OOC

Oh mam I totally didn't see the poll

Sorry for delay. I like your option the most from proposed. Certainly. But I think it is - in general - good idea to provide some consequences of staying in one place and repeating the same things all the time for players. So I would extend your option with this addition(as I like the idea of "step dice" very much):
- with each attempt of searching, after the first one - player also roll d20 -> rolling 1 on this, makes something bad happen to him/her. The next attempt would with d12 and also 1 mean bad luck. Next d10 and so on until d4.

Or alternative without step dice (probably even more handy and elegant) :
- with each rise of DC by 1, Critical Failure threshold rises also. So with the first roll searching, DC is normal and only rolling 1 is bad lack. Second roll its: DC+1 and on 1-2 on D20 you get Critical Failure, third it is DC+2 and 1-3 threshold for CF, and so on...

So it's like a mix of 1st option and 2nd, but with nice progression of risk and push your luck aspect:) And the PC should not be afraid to roll - the first time:) (as many would be with clean 2nd option)

for the record, I don't know for certain but my meta-theory is this is an immovable rod. Which could stop the fans from moving and allow everyone in.

In roleplay, Throgin is reckless and dumb

told you Throgin was dumb

Yipes! Fingers crossed for Throgin's roll.

That +7 constitution save tells me I was the right person to do this

Should have just hit him twice while raged...minimum damage with GWM and rage would have been 19 thunder damage.

@Pedrop as much as I remember you are new to 5e. My as experienced player opinion:
using spell slots for healing is a waste of a spell slot. Only cast those spells in critical situations (PC get to 0 HP). PCs are expected to heal using hit dice during a short rest.
Exceptions exist. There some sub-classes with boosted healing spells, such as Life Domain Cleric. And there are some "slow but powerful healing spells".

I wasn't even 100% sure we would level up so that is nice

As for healing...yeah it isn't great in 5e. "Yo-yo" healing is the obvious play for this. I know GreyWord and I are in another game where he basically healed my paladin every turn from 0, and I dealt so much more damage that way than small heals while still alive.

I think the thing I struggle with most as a DM in 5e is the long rest healing thing. Just offends my sensibilities.

just that it heals everything?

Yes, exactly.

Aw shucks, don't do anything special because of me.

Ok, thanks Gray for advices.

So no healing folks... until you die! :)
I hate it too.

Hi. I will be on my vacation from 12th until 21st. With no possibility to post. And as I will have increased workload before and after this period IRL I will be much slower(or not at all) with my posting from 10th and until 23th. Just wanted to let you all know beforehand. So hopefully my PC could stay in background or GM: please bot him:)