I want to use 2 cantrips-prestidigitation- to refresh a warming of a cooking pot and refresh the flavoring of the contents while taking a short rest. Maybe if it's dark keep my light cantrip going for reading.
Since this is basically pointless, it should be fine, but it opens the door to the problem of what about using eldritch blast to scare off a potential hostile? Obviously even 1 round of combat should disrupt the short rest.
/sarchasm on
It's not like a short rest has any similarity to a long rest where you can spend up to 599 rounds casting 9th level spells and getting the snot kicked out of you or tortured as long as you don't hit 600+ rounds of this and you get your 6 hours of sleep in there somewhere...
/end sarchasm
Seriously though, how stressful is it to cast a cantrip?
In my games I would say casting a cantrip would blow a short rest regardless of the cantrip. As you said, there are cantrips that you could use to "scare off" a potential hostile. It's also pretty specific about "eating, drinking, reading, and tending to wounds" not to say that's ALL a character could do but I think it sums up mundane activities. Also, there's wording in Prestidigitation that says something spellcasters use for Practice. I would equate it to saying a fighter wants to practice with his sword, would that interrupt a short rest? I'd say yes.
However, I can see many DM's saying it's fine because it doesn't really have an impact. I'd just say use the cantrip to light a fire, then spend your short rest cooking.
I'd probably allow all of those things. Just like it's ok for someone to "stand watch" during rests, I figure it's fine to do many regular things that don't spend in-game resources or make in-game progress. If it's an encounter that is resolved by the warlock shooting an eldritch blast somewhere, that seems like the magical equivalent of the fighter banging his sword on his shield to scare off a wolf or something. As long as it's a quick thing like that, IMO it's fine.
the non-combat cantrips prestidigitation and light would have 0 effect on a short rest as a wizard can cast identify on a short rest. I myself am rather relaxed on what can be done during a short rest just as long as it is an hour long, in fact the light cantrip can be used as a timer for the short rest as it lasts an hour
Also, there's wording in Prestidigitation that says something spellcasters use for Practice. I would equate it to saying a fighter wants to practice with his sword, would that interrupt a short rest? I'd say yes.
The rules for attunement specifically mention weapon practice during a short rest.
Attuning to an item requires a creature to spend a short rest focused on only that item while being in physical contact with it (this can’t be the same short rest used to learn the item’s properties). This focus can take the form of weapon practice (for a weapon), meditation (for a wondrous item), or some other appropriate activity.
To keep things simple while also setting clear boundaries I would say things you can't do during a rest are:
Attacking/being attacked
Forcing/making a save
Dealing/taking damage
Using limited use features (including spell slots)
Cantrips, rituals, and maintaining concentration are all allowed in my games.
Good points Dx, I've always taken that to mean that in lieu of a short rest you are spending the time attuning, which could include weapon practice if you received a weapon that needed attunement. It says you are Spending a short rest. You don't gain the advantages of a short rest while attuning right?
Honestly, I'm not just trying to be disagreeable. I think it's a good point but if you don't gain the advantage of a short rest while you're attuning then it kind of speaks to my earlier point. But I'm honestly not sure if you get a short rest benefit while attuneing. Haven't considered that before.
"You can transform one magic weapon into your pact weapon by performing a special ritual while you hold the weapon. You perform the ritual over the course of 1 hour, which can be done during a short rest. "
I think that's what you are talking about. It's a ritual, but I'm not sure how much magic is actually being done.
Good points Dx, I've always taken that to mean that in lieu of a short rest you are spending the time attuning, which could include weapon practice if you received a weapon that needed attunement. It says you are Spending a short rest. You don't gain the advantages of a short rest while attuning right?
Honestly, I'm not just trying to be disagreeable. I think it's a good point but if you don't gain the advantage of a short rest while you're attuning then it kind of speaks to my earlier point. But I'm honestly not sure if you get a short rest benefit while attuneing. Haven't considered that before.
If you didn't benefit from the rest except to attune it would have said so. During a short rest means at the same time as a short rest.
