Quote Originally Posted by Psyren View Post
Maybe they can. Or maybe the party, through their own choices/mistakes (or simple bad luck), no longer has time for that, or already burned through whatever providence they were given. (As a reminder, Catnap only works 1/LR no matter how many times it is cast.)

Overriding that and fudging the clock is always a possibility. But DMs who choose to let the dice fall where they may are not wrong either, so long as everyone - the DM included - is having fun.
DMs should (IMO) provide the opportunity to benefit from SR and plan their adventuring days (the ones that are more set in stone, at least) to accommodate short rests. If the party doesn't take them or misses their chance because they decided to do <other thing> instead or waffled or otherwise burnt their chance, that's their problem IMO.