Herbie Murray
There are no official rules about what happens when a character sleeps in their armour in 5e. However, some players and DMs have created house rules to address this. Some common suggestions include reducing the benefits of a long rest, imposing exhaustion levels, or reducing the number of hit points regained. Ultimately, it is up to the DM to decide how to handle this situation, taking into account the game's fantasy reality and the players' preferences.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Penalties for sleeping in armor | There are no penalties specified in the rules, but some players impose their own penalties, such as not regaining health during sleep or gaining exhaustion levels. |
| Rules for sleeping in armor | There are no official rules for sleeping in armor in 5e. Some players choose to ignore it, while others treat it as a hindrance or an opportunity for role-playing. |
| Realism | While it is possible to sleep in armor, it is uncomfortable and may affect the quality of rest. There are historical accounts of soldiers sleeping in their armor for extended periods. |
| Workarounds | Some players suggest imposing a cumulative exhaustion level for sleeping in medium or heavy armor, with a maximum level after several nights. Others suggest regaining only a quarter of spent Hit Dice after a long rest in medium or heavy armor. |
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What You'll Learn
There are no official rules about sleeping in armour
Historically, there are examples of soldiers needing to sleep in their armour, and some people have shared their personal experiences of sleeping in armour in real life, finding it uncomfortable but manageable. In previous editions of the game, there were penalties for sleeping in medium or heavy armour, but these were removed in 4e. In 3.5e, the rule was that a character who slept in medium or heavy armour would be fatigued the next day, with penalties to Strength and Dexterity and an inability to charge or run.
Some DMs might choose to adopt similar rules or create their own house rules for 5e, such as imposing exhaustion levels or other negative effects for sleeping in armour. For example, a DM might rule that players must make an endurance check to avoid gaining exhaustion after sleeping in heavy armour. Alternatively, they might decide that sleeping in armour does not have any significant negative consequences, or that it depends on the circumstances, such as the type of armour, the sleeping conditions, and whether the player regularly sleeps in their armour.
Ultimately, the decision of whether and how to penalize players for sleeping in armour falls under the DM's responsibility for managing the game's fantasy reality. It is important to consider the potential impact on the gameplay experience, as players might need to spend additional time figuring out their stats or dealing with the consequences of being ambushed while unarmoured.
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Dungeon Masters may implement penalties
There are no strict rules regarding sleeping in armour in 5e. However, Dungeon Masters (DMs) may implement penalties at their discretion to add realism and challenges to the game. Here are some ideas for penalties that a DM could consider:
- Exhaustion Levels: DMs could impose cumulative exhaustion levels for each long rest spent in medium or heavy armour. For example, a player may gain one level of exhaustion after the first night, two levels after the second night, and so on, with a maximum of three levels. Alternatively, players could be required to make a Constitution check (DC 10) to avoid gaining one level of exhaustion after sleeping in heavy armour.
- Reduced Healing: Sleeping in armour may hinder a player's ability to recover during a long rest. A rule suggested in "Xanathar's Guide to Everything" states that players regain only one-quarter of their spent Hit Dice (with a minimum of one die) after sleeping in medium or heavy armour. Another option is to halve the maximum amount of healing dice for the day if a player long rests with their armour on.
- Disadvantages: Sleeping in armour may result in various disadvantages for players. For example, they may have trouble moving stealthily or being agile due to the weight and bulk of the armour. Additionally, the armour may cause discomfort, affecting their ability to interact with others or perform certain tasks.
- Fatigue: Players who sleep in medium or heavy armour may wake up feeling fatigued, affecting their performance the next day. This could be represented by penalties to Strength and Dexterity checks or limiting their ability to charge or run.
- Environmental Factors: Consider the environmental conditions when players sleep in their armour. For example, sleeping outdoors without proper shelter may result in additional penalties due to exposure to the elements. On the other hand, a comfortable bed and clean sheets in an inn may provide bonuses to rest.
It is important to note that the penalties should not be overly harsh, as sleeping in armour is not significantly more uncomfortable than sleeping on the ground with just a blanket. Additionally, players should be encouraged to rest without armour through rewards or benefits, rather than solely relying on punishments.
