration)

48–53 Empyrean (monster)

55–60 Hellscape (exploration)

61–65 Lich (monster)

66–71 Killing cloud (exploration)

72–76 Mummy lord (monster)

77–81 Malfunctioning planar portal (exploration)

82–87 Troll or dread troll (monster)

88–94 Vampire (monster)

95–100 Social Encounter

A region is an area of the world, defined geographically by its physical features. It might be a vast forest or a sandy desert; or it might be a snow-tipped mountain range or a stretch of underground caverns. Regions are often—but not always—named areas on the map. Regions are important building blocks of the world, and each region has its own properties and encounter tables. Later in this chapter are some common regions for Narrators to use.

Combined Regions. Sometimes an area on the map might fit the description of more than one region. The Narrator may choose either region, combine both, or create a new region.

Terrains. A region can have more than one kind of terrain and those listed are general suggestions for the most common types to be found there. Ultimately the types of terrain in a region are at the Narrator’s discretion and the needs of the campaign.

Regions and Tiers. Each region on the map is designated with a tier (from 0–4) which corresponds with the adventuring tiers of play. Any region can be any tier, but some regions lend themselves towards certain ends of the scale; for example, a tier 3 Country Shire would be highly unusual, but a tier 2 Feywood would not.

The combination of region and tier allows for a wide array of building blocks with which to build the game world. A tier 1 Feywood might be a small forest on the edge of a village where it is rumored that satyrs play in the moonlight, while a tier 4 Feywood could be home to powerful and capricious fey beings, or ruled by an ancient green dragon.

A region’s tier determines the difficulty of the challenges encountered within. Exploration and monster encounter tables are all categorized by tier, making it easy to select tier-relevant encounters. Of course, exceptions can and do exist, and a powerful monster can wander into that tier 1 Country Shire, or a cruel necromancer might make their lair on the outskirts, but such an occurrence is not typical of that region and is usually used as the subject of an adventure rather than a random encounter.

It should be noted that it is possible for a low-level party to wander into a region too dangerous for them. The Narrator should provide clues to the danger level and—where appropriate—allow for some means of escape should the adventurers find themselves in over their heads.

Party-Appropriate Challenges. In some games the Narrator may prefer not to designate regions with a default tier, and instead present the adventurers with encounters and challenges appropriate for their level.

Weather

Each region contains a short list of randomly generated weather options. These are generally limited to non-extreme weather conditions, including clear, overcast, mist, rain, and snow, and are purely descriptive tools to help the Narrator set the scene—they do not affect the adventurers. More extreme weather events are treated as exploration challenges and include phenomena like blizzards, dense fogs, hail storms, sandstorms, tornados, thunderstorms, and more.

Roll a d20 for weather once for each region. In the winter season, add 5 to the roll, unless the region is in a notably warm or tropical clime.

Encounters

Each region the adventurers travel through will include one or more encounters. The Narrator decides how many encounters the party has.

Encounters include four categories: exploration challenges, monsters, social encounters, and scenery. It is important that the players do not not know which type of encounter they’ve stumbled into—it should be introduced to them narratively. That chill feeling might be mere scenery, but it might be the sign of some kind of undead spirit, or it might foreshadow a weather event. 

Each region presents encounter tables which include all four encounter types. The Narrator can roll on these tables, choose an option, or introduce something new.

Along a journey the Narrator should employ a mix of combat encounters, social encounters, exploration challenges, and scenery. Exploration challenges, which are detailed later in this chapter, have assigned tiers and challenge ratings that correspond to adventurers’ levels. It is assumed that high-level adventurers are able to pass tier 1 exploration challenges without much effort, but a tier 4 exploration challenge poses a major threat.

Ultimately how many encounters adventurers have while traveling is at the discretion of the Narrator, but in general it’s recommended that the party has at least one encounter (combat, exploration, or social) in every region they journey through to make it memorable. Some regions are going to have more encounters than other regions—either because they are tumultuous, the area plays an important part in the campaign, or they are large in size—and the types of encounters the party might have in a given region are listed in its Exploring table. Depending on the needs of the game and campaign setting, the types of encounters, frequency of encounters, and difficulty of certain journey activities might be different.
 

Desolate crypts, ancient temples, horrifying tombs, and cursed pyramids are often filled with traps and monsters. Unlike the natural caverns of most of the underland realm, a dungeon is usually constructed and can be above or below ground. Although dungeons aren’t regions (so there is no weather or travel scenery, and adventurers don’t undertake journey activities in a dungeon) they are filled with random encounters against both traps and monsters, and these areas are ripe with opportunities for exploration! 

Terrains. Dungeons can be found everywhere, and depending on their size and location they may have a wide variety of terrains within (though laboratory, ruins, sewer, temple, and tomb are the most common).

Tier. Dungeons range from tier 0 crypts in small villages all the way up to the deadliest tier 4 labyrinths of terror constructed by ancient evils.

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Dungeon Exploring Tier 0

1–2 Aboleth thrall (monster)

3–4 Animated armor (monster)

5–6 Apprentice mage (monster)

7–8 Bandit (monster)

9–10 Bolt-thrower (monster)

11–12 Cultist (monster)

13–14 Cutthroat (monster)

15–16 Ettercap (monster)

17–18 Flumph (monster)

19–20 Flying sword (monster)

21–26 Falling net (exploration)

27–28 Gargoyle (monster)

29–30 Gear spider (monster)

31–32 Gelatinous cube (monster)

33–34 Gibbering mouther (monster)

35–36 Ghoul (monster)

37–38 Goblin (monster)

39–40 Gray ooze (monster)

41–42 Homunculus (monster)

43–44 Kobold (monster)

45–46 Mimic (monster)

46–47 Ochre jelly (monster)

48–49 Ogrekin (monster)

50–52 Poisonous snake G Monster

53–59 Haze (exploration)

60–62 Rat G Monster

63–64 Rug of smothering (monster)

65–66 Shadow (monster)

67–68 Shrieker (monster)

69–70 Skeleton (monster)

71–72 Specter (monster)

73–79 Lost item (exploration)

80–82 Spider G Monster

83–84 Swarm of poisonous snakes (monster)

85–86 Swarm of rats (monster)

87–88 Violet fungus (monster)

89–90 Wererat (monster)

91–92 Zombie (monster)

93–100 Poorly-repaired tunnel (exploration)

^G On an odd result, use the giant version of this creature instead.

