One area of adventuring that I felt the rules could be enhanced for is travelling – especially traveling for multiple days.

With my new Middle-Earth campaign, the travelling rules definitely needed an upgrade as a major party of adventuring in Middle-Earth is travelling and journeying. I’ve tried to build on D&D 5E rules for exhaustion and added additional checks that can impact exhaustion and morale.

At first review, I think these rules could make travelling more interesting and impactful and not just something that is an afterthought on the way to the next location.

Homebrew Travelling Rules

Maximum Daily Distance covered

Pace	On foot	On Horse	On Boat
Careful	16 miles	64 miles	256 miles
Normal	20 miles	80 miles	320 miles
Rushed	24 miles	96 miles	384 miles

1. 24 hour day is broken into three 8 hour shifts – 2 shifts travelling and 1 shift resting
   • Party gains one level of exhaustion if rest skipped in a day
2. The party can camp for up to three nights on the road.
   • Party gains one level of exhaustion If the party camps for a fourth night without seeking lodging in a town.
3. The following travelling checks need  to be made every 8 hour travelling shift
   • Pathfinding – staying on course – Individual check
   • Tracking – discovering others tracks – Individual check
   • Stealth – remaining undetected – Group check
   • Foraging/Hunting – finding food – Individual check
4. Three failed travelling checks in a day will cause the party to lose one level of Morale
5. Failed Foraging/Hunting checks for three straight will days cause the party to gain one level of exhaustion
6. Long rest removes one level of exhaustion and one level of morale

Exhaustion Levels

Level	Description
0	Normal
1	Disadvantage on ability checks
2	Speed reduced to ½
3	Disadvantage on attack and saving rolls
4	Speed reduced to ¼
5	-5 on attack and savings rolls
6	unconscious

Morale Levels

Level	Description
0	Normal
-1	-2 on intimidation/persuasion checks
-2	-3 on initiative rolls
-3	Inability to assist other party members
-4	Inability to heal other party members
-5	+1 exhaustion level
-6	+2 exhaustion level