If my Druid Wild Shapes into a warhorse, how long can I "dash", whether to get somewhere, or as a means to escape? I assume there must be a check at some point.
It depends on the context, and it's ultimately up to the DM to determine how long-distance travel and timing outside Initiative is handled.
However, there are rules in the Dungeon Master's Guide for how Chases work that might come into play. Under those rules, you can Dash freely a number of times up to 3 plus your Constitution modifier (thus, for a Warhorse, a total of four times) but after that each attempt to Dash requires succeeding on a DC 10 Constitution saving throw, taking a level of Exhaustion on a failure. Having six levels of Exhaustion is fatal.
I’d add, if you’re looking at long term, the PHB has rules for travel in terms of distance per minute, hour and day, and if you are going at a fast, normal or slow pace. (How far you go at each speed, and the impact the speed has on things like perception checks.) But those, I think assume you are a PC with the standard 30 feet walking speed.
The DMG then has rules about things that go faster. It puts the standard as miler per hour = speed/10. Then you can multiply that by hours traveled to figure your distance. And it includes modifier for going faster or slower, and by terrain type.
The details can be found under the “exploration” section of the respective books.
While not specifically related to a Druid using Wild Shape to turn into a Horse and running away, you could think of it like a 'Chase' if what he is running from is pursuing them, or even thinks they are pursuing them.
Not sure if this helps, but wanted to point it out in case it might...
Cheers!
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Breathe, dragons; sing of the First World, forged out of chaos and painted with beauty. Sing of Bahamut, the Platinum, molding the shape of the mountains and rivers; Sing too of Chromatic Tiamat, painting all over the infinite canvas. Partnered, they woke in the darkness; partnered, they labored in acts of creation.
It just seems dumb to me that a horse would have to test after running/dashing for 480 feet.
Being fatigued after 24 seconds of high speed isn't that unreasonable. The real problem is that its dash speed is only 120'/6 seconds (a bit under 14 mph) -- while D&D movement speeds aren't too unreasonable for movement while fighting and being ready for attacks, they're pretty absurdly slow if all you're trying to do is move fast on level ground.
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If my Druid Wild Shapes into a warhorse, how long can I "dash", whether to get somewhere, or as a means to escape? I assume there must be a check at some point.
It depends on the context, and it's ultimately up to the DM to determine how long-distance travel and timing outside Initiative is handled.
However, there are rules in the Dungeon Master's Guide for how Chases work that might come into play. Under those rules, you can Dash freely a number of times up to 3 plus your Constitution modifier (thus, for a Warhorse, a total of four times) but after that each attempt to Dash requires succeeding on a DC 10 Constitution saving throw, taking a level of Exhaustion on a failure. Having six levels of Exhaustion is fatal.
pronouns: he/she/they
In combat, you can take the Dash action as much as you want. There's no rules against it (unless your DM says otherwise, sure)
I was also going to recommend using the Chases rules as a suggestion, as wagnarokkr mentioned.
Out of combat, I'd follow the rules for Travel and Exploration in the PHB and DMG.
EDIT: for clarity.
It just seems dumb to me that a horse would have to test after running/dashing for 480 feet.
I’d add, if you’re looking at long term, the PHB has rules for travel in terms of distance per minute, hour and day, and if you are going at a fast, normal or slow pace. (How far you go at each speed, and the impact the speed has on things like perception checks.) But those, I think assume you are a PC with the standard 30 feet walking speed.
The DMG then has rules about things that go faster. It puts the standard as miler per hour = speed/10. Then you can multiply that by hours traveled to figure your distance. And it includes modifier for going faster or slower, and by terrain type.
The details can be found under the “exploration” section of the respective books.
Greetings RighthAndyman618,
While not specifically related to a Druid using Wild Shape to turn into a Horse and running away, you could think of it like a 'Chase' if what he is running from is pursuing them, or even thinks they are pursuing them.
In that case you could reference the DMG in the Chase section and look at the rules for extended Dashing:
https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/dnd/dmg-2024/dms-toolbox#Dashing
Not sure if this helps, but wanted to point it out in case it might...
Cheers!
Breathe, dragons; sing of the First World, forged out of chaos and painted with beauty.
Sing of Bahamut, the Platinum, molding the shape of the mountains and rivers;
Sing too of Chromatic Tiamat, painting all over the infinite canvas.
Partnered, they woke in the darkness; partnered, they labored in acts of creation.
Being fatigued after 24 seconds of high speed isn't that unreasonable. The real problem is that its dash speed is only 120'/6 seconds (a bit under 14 mph) -- while D&D movement speeds aren't too unreasonable for movement while fighting and being ready for attacks, they're pretty absurdly slow if all you're trying to do is move fast on level ground.