Tips for rangers seeking to find food with their Survival checks. Use these ideas for roleplaying if you are playing a ranger, or as a narrative guide if you’re a DM. Trust me, I’m an Eagle Scout.
Finding edible plants is a consistent way to find food in the wild. Lacks in protein, but is rich in necessary vitamins and minerals.
Tips:
Some plants tend to grow near one another. Identifying one could lead you to finding the other.
Learn toxic look-alikes. Some plants have evolved to look poisonous to help it survive.
Don’t just use your eyes, use your sense of smell and touch to identify a plant.
Know which plants you can find in certain areas and in certain seasons.
Most non-evil rangers will not over-harvest plants as it could kill the plant, and other travelers may need it. Besides, the ranger could always return later, especially if they have the Outlander background’s “Wanderer” feature. Harvesting only 25% of the edible part of the plant should let the plant thrive.
When near water, check to make sure the water looks relatively safe. Plants will pick up toxins from filthy water.
Timing:
Plants where you eat the stalks or leaves are best harvested before they flower.
Plants where you eat the flower are best harvested right before their flower is the largest.
Roots are best harvested in autumn when the rest of the plant has shriveled up.
Harvest in the morning, after the dew dries but before the heat of day sets in.
Signs a Plant Could be Poisonous:
Milky sap
Hairs or thorns
Seed pods
Bitter or soapy taste
Dill, carrot, parsnip, or parsley-like leaves
“Almond” scent in the woody parts and leaves
Grain heads with pink, purplish, or black spurs
Three-leaved growth pattern
Testing Edible Plants:
Wash the plant
Rub the plant on your skin
If no reaction, rub the plant on your lips
If no reaction, eat a small portion of the plant
If no reaction, the plant should be safe to eat
Common Edible Plants:
These are real-world examples of edible plants. Give them unique fantasy names for that authentic D&D vibe.
Dandelions: every part is edible
Sorrel: leaves are edible
Wild Garlic: leaves, bulbs, and flowers are edible
Good King Henry: eat the shoots like asparagus
Burdock: eat the seeds, leaves, and root
Cattail: every part is edible. best near base or the flower spike.
Clovers: eat the leaves.
Yarrow: eat the leaves
Green Seaweed: rinse, dry, and eat.
Kelp: rinse, dry, and eat.
Prickly Pear: eat the purple/red fruit or young stem, remove spines first.
White Mustard: entire plant is edible.
Chicory: entire plant is edible.
Amaranth: boil first, careful of spines..
Stinging Nettle: eat the leaves, soak or cook to weaken possible stings.
Berries: Blueberries, Blackberries, and Raspberries are common in the wild.
Organized Chaos 