NATURE & THE LAND
This is where you develop the terrain and lay of the land, as well as the typical creatures that inhabit that land. Most of the time the Realm Encounters table will be in this section.
You might want to note the realm's Nature Connection here as well as in the At a Glance section. This modifier should have some influence on how closely the people of the realm work with and know nature.
Terrain
Determine the major terrain types within the realm. If the realm is a certain terrain type (such as a forest) you might note specific types of woods that make it up. For urban areas, this section might be for the surrounding land.
Idea Charts & Resources
| Names & Descriptions | Resource |
|---|---|
| Coastlines, Lakes & Seas | 2E D&D World Builder's Guidebook p26 |
| Fantastic Terrain | 4E D&D Dungeon master's Guide p67 |
| Forests | AEG's Ultimate Toolbox p76 |
| Hills & Mountains - Kingdom level | 2E D&D World Builder's Guidebook p53 |
| Hills & Mountains - Region level | 2E D&D World Builder's Guidebook p64 |
| Islands | PF Gamesmastery Guide p216 |
| Land cover & Terrain | 2E D&D World Builder's Guidebook p32 |
| Map Features | AEG's Ultimate Toolbox p42 |
| Marshes | AEG's Ultimate Toolbox p77 |
| Mountains | AEG's Ultimate Toolbox p77 |
| Oceans & Seas Names | AEG's Ultimate Toolbox p93 |
| Planar | AEG's Ultimate Toolbox p293 |
| Terrain Types (random) | AEG's Ultimate Toolbox p50; PF Gamesmastery Guide p225 |
Climate & Weather
Note the climate band and standard weather patterns. If this is a small realm within a larger one (where the climate and weather is determined) this section is not needed.
Idea Charts & Resources
| Names & Descriptions | Resource |
|---|---|
| Climate | 2E D&D World Builder's Guidebook p54 |
| Notable weather | Sly Flourish The Lazy DM's Workbook p11 |
| Weather | 5E D&D Dungeon Master's Guide p109; AEG's Ultimate Toolbox p51; 2E D&D World Builder's Guidebook p54; PF Gamesmastery Guide p224 |
| Winds - Prevailing | 2E D&D World Builder's Guidebook p30 |
Hazards
List the major hazards, such as likely dangerous weather conditions, terrain or even typical traps that might be encountered in the realm.
Idea Charts & Resources
| Names & Descriptions | Resource |
|---|---|
| Arctic Hazards | AEG's Ultimate Toolbox p74 |
| Desert Hazards | AEG's Ultimate Toolbox p74 |
| Dungeon Hazards | 5E D&D Dungeon Master's Guide p105 |
| Forest Hazards | AEG's Ultimate Toolbox p75 |
| Marsh Hazards | AEG's Ultimate Toolbox p76 |
| Mountain Hazards | AEG's Ultimate Toolbox p77 |
| Planar Hazards | AEG's Ultimate Toolbox p293 |
| Shipwrecks | PF Gamesmastery Guide p217 |
| Traps | 5E D&D Dungeon Master's Guide p120; 4E D&D Dungeon Master's Guide p85; 4E D&D Dungeon Master's Guide 2 p64; AEG's Ultimate Toolbox p234; Sly Flourish The Lazy DM's Workbook p11 |
| Wilderness Traps | AEG's Ultimate Toolbox p388 |
| Wilderness Hazards | 5E D&D Dungeon Master's Guide p110 |
Major Fauna (Animals/Beasts)
Note down several of the major animals and beasts found naturally in the realm. For urban areas and organisations or tribes you could note common beasts of burden, guards and pets.
Idea Charts & Resources
| Names & Descriptions | Resource |
|---|---|
| Animal Companions | AEG's Ultimate Toolbox p28 |
| Aquatic Animals | AEG's Ultimate Toolbox p190 |
| Arctic Animals | AEG's Ultimate Toolbox p74 |
| Bugs | AEG's Ultimate Toolbox p62 |
| Cavern Animals | AEG's Ultimate Toolbox p209 |
| Desert Animals | AEG's Ultimate Toolbox p75 |
| Fish | AEG's Ultimate Toolbox p62 |
| Game Animals | AEG's Ultimate Toolbox p62 |
| Mounts - Undersea | AEG's Ultimate Toolbox p191 |
| Pack Animals | AEG's Ultimate Toolbox p63 |
| Pests/Small Animals | AEG's Ultimate Toolbox p63 |
| Wildlife | AEG's Ultimate Toolbox p63 |
Major Flora (Plants)
For woods you could list the types of trees that are common. For settled areas you could not any vegetation that the inhabitants rely upon, including crops, fruit trees or vegetables grown. Any interesting herbs could also feature in this section.
Note whether there are any dangerous or fantastical plants growing in the area.
Idea Charts & Resources
| Names & Descriptions | Resource |
|---|---|
| Aquatic Plants | AEG's Ultimate Toolbox p190 |
| Arctic Plants | AEG's Ultimate Toolbox p74 |
| Desert Plants | AEG's Ultimate Toolbox p75 |
| Poisonous Plants | AEG's Ultimate Toolbox p228 |
Natural Places of Note
This is a place to detail natural areas such as a river, forest or mountain, but might also include sacred primal sites such as shrines, groves, and cult meeting places.
