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UnearthedArcana:IntotheWild

This Is Unofficial Material

The material here is presented for playtesting and to

spark your imagination. These game mechanics are in

draft form, usable in your campaign but not refined by

final game design and editing. They aren’t officially part

of the game and aren’t permitted in D&D Adventurers

League events.

If we decide to make this material official, it will be

refined based on your feedback, and then it will appear

in a D&D book.

Therulesforwildernesstravelinchapter5of
theDungeonMaster’sGuideandchapter8ofthe
Player’sHandbookallowaDMtotrackaparty’s
progressforeachhouroftravel.Thoserules

worksimilarlytotherulesfordungeon
navigation,inthattheplayerspickadirection
andstrikeoffinsearchofadventure,adjusting

theirpathastheygo.
WhatInoticedinmyowncampaigns,though,
wasthatplayerstendedtofocusprimarilyon
theirdestinationinwildernesstravel.Ina

dungeon,playersthinkintermsofopeningthe
doortotheeast,orinvestigatingthepassageto
thenorth.Theirchoicesaretacticalinnature,
andbasedontheimmediateenvironment.

Adventurersmightbeseekingalostshrineina
dungeon,butthedecisionstheymakealongthe
wayareallimportantandinteresting.
Inthewilderness,mostsituationsallowthe

characterstotravelinanydirectiontheychoose.
Theirchoicesarecircumstantialratherthan
tactical.Sowhenthecharactersdecidetoseek

outaruinedtempleintheforest,thechoices
theymakealongthewaymatterlessthanthat
initialbig-picturedecision.
Thefollowingapproachtowilderness

explorationandtravelprovidesanewoverlay
fortheexistingrulesfromtheDungeonMaster’s
GuideandthePlayer’sHandbook.They’rebuilt
aroundtheideathattheplayershaveaspecific

destinationinmindasthepartysetsoutforthe
day.Theyalsorequirethatyoutakeanew
approachtodesigningthewildernessregionsof
yourcampaignasaDM.

ResolvingTravel

Theseoptionalrulesbreakoverlandtraveldown
intofourdifferentphases.

Wilderness Travel Phases

Choose destination

Choose activities

Resolve activities and travel

Camp

ChooseDestination

Beforethepartybeginstravelingfortheday,the
playersmustchooseadestination.Adestination
canbeaplacethepartycanreachthatsameday,

oronethatrequiresseveraldaysoftravel.
Ifthecharacterswanttowanderanarea
withoutaspecificdestination,usethestandard
rulesforwildernesstravelandexplorationfrom

theDungeonMaster’sGuideandthePlayer’s
Handbookastheyventureacrossyourmap.

NavigationDC

Theserulesintroduceanewconceptcalledthe
navigationDC.Somedestinationscanbefound

automatically,butothershaveaDCthat
measuresthedifficultyoffindingapathtoreach
them.TheNavigationDCtableprovidessome

examples.
Somelocationsmightbedifficultoreven
impossibletofindwithoutthecharactersfirst
meetingaspecificprerequisite.Reachingan

invisibletowerfloatingintheairmightrequirea
specialmagicitemthatleadsthecharacterstoit.
Orifamundanelocationishiddenwithinathick
mistthatfillsavalley,characterswhofindaway

todispersethemistcanlowerthenavigationDC
forthatlocationsignificantly.

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Navigation DCs

DC

Description

None Destination has a clear road, trail, or well-

marked path leading to it

10

Destination lacks a path but is in open terrain

15

Destination lacks a path but is in dense terrain

such as forest or mountains

20

Destination is hidden, with active efforts made

to conceal its existence through mundane

means

25

Destination is hidden using illusions or other

magic

30

Destination is hidden using powerful magic,

such as a regional effect that causes a forest’s

trees to slowly shift and force characters onto

the wrong path

ChooseActivities

Eachplayerundertakesanactivitywhile
traveling,choosingfromamongtheoptions

offeredinchapter8ofthePlayer’sHandbook—
butwithonemodification.Inanycasewherethe
destinationhasanavigationDC,atleastone
charactermustchoosetonavigateinorderto
givethepartyachancetoreachitsdestination.

ResolveActivitiesandTravel

Usingtheserules,asinglesetofabilitychecks
forthecharacters’activitiesresolvesafullday’s

worthoftravel.TheactivitiesfromthePlayer’s
Handbookfunctionasdescribed,withthe
followingexceptions.

