D&D 5E Warlock, Hex, and Short Rests: The Bag of Rats Problem

[Jer]

I am fully confident in the abilities of young players to be just as capable of ruining games as older players were.

I mean, you can be confident of it, but I haven't actually seen anyone actively try to ruin a game since I was 15 years old.

(Makes me think it has more to do with us being 15 years old than anything about the game itself, now that I think about it.)

 

[Caliban]

I mean, you can be confident of it, but I haven't actually seen anyone actively try to ruin a game since I was 15 years old.

(Makes me think it has more to do with us being 15 years old than anything about the game itself, now that I think about it.)

Most of them don't think they are ruining the game. Usually it's a difference of opinion that they just won't let drop, a ruling from the DM that they can't bring themselves to accept, or just a personality conflict with another player.

No one is the villain in their own story, but that doesn't mean everyone else is happy about it.

But...it does happen from time to time. I've been punched in the face over a game of Mechwarrior. He fractured a bone in his hand and I still have the scar over my eyebrow. (I was the game master and 20 years old, he was fresh out of the military and a bit older than me, and he didn't like my tone when explaining how unreasonable he was being about something.)

(I'm sure people are shocked that I would manage to provoke someone into punching me...)

 

[lowkey13]

*Deleted by user*

 

[lowkey13]

*Deleted by user*

 

[Ovinomancer]

Oh, sorry. For some reason I thought you were being unreasonable. Now that you've brought up the exploding volcano scenario, I can see how mistaken I was.

No problem, I can see how you'd be confused.

 

[abirdcall]

You must have a blessed ability to be able to ignore so very many comments here.

I wish I shared it.

All you need to do is put half the forum on ignore.

 

[Ovinomancer]

Page 203 PHB says that the spell specifies how long you can concentrate - this means concentration can last that long under normal circumstances unless some factor intervenes- and that normal activity such as moving and attacking doesn't interfere with concentration. It also lists certain factors that can break concentration specifically including taking damage, being incapacitated or killed. It says environmental phenomena like being hit by a wave might have an effect.

Page 186 PHB says a short rest is a period of time during which a character does nothing more strenuous than eating, drinking, reading and tending wounds.

So RAW it appears to me that the activity allowed in a short rest can't reach the threshold to interfere with concentration - otherwise it's not a short rest.

How can you interpret the activity stated as "the most you can do in a short rest" as interfering with concentration?

Does RAW allow you to concentrate through a short rest? RAW actually doesn't say, either way. So, both allowing it and not allowing it are both good interpretations of RAW. Make a ruling, go with it, you're right st your table. If you're not the DM, make a case for your preference, but it's the DM's call.

Tl;dr: there's no RAW either way.

 

[lowkey13]

*Deleted by user*

 

[Sacrosanct]

Does RAW allow you to concentrate through a short rest? RAW actually doesn't say, either way. So, both allowing it and not allowing it are both good interpretations of RAW. Make a ruling, go with it, you're right st your table. If you're not the DM, make a case for your preference, but it's the DM's call.

Tl;dr: there's no RAW either way.

Yeah, I'm seeing some people say RAW covers things that don't exist, and that's not what RAW means. I.e., if the rules don't say something is prohibited, that doesn't mean it's RAW to say you can do it. As I mentioned earlier, if I want to play a laser shooting dragon, it's not RAW to allow that because there is nowhere where it says I can't. Rules, by their definition, only apply to what's actually covered in that rule. Everything else is interpretation. Interpretation is not a rule as written. RAW vs. RAI

 

[Mercule]

If a warlock in one of my games were to disrespect the power he was granted, there would be consequences. This is not to say that I would punish the player. No, there would be consequences not as punishment, but because it makes for a better story.

We definitely run games differently. I would totally allow the bag-o-rats because I see the Fiend and GOO being on board with the subtle hardening of the Warlock's heart when he does daily animal sacrifice. These are immortal, ancient beings who (usually) take a long game approach to things. Baby steps are fine.

Then again, I've had multiple players look at me, worriedly, and say something to the effect of, "Oh, crap.... I just lost my soul, didn't I? I should have seen that coming."

The Fey might (might) care about the rats. The other patrons are more likely to chuckle at the exploding rat, if they even notice.