Tabletop RPG Player Tips: Camping in Campaigns
Camping is a necessity for parties journeying on a long campaign. It’s a long standing tradition of most fantasy roleplaying games. Between dangerous ruins, haunted forests, and long, dusty roads, adventurers eventually need to stop, eat, and heal up from the beating they just took. A well-run campsite can mean the difference between a good night’s sleep and a nightmare of difficulties.
Choosing a Campsite
Where the party camps matters. A good campsite offers protection, concealment, and access to resources. Do you camp just off the road? Or do you find a more hidden location, away from prying eyes? What are some of the commonly known dangers of the environment? What is the weather like? All these are things to consider when sourcing a safe campsite.
Common Camping Locations
Hilltops: Good visibility, harder to ambush, but exposed to wind and weather.
Forests: Offers concealment and firewood, but creatures may be nearby.
Ruins: Walls and shelter can help, though old places may already be occupied.
Caves: Protection from storms, but always risky without scouting.
Riverbanks: Easy access to water, though floods and wandering animals can become problems.
Roadside Inns or Waystations: Safer but more expensive and often full of rumors or trouble.
I encourage you to think like a traveler. Is your party trying to hide? Stay warm? Avoid monsters? Keep horses safe? These choices help make the world feel alive.
Establishing Guard Shifts
Guard duty is an important part of wilderness survival. Someone staying awake can prevent ambushes, spot danger, or notice strange events during the night.
Simple Guard Rotation for a party of four:
First Watch – Sunset to late evening
Second Watch – Late evening to midnight
Third Watch – Midnight to pre-dawn
Fourth Watch – Pre-dawn to sunrise
Volunteer for shifts based on your character’s strengths:
Elves or characters who need less sleep may take extra watches
Rangers or druids may prefer late-night wilderness observation
Rogues often enjoy quiet scouting around cam.
Campfires and Food
Food is often ignored in RPGs, but it can add flavor and realism.
Sources of Food
Trail rations
Hunting or fishing
Foraging
Purchased meals
Monster meat (sometimes a bad idea)
A campfire provides warmth, cooking, and comfort, but it also creates light and smoke that may attract attention. Some parties avoid fires entirely in dangerous territory.
Fun Camp Meal Ideas
Rabbit stew with gathered herbs
Hard bread and dried fish
Mushroom soup from cave foraging
“Questionable” goblin jerky
Other things to consider include:
Weather conditions
Light sources
Noise levels in camp
Natural cover and concealment