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Mastering the Wild / Weather in the Wilderness / Temperature Variations and Precipitation

Temperature Variations

Source Ultimate Wilderness pg. 166
Weather is constantly changing, and a significant aspect of that change is the temperature. For the purposes of this system, it’s easiest to assume that the daily temperature remains relatively static during daylight hours and then drops by 2d6+3 degrees during the night.

When setting a day’s temperature in a terrain, you can roll on the temperature variations table appropriate to the climate; the result determines how you should alter the adjusted baseline temperature, and also suggests the duration of that change. You can also use the tables without rolling for a result, consulting them as a guide to help you make decisions about variations in temperature.

For terrain in a cold region, roll on Table 4–15: Cold Region Temperature Variations. Temperature variations in this climate trend colder and last for a long period of time. For terrain in a temperate region, roll on Table 4–16: Temperate Region Temperature Variations. Temperature variations in this climate are about as likely to swing warmer or colder, and such variations tend to last for shorter periods. If you need to establish a day’s temperature for terrain in a temperate region, you can roll on Table 4–17: Tropical Region Temperature Variations. Temperature variations for tropical climates trend warm but for even shorter periods.

Table 4-15: Cold Region Temperature Variations

d%VariationDuration
1-20-3d10° F1d4 days
21-40-2d10° F1d6+1 days
41-60-1d10° F1d6+2 days
61-80No variation1d6+2 days
81-95+1d10° F1d6+1 days
96-99+2d10° F1d4 days days
100+3d10° F1d2 days days


Table 4-16: Temperate Region Temperature Variations

d%VariationDuration
1-5-3d10° F1d2 days
6-15-2d10° F1d4 days
16-35-1d10° F1d6+1 days
36-65No variation1d6+1 days
66-85+1d10° F1d6+1 days
86-95+2d10° F1d4 days days
96-100+3d10° F1d2 days days


Table 4-17: Tropical Region Temperature Variations

d%VariationDuration
1-10-2d10° F1d2 days
11-25-1d10° F1d2 days
26-55No variation1d4 days
56-85+1d10° F1d4 days
86-100+2d10° F1d2 days days