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Dungeon Exploring Tier 1

1–6 Collapsing roof (exploration)

7–8 Aboleth thrall (monster)

9–10 Animated armor (monster)

11–12 Bandit captain  (monster)

13–14 Banshee (monster)

15–16 Black pudding  (monster)

17–18 Bolt-thrower (monster)

19–20 Clockwork sentinel (monster)

21–22 Cult fanatic (monster)

23–24 Doppelganger  (monster)

25–30 Labyrinthine ravines   (exploration)

31–32 Ettercap (monster)

33–34 Ettin (monster)

35–36 Flying sword (monster)

37–38 Gargoyle  (monster)

39–40 Ghast (monster)

41–42 Ghost (monster)

43–44 Ghoul (monster)

45–46 Gibbering mouther (monster)

47–48 Goblin boss or goblin warlock  (monster)

49–55 Pests  (exploration)

56–57 Intellect devourer (monster)

58–59 Kobold broodguard or kobold sorcerer (monster)

60–61 Mimic (monster)

62–63 Ochre jelly (monster)

64–65 Ogre (monster)

66–67 Ogre zombie (monster)

68–69 Phase spider (monster)

70–71 Quasit (monster)

72–73 Rug of smothering (monster)

74–79 Pit trap (exploration)

80–81 Shadow (monster)

82–83 Skeletal champion (monster)

84–85 Skeleton horde (monster)

86–87 Specter (monster)

88–89 Walking statue  (monster)

90–91 Werewolf (monster)

92–93 Zombie horde (monster)

94–95 Zombie knight (monster)

96–99 Quicksand (exploration)

100 Rot grubs (exploration)

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Dungeon Exploring Tier 2

1–5 Cursed temple (exploration)

6–8 Air elemental G (monster)

9–10 Alchemist (monster)

11–12 Blackguard (monster)

13–16 Dense fog (exploration)

17–18 Black pudding (monster)

19–20 Bolt-thrower (monster)

21–22 Bulette (monster)

23–26 Enchanted statue (exploration)

27–28 Cambion (monster)

29–30 Clay guardian (monster)

31–32 Cloaker (monster)

33–36 Flimsy rope bridge (exploration)

37–38 Crusher (monster)

39–40 Dead man’s fingers (monster)

41–42 Drider (monster)

43–45 Lethal outgassing (exploration)

46–48 Earth elemental G (monster)

49  Elder black pudding (monster)

50–52 Fire elemental G (monster)

53–54 Flesh guardian (monster)

55–56 Poison darts (exploration)

57–58 Hell hound (monster)

59–60 Intellect devourer (monster)

61–66 Invisible stalker (monster)

63–65 Rolling sphere (exploration)

66–67 Mage (monster)

68–69 Ogre mage (monster)

70–71 Otyugh (monster)

72–75 Rot grubs (exploration)

76–79 Revenant (monster)

80–81 Shield guardian (monster)

82–83 Stone guardian (monster)

84–87 Swinging blades (exploration)

88–90 Water elemental G (monster)

91–92 Wererat (monster)

93–94 Werewolf (monster)

95–97 Voracious pests (exploration)

98–99 Wraith  (monster)

100 Spinning walls (exploration)

G On an odd result, use the giant version of this creature instead.

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Dungeon Exploring Tier 3

1–7 Choking smoke (exploration)

8–10 Aboleth (monster)

11–13 Archmage (monster)

14–16 Assassin (monster)

17–19 Behir (monster)

20–22 Clay guardian (monster)

23–28 Endless plummet (exploration)

29–31 Cloaker (monster)

32–34 Cyclops (monster)

35–37 Drider (monster)

38–39 Forgotten god (monster)

40–42 Guardian naga (monster)

43–48 Poison needle (exploration)

49–51 Iron guardian (monster)

52–54 Mummy lord (monster)

55–57 Night hag (monster)

58–61 Ogre mage (monster)

62–64 Otyugh (monster)

65–73 Sphere of annihilation (exploration)

74–76 Sphinx (monster)

77–79 Spirit naga (monster)

80–82 Stone guardian (monster)

83–85 Troll or dread troll (monster)

86–88 Vampire (monster)

89–93 Spinning walls (exploration)

94–96 Wraith lord (monster)

97–99 Young red dragon zombie (monster)

100 Malfunctioning planar portal (exploration)

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Dungeon Exploring Tier 4

1–7 God corpse (exploration)

8–12 Aboleth (monster)

13–16 Arcane blademaster (monster)

17–22 Archmage (monster)

23–28 Hallowed ground (exploration)

29–32 Clay guardian (monster)

33–37 Demilich (monster)

38–41 Dread knight (monster)

42–48 Hellscape (exploration)

49–52 Empyrean (monster)

53–57 Lich (monster)

58–61 Master assassin (monster)

62–68 Killing cloud (exploration)

69–72 Mummy lord (monster)

73–77 Greater sphinx (monster)

78–81 Stone guardian (monster)

82–88 Malfunctioning planar portal (exploration)

89–92 Troll or dread troll  (monster)

93–97 Vampire (monster)

98–100 Wraith lord (monster)

While this book provides a selection of regions to be used in any world, Narrators may sometimes need to create new regions of their own making. When creating a region, consider the following things.

Terrains. Determine the types of terrains most common in the region. For example, a couple of crypts for dead nobles might make for tombs to be a good terrain for a hamlet urban region, but for a major metropolitan urban region a necropolis would be needed to worth noting it has tombs among its terrains.

