I have a player who is really into crafting - he is playing an elf and is focused on his Trance ability- RAW You don’t need to sleep, and magic can’t put you to sleep. You can finish a Long Rest in 4 hours if you spend those hours in a trancelike meditation, during which you retain consciousness. That said a Long Rest is defined as at least 8 hours—available to any creature. During a Long Rest, you sleep for at least 6 hours and perform no more than 2 hours of light activity, such as reading, talking, eating, or standing watch.
I am just looking for advice on how to handle - he wants to craft for the other 4 hours, my take it is that he should only be able to do 2 hours as per the long rest rules.
Ultimately, you're the DM, and you get final say, and if you don't want the player getting extra hours a day, you can say they don't.
That said, the elf's ability is explicit that they finish a long rest in only 4 hours, as opposed to the 8 hours of anyone else. It's a minor part of the ability, but it is real.
Per RAW, your player's interpretation is right, but I agree with you. I think it's weird that elves sleeping less means they recuperate faster. There's more to a long rest than sleeping.
I am just looking for advice on how to handle - he wants to craft for the other 4 hours, my take it is that he should only be able to do 2 hours as per the long rest rules.
As mentioned, just say No to him crafting for 4 hours.
On the flip side, isn't crafting limited to X hours in a day?
In his defense, even though the trance is a loophole, I assume the crafting is while you are not out campaigning. Therefore (down) time is not relevant, so what does it matter if he can craft products sooner/quicker then everyone else? What is he trying to achieve by doing an extra 4 hours of crafting?
I feel like 2 hours vs 4 hours of crafting is not gonna make a huge difference.
Also, keep in mind that the trance is one of the things that makes Elves special. Saying no to one of your player's features can make them feel unsatisfied with their character choices and dampen the fun.
"Crafting requires tools and resources that are hard to keep mobile while on adventure. So I'd make a ruling that depends on the type of crafting:
Raw, phb says "To craft a nonmagical item, you need tools, raw materials, and time, each of which is detailed below. If you meet the requirements, you make the item, and you can use it or sell it at its normal price"
For smith tools, it says:
Smith’s Tools (20 GP)
Ability: Strength Weight: 8 lb.
Utilize: Pry open a door or container (DC 20)
Craft: Any Melee weapon (except Club, Greatclub, Quarterstaff, and Whip), Medium armor (except Hide), Heavy armor, Ball Bearings, Bucket, Caltrops, Chain, Crowbar, Firearm Bullets, Grappling Hook, Iron Pot, Iron Spikes, Sling Bullets
Which means, raw, if a pc has smith tools in their backpack, they have everything they need, tool related, to make plate armor, or any other item in the smiths tools crafting list
They only need money and time and the defined tool kit. They dont need a blacksmiths shop.
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I have a player who is really into crafting - he is playing an elf and is focused on his Trance ability- RAW You don’t need to sleep, and magic can’t put you to sleep. You can finish a Long Rest in 4 hours if you spend those hours in a trancelike meditation, during which you retain consciousness. That said a Long Rest is defined as at least 8 hours—available to any creature. During a Long Rest, you sleep for at least 6 hours and perform no more than 2 hours of light activity, such as reading, talking, eating, or standing watch.
I am just looking for advice on how to handle - he wants to craft for the other 4 hours, my take it is that he should only be able to do 2 hours as per the long rest rules.
Ultimately, you're the DM, and you get final say, and if you don't want the player getting extra hours a day, you can say they don't.
That said, the elf's ability is explicit that they finish a long rest in only 4 hours, as opposed to the 8 hours of anyone else. It's a minor part of the ability, but it is real.
Per RAW, your player's interpretation is right, but I agree with you. I think it's weird that elves sleeping less means they recuperate faster. There's more to a long rest than sleeping.
As mentioned, just say No to him crafting for 4 hours.
On the flip side, isn't crafting limited to X hours in a day?
In his defense, even though the trance is a loophole, I assume the crafting is while you are not out campaigning. Therefore (down) time is not relevant, so what does it matter if he can craft products sooner/quicker then everyone else? What is he trying to achieve by doing an extra 4 hours of crafting?
I feel like 2 hours vs 4 hours of crafting is not gonna make a huge difference.
Also, keep in mind that the trance is one of the things that makes Elves special. Saying no to one of your player's features can make them feel unsatisfied with their character choices and dampen the fun.
Crafting takes (price in gold)/10 days.
If they want to craft a 150 gold item, it will take 15 days.
4 hours at night, means multuply days by 2.
30 days to craft one item.
Should not break the game and makes your player happy. Whats the downside?
Crafting requires tools and resources that are hard to keep mobile while on adventure. So I'd make a ruling that depends on the type of crafting
"Crafting requires tools and resources that are hard to keep mobile while on adventure. So I'd make a ruling that depends on the type of crafting:
Raw, phb says "To craft a nonmagical item, you need tools, raw materials, and time, each of which is detailed below. If you meet the requirements, you make the item, and you can use it or sell it at its normal price"
For smith tools, it says:
Smith’s Tools (20 GP)
Ability: Strength Weight: 8 lb.
Utilize: Pry open a door or container (DC 20)
Craft: Any Melee weapon (except Club, Greatclub, Quarterstaff, and Whip), Medium armor (except Hide), Heavy armor, Ball Bearings, Bucket, Caltrops, Chain, Crowbar, Firearm Bullets, Grappling Hook, Iron Pot, Iron Spikes, Sling Bullets
Which means, raw, if a pc has smith tools in their backpack, they have everything they need, tool related, to make plate armor, or any other item in the smiths tools crafting list
They only need money and time and the defined tool kit. They dont need a blacksmiths shop.