D&D 5E Question: To take away or not to take away for that is the question

[Nightbeat84]

So about halfway through LMoP and have 3 new players who have never played d&d before. One made a dragon born paladin and gave himself darkvison by mistake I did not realize that they dont get that until recently. I know it was an honest mistake on the players part. My question is do I take it away from him or just leave it since been playing this long with it. I'm leaning towards leaving it since it's not game breaking in anyway. But would like to hear other peoes thoughts?

 

[jayoungr]

Here's what I would do: In the next session, explain that you made a mistake. But give the player an immediate opportunity to acquire a set of goggles of night (they're in the DMG), either for purchase or as a quest reward or part of a treasure trove. Then the character can finish out the adventure with darkvision, but in a form that makes sense and that could be taken away if they lose their stuff somehow.

(This is what I did when I realized that my eldritch knight was going to insist on casting spells while holding sword and shield: I just gave her an animated shield so we wouldn't have to think about it.)

 

[S'mon]

I'd ask the player what they'd like to give up in return for having Darkvision. 500gp for Goggles of Night is one possible answer.

 

[77IM]

Do the players realize the mistake?

- If not, I would just not mention it. You have better things to discuss during your gaming time.
- If they do, I would discuss it with the players. In addition to the solutions above (free goggles of night) you could allow the dragonborn to keep the darkvision and give all the other players something equivalent, like a tool proficiency. It's also possible that the dragonborn player would be totally fine just losing the darkvision -- for many players, following the rules and dealing with rules restrictions is part of the fun.
- Ultimately, the rules are whatever your table decides to use as the rules. No-one forced you to play 5E; it was a voluntary decision, so you can all voluntarily decide to tweak a few things. It's whatever the group prefers.

 

[Nightbeat84]

Do the players realize the mistake?

- If not, I would just not mention it. You have better things to discuss during your gaming time.
- If they do, I would discuss it with the players. In addition to the solutions above (free goggles of night) you could allow the dragonborn to keep the darkvision and give all the other players something equivalent, like a tool proficiency. It's also possible that the dragonborn player would be totally fine just losing the darkvision -- for many players, following the rules and dealing with rules restrictions is part of the fun.
- Ultimately, the rules are whatever your table decides to use as the rules. No-one forced you to play 5E; it was a voluntary decision, so you can all voluntarily decide to tweak a few things. It's whatever the group prefers.

I am certain the player doesn't know the mistake.

 

[GlassJaw]

I would inform the player of the mistake and go from there. It happens, especially with new players. Personally, I'm ok with dragonborn having darkvision - I think the race need a boost anyway. That said, you can't just starting giving players free stuff - the rules are there for a reason.

I wouldn't give a magic item to compensate either. That's very heavy-handed.

 

[jasper]

Ok, here a free once time oops card. Tell all the players the mistake but let the player keep darkvision.
OOPS OOPS OOPS
You're Forgiven
OOPS OOPS OOPS

 

[5ekyu]

I wpuld make his having darkvision a plot element. Why does he have it? Have it rurn into a discussion issue and a link to something else.

Its not a big deal gamewise, so i would not take away. If it hasny shown to be an issue, no problem, but by all means leverage it for story hooks.

You could even,put it to the player...

Give me three different reasons you are a db with dv.

Then you pick one or your own

Finally, if you did see it as needing to be offset, charge forward. Over the next level divvy out extra minor items to the others but not the db.

Help the others catch up, not take away, generally better, imx.

 

[Harzel]

Another way to 'charge' for the darkvision: it was granted under terms like, "I'll gladly give you darkvision today in return for you doing a quest for me on Tuesday". And now, it's Tuesday.

 

[robus]

Here's what I would do: In the next session, explain that you made a mistake. But give the player an immediate opportunity to acquire a set of goggles of night (they're in the DMG), either for purchase or as a quest reward or part of a treasure trove. Then the character can finish out the adventure with darkvision, but in a form that makes sense and that could be taken away if they lose their stuff somehow.

(This is what I did when I realized that my eldritch knight was going to insist on casting spells while holding sword and shield: I just gave her an animated shield so we wouldn't have to think about it.)

Funnily enough I did the same thing when they got to the wave echo cave. In one of the offices there was a locked safe that contained a couple of pairs of googles (for VIPs visiting the cave when it was in operation).