Hey guys. I was looking through the options on research as a downtime activity and found myself with quite the dilemma. I love the way XGtE describes and flavors dlwntime activities but at the same time I would have a hard time convincing my player not to take the cheapest version of the research actitivy (aka the PHB one). What do you think about both options?
I'd give the option based on how esoteric the knowledge is, and how accessible sources of information are.
If they're looking for basic information on giants in Silverymoon, that's simple 1-GP-a-week stuff.
Trying to learn a greater demon's true name in a Lord's Alliance city? Wanting to get a concrete bonus for something? That's more in the realm of the XGE stuff.
...I would have a hard time convincing my player not to take the cheapest version of the research actitivy (aka the PHB one). What do you think about both options?
I think the downtime rules are meant to be two mutually exclusive options - either you handle downtime activities via the PHB/DMG rules or via the XGtE rules - rather than both being present for the player to choose between during play.
And I heavily lean towards the revised rules in Xanathar's Guide because I think they are just plain better thought out and implemented, put all downtime activities on similar time schedules, and not only give every character some options what to do while taking downtime but actually help to make those options interesting and/or useful.
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Hey guys. I was looking through the options on research as a downtime activity and found myself with quite the dilemma. I love the way XGtE describes and flavors dlwntime activities but at the same time I would have a hard time convincing my player not to take the cheapest version of the research actitivy (aka the PHB one). What do you think about both options?
Simon Pelletier
DM and troublemaker
I'd give the option based on how esoteric the knowledge is, and how accessible sources of information are.
If they're looking for basic information on giants in Silverymoon, that's simple 1-GP-a-week stuff.
Trying to learn a greater demon's true name in a Lord's Alliance city? Wanting to get a concrete bonus for something? That's more in the realm of the XGE stuff.
Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in awhile.