D&D 5E Awarding Inspiration

[Rhenny]

LOL, I forget, and the guilt is awful! Bad DM! Bad DM!

I brought this up with a player just last night. She didn't actually like the DMG option of players controlling inspiration, but wanted to be able to petition the DM, which works for me since it reminds me of the mechanic in the presence of a good example. Old dog, new tricks.

I'm also thinking of just putting the word "INSPIRATION" on my side of the DM screen, until I've developed that new DMing cognitive muscle.

Yes. That's what I did. It took it 3 or 4 sessions to work it in and make it part of my DM brain.

 

[Bupp]

I think I'm going to start having everyone reiterate their traits bond and flaws to the group so we are aware of them each session. Inspiration is rewarded when these traits are catered to. If we all are thinking about it I'll have an easier time remembering.

That's what I'm trying to do. My daughter (the oldest) is starting to catch on, hopefully it spreads to the others.

 

[Riley37]

"My PC's name is Bill, and Bill is unable to drink in moderation"...

 

[Nebulous]

That's what I'm trying to do. My daughter (the oldest) is starting to catch on, hopefully it spreads to the others.

Like a roleplaying rash!

 

[Mercule]

I have five players. A couple sessions ago, I noticed I had five different colored "tiddly winks" in my old dice bag. Those chips are now the inspiration markers. If a player has it, they have the chip. If they don't, the chips sit right by my dice, so I see them all the time. Someone had mentioned, in another thread, having a specific "inspiration die" that the players need to grab and roll, when they use inspiration. I'm pondering the idea of something similar, but finding five uniquely wild-colored d20s to use instead of the chips. The PC would always use that die, but would also have the opportunity to see what the result of granting disadvantage to an opponent was, too.

As far as when to give out inspiration, I guess it depends on my mood. I look at inspiration as a toy mechanic designed to promote fun, however your group defines it, so I kinda roll with whatever the mood of the table is (or what I want it to be) that evening. Some nights, that means that the best in-character zingers get inspiration. Other nights, it's acts of heroism, or a great idea, or playing to back story, or just stepping up level of play (for my newbie daughter, especially). Basically, it's whenever the player does something that catches my attention in a positive way and improves the entertainment value of playing the game (i.e. no inspiration for disruptive, but hilarious, out-of-character jokes).

 

[Psikerlord#]

I'm not a fan of the mechanic really so i have only awarded one inspiration and you really have to do something heroic or special to get it. I don't see that many inspirations given out IMC.

I dont like the standard inspriation rules either.

I do like the old "team karma" rules of shadowrun however. Where there was a pool of dice players could agree, as a group, that a PC could use for time to time. That used to be good fun, in the discussions and the implementation.

I havent used normal inspiration and dont intend to. But I am thinking of using a variant - in fact this might be in DMG, I cant remember now..? - but the difference is you cant use inspiration on yourself. You have to give your inspiration to another PC. I really like the idea of inspiration reinforcing the team work aspect of the game.

Hmm or possibly when inspiration is awarded, it goes in a pool on the table. To draw from the pool, more than half the players must agree (and you still cant use your own inspiration die - only other peoples). That would also be good fun and engage everyone when called on.

 

[Wrathamon]

This would be a good pole question cause I also forget to hand it out.