>>43253999>Running low on food stores can force PCs to go out foraging in exotic environments, hunt down strange beasts, experiment with how to actually eat them, etc. The entire escapade could lead to them accidentally violating some sacred grove's law, causing the natives to hunt them down and seek retribution, leading to the PCs either somehow parlaying with them and actually recieving some boon or at least compromise, or them simply murdering everyone, which may land them in even deeper shit.Yes, but this is, as I said, exceptional situations. Most of the time, the adventurers will have enough food, or will be able to hunt/search for it without problems.
Of course, there could be shenanigans and troubles on the way, like disturbing a dangerous monster while doing so or angering the natives, but this can't happen every time, otherwise it loses its purpose. If there is nothing special, the characters can just search for food or eat what they've have.
> The PCs just needing to sleep means they may actually have to seek out civilization from time to time, leading them to meet whatever interesting locals live there.And this is covered by the "encountering peculiar beings" and "interacting with the world". Maybe the merchant stopping at the inn has a request for the characters. Maybe the sherif is a cult leader. Maybe there is strange sounds at night, and animals are stolen. Or maybe it's something more mundane, but still a nice interaction, like a bard singing about the PCs' last adventure.
The thing is, if it's not peculiar in some way, it can just be covered by "you do X"
Sure, making sure you have enough water is important in the thirsty desert, but not when there is a village's well at 20 min. Unless the GM has decided there is something exceptional with this well.
In the same way, Odysseus's crew lacking food is important when they're stuck on the Sun's island, but it's not important for the narrative when they can find food without problems
