Meditating elves and rolling to wake up

[Kershek]

Three questions:

Is a meditating elf still able to be aware of his surroundings?

If a battle begins during a watch and the elf is meditating, does he roll a listen check to 'wake up' just as a human would?

Based on the context of the sounds, can he choose to ignore it and continue meditating?


I ask these questions because of a recent situation that occurred. A shadow floated into the room and everyone was up except for the elf, who was meditating. There was a round of fighting and then a successful turn check that ended the conflict with the shadow darting back into the wall and not coming back.

Since the elf has a high listen check, it almost seemed as if he was penalized by being able to hear the battle and having to come out of his trance (and therefore having to start all over). He wants to be able to make a judgment call based on what he hears before coming out of his trance.

 

[Valmur_Dwur]

Are you the DM?

If so did you send the shadow in there?

Oh I see its the poor players fault for stick too many frigging skill points into his listen stat Bet if it were a ghast that passed its turn check the elf would want to be the first one to "wake up" Yes it ruined the poor boys beuaty sleep and so he will need and extra hour before he will be "refreshed"

I would rule that yes he was awaken and so will need that extra hour before he ccan once again learn his spells

 

[Hejdun]

I just play it just like sleeping. All listen checks are as if "taking 0", meaning that if you have a positive listen score, and a fight breaks out in your room, you wake up. Likewise, any loud sound would awaken the elf, just like it would a human.

But that's just how I play it, I'm not aware of rules that state this.

 

[Thanee]

Well, interruption is interruption.

You can't sleep or meditate when it is noisy around you, well, unless you are reaaaally tired, that is.

Get back to meditation and add one hour (or half an hour, as they need only half the time?) to the tally, that's what I'd do.

Or maybe they can just reenter meditation and continue where they left off, as the +1h is for interrupting sleep only.

Who knows for sure, the rules aren't clear on the subject of elven meditation and its impact on the greater good and the universe as a whole.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Forrester]

I'm not sure why coming out of meditation would "break" the rest cycle.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but a character doesn't need 8 hours of sleep or meditation, but 8 hours of non-stessful rest, correct?

If a character woke up, watched six seconds of battle, and then the battle was over with before the character could even react . . . I think you'd be a bit of a hardass to say that he needs an extra hour of rest because of that.

 

[ragboy]

Have you ever been awakened by combat? Not that easy to go back to sleep, whether you fired a shot or not.

 

[Artoomis]

Have you ever been awakened by combat? Not that easy to go back to sleep, whether you fired a shot or not.

Ah, but your not a battle-hardened adventurer, are you?

 

[Shalewind]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but a character doesn't need 8 hours of sleep or meditation, but 8 hours of non-stessful rest, correct?

Interesting. I never really considered it but you do indeed appear to be correct. The PHB even states that interuptions only add an hour. Elves require 4 hours of sleep, 4 hours contemplation.

If this is correct, can this happen:

6:00am: Wake up and prepare
9:00am: Bash some bad dudes
10:00am Begin resting again
6:00pm get up
8:00pm Bash some more bad dudes with new spells

Is this legitamate (sp)?

 

[Kershek]

If this is correct, can this happen:

6:00am: Wake up and prepare
9:00am: Bash some bad dudes
10:00am Begin resting again
6:00pm get up
8:00pm Bash some more bad dudes with new spells

Sure, but if you're in enemy territory, are you going to be able to rest for 8 hours straight? Also, what are you and the rest of the party going to do for those 8 hours? You just got up from sleeping, so it won't be that.

 

[Shalewind]

Just curious if it was possible.

If you were considering some alternate campaigns (like warfare ones) a resisdent Fort mage could rest and return to battle. I'm sure it would be taxing, but if you were besieged...