A day: A day or 8 hours rest?

[Stalker0]

For a whole wealth of abilities, you have a set number per day, like the spells of a wizard.

But it states in the ph that a wizard doesn't really have to wait a day to cast new spells, he has to rest 8 hours and prepare.

So I was wondering, would this apply to any ability that says x/day? Like a palys smite, a monsters spell like abilities, etc. Basically after 8 hours of rest, would that creature be refreshed and get all its powers back?

 

[Crothian]

If it says once a day, I make it so it can be used once a day.

 

[CRGreathouse]

Once per day.

Edit: Mistwell, I meant a 24-h day, of course.

 

[Mistwell]

Most abilities like those you mention, in my opinion, require 24 hours of time to go by before they can be used again.

The two prior answers to mine might, or might not, agree with that opinion (since they both use the word day, without being specific about the number of hours contained in the definition of a day, which is of course where all this confusion starts).

 

[Stalker0]

Then let me ask you all, do you require your arcane spellcasters to wait till the next day, or just whenever they finished camping. for most of the time, the two will be the same, but there are certain times I can think of (wanting to travel at night, especially in teh desert) when you could come into sleeping for eight hours even though its not a new day yet.

 

[Crothian]

Didn't the spellcasting thing get errataed to only once a day as well as after 8 hours rest?

 

[shilsen]

Since all the class ability tables in the PHB (Chapter 3) say "Spells per day" above the spellcasting lists, that's what we've always used.

 

[LostSoul]

I use 8-hour periods.

 

[Drawmack]

Note, I play by almost core magic rules (just fewer spells per day but all rolls and such are the same) but I use a homebrew rational for why and how magic works. Therefor this may break a bit from core logic or the logic used in anyone else's campaigns. As I am currently in negotiations with a d20 publisher to do an alternate magic system based on my rational I cannot go into detail here but offer the disclaimer above as the only explaination I can offer.

Here is how I see it. Using magic or a magical ability depleats something in the creature. This depleation is replaced through a normal resting period for that creaturs (hence elves meditate). Therefor a spell caster can prepare their spells for the day only after sleeping. If they sleep twice in 24 hours then they can replenish their spells upon waking, if they have an hour to do it. However if they decide to stay awake for three days they do not get to replenish their spells after 24 hours. Same with spell-like abilities. I rationalize this to players by asking them to read for one hour, then stay up all night and read for one hour again and ask which time they got more reading done.

 

[zealot73]

Really that is something you should work out with your group and make it a house rule. However, I use a system that seems to even up the spell casting classes. Arcane Spellcasters need only rest for 8 hours prior to regaining their spells. The magic they cast is channelled directly through the characters and it is taxing so they need that rest period. After that then they are good to go for another round of spell casting. Divine Spellcasters on the other hand are a special case. Most Good Deities grant their followers spells with the rising sun while most Evil Deities grant spells at onset of night (there are exceptions). Since it is the Deity that is granting the spells (the Cleric, Druid, Ranger or Paly isn't really casting anything) I rule that they must stick to the 24 hour period (every daybreak or nightfall and none in between).