Would giving my halfling player characters darkvision significantly unbalance the game?
$begingroup$
I have four PCs who have just reached level 4. They are an elf and a half-elf, who have darkvision, and two halflings, who do not. A significant portion of their adventuring occurs at night or in dark places. I as a DM am getting tired of adjudicating light and vision all the time. I'd like to come up with a pretense to give both the halflings goggles of night as a quest reward, so we wouldn't have to worry about having characters without darkvision anymore. Would this break game balance?
dnd-5e balance vision-and-light halfling
edited 3 hours ago
SevenSidedDie♦
207k31664940
asked 3 hours ago
mdricheymdrichey
1,333234
$endgroup$
|
show 1 more comment
$begingroup$
I have four PCs who have just reached level 4. They are an elf and a half-elf, who have darkvision, and two halflings, who do not. A significant portion of their adventuring occurs at night or in dark places. I as a DM am getting tired of adjudicating light and vision all the time. I'd like to come up with a pretense to give both the halflings goggles of night as a quest reward, so we wouldn't have to worry about having characters without darkvision anymore. Would this break game balance?
dnd-5e balance vision-and-light halfling
edited 3 hours ago
SevenSidedDie♦
207k31664940
asked 3 hours ago
mdricheymdrichey
1,333234
$endgroup$
2
$begingroup$
Is this causing any issues with the players? I ask because this may be an XY problem. If this is only an issue for you as the DM but the players are fine with it and having fun then you might be better off asking about the actual problem; that you as the DM are tired of adjudicating light and vision all the time and you want to solve that issue. If this is an issue you both you and the players then obviously the question is fine as is but could I suggest you edit in a little info about what issue the player's are having as well.
$endgroup$
– Purple Monkey
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
So the halflings get the goggles and there's no equivalent reward for the quest? If that's the case regardless of balance the (half-)elf players may feel as if the other players are rewarded for choosing a race that doesn't get darkvision/the benefits of their race choice get reduced, since everyone without darkvision would have gotten it anyways.
$endgroup$
– fabian
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
@PurpleMonkey You are correct; the issue is just that I am tired of adjudicating light and vision all the time. I can try to reword my question, but I am afraid if I do, it may be closed as a discussion prompt. That is why I decided to ask specifically if one possible solution would be unbalancing. I might be better off asking about this elsewhere.
$endgroup$
– mdrichey
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
@fabian I don't disagree. I would need to come up with equivalent rewards for the other players as well.
$endgroup$
– mdrichey
2 hours ago
$begingroup$
@mdrichey, given that this question now has a couple of answers it would be better to ask a new question if you do decide to ask that question here but it all depends on how you ask it. We can't exactly help you "not be tired" of dealing with light and vision rules but if there's a core to that problem (eg. you're finding it difficult to remember, it's slowing down the game, you're not having fun having to constantly deal with it but the players are so you don't know what to do) then that's something we could help with.
$endgroup$
– Purple Monkey
2 hours ago
|
show 1 more comment
$begingroup$
I have four PCs who have just reached level 4. They are an elf and a half-elf, who have darkvision, and two halflings, who do not. A significant portion of their adventuring occurs at night or in dark places. I as a DM am getting tired of adjudicating light and vision all the time. I'd like to come up with a pretense to give both the halflings goggles of night as a quest reward, so we wouldn't have to worry about having characters without darkvision anymore. Would this break game balance?
dnd-5e balance vision-and-light halfling
edited 3 hours ago
SevenSidedDie♦
207k31664940
asked 3 hours ago
mdricheymdrichey
1,333234
$endgroup$
I have four PCs who have just reached level 4. They are an elf and a half-elf, who have darkvision, and two halflings, who do not. A significant portion of their adventuring occurs at night or in dark places. I as a DM am getting tired of adjudicating light and vision all the time. I'd like to come up with a pretense to give both the halflings goggles of night as a quest reward, so we wouldn't have to worry about having characters without darkvision anymore. Would this break game balance?
dnd-5e balance vision-and-light halfling
dnd-5e balance vision-and-light halfling
edited 3 hours ago
SevenSidedDie♦
207k31664940
asked 3 hours ago
mdricheymdrichey
1,333234
edited 3 hours ago
SevenSidedDie♦
207k31664940
asked 3 hours ago
mdricheymdrichey
1,333234
edited 3 hours ago
SevenSidedDie♦
207k31664940
edited 3 hours ago
SevenSidedDie♦
207k31664940
edited 3 hours ago
SevenSidedDie♦
207k31664940
207k31664940
asked 3 hours ago
mdricheymdrichey
1,333234
asked 3 hours ago
mdricheymdrichey
1,333234
asked 3 hours ago
mdricheymdrichey
1,333234
1,333234
2
$begingroup$
Is this causing any issues with the players? I ask because this may be an XY problem. If this is only an issue for you as the DM but the players are fine with it and having fun then you might be better off asking about the actual problem; that you as the DM are tired of adjudicating light and vision all the time and you want to solve that issue. If this is an issue you both you and the players then obviously the question is fine as is but could I suggest you edit in a little info about what issue the player's are having as well.
