Ultimate Campaign: I Could Use Some Downtime

Thursday, May 2, 2013

In just about three weeks or so, you should be seeing Ultimate Campaign arrive in mailboxes and on store shelves. In anticipation of the release of this 256-page hardcover, each week we are offering up a preview of what you will find inside.

Last week, we took a look at Chapter 1, which includes a mountain of tables for helping you determine your character's backstory. This week, we are moving on to Chapter 2, which is focused entirely on downtime. Heroes don't spend every waking moment plundering tombs and fighting evils. (If they did, they would reach 20th level before their next birthday.) The downtime system helps you plan the time your character spends between adventures.

This versatile system allows a character to undertake a number of different tasks to improve himself or build his standing within the town he lives in. Need to swap out a feat? The downtime system lets you do that. Want to train up your hit points because you rolled poorly last time you gained a level? It's in there too. Have you always wanted to open up your own tavern, or thieves guild, or wizard academy? The downtime system has extensive rules for building a business or guild.

Using this system you can spend the time between adventures earning various types of currencies and spending those currencies to get the business, home, or fortress you've always wanted. Structures and organizations are built in pieces, buying each room and group individually so that you can get exactly what you want! Check out a few of the rooms you can build.

Illustration by Eric Belisle

Ballroom

Earnings gp or Influence +10
Benefit bonus on Perform checks
Create 19 Goods, 19 Labor (760 gp); Time 40 days
Size 40-60 squares
Upgrades To Auditorium; Upgrades From Common Room
This large open room is intended for dances, receptions, and other elaborate events. The superior acoustics and decor grant a +2 bonus on all Perform checks made in this room.

Bar

Earnings gp or Influence +10
Benefit bonus on Diplomacy checks to gather information
Create 6 Goods, 1 Influence, 5 Labor (250 gp); Time 16 days
Size 10-20 squares
A Bar stores a selection of drinks and includes a counter for preparing them. After spending an hour with local people in this room, for the next 24 hours you gain a +1 bonus on Diplomacy checks you make to gather information in the settlement.

Bath

Earnings gp or Influence +3
Benefit bonus on Fortitude saves against disease
Create 3 Goods, 1 Influence, 2 Labor (130 gp); Time 8 days
Size 3-6 squares
Upgrade From Sauna
A Bath contains a single large bathtub or multiple smaller basins, along with a stove for heating water. After spending 1 hour in this room, you gain a +2 bonus on your next ongoing Fortitude save against disease.

That's all for this week. Next week we will delve into the systems for GMs to add to their campaigns!

Jason Bulmahn
Lead Designer