Idea Charts & Resources
| Names & Descriptions | Resource |
|---|---|
| Bridges | AEG's Ultimate Toolbox p293 |
| Caves/Caverns | AEG's Ultimate Toolbox p206-23 |
| Druid Circles | AEG's Ultimate Toolbox p26, 276 |
| Fantastic/Unique/Weird Places of Note | 5E D&D Dungeon Master's Guide p109; AEG's Ultimate Toolbox p52, 58; Sly Flourish Return of the Lazy Dungeon Master p25 |
| Lake Names | AEG's Ultimate Toolbox p46 |
| Landmarks | AEG's Ultimate Toolbox p46 |
| Locale | AEG's Ultimate Toolbox p290 |
| Monuments - wilderness | 5E D&D Dungeon Master's Guide p108; Sly Flourish The Lazy DM's Workbook p12 |
| River Names | AEG's Ultimate Toolbox p49 |
| Roads | AEG's Ultimate Toolbox p56 |
| Wilderness Landmarks & Wondrous Sites | Sly Flourish The Lazy DM's Companion p38 |
Examples & Samples
| Name | Type (Level) | Known Traits/Features | Resource |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caves | Dungeon (1-2) | Water | Sly Flourish The Lazy DM's Workbook p36 |
| Grotto | Dungeon (1) | Fouled water source in caverns under settlement, aboleth | 5E D&D Kobold Press Book of Lairs p72 |
| Hive | Dungeon (1) | Giant termite hive tunnels | 5E D&D Kobold Press Book of Lairs p40 |
| Island | Dungeon/Wilderness (2) | Cult to a Deep One | 5E D&D Kobold Press Book of Lairs p44 |
| Monument - Stairs of Beldestan | Dungeon (2) | Sacred steps up mountain, reputed gate to planes | 5E D&D Kobold Press Book of Lairs p92 |
| Monument of the Thunderer | Dungeon (2) | Dragon sculpted into a cliff over river | 5E D&D Kobold Press Book of Lairs p48 |
| Oasis | Borderlands (1) | Illusion, dao | 5E D&D Kobold Press Book of Lairs p24 |
| Standing Stones | Wilderness (1) | Forest, shadow drakes | 5E D&D Kobold Press Book of Lairs p60 |
Primal People and Groups of Note
This is a place to detail any nature-based groups (such as druid circles) and individuals that live in the wilds: powerful druids, rangers, barbarians, shamans, etc.
Idea Charts & Resources
| Names & Descriptions | Resource |
|---|---|
| Adventurers' Guilds tables | 5E D&D Eberron Rising… p65 |
Examples & Samples
| Name | Type (Level) | Known Traits/Features | Resource |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beast Handling Guild of House Vadalis | Organisation (4-5) | Animal/beast training & breeding | 5E D&D Explorer's Guide to Eberron p42 |
| Cruor Druid Circle | Organisation (1-2) | Led by blood hag, alseids (centaur-like deerfolk) | 5E D&D Kobold Press Book of Lairs p76 |
| Gatekeppers | Organisation (5) | Vs aberrations & extraplanar invasions, inc druid circle (standing stones map) | 5E D&D Eberron Rising… p203 |
| Golgari Swarm | Organisation (13) | Dark nature cult, focus on life and death, fungi, underground | 5E D&D Guildmaster's Guide to Ravnica p51, 138, 184 |
| Gruul Clans | Organisation (13) | Chaotic barbarian horde | 5E D&D Guildmaster's Guide to Ravnica p58, 141, 185 |
| Selesnya Conclave | Organisation (16) | Horde, enforces balance of nature and civilisation | 5E D&D Guildmaster's Guide to Ravnica p84, 153, 186 |
Sample NPC Stat Blocks
| Name | CR | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Commoner | 0 | 5E D&D Monster Manual p345 |
| Tribal Warrior | 1/8 | 5E D&D Monster Manual p350 |
| Rubblebelt Stalker | 1/2 | 5E D&D Guildmaster's Guid to Ravnica p239 |
| Scout | 1/2 | 5E D&D Monster Manual p349 |
| Horncaller Shaman | 1 | 5E D&D Guildmaster's Guid to Ravnica p253 |
| Skirmisher | 1 | 5E D&D Monster Manual Expanded p325 |
| Berserker | 2 | 5E D&D Monster Manual p344 |
| Bounty Hunter | 2 | 5E D&D Monster Manual Expanded p315 |
| Druid | 2 | 5E D&D Monster Manual p346 |
| Metee-Kolen-Ol (cold druid/caster) | 4 | 5E D&D Creature Codex p404 |
| Archer | 3 | 5E D&D Volo's Guide to Monsters p210 |
| Barbarian | 3 | 5E D&D Monster Manual Expanded II p274 |
| Foe Hunter | 4 | 5E D&D Monster Manual Expanded p319 |
| Skirmisher Elite | 4 | 5E D&D Monster Manual Expanded p326 |
| Barbarian Champion | 5 | 5E D&D Monster Manual Expanded II p274 |
| Blight Druid | 5 | 5E D&D Monster Manual Expanded p313 |
| Bounty Hunter Elite | 5 | 5E D&D Monster Manual Expanded p315 |
| Frostmaiden (of Auril) | 5 | 5E D&D Monster Manual Expanded p319 |
| Monster Slayer | 5 | 5E D&D Monster Manual Expanded II p288 |
| Storm Priest | 5 | 5E D&D Monster Manual Expanded p326 |
| Arcane Archer | 6 | 5E D&D Monster Manual Expanded II p266 |
| Druid of the Old Ways | 7 | 5E D&D Guildmaster's Guid to Ravnica p239 |
| Stormlord | 8 | 5E D&D Monster Manual Expanded p327 |
| Arcane Archer Elite | 9 | 5E D&D Monster Manual Expanded II p267 |
| Elite Monster Slayer | 11 | 5E D&D Monster Manual Expanded II p289 |
| Archdruid | 12 | 5E D&D Volo's Guide to Monsters p210 |
| Barbarian King | 15 | 5E D&D Monster Manual Expanded II p275 |
