The known fact that inspiration can't stack means we need to interpret this phrasing as "set inspiration status to example of Heroism and non-stacking temp HP is good.) e.g. (Whether or not they had inspiration to start with.) If they already had inspiration, it's a waste of your action, but nothing in D&D stops you from wasting (part of) your turn. "Grant" means the target creature now has inspiration. (If that was the case, "inspiration" wouldn't even have any mechanical meaning because the whole game concept of what inspiration is is defined elsewhere as well.) Nothing about any of the wording in anything you quoted gives any hint that it should be able to stack, therefore there's no conflict with the general rule.īut because "grants inspiration" and "has it or doesn't" are not directly contradictory, then there is no conflict there to resolve?Ĭorrect. One specific rule about something doesn't mean that all other rules stop applying, only ones that actually contradict.
New ways for something to happen aren't conflicts, they just slot into the existing rules framework. So that's also not a conflict between base rules and this module. ", they don't say that the DM must be the only possible source of it. When the base rules say "Your DM can choose to give you inspiration. A DM can't grant multiple banked uses of inspiration, so why should this NPC be able to? Having a new potential source of inspiration (other than the DM's choice) doesn't change anything just like DM-granted inspiration, if the target creature already has inspiration then nothing happens. Specific beats general if they directly contradict, but these don't in any way. Related: Is there a hierarchy of specificity? Related: How is this character useful as an ally in Curse of Strahd? You either have inspiration or you don’t-you can’t stockpile multiple “inspirations” for later use.Īre we to understand that the NPC's ability comes with the implied clause, "subject to the normal rules of Inspiration" or "as long as that character is not currently Inspired". Your DM will tell you how you can earn inspiration in the game.
Typically, DMs award it when you play out your personality traits, give in to the drawbacks presented by a flaw or bond, and otherwise portray your character in a compelling way. Your DM can choose to give you inspiration for a variety of reasons. Is the NPC's use of this ability supposed to be an example of "specific beats general", where their ability as written within the context of the module overrides the PHB limitations that Since this ability is an action, it can potentially be used every combat round. While within sight of Strahd, this character grants inspiration to one player character he or she can see." When the Tarokka reading indicates "Strahd's Enemy", "This NPC, whoever it ends up being, gains the following additional action: Inspire. In Curse of Strahd, the players can encounter an NPC with a special ability.