To be perfectly honest, I think the original concept Larian had is the best for minimizing spamming Long Rests. It's simple and effective. They should really just run with it. What is that concept?
If you long rest too much, stuff happens, like you start to turn into a mind flayer or SOMETHING.
Basically, what I mean is, on my first playthrough, I was scared to death to long rest. I tried to do it as little as possible because I knew there was a tadpole in my head and I could transform any day.
So what changed? About 60% through EA I realized that I could spam long rest and nothing would happen. No goblins destroying the grove if I take too long. No dream lover dreams. No druids completing the ritual. No nothing.
My primary hope is that they would implement at least some time based events that are triggered if you start to long rest too much. Like I've said in the past, nothing severe like getting totally locked out of a quest, but stuff. Things changing. Things happening that warn you. Keep long resting a ton and eventually you are going to start seeing real negative consequences.
I want to be clear. No Pathfinder Kingmaker locking you out of quests like you failed them unless maybe for some reason you REALLY REALLY spam long rest, but things that aren't as permanent but are minor inconveniences.
Examples:.
- Wyll temporarily leaves the party because you aren't going after the gobbo leaders fast enough. You can find him again later near the goblin camp.
- Lae'zel leaving temporarily because you aren't going to the Gith fast enough. Again, finding her later on Risen Road closer to the Gith patrol.
- The ritual at the grove is interrupted because Rath grew a set and stopped it. But he's been locked up for it so he won't be helping you against Kagha.
Stuff like that. I just really think they started with this but then backed out. Now they're overcomplicating the whole thing with camping supplies etc. And not addressing the real issue. No consequences at all for long resting means players eventually realize they can spam it and a serious element of the game is lost. It's disappointing to start out believing you are racing against time only to learn it's really not that big a deal. You got all the time in the world.
