D&D 5E Does anyone actually track rations?

[The Human Target]

You know, the Goodberry spell description starts with, "Up to ten berries appear in your hand..." That doesn't mean 10 berries appear, it means that there could be as many as ten berries or as little as one. The spell doesn't specify that the caster gets to choose how many berries appear, either.

To me, that means the DM determines, whether by fiat or random d10 roll. So if only two berries appear for a party of four, is the Druid or Ranger going to use up another slot? And that's the main difference to using this spell vs rations; the balancing of limited resources. If the caster has to use two or three spell slots every day to feed the party, that's going to have an effect on their combat and exploration tasks.

As a player I'd be very upset with that ruling.

As it stands, the spell is great in very rare circumstances and in the day to day at best just saves the party a tiny bit of money on rations.

Using up a precious first level spell for Goodberry seems very reasonable to me, no need to nerf it intentionally or unintentionally.

 

[MG.0]

If a DM tried to pull that crap on me, I'd flip the table.

Pull what, exactly?

Making a d10 roll for Goodberry? I assumed that's how it worked, since it clearly says "up to 10".

Any player that flipped a table at my game would never be allowed back, and if it were my table, would probably be leaving in a squad car.


Edit: personally I'm thinking of reinstating at least some of the 1st/2nd edition limitations of the spell - namely the requirement for fresh picked berries. The spell doesn't create them, it only enchants them. That makes a lot more sense.

 

[The Human Target]

Pull what, exactly?

Making a d10 roll for Goodberry? I assumed that's how it worked, since it clearly says "up to 10".

Any player that flipped a table at my game would never be allowed back, and if it were my table, would probably be leaving in a squad car.


Edit: personally I'm thinking of reinstating at least some of the 1st/2nd edition limitations of the spell - namely the requirement for fresh picked berries. The spell doesn't create them, it only enchants them. That makes a lot more sense.

If a DM wants to ban or house rule something, they're free too. What were talking about is just aa weird ruling.

If you were to roll a d10 for Goodberry, the spell would say so. This edition really isn't that obscurely worded.

"Up to 10 berries appear in your hand" is awkwardly worded, I admit.

Flipping the table is a joke. I assumed that was incredibly obvious, but this is the internet.

 

[zingbobco000]

Pull what, exactly?

Making a d10 roll for Goodberry? I assumed that's how it worked, since it clearly says "up to 10".

Any player that flipped a table at my game would never be allowed back, and if it were my table, would probably be leaving in a squad car.


Edit: personally I'm thinking of reinstating at least some of the 1st/2nd edition limitations of the spell - namely the requirement for fresh picked berries. The spell doesn't create them, it only enchants them. That makes a lot more sense.

The flipping tables part aside, I disagree that the spell is supposed to have you roll for it. It seems perfectly natural to me that the druid/ranger could choose how many berries they wanted and it puts a horrible limitation in comparison to all of the other spells, because of that let's do a quick comparison. Healing Word: 1d4+(3, average wisdom for low level druid) (5) + 1d4 / spell slot, bonus action
Cure Wounds: 1d8+(3 again) (7) + 1d8 / spell slot, action
Goodberry: According to the way you stated 1d10 (5), action to eat each individual berry

So, not only does the bonus action heal more then the action to eat each berry but it also scales at least 2x better so it only makes sense to me that it would be 10 for each casting.

 

[The Human Target]

Pull what, exactly?

Making a d10 roll for Goodberry? I assumed that's how it worked, since it clearly says "up to 10".

Any player that flipped a table at my game would never be allowed back, and if it were my table, would probably be leaving in a squad car.


Edit: personally I'm thinking of reinstating at least some of the 1st/2nd edition limitations of the spell - namely the requirement for fresh picked berries. The spell doesn't create them, it only enchants them. That makes a lot more sense.

If a DM wants to ban or house rule something, they're free to do so. What we're talking about is just a weird ruling.

If you were to roll a d10 for Goodberry, the spell would say so. This edition really isn't that obscurely worded.

"Up to 10 berries appear in your hand" is awkwardly worded, I admit.

I edited the snark from my previous comment.

 

[MG.0]

"Up to 10 berries appear in your hand" is awkwardly worded, I admit. I edited the snark from my previous comment.

Yes it is weirdly worded. Now that I think about it, it does seem the number might be left up to the caster.

No problem.

 

[I'm A Banana]

I'm fond of tracking resources and encumbrance, but I don't like the detailed "pixel bitching" that accounts for every single pound of equipment, so my plan for my next game is to handle it in a slightly different way (ripped from Pillars of Eternity): you can hold up to four days' worth of Supplies. Whenever you do a long rest, you use up one days' worth of Supplies (unless you're in an inn or otherwise provided for).

This (a) keeps the accounting of exact poundage pretty low, and (b) keeps a hard cap on how many days worth of Supplies you can carry.

Want more than 4 days' worth of supplies? Get a pack animal, get a cart.

I'm also cribbing the idea of a "resting bonus", that is, a power-up you can get with a particularly good rest. Like the halfling cook can make a fine rabbit stew and you'd get advantage on one CON save the next day, or you stay at an opulent inn room and you get advantage on a CHA check the next day.

 

[Wolf118]

Yes it is weirdly worded. Now that I think about it, it does seem the number might be left up to the caster.

No problem.

Probably something the DM and Player should agree upon beforehand. Previous editions were a random amount, but that doesn't mean it has to be the same in 5e.

As far as using it for healing, that's only a secondary function of the spell. Goodberry's prime use in previous editions was to replace food/rations. First off, you only got 2d8, and secondly you could only benefit from a max of 8 points of healing within 24 hours.

 

[Rya.Reisender]

Probably something the DM and Player should agree upon beforehand.

While you're at it, better make sure the DM doesn't put a houserule that Disciple of Life doesn't stack with Goodberry.

 

[GX.Sigma]

As it stands, the spell is great in very rare circumstances and in the day to day at best just saves the party a tiny bit of money on rations.

Using up a precious first level spell for Goodberry seems very reasonable to me, no need to nerf it intentionally or unintentionally.

I disagree.

It lasts 24 hours. Therefore, if you cast it right before taking a long rest (or even better, right before finishing a long rest, and yes you can do that by RAW), you get your spell slot back and you have free food and healing for the entire next day.

Just ask my players, they do it every single day.

The spell is great in very common circumstances.

In my opinion, it desperately needs a nerf.