[RPG] How much water do characters require during periods of ‘Extreme Heat’

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PHB p. 185 (or the corresponding section of the basic rules) states:

Water

A character needs one gallon of water per day, or two gallons per day if the weather is hot. A character who drinks only half that much water must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or suffer one level of exhaustion at the end of the day. A character with access to even less water automatically suffers one level of exhaustion at the end of the day. If the character already has one or more levels of exhaustion, the character takes two levels in either case.

DMG p. 110 states:

Extreme Heat

When the temperature is at or above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, a creature exposed to the heat and without access to drinkable water must succeed on a Constitution saving throw at the end of each hour or gain one level of exhaustion. The DC is 5 for the first hour and increases by 1 for each additional hour. Creatures wearing medium or heavy armor, or who are clad in heavy clothing, have disadvantage on the saving throw. Creatures with resistance or immunity to fire damage automatically succeed on the saving throw, as do creatures naturally adapted to hot climates.

What isn't clear is what 'access' entails. How much water does a character need each hour under Extreme Heat conditions?

  • 1 gallon, normally needed for an entire day?
  • Or 2 gallons, normally needed when it is 'hot' but also spread
    across a whole day?
  • Or, does 'access' mean that the amount stays the same under
    'hot' conditions (2 gallons for the whole day), but the number
    of saving throws increases substantially?

Also, if a character has less than 1/2 of whatever that amount is, do they also suffer automatic exhaustion without saving throws?

Best Answer

If you are the DM, you will really need a good reason to force everyone to pay that close attention to water during a play session and you should make sure players are aware that water rationing will play an important part of the session/campaign. Otherwise, the issue will become a source of frustration.

That said,

Characters need to be able to readily consume water to stay hydrated. "Access" means that the requisite amount of water exists and that the character is able to drink it in some way (eg, not chained up at a distance).

First, if a character has less than the necessary amount of water, they should be alerted to the fact that they need to find a source of water at some point during the day.

Failing this, if it's less than 100 degrees, at the conclusion of a day a character is either

  • Forced to roll for exhaustion if they had at least half a gallon at the start of the day
  • Suffers a level automatically if the initial amount was less than half a gallon

If the temperature is greater than 100 degrees (extreme heat), the characters should be directed to take stock of their water at the start of the day and given a timeframe in which they need to locate a source of water.

If a source is not found in that time, the result can be handled in one of two ways, depending on how important the timing of the exhaustion checks is.

  • If the DM intends to have the exhaustion factor into the day's events as a means of increasing the difficulty and adding to the dramatic tension, the rolls take place every hour after the established amount of time has elapsed.
  • If the exhaustion is not intended to be used in this way, the rolls might be done in series once the day ends or a water source is finally located, depending on how many hours elapsed after the water ran out. The exhaustion levels are then carried over the next day(s) until enough rest has accrued for it to wear off.
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