D&D 5E - Making Chase Rules... that actually do what they're supposed to!

I think I like this, but for some reason I'm having trouble getting my mind around how some of the details would play out. I don't suppose you'd be willing to present an example of play or two? (I know it's a lot of writing to do those properly, given the multiple steps on possibilities, so no worries if you'd prefer not to.)


I haven't had a chance to try the rules out with my gaming group yet (we're on a bit of a hiatus).

So all I can offer is an imaginary example of play... :)

Sleigh Chase through the Howling Hills
The PCs have accepted employment by the guilt-ridden nervous Barovian merchant Vitomir to protect him and his sleighs from the Beast which stalks him. They know from past investigation that the Beast is deadly and impervious to common weapons (and being low level the PCs aren't yet stocked with magic and silver weapons). Their job is to escort the merchant from Volchykrov Manor to Thousandfurs Bridge on the Ivlis River — there the terrain changes from snow/ice on the ground to regular earth, and a troupe of guards and carriages await the merchant. It's about a 2.5-mile (4 km) journey (roughly 1 hour at a fast pace) along Old Svalich Road through wooded foothills swarming with wolves controlled by the Beast.

Characters:
Dr. Lichtenstein, human cleric
Gwyneth, half-elf sorcerer
Peabody, halfling rogue
Claviger, human fighter

Setup: As the DM, I decide that I want the first 20 minutes of the sleigh ride to play out as mounting tension, an opportunity to chat with the NPC Vitomir, maybe let the players discuss some things, and introduce several signs that all is not right. Wolves howling, mists growing thick, Vitomir experiencing paranoia, indistinct shapes rushing through the trees alongside the PCs. I want this chase to sort of sneak up on them, and then BAM! A pack of wolves is 60 feet behind their sleighs, and no sign of the Beast yet. The chase is on!

Round 1
I've divided the chase into 4 rounds of 10 minutes each. During this round, I'm keeping my map in the back of my mind, and I know there will be a transition from lowland light woods to an ascent into the Howling Hills.

DM: A large pack of wolves is moving through the woods at the edges of Old Svalich Road, their howls spurring the terrified horses hitched to your sleighs.Most of the wolves are about 60 feet back, but you don't have clear line of sight to them through the trees and morning mists, so it's hard to get an accurate count of just how many are there. Judging by their howling seeming to come from multiple directions at once, dozens maybe.

Claviger: I'm just a passenger on this sleigh that Peabody is manning. Can I get a clear shot with my longbow?

Dr. Lichtenstein: Do we really think we can win this fight? Discretion may be the better part of valor here.

Gwyneth: Besides, our priority is protecting this merchant, right? Unless our priorities have changed?

Peabody: in a hopeful tone Robbery?

DM: Well, maybe you can do a bit of all that. So, Peabody is manning the sled with Claviger? And Vitomir's nervous servant is manning the sleigh with Vitomir, Gwyneth, and the Dr. Lichtenstein? Everyone nods. So, how much do you want to push your speed right now? The current DC for any chase checks is pretty easy, let's say 10. The more you're willing to risk compared to this pack of wolves pursuing you, the more likely it is your side can go first in the initiative (or you could go last if you prefer to see what the wolves are up to).

Dr. Lichtenstein: So we bid up the Difficulty, and whoever bids highest — us or the wolves — decides which side goes first? The DM nods. Well, what about the wolves? What are they bidding?

DM The wolves are moving fast and efficiently. They seem far more brazen than normal wolves, but they're still wary of the large sleighs. They're pushing the DC to 12.

Everyone: Let's go first!

Peabody: Ok, then I'm pushing this sleigh to DC 13, savoring the cool wind zipping across my face, and cracking my whip with a command in Halfling to go faster. "Oat and honey at the end, my pretties!" I'm not going crazy with it...not yet at least. Hey, what's the speed of a sleigh anyhow?

DM: 60 feet, same as the riding horses drawing it. Ok, you guys are going to make a group chase check. This is like other group checks you've made where you need 2 or more of your 4-person party to succeed, except you don't need to use the same ability or skill.

Gwyneth: So it's kind of like a mini 4e skill challenge?

DM: Kinda sorta.

Gwyneth: Vitomir's servant is piloting the sleigh I'm in, right? So, I want to cast a spell on the servant so he doesn't freak out during this chase. Sort of calm him and influence his piloting behind-the-scenes. Would casting friends work?