Tiers. What tiers does this region type typically accommodate? Remember, that a region can be used with any tier of play, but some regions will tend towards higher or lower tiers.

Weather. On a 1–25 scale (representing a d20 roll, with an additional +5 during the winter season), note what the weather might be like on a given day. Remember that the weather entry only includes milder descriptive weather (clear, overcast, rain, mist, snow) which do not affect the adventurers. More extreme weather events are exploration challenges and should be included in the region’s Exploring table.

Traits. The region should have one or more environmental traits. You can borrow traits from other regions, or create new traits.

Encounters. You will need to devise encounter tables for all five tiers of play. These should include a mix of monsters, exploration challenges, social encounters, and travel scenery. 

Some exploration challenges are straightforward sequences like crossing a rickety bridge, escaping a patch of quicksand, or bypassing a dangerous trap. Others involve prevailing against massive snowstorms, negotiating supernatural phenomena, or traversing seas of sandy dunes. 

Tiers 

An adventuring party should be expected to trivially overcome exploration challenges from a lower tier of play. While the exploration challenge might be narrated in order to give more flavor to the journey, there is no need to individually run lower-tier exploration challenges.

Challenge

Exploration challenges have challenge ratings, much like monsters do, which helps the Narrator to determine appropriate encounters for the party and how much experience is rewarded for an exploration challenge successfully overcome.

Each exploration challenge also includes two Difficulty Classes. The first is used when individual ability checks or saving throws are being made, and the second is used for group checks.

Area

Sometimes an entire region is an exploration challenge (like arctic expanses, demanding deserts, or turbulent seas), and other exploration challenges might just be for the immediate vicinity. Each exploration challenge includes a suggested size and the typical time to traverse it at a normal pace, but the Narrator should use a map of the world the game is set in to determine the appropriate area for any exploration challenge. 

Immediate. This exploration challenge affects the immediate area around the party; it’s likely about 100 feet or so across, but is almost certainly under 1 mile. It takes less than 1 hour to traverse at normal pace.

Local. This exploration challenge is up to 3 miles (1 league) across, and takes 1 hour to traverse at normal pace.

Intermediate. This exploration challenge is up to 10 miles across and takes 3 hours to traverse at normal pace.

Greater. This is the distance a party can usually walk in a day at normal pace, and is up to 30 miles across.

Region. This exploration challenge covers the entire region that the party is currently traveling in. Its exact size depends on the size of the region.

 

Table: Exploration Challenge Sizes

 

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Running Exploration Challenges

Exploration challenges are designed to be free-form, allowing the Narrator a great deal of latitude when adjudicating them. The exploration challenges in this book contain guidelines to assist the Narrator in this task, but they are not meant to be binding or constraining. 

Each entry details the various traits of the exploration challenge, what its effects are, and what the outcome of certain ability checks or actions might be. 

Suggested Solutions. Each exploration challenge contains one or more example ways to resolve it. Players are encouraged to come up with inventive solutions, and a clever idea or an appropriate expenditure of a spell or resource can be rewarded with success, or with advantage on one or more checks made. 

Travel Time. Many exploration challenges include effects which are dependent on the amount of time spent overcoming them, such as the periodic eruptions in an acid field or the deadly damage of intense cold. The party’s travel pace (normal travel pace is 3 miles per hour, slow is 2 miles per hour, and fast is 4 miles per hour) and the exploration challenge’s size should be established as normal in order to determine how long the adventurers remain in the area. Some exploration challenges affect the party’s travel pace, or are affected by the pace at which the party moves.

Outcomes. Each exploration challenge also lists some possible outcomes. These outcomes are graded into four categories, from critical failures up to critical successes. It is entirely up to the Narrator which outcome the adventurers qualify for, depending on the actions they take. An inventive solution might immediately qualify them for a critical success, as might a group check in which everybody succeeds, and a critical failure might be triggered by a disastrous decision, but the Narrator ultimately decides what the outcome of an exploration challenge is and what rewards are granted or penalties accrued.

Some results—especially when a group check has been made—may affect the entire party, while others may affect only a single adventurer. The Narrator should determine who is affected based on the actions being taken.

Failing an exploration challenge does not halt the journey, but it does usually mean that the adventurers suffer some kind of penalty. Typical penalties include the loss of time or Supply, or gaining fatigue or strife , while rewards include Boons and Discoveries , as well as experience.

Avoiding. At the Narrator’s discretion, some exploration challenges might be avoided by backtracking and taking a different route; if the party chooses to do this, they will typically lose some travel time and will not earn any experience for the exploration challenge, but they do not have to face it. The time to avoid an exploration challenge is equal to quadruple the time it would normally take to traverse the area. 

Telling a Story. Exploration challenges are designed to be inserted seamlessly into an adventure. The Narrator should never announce that an exploration challenge is in progress, or present the players with a list of options or potential actions. 

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Exploration Challenges: Success and Failure

The outcomes of exploration challenges range from the very worst results to the very best.

Critical Failure. A disastrous decision or action, a group check in which everybody fails, or a single check which results in a critical failure. This often results in penalties such as fatigue or strife, time, or loss of Supply . No experience is gained.

Failure. A bad decision or action, a group check in which half or less of the party succeed, or a single check which results in a failure. This often results in penalties such as loss of Supply or time. No experience is gained.

Success. An appropriate solution, a group check in which more than half the party succeed, or a single check which results in a success. The party gains experience equal to half the exploration challenge’s CR.

Critical Success. An optimal solution, a group check in which the whole party succeeds, or a single check which results in a critical success. The party gains experience equal to the exploration challenge’s CR, and often a boon or discovery.

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Group Checks

Group checks take place when the entire party is engaged in a single task. In a group check, every player makes an ability check. If more than half of the group succeeds in their check, the group as a whole succeeds. If half or less of the group succeed, the group as a whole fails.