$endgroup$
– Purple Monkey
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
So the halflings get the goggles and there's no equivalent reward for the quest? If that's the case regardless of balance the (half-)elf players may feel as if the other players are rewarded for choosing a race that doesn't get darkvision/the benefits of their race choice get reduced, since everyone without darkvision would have gotten it anyways.
$endgroup$
– fabian
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
@PurpleMonkey You are correct; the issue is just that I am tired of adjudicating light and vision all the time. I can try to reword my question, but I am afraid if I do, it may be closed as a discussion prompt. That is why I decided to ask specifically if one possible solution would be unbalancing. I might be better off asking about this elsewhere.
$endgroup$
– mdrichey
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
@fabian I don't disagree. I would need to come up with equivalent rewards for the other players as well.
$endgroup$
– mdrichey
2 hours ago
$begingroup$
@mdrichey, given that this question now has a couple of answers it would be better to ask a new question if you do decide to ask that question here but it all depends on how you ask it. We can't exactly help you "not be tired" of dealing with light and vision rules but if there's a core to that problem (eg. you're finding it difficult to remember, it's slowing down the game, you're not having fun having to constantly deal with it but the players are so you don't know what to do) then that's something we could help with.
$endgroup$
– Purple Monkey
2 hours ago
|
show 1 more comment
2
$begingroup$
Is this causing any issues with the players? I ask because this may be an XY problem. If this is only an issue for you as the DM but the players are fine with it and having fun then you might be better off asking about the actual problem; that you as the DM are tired of adjudicating light and vision all the time and you want to solve that issue. If this is an issue you both you and the players then obviously the question is fine as is but could I suggest you edit in a little info about what issue the player's are having as well.
$endgroup$
– Purple Monkey
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
So the halflings get the goggles and there's no equivalent reward for the quest? If that's the case regardless of balance the (half-)elf players may feel as if the other players are rewarded for choosing a race that doesn't get darkvision/the benefits of their race choice get reduced, since everyone without darkvision would have gotten it anyways.
$endgroup$
– fabian
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
@PurpleMonkey You are correct; the issue is just that I am tired of adjudicating light and vision all the time. I can try to reword my question, but I am afraid if I do, it may be closed as a discussion prompt. That is why I decided to ask specifically if one possible solution would be unbalancing. I might be better off asking about this elsewhere.
$endgroup$
– mdrichey
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
@fabian I don't disagree. I would need to come up with equivalent rewards for the other players as well.
$endgroup$
– mdrichey
2 hours ago
$begingroup$
@mdrichey, given that this question now has a couple of answers it would be better to ask a new question if you do decide to ask that question here but it all depends on how you ask it. We can't exactly help you "not be tired" of dealing with light and vision rules but if there's a core to that problem (eg. you're finding it difficult to remember, it's slowing down the game, you're not having fun having to constantly deal with it but the players are so you don't know what to do) then that's something we could help with.
$endgroup$
– Purple Monkey
2 hours ago
2
2
$begingroup$
Is this causing any issues with the players? I ask because this may be an XY problem. If this is only an issue for you as the DM but the players are fine with it and having fun then you might be better off asking about the actual problem; that you as the DM are tired of adjudicating light and vision all the time and you want to solve that issue. If this is an issue you both you and the players then obviously the question is fine as is but could I suggest you edit in a little info about what issue the player's are having as well.
$endgroup$
– Purple Monkey
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
Is this causing any issues with the players? I ask because this may be an XY problem. If this is only an issue for you as the DM but the players are fine with it and having fun then you might be better off asking about the actual problem; that you as the DM are tired of adjudicating light and vision all the time and you want to solve that issue. If this is an issue you both you and the players then obviously the question is fine as is but could I suggest you edit in a little info about what issue the player's are having as well.
$endgroup$
– Purple Monkey
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
So the halflings get the goggles and there's no equivalent reward for the quest? If that's the case regardless of balance the (half-)elf players may feel as if the other players are rewarded for choosing a race that doesn't get darkvision/the benefits of their race choice get reduced, since everyone without darkvision would have gotten it anyways.
$endgroup$
– fabian
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
So the halflings get the goggles and there's no equivalent reward for the quest? If that's the case regardless of balance the (half-)elf players may feel as if the other players are rewarded for choosing a race that doesn't get darkvision/the benefits of their race choice get reduced, since everyone without darkvision would have gotten it anyways.
