What is Downtime?
Downtime is the period of time—ranging from a few days to several months—that passes between major adventures, quests, or dungeon crawls.
It’s essentially your chance to play your character’s life when they are NOT actively saving the world.
Think of it as a montage sequence where you get to decide what your hero does during their “off-hours.” This is your opportunity to step away from combat and focus on personal goals, preparation, and integration with the game world.
Why Downtime Matters
1. Character Development
Downtime is where your character can stop being a hero and start being a person. Did your fighter lose his favorite sword? He can forge a new one. Did your wizard spend a month studying a forgotten library? She can gain a deeper understanding of the world. It’s the perfect time to explore your character’s hobbies, flaws, and personal relationships.
2. Preparation
This is when you prepare for the next threat. You can restock on critical supplies, craft new gear, train new skills, or recruit followers.
3. World Connection
Downtime allows you to interact with the non-adventure parts of the setting. By spending time in a town or city, you can establish a home base, join a local guild, make valuable contacts, or discover local secrets that could turn into future quests.
How to Play Downtime: The 3-Step Process
Don’t wait for the Dungeon Master (DM) to tell you what to do. Be proactive! Follow these steps when your DM announces a period of downtime:
Step 1: State Your Intent and Time
Decide what you want to do and how long you want to dedicate to the task. Downtime is usually measured in days or workweeks (7 days).
Example: “I want to spend two workweeks teaching myself the basics of Alchemy.”
Step 2: Choose an Activity and Resources
The Player’s Handbook and your DM allow for several standard activities (like Training, Crafting, and Researching), but the best downtime comes from custom goals you set for yourself.
Ask yourself: “What does my character need, and how can they get it?”
| Category | Examples | Resources / Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Personal Growth | Gain proficiency in a language or tool; Learn a new feat (if allowed by DM); Deep meditation/spiritual focus. | Gold cost; Finding a suitable teacher; A quiet, safe place. |
| Preparation | Crafting an uncommon magic item; Brewing specialized potions; Building a small safe house; Securing a reliable warhorse. | Materials cost; Proficiency with the relevant tool (e.g., Smith’s Tools). |
| Social / Influence | Joining a Thieves’ Guild; Securing an audience with a Baron; Repairing a relationship with a contact; Spreading rumors about a rival. | Time spent networking; Bribes or gifts; Charisma skill checks. |
| Financial | Practicing a trade or profession (like farming, scribing, or performing) to earn money; Investing in a business. | Relevant tool/skill proficiency; Start-up capital. |
Step 3: Roll the Dice and Resolve
Once you tell the DM your plan, they will tell you the required Check (e.g., Intelligence (Investigation) or Wisdom (Survival)) and the Difficulty Class (DC).
The Roll
You will typically make a single roll to determine the outcome of your entire downtime period. You’re DM can also decide to use the Auto-Success Threshold, that takes into account the skills and abilities of characters before they roll.
| Roll Result | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Critical Success (Success by 5 or more) | You achieve your goal and gain an unexpected bonus, like doing it faster, spending less money, or gaining a valuable bonus contact. |
| Success | You achieve your goal! You might gain the proficiency, the item, or the information you sought. |
| Failure | You waste the time and money, and your goal is not achieved. |
| Critical Failure (Failure by 5 or more) | You fail and incur a Complication. This is the fun part! You might make an enemy, get arrested, or lose something important. |
Player Pro Tip: Embrace Complications!
Don’t be afraid to fail. A Complication is often more interesting than a simple success. If you try to join the local thieves’ guild and fail badly, you might end up owing money to a minor crime lord. This creates a fantastic new mini-quest for your character to solve before the main adventure begins!
Example Downtime Request
Instead of: “I rest for two weeks.”
Try:
“I am spending two workweeks in the city. I want to use my Brewer’s Supplies proficiency to try and secure a deal with a local tavern owner. My goal is to use the Practicing a Profession rules to earn money for the next adventure, while also trying to Gather Information about the missing librarian who was last seen near the docks.”
This gives the DM two clear downtime tasks that require specific checks, money, and time, making the process much more engaging.
