Top 10 Downtime Activities (DnD 5e 2014)

Top 10 Downtime Activities in D&D 5e

Downtime can fill long waits during an adventure or breaks between sessions. Most activities take a five-day workweek, though some require several weeks. The video ranks ten options by usefulness, weighing their rewards, costs, time, and risks.

10. Build a Stronghold

Building a base can be rewarding, but it requires land, substantial gold, and a long wait. A small trading post costs 5,000 gp and takes 60 days, while a castle costs far more and can take over a year. The video considers this the weakest option, especially when the campaign’s story is moving quickly.

9. Perform Sacred Rites

Spend at least two workweeks in religious observance to gain Inspiration each day for the next 2d6 days. The benefit can be substantial, but it takes two stretches of downtime, and Inspiration is easier to obtain in the 2024 rules than it was in 2014.

8. Provide Religious Service

Spend a week serving a compatible temple, then make an Intelligence or Charisma check to earn up to two favors. A temple or deity might offer practical help, political support, or minor signs and miracles.

Favors are limited, and complications—such as offending clergy—are possible. This activity offers useful support, but not a guaranteed solution.

7. Research

With access to a knowledgeable sage or library and at least 50 gp, spend a week researching a person, place, creature, or object. An Intelligence check can yield up to three useful facts, such as a monster’s resistance or a dungeon’s hidden entrance.

Research is most valuable when aimed at a specific upcoming challenge, but it can cause complications.

6. Relax

A week of rest grants advantage on saving throws to recover from poison and disease. It can also end one nonmagical effect that prevents hit-point recovery or reduces an ability score.

This is a relatively safe recovery option, though it cannot remove magical effects and may be less useful when magic can treat the problem.

5. Carouse

Spend money and a week socializing with lower-, middle-, or upper-class circles to make contacts. Contacts may help with problems, introductions, information, or political support, but won’t risk their lives for you.

Your social circle affects both the types of contacts you make and the possible complications. A poor result can even create a hostile contact.

4. Craft an Item

Crafting requires appropriate tools or skills and materials worth half the item’s cost. Magic items may also require an exotic ingredient or location.

The video highlights healing potions as a practical project: a week can produce five healing potions or one greater healing potion. Crafting costly, rare items takes much longer, making it less attractive at higher levels or when the party is under time pressure.

3. Buy a Magic Item

Spend at least a week and 100 gp searching, then make a Charisma check. Additional time and money improve the check. Even a legendary item can be sought this way, though finding one is extremely difficult and it may cost tens or hundreds of thousands of gold.

Buying can take far less time and effort than crafting, but the search may bring complications, such as a rival interfering or a deceptive seller.

2. Make Money

The video groups five activities together:

• Crime: A series of checks can earn up to 1,000 gp per workweek, but failure can mean arrest or a bounty.
• Gambling: Checks can yield 1,000 gp or more, but you could also lose your stake.
• Pit fighting: Successes in a series of contests can earn up to 200 gp, with the risk of making an enemy.
• Work: Usually covers living expenses and may earn up to 25 gp extra; complications are uncommon.
• Sell a magic item: A week and 25 gp can bring in a substantial return—at least 200 gp for an uncommon item, potentially more with a good check. Selling may attract rivals or thieves.

1. Train

Spend time and money learning a language or a tool proficiency. Training normally takes 10 workweeks and costs 25 gp per week, with a positive Intelligence modifier reducing the time.

The resulting proficiency is permanent, and there is no stated limit to how many you can learn beyond available time and money. This is the video’s top choice because it provides a lasting character benefit.

Sources Mentioned

• Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
• Xanathar’s Guide to Everything
• The video also compares some activities with the 2024 rules.