CydKnight
Explorer
In my last campaign session, we had an elf PC with 1 level of exhaustion take 3rd watch on a long rest. Of course I asked for the Perception check for the watch to be made with disadvantage. The PC argued that with trance, she had already completed her Long Rest and therefore should not have disadvantage. In the moment, I didn't want to hold up the game searching through RAR and Erratas so I gave the player the benefit of the doubt. Moving forward since that session, now that I have had the opportunity to research this thoroughly, I have informed the PCs how this will work.
PCs with "Trance" can take 4 hours of trance in lieu of sleep during a Long Rest however they will not receive the full benefits of a Long Rest until a full 8 hours has been completed. During that Long Rest 4 hours can be trance, 2 hours can be on watch, and 2 hours can be spent performing non-strenuous activities as described in the DMG. Any activity that normally interrupts a Long Rest as described in the DMG still applies.
To me it just makes more sense if everyone in the party is receiving Long Rest benefits at the same time under normal circumstances. Sure some rare exceptions may occur like if a Rogue wants to go Rogue and scout ahead in the dungeon while the rest of the party is sleeping to get that choice loot for himself he will likely miss out on a long rest while the rest of the party benefits.
PCs with "Trance" can take 4 hours of trance in lieu of sleep during a Long Rest however they will not receive the full benefits of a Long Rest until a full 8 hours has been completed. During that Long Rest 4 hours can be trance, 2 hours can be on watch, and 2 hours can be spent performing non-strenuous activities as described in the DMG. Any activity that normally interrupts a Long Rest as described in the DMG still applies.
To me it just makes more sense if everyone in the party is receiving Long Rest benefits at the same time under normal circumstances. Sure some rare exceptions may occur like if a Rogue wants to go Rogue and scout ahead in the dungeon while the rest of the party is sleeping to get that choice loot for himself he will likely miss out on a long rest while the rest of the party benefits.