Rests are just intended for there to be a required period of safety to recover. It isn't a "one whole hour of your day is wasted because you got scratched" situation.
Also, Prestidigitation is a non-concentration spell with a duration of an hour. You can totally cast it, start a short rest the next turn, and it will last for the next 59:54, ending exactly 1 round before the short rest does. RAW, you didn’t cast it during the rest, and aren’t maintaining concentration.
I want to use 2 cantrips-prestidigitation- to refresh a warming of a cooking pot and refresh the flavoring of the contents while taking a short rest. Maybe if it's dark keep my light cantrip going for reading.
Since this is basically pointless, it should be fine, but it opens the door to the problem of what about using eldritch blast to scare off a potential hostile? Obviously even 1 round of combat should disrupt the short rest.
/sarchasm on
It's not like a short rest has any similarity to a long rest where you can spend up to 599 rounds casting 9th level spells and getting the snot kicked out of you or tortured as long as you don't hit 600+ rounds of this and you get your 6 hours of sleep in there somewhere...
/end sarchasm
Seriously though, how stressful is it to cast a cantrip?
In my games I would say casting a cantrip would blow a short rest regardless of the cantrip. As you said, there are cantrips that you could use to "scare off" a potential hostile. It's also pretty specific about "eating, drinking, reading, and tending to wounds" not to say that's ALL a character could do but I think it sums up mundane activities. Also, there's wording in Prestidigitation that says something spellcasters use for Practice. I would equate it to saying a fighter wants to practice with his sword, would that interrupt a short rest? I'd say yes.
However, I can see many DM's saying it's fine because it doesn't really have an impact. I'd just say use the cantrip to light a fire, then spend your short rest cooking.
That's what happens when you wear a helmet your whole life!
My house rules
Good point on the practice sword. Thanks.
I'd probably allow all of those things. Just like it's ok for someone to "stand watch" during rests, I figure it's fine to do many regular things that don't spend in-game resources or make in-game progress. If it's an encounter that is resolved by the warlock shooting an eldritch blast somewhere, that seems like the magical equivalent of the fighter banging his sword on his shield to scare off a wolf or something. As long as it's a quick thing like that, IMO it's fine.
the non-combat cantrips prestidigitation and light would have 0 effect on a short rest as a wizard can cast identify on a short rest. I myself am rather relaxed on what can be done during a short rest just as long as it is an hour long, in fact the light cantrip can be used as a timer for the short rest as it lasts an hour
The rules for attunement specifically mention weapon practice during a short rest.
To keep things simple while also setting clear boundaries I would say things you can't do during a rest are:
Cantrips, rituals, and maintaining concentration are all allowed in my games.
Good points Dx, I've always taken that to mean that in lieu of a short rest you are spending the time attuning, which could include weapon practice if you received a weapon that needed attunement. It says you are Spending a short rest. You don't gain the advantages of a short rest while attuning right?
Honestly, I'm not just trying to be disagreeable. I think it's a good point but if you don't gain the advantage of a short rest while you're attuning then it kind of speaks to my earlier point. But I'm honestly not sure if you get a short rest benefit while attuneing. Haven't considered that before.
That's what happens when you wear a helmet your whole life!
My house rules
"You can transform one magic weapon into your pact weapon by performing a special ritual while you hold the weapon. You perform the ritual over the course of 1 hour, which can be done during a short rest. "
I think that's what you are talking about. It's a ritual, but I'm not sure how much magic is actually being done.
If you didn't benefit from the rest except to attune it would have said so. During a short rest means at the same time as a short rest.
Rests are just intended for there to be a required period of safety to recover. It isn't a "one whole hour of your day is wasted because you got scratched" situation.
Also, Prestidigitation is a non-concentration spell with a duration of an hour. You can totally cast it, start a short rest the next turn, and it will last for the next 59:54, ending exactly 1 round before the short rest does. RAW, you didn’t cast it during the rest, and aren’t maintaining concentration.
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Very stressful if you can't cast it in time