It’s never too late to learn something new! In between adventures, your character can spend their time learning something new that might aid them in their future endeavours. Whether it’s learning a new language or learning to use a new set of tools, self improvement is an excellent way to spend time in preparing for the future.
With DTDM agreement, Training can be done anywhere there's a suitable trainer.
In order to learn effectively, your character will need a teacher who is proficient in the desired language or tool set. The teacher may be either another character who agrees to help or a suitable NPC your character has met previously.
This DTA can be carried out spending either Light or Taxing DTA slots over multiple DT weeks. Only 1 Light DTA slot per DT week can be spent for this DTA.
When training is provided by an NPC, The DTDMs must authorise use of the NPC prior to starting and will declare the cost your character must pay to them for the training. Typically, this will be 12 gp per Light DTA slot worth of training. The DTDMs may rule this price is increased or decreased based on the specific situation or relationship you have with that NPC.
When training is provided by another character, the terms of the training may be established directly between the two characters. For every DTA slot spent training by the trainee, the teacher must also spend 1 Light DTA slot.
Learning a language or new set of skills is a long process and requires consistent effort. Ultimately, the DTDMs will rule how much time is required to learn a language or tool proficiency, however, you can refer to the Language and Tools Training table for a guide on the expected number of required Taxing DTA slots—or Light slots equivalent.
When learning a new language, the learning time is further reduced by 1 Taxing DTA slot if the learner already knows at least 4 languages.
Note that thieves' cant and druidic cannot be learned using this DTA and do not count when calculating the number of languages a character already knows.
If your character lost a language, tool, or gaming set proficiency as a result of transferring from 5e to 5.5e rules, the learning time to reacquire that proficiency can be reduced by a further 3 Taxing DTA slots.
Consistent learning is required to effectively retain the training you undertake. From the second consecutive DT week away from your training onwards, you will lose one week of progress already made for each week of missed training. A character may spend 1 Light DTA slot practicing without a teacher to prevent the loss of progress, however, this may not be done over consecutive weeks.
Language and Tools Training
Language / Tool | Learning Time (Taxing DTA Slots) |
Tool sets / Gaming Sets | 10 − INT Modifier |
Standard Languages | 10 − INT Modifier |
Rare Languages | 15 − INT Modifier |
You can refer to the Player's Handbook if you are unsure what qualifies as a 'Standard' and 'Rare' language
Complications that arise while training typically involve the teacher. Training up to 10 Taxing DTA slots brings a 10% chance of a complication. Each extra Taxing DTA slot spent on training adds a 2% chance.
Training Complications
d6 | Complication |
1 | Your teacher disappears before your training is completed, forcing you to spend time and resources in finding another one. Your learning time increases by 2 Taxing DTA slots or you pay extra 5 gp x Taxing DTA slots required for learning time to quickly find a replacement. |
2 | Your teacher has a strange method of teaching that makes it difficult to learn. Make an Intelligence check (DC15) to attempt to adjust to it. On a failed check, your learning time increases by 30%. On a success, your learning time increases by 15% (rounded up). |
3 | You agree to help your teacher with a project they are working on without asking for details. Your next available taxing DTA slot must be spent carrying out the crime DTA as you help them "acquire" some rare materials. (Crime DTA DC15). Alternatively you will have to pause the training and wait 3 extra available DT |
4 | Your teacher has taught you a rather obscure dialect of the chosen language or an obsolete set of practices with the chosen tool. Your learning time increases by 2 Taxing DTA slots or you need to pay another teacher 15% of the original full training cost extra (maximum 100 gp) to get you up to speed immediately. |
5 | You get into a heated argument with your teacher who now refuses to train you unless you pay 30% of the full training cost extra (maximum of 150 gp). |
6 | Your teacher completes your training, but only on the promise that you teach them a new language or tool proficiency too. For the next 1d4 available DT weeks, you must use 1 light DTA slot each week providing training. |
Variant Option: Mutual Training
Tabrud's Yard in Daring Heights hosts a community of mutual support where, among other things, people help each other learn new skills. At Tabrud's Yard a player character can learn a new tool or language without payment, in exchange for teaching another (NPC) member of the community something that they are proficient in (which does not have to be a tool or language but could, for example, be a weapon or skill). Acquiring a new language or tool proficiency in this way takes double the number of slots that it otherwise would, as each slot represents time spent both learning and teaching; but no payment is required.
As usual, Light or Taxing DTA slots can be spent, but only 1 Light slot can be spent per downtime window. As player characters teach new languages and tools to the community there, they will be added to the list. For the purpose of calculating the chance of a complication, treat the learning time as if it were not doubled. Some complications may need to be 'reflavoured' or adjusted to make sense in the context of Tabrud's Yard: consult DTDMs if you roll a complication.
The tools and languages that can currently be learned at Tabrud's Yard are listed here:
any standard language;
any gaming set;
brewer's supplies;
carpenter's tools;
cobbler's tools;
cook's utensils;
herbalism kit;
land vehicles;
leatherworker's tools;
potter's tools;
smith's tools;
tinker's tools;
weaver's tools;
woodcarver's tools.