Elevated Battle Arena

This map features a simple, large battle arena with a few features:

• An elevated set of platforms that are 5, 15, and 25, above the ground. Each platform is climbable, with the 5′ naturally being the easiest to access. The platforms are connected via wooden bridges.
• Walls: 10′ tall walls are erected throughout the arena to provide full cover for competitors
• Ice traps: when players are within 5′ of the trap, an explosion of cold air comes out of the vents. Creatures must succeed on a CON saving throw or be slowed for 1d4 turns
• Fire traps: when players are within 5′ of the trap, a fireball bursts from the vent. Creatures must succeed on a DEX saving throw. Fails take severe fire damage, and successes take half the rolled damage.
• Oil traps: when creatures are within’ 5′ of the traps, oil overflows from the vents. The area around the vent either counts as difficult terrain or you can have creatures roll DEX saves to navigate successfully.

Uses for the map:

• Have characters compete in a battle royale or team fight to qualify for a guild
• Battle royale where winner(s) take magical items
• A test of skills to join a faction or work for a group of mercenaries, proving the party is capable to complete the desired challenge/quest to be assigned

I made this map for a sort of prologue for my most recent campaign. The party was made up of creatures who wanted to go on grand quests; in order to do so, they found a small guild in the town they started out in and figured out how to join. They participated in a battle royale, after which the team was created by the corrupt guild leader, with a few of the NPCs joining the guild as well (either to help in the guild hall with local jobs or as part of other teams). This chapter 0, of sorts, allowed me to teach my new players how most aspects of D&D 5e combat work, as well as offering the party a host of allies they could call upon as needed.