Inspiration
DM-awarded reward for good roleplay: spend to gain advantage on one d20 roll. Binary (have it or not), transferable to other players.
Inspiration is a reward the DM can give to a player for good roleplaying, creative problem-solving, or embodying their character's traits, ideals, bonds, and flaws.
How It Works
A character either has inspiration or doesn't — it is binary, not stackable. When you have inspiration, you can spend it to gain advantage on one attack roll, saving throw, or ability check. You must decide to use inspiration before you roll.
Earning Inspiration
The DM awards inspiration when a player:
- Roleplays their character's personality traits compellingly
- Acts according to their character's ideals, even when it's disadvantageous
- Pursues their character's bonds in a meaningful way
- Lets their character's flaws create interesting complications
- Comes up with a creative solution to a problem
Giving Inspiration Away
If you have inspiration and another player does something you think deserves recognition, you can give your inspiration to that player's character. Only one character can hold inspiration at a time — you can't stockpile multiple uses.
DM Tips
Inspiration works best when awarded frequently and consistently, reinforcing the behaviors and roleplay the table values. Some DMs award inspiration at the start of each session, or let players nominate each other for inspiration.