D&D 5E (2024) Mike Mearls explains why your boss monsters die too easily

[Crimson Longinus]

Perhaps doubling the amount of rests is a solution

A 5 minute
A 1 hour
A multiple hour rest
A multiple day rest

Then some resources could only be restored in downtime, meaning bosses have downtime as well.

Seems overly complicated to me. I want less rest types, not more!

 

[Maxperson]

Perhaps doubling the amount of rests is a solution

A 5 minute
A 1 hour
A multiple hour rest
A multiple day rest

Then some resources could only be restored in downtime, meaning bosses have downtime as well.

While it wouldn't really bother me, this would add too much complexity for WotC to be comfortable with and also a lot of players.

"My PC has two abilities that refresh when I take a breather(5 minute rest), one that refreshes on a short rest(one hour), two that come back after a long rest(8 hours), and one that is usable once a week(multiple day rest).

That's a lot of tracking with little upside.

 

[Maxperson]

Seems overly complicated to me. I want less rest types, not more!

Oh, sure. Make ME the one that seems long winded. I'm the concise guy around here! Find your own schtick.

 

[Minigiant]

Seems overly complicated to me. I want less rest types, not more!

MORE

/kyloren

While it wouldn't really bother me, this would add too much complexity for WotC to be comfortable with and also a lot of players.

"My PC has two abilities that refresh when I take a breather(5 minute rest), one that refreshes on a short rest(one hour), two that come back after a long rest(8 hours), and one that is usable once a week(multiple day rest).

That's a lot of tracking with little upside.

The benefit is your table can base its game around the rests it likes.
You streamline every PC down to 4 or less features

A Barbarian has 3 rages.
You regain 0 rage with a breather.
You regain 1 rage with a respite.
You regain all rage with a night's rest.
You get +CON mod maximum rage with a holiday.

A Wizard has 2 level 1 spells.
You regain 0 spell slots with a breather.
You regain 1 spell slots with a respite.
You regain 2 spell slots and can switch spells with a night's rest.
You regain all spell slots and +1 bonus slot with a holiday.

 

[Maxperson]

The benefit is your table can base its game around the rests it likes.
You streamline every PC down to 4 or less features

I very much doubt that this will go over well. People don't want their already limited features cut down to 4 or less over 20 levels of play.

A Barbarian has 3 rages.
You regain 0 rage with a breather.
You regain 1 rage with a respite.
You regain all rage with a night's rest.
You get +CON mod maximum rage with a holiday.

A Wizard has 2 level 1 spells.
You regain 0 spell slots with a breather.
You regain 1 spell slots with a respite.
You regain 2 spell slots and can switch spells with a night's rest.
You regain all spell slots and +1 bonus slot with a holiday.

So instead of having one thing to track, I have four.

 

[tetrasodium]

I think that a lot of these spitball rest variants go wrong right out of the gate in accepting that having two totally different rest cycles is a net good rather than slaughtering the sacred cow and moving on.

Going back to ad&d 2e style vancian prep with 1hr of study/prayer/meditation per slot level of each spell being prepared
Treat ki points 1:1 as first level slots and assign some slot level equivalent for things like rage/wild shape/etc. warlock needs no special treatment because of EB and invocations, but could convert to the better balanced playtest long rest one if extra slots and warranted.

Use the same hit point recovery tied to days or hours if high enough con

 

[Minigiant]

I very much doubt that this will go over well. People don't want their already limited features cut down to 4 or less over 20 levels of play.

It would be a tough sell because D&D fans hate change.

But we already have many classes that are already limited to 4 or less features.

So instead of having one thing to track, I have four.

It's still one just with 4 recharge times.

The hope is that if the PCs use the last 2 types of rests, the DM can boost the boss.

You long rest and the Vampire gets 2 more uses of Blood Magic.
You holiday and the Vampire can complete the ritual to summon feral vampire spawn at will.

 

[Zardnaar]

I think that a lot of these spitball rest variants go wrong right out of the gate in accepting that having two totally different rest cycles is a net good rather than slaughtering the sacred cow and moving on.

Going back to ad&d 2e style vancian prep with 1hr of study/prayer/meditation per slot level of each spell being prepared
Treat ki points 1:1 as first level slots and assign some slot level equivalent for things like rage/wild shape/etc. warlock needs no special treatment because of EB and invocations, but could convert to the better balanced playtest long rest one if extra slots and warranted.

Use the same hit point recovery tied to days or hours if high enough con

Not the only option.

1. Emphasis living world/dont play that way.
2. Back to pre 3E
3. Ditching dailies in a new edition.
4. Double damage or double encoubter size.
5. Go with it we actually like it.

Mearls isnt doing a D&D he has more options. I suspect he will go with 3.

 

[Maxperson]

It would be a tough sell because D&D fans hate change.

It would be a tough sell because it would be boring.

But we already have many classes that are already limited to 4 or less features.

Which ones? Spellcasting is basically 500 features in 1.

Wizard has the fewest I can think of, and it has. I'm using the 5e version since I don't have the 5.5e PHB.

Spellcasting(dozens of subfeatures inside of it, so it's really not one).
Arcane Recovery
Spell Mastery
Signature Spell
Tradition Feature 1
Tradition Feature 2
Tradition Feature 3
Tradition Feature 4

That's 8 features, one of which is dozens more.

 

[Minigiant]

I think that a lot of these spitball rest variants go wrong right out of the gate in accepting that having two totally different rest cycles is a net good rather than slaughtering the sacred cow and moving on.

Going back to ad&d 2e style vancian prep with 1hr of study/prayer/meditation per slot level of each spell being prepared
Treat ki points 1:1 as first level slots and assign some slot level equivalent for things like rage/wild shape/etc. warlock needs no special treatment because of EB and invocations, but could convert to the better balanced playtest long rest one if extra slots and warranted.

Use the same hit point recovery tied to days or hours if high enough con

That's essentially what my 4 rests suggestion is trying to back into

You get only 75% power with 1 day rest.
You need multiple days at a peaceful place to recharge back to 100%.

You can leave town at 100%. You can only get back to 100% by getting back to town and staying their many days.
If the farming village is in trouble, you can't rest to 100% until you complete their side quest.
You nova the boss. Sure. You are stuck at 75% after camping.