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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Kugar" data-source="post: 1250291" data-attributes="member: 442">I had the same types of problems in my last campaign. The real killer here is the easy access to rest. If you have 2 spell casters fully rested before every encounter, the challenge diminishes and it is not how the game was designed. I have seen the balance break down like this and 1) It is not pretty and 2) It is going to get worse as their level increases. I also see this as a friction point between players. If the spell casters can fire off the complete wad of spell for even minor encounters, fighter types can feel left out of the limelight. The good news there are some things you can do to make the decision to press on more "attractive"  1) Impose a game-time time limit. If the necromancers in the bottom levels have a evil scheme that will go down in 3 days that means that your clerics can only regain spells 3 times and the arcane casters (3*24/8) = 9 times. By using this type of time control you can tailor the number of "idealized" encounters per rest period and let the players decide for themselves how to use them.  2) Keep track of the limits of the spells used. It's pretty commonsense, but make sure that everything jives with the spell description. I don't know how many times I've re-read a spell description and said "Do'h" after a game.  3) Don't be afraid to put in challenges that require spell use. Every one of these forces a spell out of "inventory" for the day and makes the player feel like they are really contributing - Bonus points for the DM  4) Super-Evil-Genius guy is not stupid. If someone is blowing through your minions and/or local neighbors you either 1) Hunt them down or 2) Move. I once had a whole complex empty out while the PCs rested in a rope trick - they were not pleased because they had to track them down again and even the grunts were more prepared. React to the threat that the PCs represent and use those eight hours the PCs gave you.  5) Make rest less safe. Just an encounter here or there and mentioning an uneasy feeling might be enough to discourage resting. A shadow with significant levels of monk will definitely "discourage" them.  6) Technique A part of a game under your control is presentation and energy. Excessive rest time may be avoided if the game is presented in a way that rest seems inappropriate or just "wrong". I don't know how else to explain it, but many time the party rests there is a let-up in the energy of the game. If the session stays high energy then are fewer opportunities to rest unless the PCs need to.</blockquote>

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