PC Rest Times/Configurations

[Celtavian]

Re

Unless there is an encounter, I just presume the PC's rest. I have them mark off their rations and feed, then proceed on with the adventure. If the PC's feel like it, they can roleplay conversation or whatever they want to occur during the rest period. They always have a watch order worked out in advance, so it isn't an issue if an encounter does happen.

If they PC's are resting in a dangerous dungeon, depending upon the resources of their enemy, I harry them to keep them from resting and regaining spells. Sometimes the fighters have to battle on without spell support. Although, in 3rd edition, clerics no longer need to rest to regain their spells. They just need to pray at the right time of day and can't have cast within the last 8 hours.

Don't make a big deal about resting unless it is going to effect one of your encounters or scenarios. Then keep careful track of how rest is acquired during the adventure. Especially if the PC's are being harried and the intent is to ensure that arcane casters do not regain their spells.

 

[Shallown]

When traveling or in town I usually don't worry about caster's rest time as they don't usually cast many (if any) spells. After they have been casting significantly they need to rest/sleep. As far as I am concerned the need to meet the following requirments to get back spells.
Rest/sleep in one stretch not 4 hours stand watch then 4 hours.
Rest is same as sleep as long as you get 50% of each. Rest is considered to be time that you could be sleeping if you wanted to so no watch, no cooking dinner, talking is okay, fiddling around, meditating etc is okay if you could lay down and go to sleep anytime you wanted.
I am not a stickler for the exact time as I am seldom in my game since accurate time pieces are seldom around Guestimation is what the characters do accurate within 30 minutes during the day and sometimes at night. (Time telling by the sun is a skill we have lost but is fairly accurate when it is all you have as we have also lost the skill of time estimation since when we guess and are 15 minutes off we think this is a lot)

Sometimes its unrealistic but since it mainly affects casters I make it part of the Rules of magic so it is a fantasy element. Also remembering to keep as little modern thinking out of it as possible. Once night falls in olden times things stopped happening in a lot of eras.

later

 

[starkad]

Celtavien:

That's part of the problem... THEY make a production out of it.

Mark:

Thanks I was lurking for a bit, but recently feel confident enough in my knowledge of things to not step on too many toes.