Downtime

West Marches runs in approximately real time. The month and day will always be the same in the world of West Marches as it is in the real world, though the year may be different. Because of this set-up, characters have a lot of time on their hands to do things besides adventuring: they might spend their time working somewhere in town, participating in the popular pit fights, crafting magic items or searching for those who can, training in new skills, socializing and gaining favor with various groups and organizations, or any number of other pursuits.

## Resolving Downtime

Downtime is awarded on a quarterly basis, at the end of each quarter, and characters introduced in winter and spring quarters still gain the benefits of previous quarters' downtime. You can speak with the DM of a game you play in during winter and spring quarters to confirm which downtime option you'd like to take, or you can reach out to @WestMarches\_Questions on the Discord server any time after the end of the previous quarter to handle it. If you choose to do the latter, remember that DMs are volunteers, and they may be busy during break.

## Downtime Options

While there are many ways to flavor how your character achieves such results, there are five options to choose between for your character to have spent the majority of their time pursuing: favor, rank, skill, treasure, or wealth.

### Favor

Your character has spent their time strengthening their connections with those around them, and has earned 4 favors from those they aided. Speak with a DM to choose a group or organization for each favor to come from. These favors can be called in at a later point for assistance in your endeavors, though not at risk of the life of the person rendering the favor.

Examples: a favor from the Adventurers' Guild might be used to get ahold of the most recent map of an area, one from CAT might get you better prices or a wider selection of items from their vendors, one from a Kairosian noble house might get you into a party or event held there or could convince a Sibling to look the other way for a minor transgression, one from a temple might provide you healing or sanctuary, one from one of Freeport's gangs might buy you safe passage through their territory... At the DM's discretion, a favor from a temple can also take the form of a deity's intervention, such as an omen, a vision, or a minor miracle provided at a key moment.

### Rank

Your character has spent their time working for and building relationships with a gang, guild, or other social group that they might be a member of. Gain one rank in your faction. This preserves progress towards your next rank. If you were already rank 4 before taking this downtime, it counts instead as two major contributions.

### Skill

Your character has been hitting the books, perhaps to shore up some weaknesses or add some versatility to their repertoire. Gain proficiency with two of: a skill, a set of tools, or a language. You may not choose two skills, but may mix and match as desired otherwise.

### Treasure

Whether through searching, favors, or your own crafting, your character has spent their time questing for artifacts of great power. Gain one uncommon (non-consumable) magic item, two uncommon consumable items, or two common magic items. Alternatively, spend 1500gp and gain one rare item. Any magic item from published material and of appropriate rarity that has been approved for use in West Marches **except the Robe of Useful Items\*** may be chosen for this purpose. A custom magic item may also be approved for this.

The rare option is available only for the second instance of downtime, over spring break.

**\*Note:** Due to this being a mid-season ruling, you may still take a Robe of Useful Items for the **first instance of downtime**, over winter break, even if your choice of downtime has been delayed.

### Wealth

Your character has been hard at work doing small jobs, spending time in the fight pits, gambling, or anything else that fits the loose definition of a career. Gain 800gp.