Rule of Thump for Short Rests

[Cwheeler]

I would like to cast my vote for the cumulative 10%. As a base-rule, anyway- if the PC's are in more or less dangerous areas, I would modify the roll accordingly.

Good idea, Evil DM

 

[77IM]

If the PCs want to sit around for 20 minutes, why would you want to stop them? How does it make the game more fun to limit the use of healing powers between combats? This rule smells like railroading and I don't like it.

If the PCs are in an obviously dangerous or urgent situation, they shouldn't be resting at all. But saying that a 5 minute rest is fine, while a 15 minute rest has a substantial chance of attracting a monster, seems like you are forcing your players to do something they don't want to do. Obviously, if your players are OK with this rule, then go for it, but if I were one of your players, this rule would really annoy me.

-- 77IM

 

[Evil DM]

@77IM:

If the PCs want to sit around for 20 minutes, why would you want to stop them? How does it make the game more fun to limit the use of healing powers between combats? This rule smells like railroading and I don't like it.

First of all players can use as many healing powers as they like.
BUT this rule of thumb is just intended for dangerous places or hostile enviroment where you said yourself:

If the PCs are in an obviously dangerous or urgent situation, they shouldn't be resting at all.

So, if I get you right. You would prohibit resting where I allow it with a little risk.

I do not force the players the to do anything. As I mentioned before I just want a little rule mechanic to represent dangerous areas. Where you say that players should not rest at all I just say that they can do it. With the risk to face another monster. And the longer they rest the bigger is the chance to stumble across a new threat.

So I think we agree at this issue to use common sense whether to rest or not. But I like to have some little neutral mechanic behind that decision of random monsters or not.

Because for me I would agree with you it is railroading if it were upon the DM to decide whether they are interrupted during their rest or nor. But for the reason of this matter I want to throw the dice.
So it is not upon the DM. It is upon the players to decide whether they dare to take another short rest in this hostile enviroment or not. And sometimes they can go for it...and sometimes they have bad luck.

Hope that helps to better understand my intentions behind this little dice rolling.

Cheers, Evil DM.