In D&D, going from Point A to Point B can be a bit of a slog. But it doesn’t always have to be. Here’s how you can make journeys fun.
They say that it’s all about the journey, not the destination. But in D&D, sometimes the journey devolves into either meandering description, slogging encounters with random packs of wolves, and/or endless survival checks. How do you capture that cool feeling of traveling in a fantastic land while also having fun at the table? Or must you always be resigned to hand-waving it, and saying “after X days travel, you arrive at the destination.”
It’s a tricky balance, and it massively depends on your group (including the DM), but here are some things you can try.
Break Out The World Map
First, you gotta ask, why do we like travel scenes in the first place? Well, one good reason is that it’s a chance to break out the world map. Even if you’re playing in a homebrewed world. Especially if you’re playing a homebrew world.
Also, it doesn’t even have to be a world map. It could just be the local region. But D&D players and fantasy maps go together like cinnamon and sugar. And there are so many ways to have a map – there are plenty of existing ones you can just find online, you can commission someone to make one for you, or best of all, make one yourself. There are a number of programs to help with this, too.
It’s Dangerous To Go Alone – So Don’t
Another thing about traveling in D&D is that it’s often just the party. But the second you start to have more people in the mix, you can spice things up a little. Maybe you’re traveling with a caravan, and there’s chances to get to know the merchants (or shop on the road). Maybe you have to protect them.
Even random encounters on the road can be made more interesting if the players have a couple of other guards to play with. Just give them some stat blocks and let ’em go. It turns a fight with bandits into a fun little melee where everyone has new things to try.
Campfire Scenes
Of course, anyone who’s played Baldur’s Gate 3 knows that traveling is also a chance to have some sweet campfire action. It’s a chance to check in with the player characters about like their personal stories. If your group likes roleplaying with each other, then at camp is a chance to set up some scenes and have conversations – same with any NPCs that happen to be along.
But even if they don’t, these calm little moments can be a chance to learn more about the world. Even if you don’t have enough time for every little downtime thing people want to do, you can do things like study your mystic tome, attune to magic items, and, in general, all the other bookkeeping stuff with a little more characterful flourish.
Liminal Spaces
One thing to keep in mind about traveling is that you often are moving between places. And as humans, we get swept up in the aura and eeriness of liminal spaces. While, sure, you can describe the forest, it’s often a little more helpful/dramatic/intriguing to try and describe the liminal places on the road. The bend around the hill where you don’t know what’s on the other side. The copse of trees where the woods verge on the dark ancient forest.
A lot of monsters have lair effects, and the DM’s description of how the world feels different as you get closer and closer is a great way to both flavor and foreshadow your sessions.
(Interesting) Random Encounters
Finally, the old D&D classic, the random encounter. BUT! Here’s the thing, they have to make sense. And more importantly, they should be interesting. Either to the DM or to the players, ideally both – but at least to someone.
What makes an encounter interesting depends on the group. Some people like challenging fights. Some groups are all about interesting story moments. Others are a mix of the two. And yet others enjoy the chance to just say hi to fellow travelers on the road because it paints a picture of a full world. Once you have a sense of what speaks to your players, you should go through and customize some of your random encounter tables. Set yourself (and the group) up for some fun.
Then all you have to do is step out your door, onto the Road. How it goes, ever on and on.
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