D&D (2024) One D&D playtest, abilities that recharge when you roll initiative.

[fluffybunbunkittens]

There were times when it was problematic in 4e that something recharged every 5 minutes (like Eladrin teleports)... So on the face of it, an hour between uses (without taking away from its combat availability) is actually an improvement on 4e.

With the caveat that it encourages meta stuff like, 'I pick a fight with a squirrel/kid/hobo' if the abilities are something that would be useful out of combat.

 

[UngainlyTitan]

I base my assertion on past discussions where he has been quite openly hostile to and about 4e. Past words color present ones.

Was he? I have not noticed but I thought you opening was a bit hostile.

If he is hostile to 4e but likes the idea of a power that recharges on a long rest, short rest or on an initiative roll should that not be encouraged as it would, functionally, allow the return to encounter powers (which I quite liked) to D&D?

 

[Minigiant]

There were times when it was problematic in 4e that something recharged every 5 minutes (like Eladrin teleports)... So on the face of it, an hour between uses (without taking away from its combat availability) is actually an improvement on 4e.

With the caveat that it encourages meta stuff like, 'I pick a fight with a squirrel/kid/hobo' if the abilities are something that would be useful out of combat.

D&D needs 3 rests.

A 5 minute rest for a quick breather
A 1 hour rest for a short activity
A 8 hour rest for a full collapse of activity

with optional 1 week and 1 month rests for downtime

 

[UngainlyTitan]

D&D needs 3 rests.

A 5 minute rest for a quick breather
A 1 hour rest for a short activity
A 8 hour rest for a full collapse of activity

with optional 1 week and 1 month rests for downtime

What would you have the rest do?

 

[Aldarc]

Was he? I have not noticed but I thought you opening was a bit hostile.

If he is hostile to 4e but likes the idea of a power that recharges on a long rest, short rest or on an initiative roll should that not be encouraged as it would, functionally, allow the return to encounter powers (which I quite liked) to D&D?

I'm fine with anyone liking recharges on Initiative roll, but liking recharge on Initiative doesn't require hating on 4e's encounter powers and spreading misinformation about 4e to do so.

 

[darjr]

@Aldarc I do take issue with your hostility. I’m not hating on 4e.

Actually I recently posted on Twitter that Ranger abilities as spells is kinda like 4e powers if you squint.

And yes I like that better. And yes for many of the same reasons.

Even though I recognize the problem many have with a magical Ranger.

 

[Aldarc]

@Aldarc I do take issue with your hostility. I’m not hating in 4e.

Actually I recently posted on Twitter that Ranger abilities as spells is kinda like 4e powers if you squint.

And yes I like that better. And yes for many of the same reasons.

Even though I recognize the problem many have with a magical Ranger.

Okay, though I may quibble with your other points here, I will retract my assertion that you are hating on 4e.

 

[Krachek]

It’s a game, I can manage that.
I have think about giving « legendary power » to my players, with a restriction: You can only use this power once per session!
So a recharge on initiative, is fair enough to be usable.

 

[Bagpuss]

What? It corresponds to someone starting a fight. In fiction.

So pretty much the same as an 4E's Encounter powers then, but limited to only combat situations.

If you think "rolling for initiative" represents something in the fiction, I'm not sure how you can say 4E's short rests (which aren't the same as 5e's) don't represent something in the fiction either? It's that moment you get your breath back after a fight and the adrenaline dies down.

 

[Aldarc]

So pretty much the same as an 4E's Encounter powers then, but limited to only combat situations.

This IMHO moves the game closer to revolving around combat rather than otherwise. This switch is interesting because it's fundamentally Recharge per Combat rather than Recharge per Rest.

I don't mind, but it's hard to imagine how recharging on rolling Initiative* as an isolated mechanic is somehow less "video gamey" than 4e's encounter powers that recharged based on rest.

* Combat starts. Roll for Initiative! The video game combat music plays. The pixelated characters get in their swaying combat poses. The abilities have now recharged.