Navigation

Iftheparty’sdestinationhasanavigationDC,

onecharactermustmakeaWisdom(Survival)
checkagainstthatDC,applyingnormalmodifiers
fortheparty’stravelpaceandotherfactors.
Withasuccessfulcheck,thecharactersmake

progresstowardtheirdestination,perhapseven
reachingitiftheymovequicklyenough.Ifthe
checkfails,orifnocharactermakesacheck
whenthedestinationhasanavigationDC,the
partybecomeslost.

BecomingLost

Ifthepartybecomeslost,thecharactersendthe
dayatthewronglocation.RollontheBecoming

Losttabletodeterminewherethecharacters

endup.Ifaresultwouldbeimpossible—suchas
requiringthecharacterstotravelfartherthan
theycaninaday—justpickapointbetweenthe
characters’startingpointandtheirintended
finallocationthatrepresentsoneday’stravel.

Becoming Lost

d6

Result

1–4

2d6 miles in a random direction from

destination

5–6

After traveling in circles, end 1d6 miles in a

random direction from starting point

RandomEncounters

Whiletravelingusingtheserules,usethenormal
guidelinesforrandomencountersfoundinthe
DungeonMaster’sGuide.Asanoptionalrulefor
whenthecharactersarelost,rolltwiceforeach

randomencounterchecktoreflectthatthe
charactersmightblunderintoamonsterlairor
otherunusualthreat.

Travel

Afterdeterminingifagroupbecomeslostorhas
arandomencounter,checkyourmapto
determinethecharacters’routeduringtheday.
Fromtheirstartinglocation,trackhowfarthey

traveltowardtheirdestination.Narrateany
changesinterrainoranyspeciallocationsthe
charactersfindalongtheway,resolving
encountersasneeded.

DescribingtheWilds

Inthesamewaythatamapandanencounter
keydescribeadungeon,thewildernesscanbe
summarizedwithahexmapandacollectionof
interestingfeatures.

MappingtheWilderness

Theguidancegivenforwildernessmappingin
theDungeonMaster’sGuideappliestotheserules,
withonepotentialexception.It’sagoodideato
mapoutanareathatapartycancoverinaday

ortwooftravel,toallowyourdesigntobringout
thedetailsthatmakeeachareaunique.
Whencreatingawilderness,takethetimeto

thinkaboutthemoodofanarea.Isitahot,

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oppressivedesert?Isitaterrifyingrealmof

craggypeaksandriversoflava,withamassive
fortress-spirebuiltbyagodofwarloomingover
thelandscape?
Taketimetoalsothinkaboutwhatcreatures

areactiveinthewilderness,andwhy.Arethe
charactersmovingthroughawar-tornland,with
orcpatrolsharassingthecharacters?Do
hobgoblinlegionsstruggletotameawild

frontier,buildingdefensivepointstohelpclaim
it?Aretherelegendary,deadlymonstersthat
huntinthisregion?
Payspecialattentiontofriendlysettlements

androads.Theeaseofmovementroadsprovide
andthepromiseofasafehavenmakewell-
traveledandsettledareasattractivetomost
characters—especiallylow-levelcharacters.

AdventureLocations

Considereachofthepotentialadventure
locationsonyourmap,andassignnavigation
DCstothemasappropriate.Takeintoaccount

thecreaturesthatdwellnearby,asite’snotoriety,
thepresenceofanypathsorroadsleadingthere,
andsoforth.

RegionalEffects

Reviewthemonstersthatlairinyourwilderness,
anddetermineifanyexertregionaleffectsthat
youneedtoaccountfor.Regionaleffects
(describedintheMonsterManual)areagreat

toolforshowingtheplayershowthepresenceof
apowerfulcreaturecanaltertheenvironment.
Theyalsoaddanelementofmagicand
strangenesstoareasthatmightotherwiseseem
mundane.

DetermineChecksandDCs

TakenoteoftheDCneededtoforageinanarea.
ButalsothinkaboutDCsforanyotherability

checksthatyoufeelarerelevantfortheregion.A
fewappropriateskillsforsuchchecksarenoted
below.
Anabilitycheckyoucallformightbepartofan

existingactivity,itmightrequireaspecial
activityrelevanttoanarea,oritmightbeacheck
youaskforonlyasappropriate.Inanycase,
askingforspecialcheckscanhelpdrivehomea

region’suniquecharacteranddangers.

Athletics.Youmightrequirecharactersto

attemptStrength(Athletics)checkstonavigate
difficultterrainsuchasbrokengroundor
mountainpeaks,withfailureslowingtheparty
andcausinginjury.

