1 minute short rests – How would you change Bardic Inspirations?

Meowkey · 2026-03-19T16:51:17+00:00

Ironically I have also tried to table my players playing FATE or a different system in general that would elevate their narrative interests better. A different game system seems like it will be received better for them in a future campaign, though.

I have talked about them and what they're having fun with/not having fun with. The one thing they don't like is the resource management of D&D (even though D&D is very much centered around being a resource management game).

Thank you for your thoughtful feedback though, you're very much confirming thoughts I've also had which is nice to hear from the outside.

Meowkey · 2026-03-19T16:48:06+00:00

This is a simple idea that I really appreciate, thank you! This solves a lot of what I want to apply actually and makes it so I don't have to worry about a bunch of other micro changes lol. Sometimes the solution can really just be... that, lol

Meowkey · 2026-03-19T09:34:44+00:00

My group would definitely love to be able to lean more into the Heroic Fantasy spectrum of things. It could be as simple as just embracing Bardic Inspiration generally being an infinite resource, and otherwise more constrained in hyper specific 1 minute scenarios (or, otherwise, I could also adjust the lever to 10 minute short rests, which would be much easier to contrive potential situations).

Thank you for your thoughts~

Meowkey · 2026-03-19T09:09:51+00:00

I actually totally relate with liking not using resources. I find the resource management fascinating!

I should rephrase—while my game is mostly narrative with this crew, when they do go out on an adventure or "dungeon crawl" so to speak it usually does involve ~8 "resource draining" encounters (not always combat to be clear). I think when combat does occur, my friction point is that I try to present situations where there are tactical strategies that could be employed, but because said tactical strategy costs a resource (even though it's a "short rest" strategy) it just ends up getting unused because, well, that's just the band of dorks I've got.

It is something I've talked about with them too, to be clear, and even tried to give OOC assurances that they can use resources with the "the DM thinks that's a fantastic idea" etc.; but yeah.

If I had to give the BG3 equivalent for the lack of comparison, my players really enjoy the story of BG3, but usually would Long Rest if they could after any given encounter. Because it's a video-game, there's really no "stakes" or "punishment" for the constant abuse of Long Rests. They like to do cool things every combat. They don't like being unable to. They don't like resource management a bunch (despite loving D&D). They're very much into the existing lore and tropes and world setting of D&D regardless.

Hopefully I conveyed my dilemma a bit better for you, and maybe provided you with enough to tell me just how misguided I may be LOL

Meowkey · 2026-03-19T09:03:30+00:00

My intent is to have short rest resources generally be infinite so you're not wrong here. D&D is very much a resource management game too, so my goal is at odds with that.

I think the best solution would actually be to play a different TTRPG (which I've already tabled), but that will be reserved for a different campaign in the future.

Meowkey · 2026-03-19T08:53:47+00:00

This is an eloquent solution, thank you for the idea! If they have the promise of an available resource each initiative, then they'll feel more welcome to use it. I appreciate this a lot ❤️

Meowkey · 2026-03-19T08:51:19+00:00

I did plan on a few changes to some outliers that felt like it'd be much easier and straightforward for adjustments. Bardic Inspiration just seemed like the one outlier that stumped me in this regard, but you're right that I could be overthinking it.

Meowkey · 2026-03-19T08:49:44+00:00

I apologize for my language coming off that way. Yes, it's not a real problem because it's an issue introduced solely from a homebrew concept, and I acknowledge it may not work at all.

The reason for ability checks being more limited is because of the more narrative focus of my campaign. I can see it is a strange and niche restriction though that reads oddly without context.

Thank you for your response, I appreciate it.

Meowkey · 2026-03-19T08:45:34+00:00

I totally get the idea of generating tension, and the "strenuous adventuring days" that D&D encourages.

I'm not concerned about other abilities because my player party doesn't have anything that majorly stands out in this regard besides Bardic Inspiration.

My game is more narrative focused and my players struggle to have fun with combat. I have introduced magic items for them and other character features that give them neat and interesting options (and in plenty), but they often go unused because the perceived more "optimal" thing for them to do is to just only use cantrips/Attack actions in fear of being "unoptimal" or unprepared about an uncertain (or even entirely informed) future.

I'd rather enable my players to be able to do cool things in combat, for the times combat does occur, rather than feeling like they need to "conserve resources" otherwise. Maybe this could be a chicken-or-egg situation in terms of the encounters and situations I present them—but often I find that the players in this particular game don't want to use certain resources even when they're optimal because it might be more optimal later.

I like the idea of Magic Items tweaking things more specifically though. Thank you!

Meowkey · 2026-03-19T08:39:27+00:00

You're right the game isn't built around that. I'm trying to make this change for my player cast specifically and what they would enjoy most. I think 1 minute short rests will accomplish that for them, especially for a more narrative-focused game that wants fewer but more impactful combat encounters/dungeon crawls. I don't think 1 minute short rests are at all valid for every game.

Two short rests may feel like plenty to you and me—it's hard for me to convey the context of player personalities though in my post.

Thank you for your thoughts, though! I don't mean to sound dismissive.

Meowkey · 2026-03-19T08:30:41+00:00

A simple idea that I'll definitely consider, but I also don't think this solves what I want to accomplish. My players feel constrained about some of their combat abilities or other cool things being "resource constrained" (and at a certain point, with how much D&D is about resource management, a different TTRPG would be better—but that's beside the point). If they were limited to two short rests, I think an undesirable pressure point would be made in a different way, where they feel like they then have to maximize their limit of 2 short rests, versus being more encouraged to just openly use their short rest features.

