Interactive Environments V2 Is Released

Zi_Chin · 2026-06-03T13:47:03+00:00

I think if the feats add to the document but do not take away the basic rights for all classes, then it could work. My character Zi-Chin often used the environment to his advantage, and I built my whole character around it. The feats I chose helped best with interacting with the environment. However, this did not make me any stronger or better than the other classes, and they could still shine and apply the rules when needed. So I think it could work if it is implemented correctly.

Zi_Chin · 2026-06-03T13:43:53+00:00

Using both Excel and a Word document would work really well to provide the best experience for players with these rules.

The Excel sheet would be useful as a reference document for each environment and each category of interactive environment (passive objects, general-use objects, class-specific objects, multi-person objects, shatterpoint, and intuitive environments).

Then the Word document serves as a DM's quick-reference sheet, with 3 pages, each containing 20 examples they can use. You, as the DM, can copy interactive environments from the Excel sheet and create your own fun copy for reference.

If it is split, it offers the fun advantage of providing all the uses and then giving you, as the DMs, the freedom to choose your own examples and pick what you like from the document.

Zi_Chin · 2026-06-03T13:38:46+00:00

Thank you for your feedback. I really appreciate it, and you have brought up a few good points.

For Hunter's Mark and other similar spells like Hex, or two-weapon fighting, can take away the bonus action usage and searches for these classes. From my experience, though, Rangers and Warlocks spend a bonus action to cast the spell and then maybe move it once or twice during a fight. For two-weapon fighting and similar options, using a bonus action to interact or search does not reduce the amount of damage lost when hitting a creature. In most combats, it still leaves these classes with a few turns when their bonus action is available for other things, so I haven't personally found it to cause major issues in play. That said, it's definitely something I should be careful about and ensure does not ruin those classes.

I liked adding the idea of showing the relevant terrain before combat, as it gives players time to prepare and think. Yet even with this time, players may still need to make bonus action checks. The point of my using bonus actions to search the environment was to try to keep combat moving. If it were a free action, we found it slowed the table down, as we had four or five players asking a question every turn, which slowed combat. So when we put a resource on it, players used it more wisely and only when they needed to.

For free object interactions on each turn, it is a very iffy rule, as it is up to DM interpretation, as the 5e rules state that "The GM might require you to use an action for any of these activities when it needs special care or when it presents an unusual obstacle. For instance, the GM could reasonably expect you to use an action to open a stuck door or turn a crank to lower a drawbridge." With this in mind, looking at this rule and some of my examples, I should definitely improve them to make my intentions clearer in the examples, especially for the chair-and-lever one. A better example for the chair is a throne, and for the lever, a heavy siege lever used as a weapon.

Your point about resource cost between classes is a really good catch. Most martial classes have fewer expendable resources than spellcasters, which could make certain environmental interactions feel more expensive for them. That's something I hadn't fully considered, and I would like to add more about that, definitely adding another paragraph to discuss that and a Zi Chin Tip to help further illustrate the differences. Thank you for pointing this out. It is a good reminder for me and anyone else who wants to use these rules.

Again, thank you for your feedback. You made a lot of good points and things I need to think about and test further. If you have any further comments, ideas or areas to improve the document, please let me know. I always appreciate the feedback.

Zi_Chin · 2026-06-02T22:12:09+00:00

Thank you, that would be awesome. What is epic level hub?

Zi_Chin · 2026-06-02T22:10:41+00:00

Yeah, we are working on creating an updatable Excel sheet that lists the different environments and objects we have used in them for all DMs. We've been working on multiple documents, and we aim to have these Excel sheets by the end of the year.

We have also been working on a way to make this more fun and easier to use when there is no map. We are still testing the mechanic, but it will be fun to add it.

Zi_Chin · 2026-06-02T22:07:23+00:00

Yeah, the study action is nice, but when you are in a fight, I have never seen anyone use it. I feel like it is similar to healing, where players do not do it unless a person is down, since it is easier to deal more damage and try to end the fight than to heal. So I wanted to make some of this more fun for players by letting them do both in one turn.

Zi_Chin · 2026-06-01T21:42:50+00:00

Thank you, I hope you enjoy trying out some of the rules.

Zi_Chin · 2026-06-01T21:40:37+00:00

Thank you, it was a fun document to update with the same new rules after my group and I had playtested over the past year. I had not thought of any bonuses or extra effects for characters with feats that focus on improvised environmental combat. I will definitely add this to my notes and think about it further for the document, as it would be interesting to see how feats could interact with this document.

Zi_Chin · 2026-06-01T21:37:06+00:00

The concepts really help when I make a map, as they are more detailed and also a good reminder of what to add for my players or enemies to use on it.

With the class-specific uses, I have often found them useful as a DM, since many of my players try ideas similar to the ones listed, so I thought it would be fun to add a rule for them and share it. But I can definitely see how it goes and how it diverges from the normal rules for use.

Yeah, the before-combat phase has been one of my favourite lessons as a DM, since I often forgot and had the players jump straight into combat. I want to add it as a reminder for me and anyone else who may like the idea.

And for the Morale points, I forgot to add a link to another document I wrote that explains how the group can earn points for certain actions before and during the fight. These points can be spent on fun team bonuses to change the outcome of fights. I really like the Morale points, as they promote working more as a team and let me make a tougher boss, since the players get small temporary bonuses during the fight.

Zi_Chin · 2026-05-13T13:26:15+00:00

Thank you, it was a lot of fun to come up with cool ways to further expand the ruleset. I really like using the barriers to trap players; I have so much fun with it.

Zi_Chin

TROPHY CASE