$endgroup$
– fabian
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
@PurpleMonkey You are correct; the issue is just that I am tired of adjudicating light and vision all the time. I can try to reword my question, but I am afraid if I do, it may be closed as a discussion prompt. That is why I decided to ask specifically if one possible solution would be unbalancing. I might be better off asking about this elsewhere.
$endgroup$
– mdrichey
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
@PurpleMonkey You are correct; the issue is just that I am tired of adjudicating light and vision all the time. I can try to reword my question, but I am afraid if I do, it may be closed as a discussion prompt. That is why I decided to ask specifically if one possible solution would be unbalancing. I might be better off asking about this elsewhere.
$endgroup$
– mdrichey
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
@fabian I don't disagree. I would need to come up with equivalent rewards for the other players as well.
$endgroup$
– mdrichey
2 hours ago
$begingroup$
@fabian I don't disagree. I would need to come up with equivalent rewards for the other players as well.
$endgroup$
– mdrichey
2 hours ago
$begingroup$
@mdrichey, given that this question now has a couple of answers it would be better to ask a new question if you do decide to ask that question here but it all depends on how you ask it. We can't exactly help you "not be tired" of dealing with light and vision rules but if there's a core to that problem (eg. you're finding it difficult to remember, it's slowing down the game, you're not having fun having to constantly deal with it but the players are so you don't know what to do) then that's something we could help with.
$endgroup$
– Purple Monkey
2 hours ago
$begingroup$
@mdrichey, given that this question now has a couple of answers it would be better to ask a new question if you do decide to ask that question here but it all depends on how you ask it. We can't exactly help you "not be tired" of dealing with light and vision rules but if there's a core to that problem (eg. you're finding it difficult to remember, it's slowing down the game, you're not having fun having to constantly deal with it but the players are so you don't know what to do) then that's something we could help with.
$endgroup$
– Purple Monkey
2 hours ago
|
show 1 more comment
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
Would giving your players uncommon items break the game? No
The rules for this item exist, so you're not adding anything new to the game. Giving uncommon magic items at level 4 is not out of whack either. Mechanically, you're fine; this isn't going to break anything.
Compensate your elves
On the other hand, your elven players chose a race that gave them Darkvision. If you just hand out Darkvision to everyone, they will likely (rightly) feel a little left out. However, this is easy enough to remedy - give them each some magic item at around the same time as you hand out the Goggles of Night and you'll be fair while also solving your problem.
answered 2 hours ago
BlueHairedMeerkatBlueHairedMeerkat
1,193215
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Short answer; no, it wouldn't break anything
It just means you're ignoring lighting conditions so the game is more fun for everyone involved.
However
Should halflings need to give up something to compensate? Or does everyone now also, say, have Stout Resilience to poisons? What if a human NPC joined the party? Do they get darkvision too?
Some mechanics are easily overlooked, but there needs to be trade-offs in races so you get some good, some bad. As the saying goes, "If everyone is super, then no one is super."
answered 2 hours ago
MivaScottMivaScott
5,30311140
$endgroup$
add a comment |
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2 Answers
2
active
oldest
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2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
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active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
Would giving your players uncommon items break the game? No
The rules for this item exist, so you're not adding anything new to the game. Giving uncommon magic items at level 4 is not out of whack either. Mechanically, you're fine; this isn't going to break anything.
Compensate your elves
On the other hand, your elven players chose a race that gave them Darkvision. If you just hand out Darkvision to everyone, they will likely (rightly) feel a little left out. However, this is easy enough to remedy - give them each some magic item at around the same time as you hand out the Goggles of Night and you'll be fair while also solving your problem.
answered 2 hours ago
BlueHairedMeerkatBlueHairedMeerkat
1,193215
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Would giving your players uncommon items break the game? No
The rules for this item exist, so you're not adding anything new to the game. Giving uncommon magic items at level 4 is not out of whack either. Mechanically, you're fine; this isn't going to break anything.
Compensate your elves
On the other hand, your elven players chose a race that gave them Darkvision. If you just hand out Darkvision to everyone, they will likely (rightly) feel a little left out. However, this is easy enough to remedy - give them each some magic item at around the same time as you hand out the Goggles of Night and you'll be fair while also solving your problem.
answered 2 hours ago
BlueHairedMeerkatBlueHairedMeerkat
1,193215
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Would giving your players uncommon items break the game? No
The rules for this item exist, so you're not adding anything new to the game. Giving uncommon magic items at level 4 is not out of whack either. Mechanically, you're fine; this isn't going to break anything.
Compensate your elves
On the other hand, your elven players chose a race that gave them Darkvision. If you just hand out Darkvision to everyone, they will likely (rightly) feel a little left out. However, this is easy enough to remedy - give them each some magic item at around the same time as you hand out the Goggles of Night and you'll be fair while also solving your problem.
answered 2 hours ago
BlueHairedMeerkatBlueHairedMeerkat
1,193215
$endgroup$
Would giving your players uncommon items break the game? No
The rules for this item exist, so you're not adding anything new to the game. Giving uncommon magic items at level 4 is not out of whack either. Mechanically, you're fine; this isn't going to break anything.
