𝆕Dashing Through The Snow𝆕… Snow Is Terrain, Right?

From: JaredBiti

With December, I thought I would talk about how terrain can be used in TTRPGs to enhance the game, both in and out of combat. I will look at it from both a mechanical sense but also a theatric sense. 

First, what kind of terrain can affect an encounter? Well, snow – as in the title – swamp, sandy desert, dry rocks, tidal pools, winding cliff edge, and more. They all can affect how your players are able to interact with the encounter, even if that encounter is just them scaling the mountain to get to the only open pass through the mountain range despite the blizzard set upon them by an evil wizard… Oh wait, that’s already in a story.

It can make their movement difficult, the standard in 5th Edition D&D for this is to half the characters’ standard movement. In other systems it is more incremental. The GM can do either, or a little of both. A little save here or a racial trait there, may make it where the humans in the group go at quarter-speed plowing through the snow with their knees while the light-footed elf is able to nimbly creep along the top crust of the snow. The poor halflings are forced to tunnel through drift after drift. 

A desert environment may make finding food hard, metal equipment hot. A cold environment, like a frozen tundra, would make rest almost impossible without the seeking of, or creation of, shelter from the elements for the party. 

The noxious fumes and soft ground of a swamp can make it hard for the party to navigate and to keep their health points despite the poisonous clouds erupting from the bog. 

Terrain also controls what kind of animals and encounters will crop up around or in the path of the player party. With that in mind, a lava-flow area may boost certain stats or abilities of fire-type creatures, or make it harder on any water genasi in the group. 

A snowy terrain may make it easier for the rogue to hide in the steady falling snow, the rocky lay of the land could give the archer cover to hide behind and in between shots. 

Using terrain to allow characters to use their abilities, like the hiding of the rogue or the allowing of the archer a cover condition against the enemy spell caster by concealing behind a rock or column in the dilapidated temple. 

What I try to do is either imagine myself in the setting or at least see it as you would in a video game, think about what could be affecting what, in terms of cover, damage, effectiveness of attacks and defenses, or even sight. Hot and cold air may bend the light to create mirages. 

Of course, all this is better if you have more planning than I usually put into an encounter. With time and forethought, you can anticipate advantages and disadvantages for the players and your monsters, if you add any to the environment. 

Beyond mechanical, there is the theatrical side of terrain, like having the ice devil freeze the area around him into a winter wonderland gives a sense of his power. Having the stone melt away from a fire elemental can accomplish the same effect. You can use the terrain and the environment to give your bosses a grand entrance. For instance, the chill in the room making everyone’s breath visible, is the forewarning for when the locked door on cell number four freezes solid and shatters open. Steam can erupt from water puddles to block the view of whatever just lumbered out of the woods. Then, the imposing form is silhouetted through the mist by the flash of lightning from behind it.

Theater and drama can draw your players into the scene, make them glad to see it, but make them awestruck when the big bad appears, or even needs to disappear. I hope this brief discussion on what can be done with terrain has fueled your imagination to help your games ignite the minds of your players! 

Thank you for your time RPGer’s! Game on!

About the Author

Jared “Martel” B has been GMing and playing in several TTRPG’s since late 2013. Enjoys the challenge of bringing his players worlds and stories straight from his mind in the moment that it happens. He is one of the Founders of RPGCounterpoint, happy husband to an active historian wife, and father to two puppers and newborn!