DM: I like the out-of-the box-thinking! Sure, then make a DC 13 Charisma (Persuasion) check with advantage.

Gwyneth: 19 and 19. Hah! "Do not fear the wolves or howling mists, my friend. Keep your eye toward the old road, and let us take down these wolves. None of us die today."

Dr. Lichtenstein: Nice. Can I use my Haunted One background to convince Vitomir not to be a totally useless fop? I want him to act as my squire during the chase, essentially, loading my crossbow and getting stuff out of my pack.

DM: Sure, but how is that helping your side outmaneuver or move faster than the wolves? It sort of seems independent from the group chase check.

Dr. Lichtenstein: Ah, can I convince Vitomir to offload some unnecessary cargo as part of my chat with him? Lighten our load? Hmm, that'll probably be a check, won't it? Can I intimidate him? The DM nods. 16! "Let me help you unburden that guilty conscience, Vitomir. You're going to follow my lead if you hope to get through this alive, understand? Now, you packed enough for a small army. Throw off anything that isn't essential!"

DM: "But the furs and the vodka... How am I to pay you without my trade goods?"

Dr. Lichtenstein: "How are you going to pay us if you're dead? Hurry!"

DM: Ok, Vitomir is off-loading several bundles of fur with a mix of terror at the wolves and at losing his money in his eyes.

Claviger: Wait, he can unload a bunch of lashed down bundles in a round?

DM: Remember, these are 10 MINUTE chase rounds, not normal combat rounds. The scale of the action is different.

Claviger: Ah, gotcha, I forgot. So, I should be able to make a bunch of attacks, right?

DM: No, for a couple reasons. First, just like in regular combat there are assumed to be a series of attacks and feints that are happening without dice being rolled for them, same here, only at a different time scale. Second, you don't have clear line of sight due to the nature of the chase. Third, just because you're a passenger doesn't mean you're not having to shift your weight, brace when when the sleigh takes a sharp turn or jump, swivel about, and so forth.

Claviger: Ok, ok. It just is different than what I'm used to.

Peabody: I'm remembering where those bundles got ditched...for future reference. Ok, I'm piloting the other sleigh. So, what check does one make to pilot a sleigh? Would Dexterity applying my land vehicles proficiency work? The DM nods. 11. Aargh.

Claviger: Well, we already have the two successes needed to succeed on the group check, right? I'm taking out my longbow and I want to shoot one of these wolves!

DM: If you're trying to get a clear shot through the woods, make a Wisdom (Perception) check. The DM knows this check is DC 25, but doesn't tell the player the Difficulty. Preserving a bit of the mystique of the chase is important. After all, a chase is supposed to surprise the players and the DM.

Claviger: 8. Dang it. "Give me a clear shot, you furry little bastards," I growl under my breath, nocking an arrow, waiting.

DM: Ok, you guys can widen the gap between you and the wolves by d10 for every 10 feet of speed.

Claviger: That's 6d10, right? 48. So, we're 108 feet ahead of the wolves, now?

DM: Yep! Mr. Peabody, do you want to start off rolling for Chase Events for the party? It's a d12 roll.

Peabody: Sure! 9.

OOC:9 Risky Shortcut. A shortcut presents itself to the creature that rolled this result. It can pursue the shortcut alone or convince its side to follow. The creature makes a DC 13 ability check of the DM’s choice to avoid whatever risk is associated with the shortcut. If the creature succeeds, it rolls twice to widen or close the gap. If it fails, however, the creature drops out of the chase.

DM: Consults Chase Events table, seeing a 9 means "Risky Shortcut." Ok, the sleigh Claviger and Peabody are in is slightly trailing the main sleigh and to the left side of the road. As the sleighs' runners begin to pick up speed and the horses froth at the mouth, the two of you notice a side trail breaking off to the left, a straight shot through the woods that circumvents the sweeping bend in the road ahead. It's a steeper route compared to the gentle incline of the bend, but with enough speed could put you ahead even further.

Peabody: Let's do it!

Claviger: Wait, we want to be between the merchant and the wolves, don't we? I mean, we don't want Vitomir's sleigh to be in the rear, right?

Peabody: crestfallen Yeah...you're right. pause I'mma gonna do it anyhow!

Claviger: "Damn halflings!"

