Downtime Activities

Not all learning occurs in classrooms, combat, or sanctioned expeditions.

Downtime represents extended periods between major events, allowing students to rest, indulge, recover, and pursue personal goals — sometimes unwisely.

⏳ When Downtime Occurs

Downtime typically occurs:

• Between academic terms
• After major quests
• During narrative time skips

The GM will announce the duration of downtime and how many activities may be attempted.

🎯 Downtime Actions

During downtime, a student may attempt one primary activity per period, with additional minor activities at the GM’s discretion.

🍷 Indulgence & Excess

Downtime is often when poor decisions are made.

Drinking

• Each alcoholic drink requires a Constitution saving throw
• DC 10, increasing by +2 per additional drink
• On a failure, the character gains +1 level of Exhaustion

Drinking may:

• Grant social advantages in appropriate settings
• Unlock rumours, contacts, or opportunities
• Result in poor judgement, embarrassment, or academic consequences

Exhaustion gained this way persists until properly recovered.

Drugs & Magical Intoxicants

Any student who consumes drugs, stimulants, or unknown substances must:

• Roll on the d100 Magical Intoxicants Table
• Apply effects immediately

During downtime, drug use may:

• Modify rolls for other downtime actions
• Introduce lingering side effects
• Create dependencies or complications

Repeated use without recovery may escalate consequences.

🛌 Rest, Recovery & Sobriety

Recuperation

A downtime period may be spent focusing on recovery.

When taking Recuperation, a student may:

• Remove one level of Exhaustion
• Attempt to mitigate lingering drug effects
• Address stress, fear, or magical backlash

This may involve:

• Bed rest
• Magical care
• Counselling or supervision
• Uncomfortable conversations with staff

Assisted Recovery

If a character seeks professional or magical help:

• Additional Exhaustion may be removed
• Long-term conditions may be reduced
• Faculty attention is guaranteed

Recovery is supported. Questions will be asked.

📚 Study & Preparation

Students may use downtime to:

• Research spells, creatures, or locations
• Prepare for exams
• Gain advantage on a future knowledge-based roll

Substances may modify outcomes:

• Stimulants may grant advantage but risk side effects
• Intoxication may impose disadvantage or complications

🧪 Projects & Experimentation

Downtime may be spent on:

• Crafting or enchanting
• Brewing potions
• Magical experimentation

Drug use or exhaustion may:

• Increase volatility
• Alter results
• Attract unintended attention

💬 Social & Personal Pursuits

Students may:

• Build or strain relationships
• Join clubs or informal groups
• Engage in romantic or rivalrous behaviour
  Drinking and drugs often amplify outcomes — for better or worse.

🎲 Resolution & Consequences

• Some actions resolve narratively
• Others require rolls
• Failure introduces complications, not dead ends
  Accumulated Exhaustion, substance use, or poor decisions may carry forward into active play.

🕯️ Tone & Intent

Downtime is:

• Player-driven
• Consequential
• A space for character development and mistakes

Neverwood pays close attention to how its students behave when no one is watching.

📌 Final Note

If you’re unsure how an indulgence or recovery might interact with your plans, ask.

Poor decisions make excellent stories.