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Exhaustion is a common house rule
While there are no strict rules about sleeping in armour in 5e, it is generally assumed that you do not sleep in heavy armour, and would only sleep in medium armour if necessary. In previous editions of the game, there were penalties for sleeping in armour, including automatic fatigue and negative effects on Strength and Dexterity.
Some players and Dungeon Masters choose to implement house rules for sleeping in armour, such as not gaining the benefits of a long rest or only regaining a quarter of spent Hit Dice. Others might impose exhaustion levels for sleeping in medium or heavy armour. One player suggests imposing a cumulative exhaustion level for every long rest spent in medium or heavy armour, with the level increasing each night to a maximum of 3. This rule aims to make sleeping in armour undesirable without overly punishing players.
Exhaustion has long been considered an overly harsh and complicated rule in 5e, and the 2024 rules from Wizards of the Coast aim to address this by making the system easier to use and less punitive. In the 2024 Core Rules, exhaustion is broken out into six cumulative levels, with Level 6 resulting in death. Each Long Rest removes one Level of Exhaustion, and the condition is removed once the character reaches Level 0. The 2024 rules also introduce a new mechanic called 'Fatigued', which does not have any effects by itself but leads to exhaustion if an additional level is gained.
Some players have created their own house rules to modify how exhaustion works in 5e. One player suggests allowing characters to expend a hit die to temporarily relieve one level of exhaustion. Another player adds a "-2 penalty, per level of exhaustion, to your spell DC" to incorporate the benefits of the new system into their 5e games. These house rules aim to make the exhaustion mechanic more memorable, impactful, and balanced.
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Soldiers have slept in armour for days
In reality, sleeping in armour would be possible but not practical. Armour can make it difficult to sleep in certain positions and can cause discomfort. Additionally, sleeping in armour can be damaging to the armour itself. For example, sleeping sitting up with plate armour can cause the plates to pinch at the waist and leg area. Donning and doffing plate armour can also be a time-consuming process, requiring assistance from another person.
In D&D, some players choose to impose minor penalties for sleeping in armour, such as not regaining certain class benefits or reducing the amount of healing gained during rest. Other players may choose to ignore the issue and let it slide without any penalties. Ultimately, it is up to the Dungeon Master (DM) to decide how to handle sleeping in armour in their game, taking into account the fantasy reality of the game world.
Some historical examples provide context for soldiers sleeping in armour. During Henry V's Agincourt campaign, the men-at-arms were harried by the French threat for several days on end, leaving them little time to make proper camp. In such extreme circumstances, it is possible that soldiers slept in their armour.
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It's possible, but uncomfortable
While there are no official rules about sleeping in armour in 5e, it is generally agreed that it is possible but uncomfortable. In previous editions of the game, there were penalties for sleeping in armour, such as automatic fatigue and a negative Strength and Dexterity modifier. However, these penalties have been removed in more recent editions.
Some players and Dungeon Masters (DMs) choose to implement their own house rules for sleeping in armour, such as reducing the benefits of a long rest or imposing exhaustion levels. For example, a player might have to make an endurance check to avoid gaining an exhaustion level after sleeping in heavy armour. Alternatively, a DM might rule that a character who sleeps in armour does not gain the benefits of a long rest, such as recovering hit points.
It's important to note that sleeping in armour can also impact the gameplay experience. For example, a character trying to gain the trust of a child while wearing bloodstained armour might have disadvantage on their roll. Additionally, sleeping in armour can make it difficult to react quickly to unexpected events, such as an ambush.
Ultimately, the decision of how to handle sleeping in armour falls to the DM, who must manage the game's fantasy reality. Some DMs might choose to ignore the issue altogether, while others might encourage their players to remove their armour at night by offering benefits to characters who rest without it.
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Frequently asked questions
There are no official rules regarding sleeping with armour on in 5e. However, some players opt for certain penalties, such as gaining no benefits from a long rest or halving the maximum amount of healing dice for that day.
No, there are no benefits to sleeping with armour on in 5e. Some players choose to ignore the idea of sleeping with armour on altogether, as removing it only takes 10 minutes according to the rules.
Yes, there are historical accounts of soldiers sleeping in their armour for days at a time. Examples include the Siege of Malta and Conquistadors.