When an exploration challenge mentions a group check, the Narrator should allow adventurers to use different skills or abilities where appropriate. Not all adventurers have to make the same check, as long as each is contributing in some way.

Group Criticals. A critical success is achieved when all members of the party succeed in their checks, while a critical failure takes place if all members of the party fail.

Sometimes hitting things takes a back seat. Exploration is far more than just travel or filler between encounters, or a way for Narrator and adventurers to use their skills and develop creative problem solving—it is the inclusion of the world as a character that is dynamic and influential. More than a pretty backdrop, the environment can be a significant element in storytelling and exploration makes it an eminent part of the game. 

Familiarity

Every player can relate to the weather in their hometown and we all feel sympathy for those who are beset by inclement weather in places around the world. Narrators can use relatable conditions to enhance roleplay, making a group feel a greater sense of realism and investment in the setting. 

Foreshadowing

While surprises can be exciting, they might also feel like punishment. Instead the Narrator should use the environment to leave clues for adventurers, placing obstacles and challenges in the setting as needed for the campaign. For example, dark clouds on the horizon might presage torrential rain, high winds, and lightning strikes. Rapidly dropping temperatures are a warning of coming snowfall, frostbite, and freezing rain.

Memorable Locations

Using unique locations to have confrontations and explore the setting can leave an indelible mark on a campaign—a boring conflict changes if the location is dynamic. A bell tower, cliffside nest, cloud city, massive foundry, frozen lake, or expanse of black sand all make for strange locations, especially if battle begins and the environment has significant effects on the combat.

New Solutions

When the adventurers and enemies clash, the environment can create a new goal, a focal point in which damage dealing isn’t the best course of action. Another swing of a sword or blast of eldritch energy may not be the best choice if the chamber is flooding, a ceiling is collapsing, or a wall of water sweeps over the docks. 

Tension

Many groups fall into the trap of ‘analysis paralysis’, overthinking and underacting, but the dangers posed by the environment can escalate to force adventurers into action! For example, flooding, mudslides, snowstorms, and hurricanes could all be mitigated if the PCs push forward. Angry mobs, gathering patrols, burning buildings, and collapsing structures are also escalating dangers the party may want to escape. Even classic dungeon traps like tilting floors, flooding chambers, and portals disgorging hungry beasts can build tension—if the party does not move, the environment might move them instead.

Use and Abuse the Environment

You want to knock an opponent over, but where? How about over a balcony, into a pool of acid, down a muddy hill, or sliding across that frozen lake. A character could kill a single ogre in one strike, while an ally could be more effective by causing a landslide that crushes a dozen ogres—and an enemy could do the same. Both the adversaries and the adventurers should take advantage of their surroundings. 

Winning At Exploration

When the environment plays its full part as the third entity in the triangle of conflict, winning means more than dealing damage. 

A to B. The adventurers must get across a dangerous region. Crossing a raging river, frozen lake, crumbling cliff, narrow rope bridge, or getting to high ground become just as important as dodging a foe’s blade. Fighting enemies may be involved but the goal is to get from origin to destination, not stay and fight.

Close the Gate. This is a catchall for sealing an entry, be that a door, magical portal, or an actual gate holding back a dire threat (for example monsters, flood waters, or gallons of slime). The solution might require brute force—moving a boulder, slamming a door shut, or sliding a giant stone cube—or a specific key such as reading a ritual, grasping magic rods, or disabling chanting cultists.

Survive. Sometimes it’s just a matter of taking the hits. The environment can unleash brutal onslaughts upon both body and mind, offering no alternative but to hunker down and wait out the storm (literally or figuratively). 

Win the Race. An enemy may want to get to a location before the adventurers and the game’s eminent challenge becomes rapidly crossing a region, avoiding delays, and getting to the goal first. Examples include getting onto a rising drawbridge, rolling beneath a lowering portcullis, catching a drifting boat leaving shore, the first to snatch a magic item, finding shelter from a storm, or reclaiming panicked mounts before they disappear into the wilderness. 

Feats are powerful abilities that transcend class features, granting your character extraordinary abilities. Narratively, feats may result from raw talent, divine imbuement, magical modification, extensive training, or the awakening of memories from a past life, but the mechanical benefits are identical. You may opt to take a feat in lieu of an attribute bonus whenever your class offers you one. Unless specifically stated, each feat may only be taken once. To select a feat, you must meet the requirements listed in the description. If for some reason you no longer meet a feat’s requirements, you lose access to the feat and any abilities it grants until you meet the requirement again.

• Multiclassing | Feats | Synergy Feats

Pursuing more than one class can sometimes open up new opportunities and strategies, or expose an adventurer to something that permanently changes them. At certain levels every class gives you the Ability Score Improvement feature and adventurers with certain class combinations may optionally choose unique Synergy Feats in place of their Ability Score Increases if they meet certain prerequisites. Most synergy feats require class levels in specific classes, or have other synergy feats as prerequisites forming small synergy feat trees. You can take each feat only once, unless the feat’s description says otherwise.

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Bladechanter

Prerequisites: 3 levels in fighter, 3 levels in wizard, Fighting Style (Two-Weapon Fighting)

Bladechanting is the art of unifying and maintaining intense physical and intellectual strains, allowing movement and thought to become one as a beautiful and deadly dance of blades.

If you wield a melee weapon in each hand, you may use them to perform seen spell components and as a spellcasting focus for wizard spells. In addition, whenever you are concentrating on a spell while using melee weapons as a spellcasting focus in this way, you enter a special trance-like state called bladechanting. If you lose concentration on your spell while bladechanting, you also stop bladechanting. While bladechanting you gain the following benefits:

• While you are wearing no armor, light armor, or medium armor,  you gain a bonus to your Armor Class equal to your Intelligence modifier.
• Whenever you would need to make a concentration check to maintain a spell due to taking damage, you may spend 2 exertion to automatically succeed.
• When you hit a target with a melee weapon attack, you can use your reaction and choose a spell of 1st-level or higher, casting it through your weapon. The spell must have a casting time of 1 action, and target a single creature or have a range of Touch. If a spell cast in this way requires an attack roll and targets the same target as the triggering melee weapon attack, it also hits as part of that attack. You may choose not to deal damage with a melee weapon attack used to cast a spell.