Compensate your elves
On the other hand, your elven players chose a race that gave them Darkvision. If you just hand out Darkvision to everyone, they will likely (rightly) feel a little left out. However, this is easy enough to remedy - give them each some magic item at around the same time as you hand out the Goggles of Night and you'll be fair while also solving your problem.
answered 2 hours ago
BlueHairedMeerkatBlueHairedMeerkat
1,193215
answered 2 hours ago
BlueHairedMeerkatBlueHairedMeerkat
1,193215
answered 2 hours ago
BlueHairedMeerkatBlueHairedMeerkat
1,193215
answered 2 hours ago
BlueHairedMeerkatBlueHairedMeerkat
1,193215
1,193215
add a comment |
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Short answer; no, it wouldn't break anything
It just means you're ignoring lighting conditions so the game is more fun for everyone involved.
However
Should halflings need to give up something to compensate? Or does everyone now also, say, have Stout Resilience to poisons? What if a human NPC joined the party? Do they get darkvision too?
Some mechanics are easily overlooked, but there needs to be trade-offs in races so you get some good, some bad. As the saying goes, "If everyone is super, then no one is super."
answered 2 hours ago
MivaScottMivaScott
5,30311140
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Short answer; no, it wouldn't break anything
It just means you're ignoring lighting conditions so the game is more fun for everyone involved.
However
Should halflings need to give up something to compensate? Or does everyone now also, say, have Stout Resilience to poisons? What if a human NPC joined the party? Do they get darkvision too?
Some mechanics are easily overlooked, but there needs to be trade-offs in races so you get some good, some bad. As the saying goes, "If everyone is super, then no one is super."
answered 2 hours ago
MivaScottMivaScott
5,30311140
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Short answer; no, it wouldn't break anything
It just means you're ignoring lighting conditions so the game is more fun for everyone involved.
However
Should halflings need to give up something to compensate? Or does everyone now also, say, have Stout Resilience to poisons? What if a human NPC joined the party? Do they get darkvision too?
Some mechanics are easily overlooked, but there needs to be trade-offs in races so you get some good, some bad. As the saying goes, "If everyone is super, then no one is super."
answered 2 hours ago
MivaScottMivaScott
5,30311140
$endgroup$
Short answer; no, it wouldn't break anything
It just means you're ignoring lighting conditions so the game is more fun for everyone involved.
However
Should halflings need to give up something to compensate? Or does everyone now also, say, have Stout Resilience to poisons? What if a human NPC joined the party? Do they get darkvision too?
Some mechanics are easily overlooked, but there needs to be trade-offs in races so you get some good, some bad. As the saying goes, "If everyone is super, then no one is super."
answered 2 hours ago
MivaScottMivaScott
5,30311140
answered 2 hours ago
MivaScottMivaScott
5,30311140
answered 2 hours ago
MivaScottMivaScott
5,30311140
answered 2 hours ago
MivaScottMivaScott
5,30311140
5,30311140
add a comment |
add a comment |
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$begingroup$
Is this causing any issues with the players? I ask because this may be an XY problem. If this is only an issue for you as the DM but the players are fine with it and having fun then you might be better off asking about the actual problem; that you as the DM are tired of adjudicating light and vision all the time and you want to solve that issue. If this is an issue you both you and the players then obviously the question is fine as is but could I suggest you edit in a little info about what issue the player's are having as well.
$endgroup$
– Purple Monkey
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
So the halflings get the goggles and there's no equivalent reward for the quest? If that's the case regardless of balance the (half-)elf players may feel as if the other players are rewarded for choosing a race that doesn't get darkvision/the benefits of their race choice get reduced, since everyone without darkvision would have gotten it anyways.
$endgroup$
– fabian
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
@PurpleMonkey You are correct; the issue is just that I am tired of adjudicating light and vision all the time. I can try to reword my question, but I am afraid if I do, it may be closed as a discussion prompt. That is why I decided to ask specifically if one possible solution would be unbalancing. I might be better off asking about this elsewhere.
$endgroup$
– mdrichey
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
@fabian I don't disagree. I would need to come up with equivalent rewards for the other players as well.
$endgroup$
– mdrichey
2 hours ago
$begingroup$
@mdrichey, given that this question now has a couple of answers it would be better to ask a new question if you do decide to ask that question here but it all depends on how you ask it. We can't exactly help you "not be tired" of dealing with light and vision rules but if there's a core to that problem (eg. you're finding it difficult to remember, it's slowing down the game, you're not having fun having to constantly deal with it but the players are so you don't know what to do) then that's something we could help with.
$endgroup$
– Purple Monkey
2 hours ago