BEGINNING A CHASE
A chase requires a quarry and at least one pursuer. Any
participants not already in initiative order must roll
initiative. As in combat, each participant in the chase
can take one action and move on its turn. The chase
ends when one side drops out or the quarry escapes.
When a chase begins, determine the starting
distance between the quarry and the pursuers. Track
the distance between them, and designate the pursuer
closest to the quarry as the lead. The lead pursuer migh·
change from round to round.
RUNNING THE CHASE
Participants in the chase are strongly motivated to use
the Dash action every round. Pursuers who stop to casr
spells and make attacks run the risk of losing their
quarry, and a quarry that does so is likely to be caught.
DASHING
During the chase, a participant can freely use the Dash
action a number of times equal to 3 + its Constitution
modifier. Each additional Dash action it takes during
the chase requires the creature to succeed on a DC 10
Constitution check at the end of its turn or gain one !eve.
of exhaustion.
A participant drops out of the chase if its exhaustion
reaches level 5, since its speed becomes 0. A creature
can remove the levels of exhaustion it gained during the
chase by finishing a short or long rest.
SPELLS AND ATTACKS
A chase participant can make attacks and cast spells
against other creatures within range. Apply the
normal rules for cover, terrain, and so on to the attacks
and spells.
Chase participants can't normally make opportunity
attacks against each other, since they are all assumed
to be moving in the same direction at the same time.
However, participants can till be -· e rarge of
opportunity attacks from creatw .: o participating
in the chase. For example. ad,·en -e -ho chase a
thief past a gang of thugs in an alley might provoke
opportunity attacks from the thug .
ENDING A CHASE
A chase ends when one side or the other tops, when the
quarry escapes, or when the pursuer are close enough
to their quarry to catch it.
If neither side gives up the cha e. the quarry ma kes a
Dexterity (Stealth) check at the end of each rou nd, after
every participant in the chase ha taken its turn. The
result is compared to the passive isdom (Perception)
scores of the pursuers. If the quarry consists of multiple
creatures, they all make the check.
If the quarry is never out of the lead pursuer's sight,
the check fails automatically. Otherwise, if the result of
the quarry's check is greater than the highest passive
score, that quarry escapes. If not, the chase continues
for another round.
The quarry gains advantage or disadvantage on its
check based on prevailing circumstances, as shown in
the Escape Factors table. If one or more factors give the
quarry both advantage and disadvantage on its check,
the quarry has neither, as usual.
EscAPE FACTORS
Factor
Quarry has many things to hide behind
Quarry is in a very crowded or noisy area
Quarry has few things to hide behind
Quarry is in an uncrowded or quiet area
The lead pursuer is a ranger or has
proficiency in Survival
Check Has ...
Advantage
Advantage
Disadvantage
Disadvantage
Disadvantage
Other factors might help or hinder the quarry's ability
to escape, at your discretion. For example, a quarry with
a faerie fire spell cast on it might have disadvantage on
checks made to escape because it's much easier to spot.
Escape doesn't necessarily mean the quarry has
outpaced its pursuers. For example, in an urban
setting, escape might mean the quarry ducked into a
crowd or slipped around a corner, leaving no clue as to
where it went.
CHASE COMPLICATIONS
As with any good chase scene, complications can arise
to make a chase more pulse-pounding. The Urban
Chase Complications table and the Wilderness Chase
Complications table provide several examples.
Complications occur randomly. Each participant in
the chase rolls a d20 at the end of its turn. Consult the
appropriate table to determine whether a complication
occurs. If it does, it affects the next chase participant in
the initiative order, not the participant who rolled the
die. The participant who rolled the die or the participant
affected by the complication can spend inspiration to
negate the complication.
Characters can create their own complications to
shake off pursuers (for example, casting the web spell in
a narrow alleyway). Adjudicate these as you see fit.
URBAN CHASE COMPLICATIONS
d20 Complication
A large obstacle such as a horse or cart blocks your
way. Make a DC 15 Dexterity (Acrobatics) check to
get past the obstacle. On a failed check, the obstacle
counts as 10 feet of difficult terrain.
2 A crowd blocks your way. Make a DC 10 Strength
(Athletics) or Dexterity (Acrobatics) check (your
choice) to make your way through the crowd
unimpeded. On a failed check, the crowd counts as
10 feet of difficult terrain.
3 A large stained-glass window or similar barrier
blocks your path. Make a DC 10 Strength saving
throw to smash through the barrier and keep going.
On a failed save, you bounce off the barrier and fall
prone.
4 A maze of barrels, crates, or similar obstacles stands
in your way. Make a DC 10 Dexterity (Acrobatics)
or Intelligence check (your choice) to navigate the
maze. On a failed check, the maze counts as 10 feet
of difficult terrain .
5 The ground beneath your feet is slippery with rain ,
spilled oil, or some other liquid . Make a DC 10
Dexterity saving throw. On a failed save, you fall
prone.
6 You come upon a pack of dogs fighting over food .
Make a DC 10 Dexterity (Acrobatics) check to get
through the pack unimpeded. On a failed check, you
are bitten and take 1 d4 piercing damage , and the
dogs count as 5 feet of difficult terrain.