Whirling Incantor

Prerequisites: Bladechanter feat

You train to move by thought and incant with your body’s flowing motion, becoming nearly unassailable as you whirl and dance, escaping fatal blows and seamlessly blending the lines between mind and body. While bladechanting you gain the following additional benefits:

• Your Speed increases by 10 feet.
• You gain a bonus to Dexterity checks and saving throws equal to your Intelligence modifier.
• You gain a bonus to Intelligence checks and saving throws equal to your Dexterity modifier.
• When you are targeted by an attack but before the attack is rolled, you may expend a spell slot to attempt a whirling arcane evasion. If you do, make a Dexterity saving throw and add a +2 bonus for every spell slot level above 1st spent this way. If this Dexterity saving throw exceeds the triggering attack roll the attack becomes a miss, and you may immediately move up to 10 feet in any direction. This movement does not provoke opportunity attacks .

Eldritch Whirlwind Master

Prerequisites: Whirling Incantor feat

With a blade’s sweep you pull and spin the arcane power, surrounding yourself in a cyclone of arcane energy as your spell's power tries to match the speed of your sword.

Whenever you use your reaction to cast a spell through a melee weapon attack using bladechanting, you may choose up to a number of additional targets for that spell equal to the spell level of the spell slot used to cast it. These additional targets must all be within 10 feet of you and are each treated as if they were the spell’s original target.

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Eldritch Archer

Prerequisites: 3 levels in fighter, 3 levels in wizard, Fighting Style (Archery)

Eldritch archers combine the precision and skill of a fighter with the magical dedication of a wizard to perform otherwise impossible feats of archery and spellcasting. You gain the following benefits:

• Whenever you make a ranged weapon attack you can choose to conjure magical ammunition and select one of the following damage types: acid, cold, fire, or lightning. Your ranged weapon attacks using this conjured ammunition deal the chosen damage type instead of whatever damage type they would normally deal, and are considered magical for the purpose of overcoming resistance and immunity to nonmagical attacks and damage. Ammunition conjured in this way disappears at the end of the turn it was fired. 
• When you hit a target with a ranged weapon attack, you can use your reaction and choose a spell of 1st-level or higher, casting it through your ammunition. The spell must have a casting time of 1 action, and target a single creature or have a range of Touch. If a spell cast in this way requires an attack roll and targets the same target as the triggering ranged weapon attack, it also hits as part of that attack. You may choose not to deal damage with a ranged weapon attack used to cast a spell.

Arrow Enchanter

Prerequisites: Eldritch Archer feat

Skilled eldritch archers can subvert their arcane power to enchant the conjured arrows with rings of eldritch symbols and energy that form around their weapons as they fire. 

Whenever you make a ranged weapon attack, you may choose to expend a 1st-level spell slot or higher to enhance the attack to be empowered or unerring. You cannot enhance more than one attack in a turn in this way.

Empowered. An empowered shot deals an additional 2d6 force damage, and an additional 1d6 force damage for each spell slot level above 1st. 

Unerring. An unerring shot gains a +2 bonus to the attack roll, and an additional +2 bonus for each spell slot level above 1st.

Eldritch Volley Master

Prerequisites: Arrow Enchanter feat

With the string drawn taught, your rings of eldritch symbols form arrows of pure magic able to assail a whole platoon at once.

Whenever you cast a spell with a Cone area, you may additionally make ranged weapon attacks with a ranged weapon you are wielding against targets within that conical area. You may make up to a number of attacks equal to the level of the spell cast, each against a different target. Ranged attacks made in this way ignore the loading quality of weapons and use your conjured magical ammunition.

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Mystic Arcanist

Prerequisites: 3 levels in cleric, 3 levels in sorcerer

The arcane and the divine are but two aspects of the same power seen through different lenses, and those with arcane blood running through their veins and divine words chanted in their ears can access magic in its purest form. You gain the following benefits:

• Your Wisdom or Charisma score increases by 1, to a maximum of 20.
• When you cast a spell that restores hit points, you restore an additional number of hit points equal to your Charisma modifier.
• You can spend sorcery points to temporarily gain a spell from the cleric or sorcerer spell lists. Temporarily gaining a spell in this way costs a number of sorcery points equal to the spell’s level. You cannot gain a spell in this way that has a level higher than your highest level spell slot. When you gain a cleric spell in this way, it is considered prepared for the day. When you gain a sorcerer spell in this way, it is considered a spell you know for the day. You lose all spells gained in this way whenever you finish a long rest . 

Pure Arcanist

Prerequisites: Mystic Arcanist feat

As a mystic arcanist studies and meditates, they come closer and closer to an understanding of the pure magic from which all other arcanum stems. You gain the following special manifestations:

Divine (Radiant). When you cast a spell that deals radiant damage, you can spend 1 sorcery point and choose one creature you can see within 60 feet. That creature regains a number of hit points equal to 1d8 × the spell’s level.

Pure Arcanum (Force). When you cast a spell that deals force damage, you can spend 2 sorcery points and choose one creature you can see. After the spell’s damage is resolved, if the creature was damaged by the spell it makes an Intelligence saving throw or becomes stunned until the end of its next turn.  

Arcanum Master

Prerequisites: Pure Arcanist feat

With a wellspring of magic flowing from their veins and a divine understanding of all magic, the mystic arcanist can reorder magic to suit their will. Whenever you cast a spell that deals damage, you may choose the type of damage that spell deals and the appearance of the spell’s effects. For example, scorching rays made to deal cold damage might look like icicle spears, a fireball that deals radiant damage may appear to be an explosive host of warrior angels, and a lightning bolt that deals psychic damage may be a strange color or accompanied by unnatural howls. 

