Clerics not needing to rest?

[Taloras]

Ok. I just noticed this line in the PHb last night. It says "Time spent resting has no effect on whether a cleric can prepare spells." Our group has always run it that clerics need 8 hours of sleep, just like arcane casters do. If im reading the other divine casters (druids, paladins, and rangers), it goes the same for them. Does anyone use this rule? Or do you make all casters get 8 hours of rest?

 

[Mahali]

Maybe we're just wacky but we actually play by the rules.

 

[AuraSeer]

We play by the book. All divine casters (clerics, paladins, druids, rangers) get their spells once per day, whether they have rested or not. Only arcane casters (bards, sorcerers, wizards) need the 8 hours of rest to refill slots.

This seems to work fine IMO. Is there a particular reason you think it should work differently?

 

[Taloras]

Actually, i was the one who noticed it. Our DM ruled that he wasnt gonna change after using the 8 hours of rest for everyone rule all this time. Funny, since im the only arcane caster in the group (Dwarven sorceror). I guess noone in our group noticed it. Im the general rules know-it-all in our group, but as ive never played a cleric.....

 

[trentonjoe]

This was one of ths "subtle" changes from 2E. I think it says somewhere that DIvine casters have to pray at (roughly) the same time everyday, for example: sunup, midnight, dinner, etc.

If you are looing for a way to disrupt divine casters regaining their spells make something happen that does not allow them to concentrate for an hour that allows them to pray for their spells.

 

[Hypersmurf]

If you are looing for a way to disrupt divine casters regaining their spells make something happen that does not allow them to concentrate for an hour that allows them to pray for their spells.

"If some event prevents the character fgrom praying at the proper time, he must do so as soon as possible."

It's not that easy to prevent a cleric getting his spells

-Hyp.

 

[trentonjoe]

"If some event prevents the character fgrom praying at the proper time, he must do so as soon as possible."

It's not that easy to prevent a cleric getting his spells

Then just extend the disruption.
Make them fatigued and require concentration checks for each spell.
Have them constantly attacked whenever the cleric prays.
Make the weather so horrible they can't concentrate.

If you want it to happen, you can make it

 

[Vocenoctum]

Most of the games I play in only use the 8 hours of rest for the wizard, not even the sorcerer or bard.

 

[kreynolds]

Then just extend the disruption.
Make them fatigued and require concentration checks for each spell.

I've seen this happen in game before, and oh my god does that ever increase the tension when in a fight. "Can he do it this round? Can he do it this round? Can he do it this round?"

Have them constantly attacked whenever the cleric prays.

That's a bit too fixed, and awfully convenient in regards to the DM, which most players will certainly take note of.

Make the weather so horrible they can't concentrate.

That one works too.

If you want it to happen, you can make it

True, just make sure the way you do it isn't cheesed beyond belief.

 

[danielinthwolvesden]

Right. Clerics need no specific amount of time, but they can only restore their spells at a specified time- and no earlier (later is possible, but no earlier). Both methods have their drawbacks & advantages.

This does not mean a cleric can go without rest- there are fatigue rules. But getting only, say 6 hours of sleep, instead of 8 isn't going to hurt them alny. OTOH, arcane spellcasters can get their spells bac at any time-but they need a full 8 hours.

Doing tricks like that isn't fair- except once in a great while. I had one party that figured there'd be at most two randon encounters per day of overland travel, and then they'd get to rest. Thus they really unloaded on each wilderness encounter. So I had them get attacked a few more, time, and also not get to rest. That taught them to not simply unload every freaken spell on some random encounter- and allowed the fighters & such to have more fun. But don't do this very often- only when they start taking things for granted.