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Do you track rations?
- Thread starter sircaren
- Start date
Garnfellow
Explorer
For years, I was a nut for religiously tracking rations, torches, spell components, encumbrance, all that little crap.
And then, one day, it just hit me like a thunderbolt: this level of recording-keeping was not adding to my game. Not one single whit. Nothing. Nadda. Zip. Zero.
I wasn't haven't a particularly better time just because I knew at any moment that Flingo the Elf had exactly 2 torches, 2-1/2 day's worth of rations, 6 pieces of fur, 2 amber rods, a pouch of skunk cabbage, and three live grasshoppers, or that this load weighed exactly 6 lbs., 3 oz., 2.5 drams, etc.
My players weren't haven't a better time because I was keeping track of all this. All my detailed accounting did not add an appreciably significant amount of verisimilitude, much less zest, to a game that primarily concerned fighting orcs, giant frogs, or killer amoebae.
And at the end of the day, every rule or convention in the game needs to add significant value at the table, or it's probably not worth implementing.
If someone else really groks the resource management of such minutia, and this pleasure gives them real game-value, then may Pelor's love be upon him. But as for me? I don't miss it. Oh, If someone is really pushing the bounds of reason by trying to lug a piano around a dungeon, then I might pull out the encumbrance tables, or more likely just assign some arbitrary penalties to movement, AC, and so on. But otherwise, I just gloss it over.
And then, one day, it just hit me like a thunderbolt: this level of recording-keeping was not adding to my game. Not one single whit. Nothing. Nadda. Zip. Zero.
I wasn't haven't a particularly better time just because I knew at any moment that Flingo the Elf had exactly 2 torches, 2-1/2 day's worth of rations, 6 pieces of fur, 2 amber rods, a pouch of skunk cabbage, and three live grasshoppers, or that this load weighed exactly 6 lbs., 3 oz., 2.5 drams, etc.
My players weren't haven't a better time because I was keeping track of all this. All my detailed accounting did not add an appreciably significant amount of verisimilitude, much less zest, to a game that primarily concerned fighting orcs, giant frogs, or killer amoebae.
And at the end of the day, every rule or convention in the game needs to add significant value at the table, or it's probably not worth implementing.
If someone else really groks the resource management of such minutia, and this pleasure gives them real game-value, then may Pelor's love be upon him. But as for me? I don't miss it. Oh, If someone is really pushing the bounds of reason by trying to lug a piano around a dungeon, then I might pull out the encumbrance tables, or more likely just assign some arbitrary penalties to movement, AC, and so on. But otherwise, I just gloss it over.
caudor
Adventurer
I'm a ration tracker. I also track the other smaller aspects of the game...especially time. I don't track bio breaks because I assume this occurs as part of resting or eating.
Just because a PC has survival or can hunt, that does not necessarily mean there is anything in the current environment to hunt. In a dungeon, one might find some mushrooms but there might or might not be a water source available.
In my view--what good are rules such a fatigue, encumbrance, need for rest, and nourishment if the PCs never have to worry about it? What good is the create water spell if water is always available?
I think these rules not only help add balance to the game, but they also help create scenerios that create tension or danger in a certain environments. Of course, that's just the way I play. Any approach that results in having fun is OK in my book.
Just because a PC has survival or can hunt, that does not necessarily mean there is anything in the current environment to hunt. In a dungeon, one might find some mushrooms but there might or might not be a water source available.
In my view--what good are rules such a fatigue, encumbrance, need for rest, and nourishment if the PCs never have to worry about it? What good is the create water spell if water is always available?
I think these rules not only help add balance to the game, but they also help create scenerios that create tension or danger in a certain environments. Of course, that's just the way I play. Any approach that results in having fun is OK in my book.
frankthedm
First Post
Rations need to be kept track of because the onus of making sure the Players do not die an unheroic death of thirst and starvtion is on them.
frankthedm
First Post
sircaren said:
Be firm and fair. I get the same looks of disgust when i ask a cheating player what hand
Shemeska
Adventurer
I've only bothered to keep track of it once, when the PCs were on Toril in the wilderness in the middle of winter, and they were relatively low-mid level (which I'll be detailing this week in my next storyhour update).
Usually over the past few years of two campaigns, the PCs have either been in places that it hasn't been an issue or they've been high enough level that honestly it hasn't been an issue simply by way of their resources.
Usually over the past few years of two campaigns, the PCs have either been in places that it hasn't been an issue or they've been high enough level that honestly it hasn't been an issue simply by way of their resources.
iwatt
First Post
diaglo said:
As a house rule I let them take a -5 to their check and allow them to move at their full speed.
Alternatively, if there is a dwarf and a 40' speed barbarian, the barbarian can get the food while moving at the same speed as the party (slowest member).
When the -5 penalty is hurting them, they just move at half speed. This isn't that terrible if you adjust travel time expectations in your games (If the distance can eb walked in 3 days, assume it will take 6).
Last edited:
Roadkill101
Explorer
Ammo, Encumbrance, Food and Water are things I track to add a bit of grisly realism to my games. If that makes me a bit of a RBDM, then so be it.
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