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Newblood

Prerequisites: Must have been bitten by a vampire or taken necrotic damage equal to quadruple your level from a single attack or spell

You have been corrupted with vampirism from exposure to dark forces that unlocked an ancient and unknown power within your blood, or because a vampire has bitten you. In either case your affliction makes you more than mortal, and yet somehow less.

You gain resistance to necrotic damage (or if you already have it, immunity to necrotic damage) and darkvision to a range of 30 feet (or if you already have it, the range of your darkvision increases by 30 feet). You also gain a bite natural weapon and the Charming Gaze feature.

Bite. You gain a bite natural weapon you are proficient with. You are only able to bite grappled, incapacitated, restrained, or willing creatures. On a hit your bite deals piercing damage equal to 1d6 plus your Strength modifier or Dexterity modifier (whichever is highest). You can use Dexterity instead of Strength for the attack rolls of your bite. In addition, once per turn you can choose for your bite to also deal 1d6 necrotic damage × your proficiency bonus. You regain hit points equal to the amount of necrotic damage dealt to your target. This necrotic damage can only be increased by a critical hit. 

Charming Gaze. You magically target a creature within 30 feet, forcing it to make a Wisdom saving throw (DC 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Charisma modifier). On a failure, the target is charmed by you for a number of hours equal to your proficiency bonus. While charmed it regards you as a trusted friend and is a willing target for your bite. The target repeats the saving throw each time it takes damage, ending the effect on itself on a success. If the target’s saving throw is successful or the effect ends for it, it is immune to your charm for 24 hours. Once you have used this feature, you can’t do so again until you finish a long rest.

This dark gift comes with a price however, making you averse to sunlight. You have disadvantage on attack rolls and on Perception checks that rely on sight when you, the target of your attack, or whatever you are trying to perceive is in direct sunlight. In addition, you cannot use your Charming Gaze while you are in direct sunlight. 

Vampire Spawn

Prerequisites: Newblood

You have embraced your vampirism, unlocking ever more and greater dark gifts. Your bite damage increases to 1d8, a creature affected by your Charming Gaze remains charmed for a number of hours equal to your level, and you regain the use of Charming Gaze when you finish a short or long rest. 

You also gain the Spider Climb and Vampiric Regeneration features.

Spider Climb. You gain a climb speed equal to your Speed, and you can climb even on difficult surfaces and upside down on ceilings.

Vampiric Regeneration. Whenever you start your turn with at least 1 hit point and you haven't taken radiant damage or entered direct sunlight since the end of your last turn, you gain a number of temporary hit points equal to twice your proficiency bonus.

The price for your vampirism becomes all the greater. When you end your turn in contact with running water, you take 20 radiant damage.

Vampire Lord

Prerequisites: Vampire Spawn

It is uncertain where the darkness ends and you begin as you fully embrace vampirism—everything it offers and all that it takes away. You gain the following benefits:

• Your Speed increases by 10 feet.
• You gain an expertise die on Stealth checks.
• The range of your darkvision increases to 120 feet.
• Your bite damage increases to 1d10.
• You can use Charming Gaze twice between rests.
• When using Charming Gaze, a target with at least one level of strife makes its saving throw with disadvantage . 

  You also gain the Vampiric Shapechange feature.

Vampiric Shapechange. You can use an action to transform into the shape of a Medium or smaller beast of CR 3 or less, a mist, or back into your true form.

While transformed into a beast, you have the beast’s size and movement modes. You can’t use reactions or speak. Otherwise, you use your statistics. Any items you are carrying transform with you.

While transformed into a mist, you have a flying speed of 30 feet, can’t speak, can’t take actions or manipulate objects, are immune to nonmagical damage from weapons, and have advantage on saving throws and Stealth checks. You can pass through a space as narrow as 1 inch without squeezing but can’t pass through water. Any items you are carrying transform with you.

  All of these changes to your body have utterly deprived you of your mortality. You gain the undead type in addition to being a humanoid, and you take 20 radiant damage when you end your turn in contact with sunlight.

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Nightstalker

Prerequisites: 3 levels in adept, 3 levels in rogue

Nightstalkers are dedicated spies, saboteurs, and assassins, trained in ancient techniques that strain the limits of physical ability and verge on the supernatural. You gain the following benefits:

• Your Dexterity or Wisdom score increases by 1, to a maximum of 20.
• You may deal Sneak Attack damage when making attacks using unarmed strikes or adept weapons. 
• You gain a bonus equal to your Wisdom modifier on Acrobatics, Deception, and Stealth checks.

  In addition, you gain the following special focus feature:

Twilight Vanish

Nightstalkers can move with such swiftness that it takes a trained eye to see the motion at all. On your turn you can use a reaction and spend 2 exertion to move up to 30 feet with such incredible speed that you seem to disappear, and after moving this way may immediately take the Hide action.

Subtly Skilled

Prerequisites: Nightstalker feat

A nightstalker’s true strength isn’t brute force—you are an infiltrator, deceiver, a voice in the right ear or a knife to the right neck, and you turn your physical and mental discipline into the subtlest of manipulations and subterfuge. 

You may add your martial arts die as a bonus to Acrobatics, Culture, Deception, Engineering, Intimidation, Investigation, Sleight of Hand, Stealth, Perception, Performance, and Persuasion checks.   

Night Master

Prerequisites: Subtly Skilled feat

As an experienced nightstalker you have learned complicated and fiercely guarded traditions that channel your mental energy through demanding techniques which unlock magic by manipulating the physical world.

You can spend exertion to cast any spells from the air, earth, fear, fire, movement, obscurement, plants, poison, senses, shadow, transformation, unarmed, or water schools at the cost of 2 exertion per spell level. You use your focus save DC for spells cast this way, and your spell attack modifier is equal to your proficiency bonus + your Wisdom modifier.

