Contents
Units of Time
AD&D uses the following units of time for gameplay:
- Turn: 10 minutes (10 rounds)
- Round: 1 minute (10 segments)
- Segment: 6 seconds
Time Unit Breakdown (Table)
| Day | Hours | Turns | Rounds | Segments | Seconds | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day | - | 24 | 144 | 1,440 | 14,400 | 86,400 |
| Hour | - | - | 6 | 60 | 600 | 3,600 |
| Turn | - | - | - | 10 | 100 | 600 |
| Round | - | - | - | - | 10 | 60 |
| Segment | - | - | - | - | - | 6 |
Time Between Sessions
Campaign time between game sessions typically passes at the same rate as real time. For example, if our gaming group meets weekly, a week of campaign time passes between each session.
The Players are thus encouraged to ensure that their characters end each session in a safe location (e.g. back in town). The exception to this is when the GM and Players opt for Locked Time.
See Downtime Activities for detail on the possible activities your characters can take during this time.
Locked Time
The GM and Players may opt to freeze the normal passage of time between sessions for specific characters. For example, if the party is exploring a dungeon and unable to return to a safe haven.
Note that locking characters at a point in time may make them unavailable for adventuring with other characters operating at a different point of our campaign’s timeline.
Downtime Activities
Savvy players will realize that time, as it for all of us, is one of the most precious resources available to their characters.
The passage of campaign time between our sessions allows your characters to perform activities off-stage, such as healing, training for the next level, or traveling.
Characters can use downtime to pursue personal projects and activities, for example:
- Buying and selling
- Conduct research
- Consult a sage
- Make contacts
- Seek out rumors
- Recruit hirelings or henchmen
Let the GM know between sessions if you would like your characters to perform specific actions during their downtime.
Note
I may add a list of specific downtime activities and rules at some point in the future. This sort of menu of options is common in many OSR games. However, for now, I am going to leave undefined. Think about how your character would pursue advantage in the campaign world around them and be creative.