D&D General Huge Equipment Lists: Good, Bad, or Ugly?

[Oofta]

Best use of a 10 foot pole:

 

[Clint_L]

It's not just that there's no rule for it, there's no encouragement for DMs to just use plain common sense, as in:

DM: "It's raining, chilly, and a breeze is starting to blow. If you don't have a tent or other means of shelter you won't be getting enough rest tonight to recover any spells or hit points."

Of course, this is also the edition that lets you sleep in armour, so I suppose I shouldn't get my hopes up too high.

I just…apply common sense. I’m curious as to how many DMs would allow characters to sleep in armour, for example, in any edition. Being attacked in the night and having to fight unarmored is a fun challenge; it happened just a couple sessions ago.

 

[Bayushi_seikuro]

I just…apply common sense. I’m curious as to how many DMs would allow characters to sleep in armour, for example, in any edition. Being attacked in the night and having to fight unarmored is a fun challenge; it happened just a couple sessions ago.

I'm reminded of this from 2009 Afghanistan.

 

[borringman]

I just…apply common sense. I’m curious as to how many DMs would allow characters to sleep in armour, for example, in any edition.

That's fine for your table, but GMs with common sense aren't a given, and "rules lawyer" players exist. Worse, there are GMs who think they have common sense, when it's painfully obvious they've never spent a night outside. (And don't get me started on the "just find another group" fallacy.)

Game I'm currently in, I did buy survival gear and have used absolutely none of it, because the DM is going RAW.

These aren't insurmountable, but I daresay having meaningful rules for these sorts of things would prevent these issues.

 

[Baron Opal II]

So I'm curious how other people feel about this sort of thing. Do you feel the game is better when the players break out cleats and snowshoes when traveling to Ten Towns, or prefer not having every character outfitted with sunrods and camouflage ponchos?

I love expansive lists! However...

I want lists for more than just gear. While not true of everyone, many people like shopping. And, when you have 10k gp burning a hole in your pocket you want something to spend it on. How much for a quaint cottage? How much for a 12-20 room manor? What does a tapestry cost and how big is it? For that one adventure when you are supposed to rub elbows with the gentry, what does a fancy set of clothes cost? If we're setting sail, where can I pick up a sextant? Are there navigation charts I can buy? Or, do they require extra-legal means of aquisition? How much for a ship? And, if it needs to be built, how long do I need to wait (side quests time!)?

Tools are great, particularly as means for mundane and creative problem solving. Alchemical or semi-magical medicinals and charms are needful. But my fighter is now knocking on double digits on level and I feel the itch to build a castle. And, I have to show up that twerp that built his in a swamp (four times! Goober...). Mine must have the finest of furnishings...

 

[LordBP]

I just…apply common sense. I’m curious as to how many DMs would allow characters to sleep in armour, for example, in any edition. Being attacked in the night and having to fight unarmored is a fun challenge; it happened just a couple sessions ago.

Military sleeps in full kit all the time on patrol (usually drops the rucksack, but sometimes not).

You would be amazed at the places a solider can fall asleep given a few minutes.

 

[borringman]

You would be amazed at the places a solider can fall asleep given a few minutes.

I personally wouldn't, but let's be honest -- that's practically a class ability (if such things mattered in D&D)!

 

[Reynard]

Military sleeps in full kit all the time on patrol (usually drops the rucksack, but sometimes not).

You would be amazed at the places a solider can fall asleep given a few minutes.

D&D doesn't have the kind of nuance around rest that allows us to emulate things like this. There is no "catnap to reduce fatigue for a limited time" or "shoot the instant coffee and creamer straight for a quick boost" mechanism in D&D.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Military sleeps in full kit all the time on patrol (usually drops the rucksack, but sometimes not).

You would be amazed at the places a solider can fall asleep given a few minutes.

Full ancient or medieval armor is not the same as modern military kit.

 

[borringman]

I actually wonder about that. Mail armor sounds very unpleasant; knew someone who tried and yeah the weight on your chest makes it hard to breathe. But a cuirass is rigid so maybe it wouldn't be that bad? Reports are that contrary to popular belief, plate armor can be comfortably worn for hours, even by amateurs (I don't know about lying down though). And a gambeson is basically like wearing a quilt.

So, wouldn't it really depend on the armor?