X times per day… Needs rest?

[Bloodsparrow]

X times per day… Needs rest?

You know how some classes get nifty things they can do “x times per day” or what ever? Like a Paladin dismissing/recalling a mount or a Druid using Wild Shape?

Would lack of rest disrupt this? Or is it just, at midnight BING you get your cool abilities back?

I assume it’s the latter, since I didn’t see anything like that in the PHB chapter on the different classes, but I’m wondering if maybe there’s some obscure passage that I’m missing.

 

[genshou]

The default answer is "no." Things that do require rest say so. If you want to make rest required in your campaign, that's up to you. It all depends on whether or not you think it's an imbalancing factor. If not, changing it is not necessary.

On the other hand, stylish changes like that are what I look for in a DM. So I'd be fine with the rules change if I were a player.

What do the rest of you think?

 

[Mouseferatu]

I usually let it "reset" at a specific time, regardless of rest or how much time has passed since their last use. I just find it easier to keep track of.

And for the divine spellcasting classes with such abilities, like the aforementioned paladins and druids, I usually have the abilities reset at the same time of day the character prays for his spells. Both easy and symbolically appropriate.

 

[Thanee]

It's probably use once per 24h, so if you used it, you just cannot use it again for the next 24h (assuming 1/day).

No rest required.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Saeviomagy]

It's probably use once per 24h, so if you used it, you just cannot use it again for the next 24h (assuming 1/day).

No rest required.

Bye
Thanee

I think it's just supposed to be an arbitrary time limit. To that end, I wouldn't even bother measuring out 24h. A vague "yeah, you haven't done that since yesterday" would be sufficient I think.

 

[Thanee]

Yes, in most cases that's sufficient.

Didn't mean to count hours, just that it would roughly work like that.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Mercule]

I think it's just supposed to be an arbitrary time limit. To that end, I wouldn't even bother measuring out 24h. A vague "yeah, you haven't done that since yesterday" would be sufficient I think.

It's a game balance item, plain and simple. And a foul, unsightly one at that. Very few things actually make sense to have as x/day (Rage?). Slots like that (including the Vancian magic) are the one thing that still rubs me wrong about d20. They are probably the easiest system available to balance powers, but the pretty much force metagaming.

That said, since they are there for no reason than game balance, I try to minimize focus on them as much as possible. Barbarians don't say "I've only got one Rage left today." They say "I'm getting too tired to berserk much more."

IMC, slots recharge at "prayer time" for those who have one (or something similar). Otherwise, I return them at "dawn".

 

[Silveras]

Used to be

In prior editions (2nd, and maybe 1st, though I do not recall) of the game, the interpretation for once-per-day was 24 hours had to pass before you could use it again. The primary issue was preventing someone from using the ability back-to-back before and after "midnight" (or the campaign equivalent).

Re-setting the count at the time spells are renewed, or some other thematically appropriate trigger, is fine for most purposes. There is no need to be overly persnickety about it unless someone starts abusing the timing.

 

[Saeviomagy]

It's a game balance item, plain and simple. And a foul, unsightly one at that. Very few things actually make sense to have as x/day (Rage?). Slots like that (including the Vancian magic) are the one thing that still rubs me wrong about d20. They are probably the easiest system available to balance powers, but the pretty much force metagaming.

If it's so foul and unsightly, please provide us with a workable, simple alternative.

I can imagine is some form of fatigue monitor (with no real penalty for being on 0 apart from an inability to use powers), and associated costs for each corresponding power. Then you also have a regeneration rate for this monitor. Only problem is, if you're aiming something at "about once per day", then this system will work out almost identical to "once per day" unless you have multiple abilities functioning off the same track.

So - much more bookeeping, and no increase in useability or realism. Hooray.

The other possibility is some form of save each time you finish the use of such a power. Failure results in you suffering some condition (like fatigue), or upgrading an existing condition (fatigue->exhaustion). Additionally, this would avoid you having to have the x/day aspect of powers increasing as one gains levels - you'll simply be able to make the rolls more often. This would probably get broken by spells which remove fatigue however...

This second one I quite like, with the exception that lots of people will wander around constantly fatigued...

 

[Nifelhein]

I make the character concentrate at a specific time every day, just for a couple minutes and it would be renewed, it i like attuning himslef to it once again...

Quick, easy and also roleplaying opportunity, players tend to see it as a time of asking for help, sometimes they get more than they would, it keeps them trying to make the game better.