D&D 5E Second Wind: Yes or No?

[Garthanos]

I really don't like 2nd wind in combat (expecially as an encounter resource). It forces the DM to make every combat exceptionally difficult so that players use their 2nd wind .

Second wind was limited by healing surges... if you force the players to use that you have induced the use of daily resources..

And if the party has a healer and you can induce that ... hooot you got them to do it inefficiently.

Can I change my vote.. even limited to once an encounter its still spending a daily.

 

[Jester David]

Second Wind first appeared in Star Wars Saga Edition, where a "bloodied" (half hit points or lower) character could take an action to regain one-quarter of his hit points. This was a daily ability.

In 4e, Second Wind became an encounter resource, and was tied to the concept of healing surges (so you could use it 6 or 7 times per day).

At the moment, DDN has no Second Wind ability. Should it?

It's a great example of something that makes a perfect rules option/ rules module. It's not necessary to play the game and you can add it or remove it without affecting anything else in the rules system. The party can do more encounters per day, but the DM is aware of this and can have harder encounters.

I'd be very surprised if it wasn't already half done in a design document or on a To Do list on a big whiteboard somewhere in the WotC headquarters.

 

[pemerton]

Second wind definitely should be a fairly occasional thing - and my experience of 4E is that, as presented there, it is.

This obviously depends a lot on build details.

I'm guessing that the wizard/invoker and sorcerer in my game have second-winded no more than half-a-dozen times between them in 20 levels of play.

On the other hand, the dwarf fighter second winds every encounter (with Cloak of the Walking Wounded) and is looking at epic feats that let him second wind as a free action and multiple times per encounter.

The paladin, since becoming a 16th level Questing Knight, can second wind as a free action while bloodied.

And the ranger-cleric can use Invigorating Stride to second wind while moving.

That doesn't make it uncinematic, though, at least in my experience. My preference is all drama, all the time!

 

[Baumi]

Why are there so many "No"? I mean what's the harm in having it as an optional Module?

 

[Garthanos]

Why are there so many "No"? I mean what's the harm in having it as an optional Module?

Selfishness and the assertion things are badwrongfun.

 

[Falling Icicle]

I'd like there to be Second Wind, I just really don't want there to be healing surges. Putting a daily limit on how often a character can be healed is a terrible idea, IMO.

 

[sheadunne]

Why are there so many "No"? I mean what's the harm in having it as an optional Module?

Because of the way the poll was worded. If it had been worded, "No, only as an optional module," there might have been more Nos selecting that.

 

[TwoSix]

Putting a daily limit on how often a character can be healed is a terrible idea, IMO.

That's a pretty broad statement. Any particular reason you feel that way?

 

[Ahnehnois]

Why are there so many "No"? I mean what's the harm in having it as an optional Module?

The most obvious reason to answer no to this sort of question is space, both physical space and design space. Why develop the existing health system in a way that many people dislike when it can be developed in other, better ways (which could accomplish the same goal better)? It isn't a question of harm so much as waste.

I mean, why not put every conceivable thing into the game? There's no reason not to, right?

 

[sheadunne]

I'd like there to be Second Wind, I just really don't want there to be healing surges. Putting a daily limit on how often a character can be healed is a terrible idea, IMO.

That's a pretty broad statement. Any particular reason you feel that way?

I agree with there not being a limit on healing in a day. In 4e it works because of the way powers work, but in previous editions healing is "theoretically" limited by spells per a day. Curbing wands, potions, and scrolls would limit healing as well, and for some, that feels like a better alternative than saying a person only has so much capacity to be healed.

And yes, that is also limiting healing but by limiting access to it. I personally don't think it's a 'terrible' idea, I would just rather see it limited by access and not biology (which is what healing surges feel like to me).