7 You run into a brawl in progress. Make a DC 15
Strength (Athletics), Dexterity (Acrobatics), or
Charisma (Intimidation) check (your choice) to get
past the brawlers unimpeded. On a failed check,
you take 2d4 bludgeoning damage, and the brawlers
count as 10 feet of difficult terrain.
8 A beggar blocks your way. Make a DC 10 Strength
(Athletics), Dexterity (Acrobatics), or Charisma
(Intimidation) check (your choice) to slip past the
beggar. You succeed automatically if you toss the
beggar a coin. On a failed check, the beggar counts
as 5 feet of difficult terrain.
9 An overzealous guard (see the Monster Manual (or
game statistics) mistakes you for someone else. If
you move 20 feet or more on your turn , the guard
makes an opportunity attack against you with a
spear (+3 to hit; 1d6 + 1 piercing damage on a hit).
10 You are forced to make a sharp turn to avoid
colliding with something impassable. Make a DC
10 Dexterity saving throw to navigate the turn. On a
failed save, you collide with something hard and take
1d4 bludgeoning damage.
11 -20 No complication.
WILDERNESS CHASE COMPLICATIONS
d20 Complication
1 You r path takes you through a rough patch of brush.
Make a DC 10 Strength (Athletics) or Dexterity
(Acrobatics) check (your choice) to get past the
brush. On a failed check, the brush counts as 5 feet
of difficult terrain.
2 Uneven ground threatens to slow your progress.
Make a DC 10 Dexterity (Acrobatics) check to
navigate the area. On a failed check, the ground
counts as 10 feet of difficult terrain.
3 You run through a swarm ofinsects (see the Monster
Manual for game statistics, with the DM choosing
whichever kind of insects makes the most sense).
The swarm makes an opportunity attack against yo~.;
(+3 to hit; 4d4 piercing damage on a hit).
4 A stream, ravine, or rock bed blocks you r path. Make
a DC 10 Strength (Athletics) or Dexterity (Acrobatics
check (your choice) to cross the impediment. On a
failed check, the impediment counts as 10 feet of
difficult terrain .
5 Make a DC 10 Constitution saving throw. On a fai lec
save, you are blinded by blowing sand, dirt, ash,
snow, or pollen until the end of your turn. While
bl inded in this way, your speed is halved.
6 A sudden drop catches you by surprise. Make
a DC 10 Dexterity saving throw to navigate the
impediment. On a failed save, yo u fall1d4 x 5 feet,
taking 1d6 bludgeoning damage per 10 feet falle n as
normal, and land prone.
7 You blunder into a hunter's snare. Make a DC 15
Dexterity saving throw to avoid it. On a failed save,
you are caught in a net and restrained. See chapter 5
"Equipment," ofthe Player's Handbook for rules on
escapin·g a net.
8 You are caught in a stampede of spooked animals.
Make a DC 10 Dexterity saving throw. On a
failed save, you are knocked about and take 1d4
bludgeoning damage and 1d4 piercing damage.
9 Your path takes you near a patch of razorvine. Make
a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw or use 10 feet of
movement (your choice) to avoid the razorvine. On ~
failed save, you take 1d10 slashing damage.
10 A creature indigenous to the area chases after you .
The DM chooses a creature appropriate for the
terrain.
11-20 No complication.
DESIGNING YouR OwN CHASE TABLES
The tables presented here don't work for all possible
environments. A chase through the sewers of
Baldur's Gate or through the spiderweb-filled alleys
of Menzoberranzan might inspire you to create your
own table.
SPLITTING UP
Creatures being chased can split up into smaller groups.
This tactic forces pursuers to either divide their forces
or allow some of the quarry to escape. If a pursuit
splits into several smaller chases, resolve each chase
separately. Run a round of one chase, then a round of
the next, and so on, tracking the distances for each
separate group.
MAPPING THE CHASE
If you have the opportunity to plan out a chase, take
the time to draw a rough map that shows the route.
Insert obstacles at specific points, especially ones that
require the characters to make ability checks or saving
throws to avoid slowing or stopping, or use a random
table of complications similar to the ones in this section.
Otherwise, improvise as you play.
Complications can be barriers to progress or
opportunities for mayhem. Characters being chased
through a forest by bugbears might spot a wasp nest
and slow down long enough to attack the nest or throw
rocks at it, thus creating an obstacle for their pursuers.
A map of a chase can be linear or have many
branches, depending on the nature of the chase. For
example, a mine cart chase might have few (if any)
branches, while a sewer chase might have several.
ROLE REVERSAL
During a chase, it's possible for the pursuers to become
the quarry. For example, characters chasing a thief
through a ma rketplace might draw unwanted attention
from other members of the thieves' guild. As they
pursue the fleeing thief, they must also evade the thieves
pursuing them. Roll initiative for the new arrivals, and
run both chases simultaneously. In another scenario,
the fleeing thief might run into the waiting arms of his
accomplices. The outnumbered characters might decide
to flee with the thieves in pursuit.