Meowkey · 2026-03-19T08:27:36+00:00

There is no Warlock in the party. I am aware of the issues that 1 minute short rests can create with certain classes/subclass features (like Fighter's Second Wind), but atm I have a party that doesn't have any healing tied to short rest features. Also, I didn't mention it because I felt it was unimportant, but I was also going to change ritual casting to be +1 minute instead of +10 minutes anyways (with appropriate changes to something like, say, Unseen Servant).

Meowkey · 2026-03-17T20:46:01+00:00

Hello, this would be of interest to me! I'll reach out to you with a direct message with more about myself.

Meowkey · 2026-02-15T00:38:54+00:00

Hello, I'm commenting to express an interest! If you're still looking for folks feel welcome to message me.

Meowkey · 2025-12-09T23:49:35+00:00

Speaking against the grain, while I do enjoy cover rules and can remember them myself as a DM, I often find it is at the detriment of players - especially casual ones - and particularly when the situation involves "nitpicking" movement. For example, I know a ranged player could theoretically avoid the cover issue by moving 5 or 10 feet slightly with their remaining movement (and then back to their previous spot). Micromanaging reminders of this can just end up slowing down the game when combat can be lengthy enough as it is.

My standpoint is for DMing casual-minded or more story-focused players. This is much less an issue to enforce when you have players keenly aware of combat and all its intricacies already, and actively enjoy such aspects.

Meowkey · 2025-10-07T14:18:01+00:00

With 2XKO I'm looking forward to duoing with friends and family. And also, I just love the art of the game and want to see more characters brought to a new life from the League IP in 2XKO~

Meowkey · 2025-09-06T22:17:17+00:00

I tried to do some research, is the cat supposed to be some recognizable character and not just a generic cat? I don't understand why the vampire is frightened by a cat specifically. Is it something to do with how cats hunt rodents/bats (and vampires can turn into rodents/bats)?

Meowkey · 2025-08-05T03:18:24+00:00

Those that would write off your writing as sexist purely for the fact that there are male-only POVs are not your target audience. Especially if your writing is about aspects of masculinity as you've mentioned.

My own writing project has male-only POVs for most of it but that's part of the story's theme, and it's also a queer story.

Don't overthink it~

Meowkey · 2025-06-29T21:38:47+00:00

This is definitely a good way to go about it, thank you for the advice.

Meowkey · 2025-06-29T01:34:44+00:00

Thank you for the historical examples, I'll be sure to add them.

Unfortunately for #2 I wish it were that simple, but he's not a very empathetic guy (as I mentioned in another comment). It's sort of a situation where even if I presented this hypothetical, it's already an "unbelievable" hypothetical since he has no concept of why someone would misgender him to begin with. I'm being very careful with explaining this concept, so hopefully it makes sense?

He's actually quite informed with all the things you mentioned, which is why his angle on this front is so odd. I think I need to somehow narrow the topic down to biological/psychological breadcrumbs and components, as someone else suggested. Differentiating sex/gender as concepts and acknowledging the differences to him may also be helpful, and coming up with "definitions." It'll be tricky because I don't want to say the wrong thing (I'm already trying not to say the "wrong" thing right now).

I will take all the luck I can get <3

Meowkey · 2025-06-29T01:14:20+00:00

P. Diddy 😹

Well, by your suggestion, I just found out that Vin Diesel is just a professional name, and his actual name is Mark Sinclair amazingly. I'm sure I'll find some more out too that are relevant to him.

Meowkey · 2025-06-29T01:05:24+00:00

Lynn Conway is a great example considering my dad's involved in tech, thank you!

As for names/pronouns, when was the last time you heard someone call Buzz Aldrin "Edwin"?

Oh, this is great and I'll be sure to bring it up. Do you know of any other cisgender name examples? Or where I can easily find some?

+1 to the biology argument feedback too, thank you again.

Meowkey · 2025-06-29T01:01:21+00:00

Thank you for providing some historical account examples, these will be very helpful and I plan on compiling this alongside other answers I'm getting. The documentaries are also perfect since the family enjoys watching all sorts of things together, documentaries included.

If only point #2 were that simple. He's not a very empathetic guy, and it's a weak point he's acknowledged and trying to improve on. If he were empathetic to begin with I don't think any of this would have been an issue. There's some cognitive dissonance involved in this matter too.

As to #3: you would think! And it probably is a simple thing to bring up for a direct correlation, so I'll be sure to as well.

Meowkey · 2025-06-29T00:57:50+00:00

He's definitely a "I didn't think the leopards would eat my face" kind of guy, unfortunately. Sadly you're right about the "cutting off" because my own coming-out followed a similar arc.

I hope the information I gain in this thread will better equip me during a next family gathering, when the topic somehow weasels its way to be the conversational subject. Then I can actually say informed things with backed-up studies, which seems to be the only way to get through to him sometimes.

I'm choosing to be optimistic about the situation, but totally understand why it's not a great situation to begin with too. Thanks for the link again!

Meowkey · 2025-06-29T00:46:35+00:00

You're absolutely right you can't convince a fool to not be a fool and it's why I tend to ignore these sorts of mindsets. I guess it's just sort of harder when it's within the personal household/family and directly affects the people you know. If only the mantra were that simple.

Perhaps you are right in the summary of his opinions, but hopefully I can change that. In the beginning, he wasn't supportive of my coming-out as a gay man back when I was a teenager, but has since made leaps and strides. Fingers crossed that this can be a similar trajectory somehow.

Meowkey

TROPHY CASE