DM: Ok, the runners of your sleigh grind against rocks and roots hidden under the packed snow and thin branches whip overhead, er, over Claviger's head. Peabody, make a DC 13 Wisdom (Animal Handling) check to push the horses up the slope.

Peabody: Aaaand....2! With a natural 1! I'm a Lucky halfling! Rerolling...7. Or not-so-lucky.

DM: Without enough momentum, the runners of your sleigh grind hard on the embankment, the horses straining in the harnesses to pull the sleigh up the steep slope. Of all the places for the sleigh to come to a grinding halt, a steep slope on a narrow path through the trees has got to be the worst. The horses aren't able to pull the sleigh any further, its runners wedged between two trees. You're stuck.

Claviger: "I told you not to do it! Quick, unhitch the horses and I'll try to hold the wolves off."

Gwyneth: Wait, are they out of the chase entirely? Crap!

DM: For now. They're going to get overrun by wolves if they don't get moving. Makes a single Athletics check for all the wolves' chase check. 8. Fails. Then the DM rolls Chase Events for the wolves, and rolls a 9, just like Peabody. Scampering and tripping up the snowy embankment, the wolves are losing ground. While the main mass of the pack continues pursuing Vitomir's sleigh, 108 feet apart, a smaller pack of wolves breaks off to follow Peabody and Claviger's sleigh. Makes an Athletics check for the smaller pack trying to ascend the risky shortcut slope. 7. Fails. However, the weight of the passing sleigh has disturbed the snowpack of the slope, and abruptly the snow gives way into a small avalanche, carrying half of the small pack down the hillside, their yelps and howls fading into the mists. The sundered snow shelf crumbles at the heels of 4 wolves which are closing fast on Peabody and Claviger. If Peabody and Claviger remain stationary, the wolves will close 80 feet toward you next round.

Peabody: "Well, I did like you said, Claviger. We're in the rear for sure now."

Round 2
During this round, I plan on having the Beast enter the chase, lurking ahead of the lead sleigh. It's going to do a dramatic leaping attack on the sleigh itself, and regardless of whether it hits or misses, it's going to slip down the slope, picking up the chase 80 feet behind the lead sleigh.

DM: Ok, that first round I made it simple by assuming you guys were doing the default chase action, which is effectively a Dash. However, now that you've got a feel for how this works, you can choose from other actions instead of Dash if you wish. This includes all the actions in the PHB and a few new ones like Create a Complication, Lookout, or Reckless Sprint. The wolves are maintaining pursuit at DC 13.

Gwyneth: "Should we turn back for them?"

DM: Vitomir seems horrified at that idea, "Are you out of your mind? Look how many wolves there are!" He's ordering his man piloting the sleigh to go faster, up to DC 14.

Gwyneth: Hmm. I still have my friends in effect with the sleigh driver, right?

DM: These are 10 minute rounds, remember? So technically your friends would end, but since it's cantrip there's nothing stopping you from just casting it again.

Gwyneth: Can I suggest that the sleigh driver just maintain this pace, at DC 13? And I want to encourage him to turn back for our friends. "If you had friends, Vitomir, you'd know we can't leave them behind," I sneer at him derisively.

DM: So, you and the wolves are maintaining the same level of risk. That's not in the rules... Bad Quickleaf! ...but I'm going to rule it means everything this round is happening simultaneously. As you and Vitomir are arguing about what to do next, suddenly a shape looms in the mists on a rocky outcropping above — a massive dire wolf with amber eyes burning like balefires. Vitomir shrieks in terror. "The Beast!" The sleigh driver reflexively starts to pull on the reins in panic, but Gwyneth's soothing hand on his shoulder keeps him from losing his morale. The giant wolf lunges off the rock, claws scraping across the goods bundled on the back of the sleigh and jaws snapping hungrily.

Peabody: Suddenly, I'm glad we fell back...

Claviger: Hey, you and me have still got 4 wolves to contend with.

DM: Rolls the Beast's attack. 15. Hits. Deals 16 damage to the sleigh. The Beast tears through the back of the sleigh, spilling furs, packages, and bottles of vodka everywhere, and ripping apart a chunk of the wooden frame. However, the frame splinters in its jaws and the Beast goes skidding along the slippery slope behind your sleigh, finally arresting itself 80 feet behind you before joining in the chase.

WORK-IN-PROGRESS

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