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Replacing 5e's Inspiration with Luck

by Mike on 22 January 2024

In the Tales of the Valiant 5e RPG and their Project Black Flag system reference document, Kobold Press introduces us to the Luck mechanic – a direct replacement for the standard 5e "Inspiration" mechanic. Here's how it works.

The Luck System

Every time a character misses an attack or a saving throw, they gain one luck point.
They can only hold up to five luck points. If they gain a sixth luck point, they roll 1d4 and that's how many luck points they have now.
They can spend one luck point to get +1 to a D20 roll after they roll.
They can spend three luck points to re-roll a d20 check.

GMs can award luck points for good roleplaying, brave behavior, and other times we might award inspiration but players will primarily gain luck with missed attacks and saving throws (not ability checks.)

I've used this luck mechanic in my 5e games for a while now and I love it. It takes the burden off of the GM to award inspiration, something I often forget. For players, it takes the edge off of the disappointment of rolling a missed attack or saving throw. It's an entire system managed primarily by players and yet we GMs can still offer luck points to incentivize heroic deeds. We can also use luck points as bargaining chips with players when they want to do something risky but are worried about consequences of failure.

Introducing Luck

If we do decide to bring in luck, or any other new mechanics into our game, it behooves us to have a conversation with our players about it. Ask them if it's something they're interested in. Maybe give it a trial run and see if people like it before using it regularly.

Expanding 5e's Mechanics

Luck is one of the many new mechanics we're seeing designers bring into the larger 5e space. Because it's encapsulated, we can remove inspiration and replace it with luck and nothing else needs to change.

I think we're going to see a lot of cool ideas like this one come out over 2024 and I'm excited to see them. Not every variant needs to work for all groups – you may not like the luck mechanic, and that's fine. But you might like some other mechanic like Level Up Advanced 5e's "Strife" condition or its use of "Supply" for exploration and resting. You might like the way exhaustion worked in the early 2024 D&D playtest where each level of exhaustion was -1 to D20 checks.

With all of these variants and sub-systems coming out, we can build the version of 5e we want for our own table. None of them need be the same. If it works for you and your group – it works.

More Sly Flourish Stuff

Last week I posted a couple of YouTube videos on Blocking Rooms in Owlbear Rodeo and Mummy on the Bridge.

Last Week's Lazy RPG Talk Show Topics

Each week I record an episode of the Lazy RPG Talk Show (also available as a podcast) in which I talk about all things in tabletop RPGs. Here are last week's topics with time stamped links to the YouTube video:

Patreon Questions and Answers

Also on the Talk Show, I answer questions from Sly Flourish Patrons. Here are last week's questions and answers:

RPG Tips

Each week I think about what I learned in my last RPG session and write them up as D&D tips. Here are this week's tips:

Write out a loose outline of scenes even if you know they could go off track.
Prep NPCs with appearance, mannerisms, and motivations. What do they want? What would they be doing if the characters aren't around?
Avoid chains of hard combat. Throw in easy fights, conversations, and elements of exploration.
What can the characters learn in your next game?
Use maps and minis for conversations. Use theater of the mind for combat.
Let characters knock bad guys into their own traps and make your players love you forever.
Put choices and options in front of your players near the end of a session so you know what to prep next.