D&D 5E Aren't Short Rest classes *better* in "story-based" games rather than dungeon crawls?

Asisreo

Patron Badass
The problem with short rest classes is that it’s the long rest classes who set the pace. Yes, theoretically the warlock can take enough short rests over the course of a day to cast more spells than the wizard can. But not if the wizard uses up all their spells before the warlock has had a chance to take a single short rest and then demands the party call it quits for the day.
Why does it matter that the warlock short rests? Unless the party is actively moving, there's no obligation that the entire party must short rest at once. So the warlock can simply say "keep looking around, I'll take a short rest and regain my slots."

It's not really abusing the system either. The designers are well-aware that players can do this. That's why Warlocks don't have spells like Animate Dead.

I don't know why a different player would feel compelled to rest when a different character can simply rest while they move. And a smart party could invest in a carriage so that even when the party moving, the warlock can still short rest.

Kinda thematic too, right. "Oh, we need someone to change all of our appearances. Let's ask the warlock meditating in the carriage whether he can do it." "Yes, my connection with the Archfey allows me to adjust our appearance. I shall cast the spell, then I shall take a moment to concentrate on my magical power again."

It seems like this is the intended way for Warlocks to be played outside of combat. It's like if a group was actively making sure the wizard doesn't have enough gold to copy spells into their book. That would suck for the wizard player because they're not allowed to play their game.
 

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el-remmen

Moderator Emeritus
I have no limits on short rests save what seems reasonable in a given place set of circumstances. That being said, during "adventure time" I think the greatest number of short rests my groups have taken in a day is four, but usually it is more like one or two.

While 20+ short rests is absurd, characters can try to take as many as they like. I do think it'd get frustrating if these short rests were frequently interrupted by events (and have to be started over) or if things happen while the PC(s) are resting that makes the adventure harder over all.
 


I think the only time I'd put a kibosh on short rests would be if someone tried that Coffeelock nonsense in one of my games.

While you are correct, rules-as-written, a great many GMs place a limit on how many short rests you can take - the most common I've seen is that you can take a maximum of 2 short rests between long rests.

On the whole, I think short- vs. long- rest based classes generally even out in the wash, but in many Adventurers League scenarios, I've noticed that the opportunity to take a long rest is generally rare, so there's some utility to the short rest-based abilities.
 

Ever actually been the person at work who is constantly not working?
Or been the opposite?

The narrative creates limits because no one will want to be around the individual who is constantly badgering the team for another break.
How is this an answer to my question? I asked if there was a reason to impose a hard limit.
 

bedir than

Full Moon Storyteller
How is this an answer to my question? I asked if there was a reason to impose a hard limit.
Because when you work with someone who constantly refuses to work you quickly learn that one of you doesn't need to work there.
D&D is a cooperative game. if your character's version of cooperation is "everyone has to take care of me and serve me while I rest" I'm out. That character isn't participating in an ensemble. They're telling a story where they are the only character of importance.
 

Because when you work with someone who constantly refuses to work you quickly learn that one of you doesn't need to work there.
D&D is a cooperative game. if your character's version of cooperation is "everyone has to take care of me and serve me while I rest" I'm out. That character isn't participating in an ensemble. They're telling a story where they are the only character of importance.
What exactly are you on about here?

I don't think short rests have to take place in real time.
 
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bedir than

Full Moon Storyteller
What exactly are you on about here?

I don't think short rests have to take place in real time.
Then you aren't playing RAW nor RAI nor are you playing a modern story game.
My character isn't going to be constantly doing things that yours refuses to do just because you found a mechanical exploit
 

Then you aren't playing RAW nor RAI nor are you playing a modern story game.
My character isn't going to be constantly doing things that yours refuses to do just because you found a mechanical exploit
You're replies are all over the place and not making any sense.

Is there a problem which is solved by imposing a limit on the number short rests while leaving their duration unchanged?

What exactly is that problem? (And has it actually come up in play?)
 

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