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Proclaimer

Prerequisites: 3 levels in bard, 3 levels in herald

Proclaimers are more than devoted to their faith, they are the oracles, the orators, the divine mouthpieces shouting to the masses with booming voices, convincing words, and eyes clouded with holy truth. 

You gain the following benefits:

• You are gifted with a divine sight of the near-future. Whenever the Narrator calls for you to roll for initiative, you may activate a use of your Divine Sense feature to warn yourself and up to a number of creatures equal to your Charisma modifier within 30 feet, granting advantage on the initiative check.
• Your word is holy, and you may use your voice Art Specialty to cast herald spells.
• You may spend exertion to cast spells from the divination school that you know at a cost of 1 exertion per spell level.
• When you gain this feat, you gain one of the following alignment traits: Chaotic, Evil, Good, or Lawful. Once chosen your alignment trait cannot be changed, but you can gain a second alignment trait that is not opposed.

Divine Orator

Prerequisites: Proclaimer feat

Proclaimers can use their oration skills to spread their version of ultimate truth into even the most stubborn of acolytes.

You learn the Divine Inspiration and Persuasive Speech battle hymns. These special battle hymns can only be performed while you are using your voice Art Specialty as a spell focus.

Divine Inspiration. When an ally within 15 feet hits a creature with a melee weapon attack, your ally can deliver a Divine Smite just as if you had delivered it yourself using your Divine Smite feature (expending one of your uses). If you are able to empower your smites, you may choose to empower it as normal.

Persuasive Speech. Hostile creatures within 60 feet take a –1d4 penalty on attack rolls. You can sustain this battle hymn for up to 3 rounds without expending additional uses of Bardic Inspiration. When a hostile creature begins its third consecutive turn within range of this battle hymn it becomes charmed by you and will not attack you or your allies. If this causes combat to end early, the creatures remain charmed by you for up to 1 minute afterward or until one of them is damaged by you or an ally. For the next 24 hours after the battle hymn ends, you gain an expertise die on Charisma checks made against creatures that were charmed in this way. A creature that either shares your alignment or worships a deity that has your alignment becomes charmed on its second consecutive turn instead. Creatures that have an opposite alignment or worship a greater entity that has an opposite alignment cannot be charmed in this way.
 

Harbinger of Things to Come

Prerequisites: Divine Orator feat

Your visions of the future are unclear, but by your word these omens can mean hope or despair.

You learn the Preach Despair and Preach Hope battle hymns. These special battle hymns can only be performed while you are using your voice Art Specialty as a spell focus.

Preach Despair. A hostile creature within 60 feet of you suffers a level of strife. Creatures with an opposite alignment from yours or that worship a greater entity that has an opposite alignment suffer two levels of strife instead. A creature cannot suffer more than two levels of strife from Preach Despair in the same 24 hours.

Preach Hope. Ally creatures within 60 feet gain advantage on saving throws . When the battle hymn ends, allies within 30 feet of you remove one level of strife. An ally that shares your alignment or worships a greater entity removes two levels of strife instead.

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Shadowdancer

Prerequisites: 3 levels in rogue, 3 levels in warlock

Those that steal gold and those that steal power from the otherworldly must both walk among the shadows. The darkness consumes some, the light catches others, but some special few manage to slip through and like them you dance unseen along reality’s edge.     

  You gain the following benefits:

• You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. Unlike other forms of darkvision you can see color in this way as if you were seeing normally. If you already had darkvision or would gain it later from another feature, its range increases by 30 feet.
• You can use a bonus action and spend 1 spell point to teleport up to 30 feet to an unoccupied area of darkness or dim light you can see. You must currently be in an area of darkness or dim light to teleport in this way. You can bring along objects if their weight doesn’t exceed what you can carry. You can also bring one willing creature of your size or smaller, provided it isn’t carrying gear beyond its carrying capacity and is within 5 feet. You can increase the range of this teleport by 30 additional feet per each additional spell point you spend.

Shadowmancer

Prerequisites: Shadowdancer feat

Those lost dancing in the dark eventually find comfort in those in between places, and learn the baffling shades and colors that light has never touched. You gain the following benefits:

• You regain 1 spell point whenever you cast a spell from the shadow school. 
• You gain a Stealth skill specialty for hiding while in areas of darkness or dim light, and you have advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks made to hide while in areas of darkness or dim light.
• Whenever you use your Shadowdancer ability to teleport, after teleporting you can use your reaction to take the Dodge action.

Shadow Assassin

Prerequisites: Shadowmancer feat

Inevitably, all shadowdancers learn that the dark’s only noble purpose is to snuff out the light. While you are hidden from a target and are in an area of darkness or dim light, you may apply your Sneak Attack damage to an eldritch blast.

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Untamed

Prerequisites: 3 levels in berserker, 3 levels in druid (Skinchanger archetype)

The untamed harness the berserker’s rage while in the wild shapes of the druid, combining a mortal’s blind fury with nature’s infinite unbridled wrath. You gain the following benefits:

• Your Strength or Wisdom score increases by 1, to a maximum of 20.
• You may enter a rage and assume a wild shape using the same bonus action.
• Any temporary hit points you gain from assuming a wild shape while raging become rage hit points instead.
• You may cast and concentrate on druid spells with a range of Self or Touch while raging.
• While using a wild shape, you can use Furious Critical with attacks made using natural weapons.

Living Stampede

Prerequisites: Untamed feat

The untamed have a connection with nature and the very world itself can feel the heat of their fury. Whenever you enter a rage you may choose up to a number of creatures equal to your Wisdom modifier within 60 feet that are beasts, fey, or plants. These chosen creatures gain the following benefits for as long as you rage, but are unable to take the Fall Back reaction: 

• Advantage on Strength checks and Strength saving throws.
• Resistance to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage.
• Temporary hit points equal to your level.
• A bonus to damage rolls equal to your proficiency bonus.

Wild Rioter

Prerequisites: Living Stampede feat

Your wrath bursts the dams of even your connection with nature, outpouring from you and your stampede like a plague of fury.

