15-minute Milestones? WDaE? Redux

[Burr]

What defines an encounter? I thought this question was finally laid to rest with confirmation of the 5-minute rest period. An encounter is the period of time between two, consecutive 5-minute rests. Beautiful.

Then they threw in milestones. If a milestone is the period of time between every other encounter, then a milestone could be achieved by any 15-minute rest. By resting an extra 15 minutes in the morning, a party would therby ensure everyone will always have an action point to spend in each encounter for the entire day, no matter how long they fight.

Rather than using valuable book space to explain away this issue, and probably confuse people in the process, wouldn't it make more sense to replace milestones with an X-per-day mechanic?

It seems easy enough to house rule. Does anyone know a good reason to leave it as is?

 

[Charwoman Gene]

Mmmm Bread Sandwich.

 

[Hussar]

What defines an encounter?

I believe the proper term would be "who". The DM probably.

Or, something like this:

Encounter - any event in game where there is significant risk to the PC's or their allies of taking damage, being hurt, or otherwise faced with unpleasant results. The encounter ends when the DM declares it to end.

 

[Fallen Seraph]

First off, I really think WoTC should put a Lexicon in PHB/DMG for these will cause a lot less confusion second off. I say in my eyes, throw away the whole 5 minute idea. Then use something more akin to the Per Scene idea:

Scene - A scene in a roleplaying game resembles a scene in a theatrical play. Your Storyteller sets the stage, and the players take their roles. The scene evolves in one location and usually encompasses a single, specific event. The flow of time within a scene may vary greatly. It may be played out in turns, it may run parallel to real time, or your Storyteller and fellow players may choose to fast-forward through parts of it, so long as the location and general events do not change.

For example, a scene may begin with combat, which is measured in turns. It may then slip back into real time as your characters discuss what to do with the corpses they've created. After a fast-forward through loading the bodies onto a truck, the scene may return to real time as your characters argue over who will drive. All events occur in the same scene, at the same location, but time warps throughout to focus on the fun and important parts. Your Storyteller determines when one scene ends and when another begins.

 

[Kordeth]

What defines an encounter? I thought this question was finally laid to rest with confirmation of the 5-minute rest period. An encounter is the period of time between two, consecutive 5-minute rests. Beautiful.

Err, well, not exactly. An encounter is a period in which some sort of challenge is faced and overcome--whether that's a fight, a social challenge, or (presumably) some other sort of skill-based challenge like climbing a castle wall in a thunderstorm or fording a raging river. A five-minute rest is required to replenish per-encounter powers, but if there's no challenge, there was no encounter.

Then they threw in milestones. If a milestone is the period of time between every other encounter, then a milestone could be achieved by any 15-minute rest. By resting an extra 15 minutes in the morning, a party would therby ensure everyone will always have an action point to spend in each encounter for the entire day, no matter how long they fight.

See above. A milestone equals two encounters--that means you have to have two actual, factual encounters to reach a milestone. I don't see how you can possibly call resting for 15 minutes even one encounter, let alone two.

 

[Kordeth]

First off, I really think WoTC should put a Lexicon in PHB/DMG for these will cause a lot less confusion second off. I say in my eyes, throw away the whole 5 minute idea. Then use something more akin to the Per Scene idea:

As far as I understand it, that pretty much is how it works--the "five minute rest" is there more to formally address edge-cases like "as you're looting the orcs' bodies, five more orcs bust in and attack!" Without the five-minute rest rule, you'd end up with arguments over when one encounter ends and the next begins. 80% of the time, I wouldn't expect the short rest to have to bu explicitly declared--when the fight ends, the DM will just say "okay, anybody who wants can spend healing surges now. Moving on...."

That, at least, is my understanding.

 

[Fallen Seraph]

I guess, I guess I am used to more freeflowing players. Where it is more, if it suits the dramatic tension of the moment sure make it part of the same encounter. There is a long enough lapse in dramatic tension, 5 minute rest.

 

[LostSoul]

Err, well, not exactly. An encounter is a period in which some sort of challenge is faced and overcome--whether that's a fight, a social challenge, or (presumably) some other sort of skill-based challenge like climbing a castle wall in a thunderstorm or fording a raging river.

I think this is my favourite part of 4e. Also worth note, I think, is that each encounter will mean XP.

 

[Lackhand]

I don't see how you can possibly call resting for 15 minutes even one encounter, let alone two.

Lumpy pillows and truly heinous bedbugs.

 

[Jhaelen]

What defines an encounter? I thought this question was finally laid to rest with confirmation of the 5-minute rest period. An encounter is the period of time between two, consecutive 5-minute rests. Beautiful.

No it isn't. What kind of silly logic is this supposed to be? If nothing is encountered, there's no encounter.

If a milestone is the period of time between every other encounter, then a milestone could be achieved by any 15-minute rest

This is also incorrect. The DM defines what constitutes a milestone. It's recommended to have a milestone after two encounters but it's not required. If there is a logical break in an adventure after three encounters then that will be the next milestone.