Do you allow multiple Inspiration?

[77IM]

According to the PHB, a PC either has Inspiration or they don't; you can't accumulate multiple "Inspirations."

However, when I DM, I do exactly that. I allow PCs to earn Inspiration when they already have it, and track how many "Inspirations" they have.

I know I'm not the only DM who allows this, but I'm curious how common it is?

EDIT: Multi-choice poll, because I know some DMs do different things for different campaigns.

 

[Arilyn]

Haven't done it yet, but thinking about allowing three inspiration "points." Advantage is nice, but not a huge deal. If something is impossible for your character, advantage won't help.

 

[Swarmkeeper]

Haven't done it yet, but thinking about allowing three inspiration "points." Advantage is nice, but not a huge deal. If something is impossible for your character, advantage won't help.

This is exactly what I've been doing for some time: players can stack up to three at our tables. I've found that they still hoard them/forget to use them! I'm almost tempted to introduce an expiration date on each inspiration to encourage them to be used - but frankly don't really want to have to track that.

 

[cbwjm]

We're so bad at awarding and using inapiration in the games I play I that I don't think this has ever occurred to anyone.

 

[The Old Crow]

I keep forgetting it exists.

 

[schnee]

I tried it. We stopped using it. It breaks the game. It's super SUPER strong.

Luck is basically one of the most powerful feats. Getting the ability to do that - burn several advantages in one session - trivializes drama. Characters don't really need to use them on a regular basis, so they stockpile them. Then, when you set up something really scary, they burn the 'Inspiration', multiple rounds back to back, and make it through unscathed.

It eliminates failures, and those are some of the best parts of a game - being taken down for a while - fighting back from behind - and still winning.

When we had it, characters got through many situations without even losing hit points or spending hit dice. Then, I had to buff the encounters, which made it swingier.

So, it's tempting, but ultimately we dropped it.

 

[bedir than]

My players are so reluctant to use their inspiration that they've kept them for multiple sessions. A couple have two, a few others just one, maybe others with zero. I don't keep track. They just get a d20 in dark grey/black to track them.

I need to figure out how to get them to use them more often.

 

[Sadras]

My players are so reluctant to use their inspiration that they've kept them for multiple sessions....(snip)...I need to figure out how to get them to use them more often.

You could impose house rules which strip inspiration or nullify inspiration use from/by the PC such as
- when they fall unconscious;
- when they are affected by exhaustion;
- when they are suffering under fear/terror or hopeless-like effects;
- etc...

You could also introduce other ways to use inspiration which might make them more useful
- use them to gain hit points (replenishing the luck component of hit points)
- convert a critical hit on the PC to a regular hit;
- etc...

The above might encourage them to use them more frequently.

 

[Oofta]

My players are so reluctant to use their inspiration that they've kept them for multiple sessions. A couple have two, a few others just one, maybe others with zero. I don't keep track. They just get a d20 in dark grey/black to track them.

I need to figure out how to get them to use them more often.

I've seen this too, some players will never spend inspiration even if you remind them about it. Which is too bad ... and then leads me to forget to hand it out even though other players would probably use it.

While I like the concept of inspiration, I find that it kind of takes me out of the flow as a DM to think about it which I think is one of the reasons I don't use it as often as I thought I would.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

Depends on the group. In our 2 player games I allow for 2 inspirations.