History.AsuccessfulIntelligence(History)
checkmightallowacharactertolocatea
forgottenroad,identifytheoriginofruins,or
findasitementionedinmythorlegend.

Nature.ByattemptingIntelligence(Nature)
checks,charactersmightidentifywhatsortsof
creaturesdwellinanareabasedonsubtleclues,
orspottheeffectofmagiconanatural

ecosystem.
Stealth.It’sgoodtocallforDexterity(Stealth)
checksinareasthatareheavilypatrolledor

underthewatchofaspecificcreature.Failingthe
checkormovingtooquicklytobestealthybrings
thecharactersunderscrutiny.
Survival.Inanareainfestedwithdeadly

plantsorothernaturalhazards,successful
Wisdom(Survival)checkscanallowthe
characterstoavoidgatheringandeating
poisonousplants,tospotquicksandandother

hazards,andtoavoidpathsorareaswhere
dangerouscreaturesprowl.

TacticalTerrain

Asafinalusefultool,considercreatingaquick

tabletohelpyougenerateterrainforrandom
encounters,orforothereventsthatrequirea
moredetailedviewasthecharactersexplore.A
randomtablefilledwithiconicterrainforan

areacanhelpinspireyouinthemoment,and
ensuresthattheinterestingkeyelementsofa
regionremainpartoftheaction.
Startoffwithatleastoneortwonoteworthy

featuresthatarealwayspresent.Thenthinkofa
fewsimplebutdistinctivefeaturesthatyou’d
expecttofindinspecificareas.Ifflatgrasslands
areadominantfeature,youmightalsohavelow

hills,ruins,wateringholes,thornybushes,and
otherlesscommonfeaturestobreakthingsup.
Onceyouaredone,createalistofallyour

terrainfeaturesandassigneachonea
percentagechancetobepresentinanarea
(including100percentfordominantfeatures).
Thenwhenyouneedtocreateanencounterarea

quickly,youcanrollforeachfeaturetoseeifitis

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present—thinkingofthesekeyfeaturesas

tacticalfeaturesthatcanhaveanimpactonthe
encounter.

SampleRegion:

MoonHills

TheMoonHillsarearuggedseriesofsteephills

attheheartofNentirVale.PatrolsfromFallcrest
helpkeepthearea’sorganizedthreatsincheck,
butmonstersoftenmakeforaysoutfromthe

CloakWood.Strangecreaturesdrawnfromthe
Feywild,theShadowfell,andtheElementalPlane
ofEartharealsofoundhere.

AmbientMood

Thehillsaresteepandsharp,withjagged

escarpmentsformingsprawling,hillyplateaus.
Smallgrovesdotthearea,asdotheoccasional
burialmound,watchtowersfromancientSaruun
Khel,andotheroldruins.Thefeaturesofthe
MoonHillsincludethefollowing:

• Playupthehillsandthejaggedclifffaces,

makingtravelthroughthisareafeellike
navigatingamaze.Straightandeasypathsare

rarehere.

• Randombouldersarecommoninthearea,

placedbytheinfluenceofelementalearthand
lookingasthoughtheyweredroppedfromthe
sky.Windandrainerodethesoiltoreveal
otherstrangerockformationsthatdevelopas

elementalearthenergyseepsintothe
landscape.

• Thearea’skeyhookisthepresenceofmany

crossingstotheFeywildandtheShadowfell.
TheminotaursofSaruunKheltraveledtoboth
thoseplanesandthePlaneofEarthtotrade.

ThedistortedtopographyoftheMoonHillsis
dueinparttotheinfluenceofearthmagic,and
areasnearplanarcrossingsexhibit

otherworldlytraits.Thisdoesn’talwaysimply
thepresenceofmonsters,butitcanleave
travelersfeelingunsettled.

• Plentyoffarmsandmanorhousesarefoundin

thearea,owingtoitsproximitytoFallcrest.
Trails,oldfencesofwoodorstone,property

markers,andsoonarecommonsights,

especiallyneartheroadsandtheriver.

• Severaldruidsareactiveinthearea,drawnby

theambientplanarenergyanditseffectson
theland.Thoughrocky,thesoiloftheMoon
Hillsisbountiful,inpartbecauseofthelinksto
theFeywildandthePlaneofEarth.Thoughin

someareas,theinfluenceoftheShadowfell
rendersthelandgrayanddull.

