Good ev'n, gentlebeings! I pose to thee a question of the utmost roleplaying importance: when did CHARNAME last enjoy a hearty meal? This game is one of unparalleled immersion with plenty of wonderful roleplaying elements. However, one thing that always irked me was the severe food shortage afflicting the Sword Coast. I mean, you could wander into a tavern and have a drink -- but what about food? There was nothing on the menu! No bread, cheese, mutton -- nothing! Worse yet, I never knew if CHARNAME was chomping at the gills for some grub, or if he was already stuffed full of roast kobold! It was all left up to my imagination, which is great for roleplaying purposes, but I think the idea would do well as an actual part of the game.
With that in mind, I always thought it would be fun to include a hunger and thirst mechanic that impacts your abilities if not kept under control. As it already stands, you are penalized for not sleeping on a regular basis, and if you drink too much then you'll find yourself a wee bit tipsy. What then are the possibilities of taking it a step further by adding the necessity for food -- little travel rations you can put into your inventory, or proper meals that you can eat while resting at a tavern -- along with a simple, but appropriate hunger effect? If you don't eat, perhaps your total weight allowance drops to reflect fatigue, or your CON score might receive a -1 to show your low energy. Eating would of course neutralize these temporary penalties. The same would apply for drinking, which could be accomplished by carrying a waterskin. I realize that, for story purposes, the game assumes you spend time eating and drinking whenever you rest. However, I think it would be a nice touch to have such a feature separate, much like when playing tabletop "Dungeons and Dragons". It would certainly make you more wary of wandering away from town while ill-equipped!
What say you, friends?
With that in mind, I always thought it would be fun to include a hunger and thirst mechanic that impacts your abilities if not kept under control. As it already stands, you are penalized for not sleeping on a regular basis, and if you drink too much then you'll find yourself a wee bit tipsy. What then are the possibilities of taking it a step further by adding the necessity for food -- little travel rations you can put into your inventory, or proper meals that you can eat while resting at a tavern -- along with a simple, but appropriate hunger effect? If you don't eat, perhaps your total weight allowance drops to reflect fatigue, or your CON score might receive a -1 to show your low energy. Eating would of course neutralize these temporary penalties. The same would apply for drinking, which could be accomplished by carrying a waterskin. I realize that, for story purposes, the game assumes you spend time eating and drinking whenever you rest. However, I think it would be a nice touch to have such a feature separate, much like when playing tabletop "Dungeons and Dragons". It would certainly make you more wary of wandering away from town while ill-equipped!
What say you, friends?