While raging, you and any creatures benefiting from your Living Stampede emit 5-foot auras of fury. When a creature other than you or your allies enters a fury aura or starts its turn there it makes a Wisdom saving throw against your druid spell save DC. On a failed save, a creature becomes confused, except instead of rolling to determine their actions as normal for the confused condition, they are always considered to have rolled the 7 or 8 result. At the end of each of a confused creature’s turns it repeats the saving throw, ending the effect on itself on a success. Once a creature successfully saves against this effect, it is immune to it for the remainder of your rage. 

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Vendetta

Something or someone has had a profound impact on your life—and earned your unending rancor. You are utterly dedicated to defeating the source of your vendetta, often an organization like a thieves’ guild, the minions of a dreadful foe like a dragon or lich, or the army of a powerful ruler like a tyrant king. You gain an expertise die on attack rolls and initiative checks made against creatures that are part of your vendetta, and when making a saving throw to resist an attack, feature, maneuver, spell, or trait from a creature that is part of your vendetta. Whether or not a creature is part of your vendetta is at the Narrator’s discretion.

Revenant

Prerequisites: Vendetta, one other feat or previous Ability Score Increase, dead

You may choose to select this feat when you die, replacing your most recently chosen feat other than Vendetta or reducing your ability scores to reverse your last Ability Score Increase. The next midnight your corpse rises and your soul returns to it. You gain the undead type in addition to being a humanoid, as well as the following benefits:

• Your destiny changes to Revenge.
• You gain resistance to necrotic and psychic damage.
• You gain darkvision to a range of 60 feet (or if you already have it, its range increases by 30 feet).
• You become immune to poison damage and the poisoned condition.
• If your vendetta has not ended, you regain all of your hit points when you finish a short rest or 1 hour after you are reduced to 0 hit points.
• You gain an expertise die on saving throws made against spells and other magical effects, and on saving throws made to resist being charmed , fatigued , frightened , paralyzed , or stunned .
• You gain an expertise die on ability checks made to find or track a creature that is part of your vendetta.

True Revenant

Prerequisites: Revenant

Even though it has carried you beyond the mortal pale and back again, your mission has become do or die as you exchange the last vestiges of your soul for more power so that you can finally destroy your foes. One year and one day after you select this feat or when your vendetta has ended, you are doomed. Until then, you gain the following benefits:

• You cannot be charmed , fatigued , frightened , paralyzed , or stunned .
• You have advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
• You regain all of your hit points after you do not take any damage for 1 minute.

  In addition, you also gain the Fearsome Pursuit and Burning Hatred features.

Fearsome Pursuit. You can spend 1 minute focusing on a creature that is part of your vendetta. If the creature is dead or on another plane of existence, you learn that. Otherwise, after focusing, you know the distance and direction to that creature, and so long as you’re moving in pursuit of that creature, you and anyone traveling with you ignore difficult terrain. This effect ends if you take damage or end your turn without moving for any reason.

Burning Hatred. You can use an action to target the focus of your Fearsome Pursuit if it is within 30 feet. The creature makes a Wisdom saving throw (DC 8 + your proficiency bonus + your highest mental ability score modifier). On a failure, it takes psychic damage equal to 1d6 × your proficiency bonus and is stunned until the end of its next turn. On a success, it takes half damage and is rattled until the end of its next turn. Once you have used this feature a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, you can’t use it again until you finish a long rest.

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Vigilante

Prerequisites: 3 levels in adept, 3 levels in ranger (as of Gate Pass Gazette #0, either of these can be substituted for 3 levels in Artificer).

A vigilante may operate inside civilization but outside the law, combining survival techniques and highly trained physical prowess to enforce their own justice from behind the anonymity and fearsome authority of a mask.

You gain the following benefits:    

• Your Wisdom or Dexterity score increases by 1, to a maximum of 20.
• You have an alter ego, an identity associated with a costume or disguise. This alter ego can be as complicated as a full outfit with a history or legends surrounding it or a simple mask or cowl. You can assume or remove this alter ego as an action and it can be worn with all types of armor.
• You gain a 1d8 expertise die and advantage on Deception checks made regarding your alter ego, Persuasion checks made to dissuade others from connecting you to your alter ego, and on disguise kit checks.
• Your alter ego has its own Prestige rating that may increase or decrease as you perform deeds while in your alter ego. In addition, while in your alter ego you gain a 1d8 expertise die on Prestige checks.
• While in your alter ego, you may make a Prestige check and use that result in place of any Intimidation or Persuasion check you would otherwise make.

Equipped for Justice

Prerequisites: Vigilante feat

A vigilante is prepared for anything, and in your hands common pieces of equipment become tools of your unique brand of justice.

You gain the following benefits:

• You gain proficiency with all types of artisan’s tools and miscellaneous tools. If you already have proficiency with any of these tools, you instead gain an expertise die with those tools.
• You gain proficiency with Engineering and a 1d8 expertise die on Engineering checks. In addition, you build a nonmagical grappling gun that only functions in your hands. Replacing your grappling gun requires 3 days of crafting and 500 gold.
• You may add your Wisdom modifier to the DC of any saving throws used for miscellaneous adventuring gear items and to attack rolls made using miscellaneous adventuring gear items.

A Symbol That Strikes Fear

Prerequisites: Equipped for Justice feat

All vigilantes eventually become symbols, and you are a legend that strikes fear into the hearts of those that would stand against you. Creatures with a CR lower than your alter ego’s Prestige rating are frightened of you while you are in your alter ego.

In addition, you become particularly adept at subduing your enemies rather than outright killing them. Whenever you begin a turn grappling a creature, you can attempt to non-lethally subdue it. The grappled creature makes a Constitution saving throw against your maneuver DC. On a failed saving throw, a creature is knocked unconscious for the next hour. A creature with more than 25% of its maximum hit points automatically succeeds on this saving throw.