• Themaze-likenatureofthislandpromiseslots

ofhiddenareasandsuddendiscoveries.When
banditsareactivehere,theythriveonambush.

• Thevarietyofterrainandfeaturesmakes

travelintheMoonHillschallenging.Any
experiencedtravelercanattempttonavigate

thisplace,butthelackofclearsightlinesand
thedifficultyoflong-distancenavigationcan
makethingsdauntingfortheinexperienced.

Settlements

Anattackonanyofthefarmsormanorsinthe
MoonHillsdrawsthenoticeoftravelersorlocals
withinadayortwo.Whiletheareahasits
secrets,thecountrysideiscivilizedoverall.

RuinsandDungeons

Theareaisdottedwithafewbasictypesofruins
anddungeons,includingthefollowing:

• Megalithshavebeenraisedbythedruids,with

tunnelsandchambersexcavatedbeneaththem.

Theyareconstructedatpointswhereplanar
energyisstrongest,puttingmanyinproximity
withancientruinsofSaruunKhel.

• Ruinedwatchtowersandsmallfortsbuiltby

theSaruunminotaursdotthelandscape.
Humanoidmonstersusethemastemporary

bases.

• Afewabandonedfarmhousesandmanorsare

foundinthehills.Thesearethelegacyofraids
thattookplacewhenthisareawasnotsowell
protectedbyFallcrest.

• UndiscoveredvaultsofSaruunKhelarestill

hiddenintheMoonHills.

• Anearthcultmightestablishahiddenbasein

thearea.

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MoonHillsExploration

WrackedbyenergyfromthePlaneofEarthand
dottedwithcrossingstotheFeywildandthe

Shadowfell,theMoonHillscanbedifficultto
navigateawayfromthesafetyofFallcrestandits
immediateenvirons.Thehillsformaconfusing
messofpathsbetweentheirsteepslopes.

Moon Hills Summary

Navigation. The steep hills and the winding paths

between them can be confusing, but the sparse

vegetation of the hills allows clear views of the sky. If

the characters are off the roads or paths that wind

through this area, they must always navigate to avoid

becoming lost—even if their destination does not

normally require a check. In that case, the check DC is

10.

Foraging. DC 10; water and light game are plentiful.

Special Rules. If the characters take a long rest here,

roll on the planar confluence table.

Navigation

Ifthecharactersareseekingaspecificlocation,
usetheDCsonthetable.Characterswhobecome
lostmustmakeachecktonavigatetoa

destination,eveniftheyhaveamaporknowthe
pathfromhavingmadeapriorvisit.

Moon Hills Navigation DCs

DC

Location

None Fallcrest

None Watcher’s Point

15

Bandit camp (common criminals)

15

Obsidian standing stones

15

Ruins of the Horned Tower

20

Dungeon of the Sleeping Titan

25

Pits of the Fang

30

Lost gate of the Laughing Path

PlanarConfluence

PartiesthatrestintheMoonHillsriskexposure

toplanarmagic.Wheneverthecharacters
completealongresthere,rollad20andconsult
thetable.

Moon Hills Planar Confluence

d20

Result

1–16 No effect

17–18 Shadowfell influence causes nightmares or

disturbing visions; regain only half spent Hit

Dice

19

Feywild influence grants vivid, exciting dreams

or visions; gain inspiration

20

Earth influence fortifies and strengthens flesh

and bones; gain temporary hit points equal to

character level

Terrain

TheMoonHillsareanidealspotforambush,as

thesteepslopesfavorawell-plannedattack.
Banditsandintelligentmonstersprefertoopen
anassaultwithmissilefirefromatopahill.Their
targetscaneithertrudgeupslope,enduring

attacksalongtheway,orfleealongthegullies
betweenthehills.Butwiththegulliesproviding
apredictablepath,smartattackershavemore
ambushersinplacejustaroundthecorner.

Deviousfoesmightevensendagrouptocutoff
retreatbackintheambushedtravelers’original
direction.

Moon Hills Tactical Terrain

% Description

100% 1d3 + 1 steep hills (gullies serve as paths

between them)

100% 2d4 + 2 scattered trees

25% Boulder field (scattered along gullies and with

1d3 still perched on hilltops, ready to be rolled

with a successful DC 10 Strength (Athletics)

check; Dexterity save DC 10; 2d6 bludgeoning

and knocked prone)

10% Ruined watchtower of Saruun Khel

5% Shadowfell influence (disadvantage on death

saving throws in the area)

5% Feywild influence (disadvantage on Wisdom

saving throws in the area)