Inspiration is a game mechanic in Dungeons and Dragons 5E that the Dungeon Master (DM) can use to reward players for playing their characters in a way that reflects their personality traits, ideals, bonds, and flaws. It is a way to incentivize players to get into their character and to teach them that sometimes roleplay is more important than mechanics. Inspiration is tracked by the players on their character sheets, and they can mark whether or not they have inspiration and can use it.

Players can earn inspiration by playing out their personality traits, giving in to the drawbacks presented by a flaw or bond, and otherwise portraying their character in a compelling way. The DM can also award inspiration for good roleplaying, clever thinking, or simply doing something exciting in the game. A player can use inspiration when they make an attack roll, saving throw, or ability check to give themselves advantage on that roll. They can also reward another player for good roleplaying by giving up their inspiration to give that character inspiration.

A player can only have one point of inspiration at a time, and they cannot stockpile multiple inspirations for later use. The DM can choose to award inspiration after the action is complete and let the player decide how they want to use it, or they can specify when the players have inspiration on a roll. The key is to use inspiration to recognize exceptional play and encourage players to stay engaged.

In summary, inspiration is a game mechanic that rewards players for playing their characters in a way that reflects their personality traits, ideals, bonds, and flaws. It is a way to incentivize players to get into their character and to teach them that sometimes roleplay is more important than mechanics. Players can earn inspiration by playing out their character traits, and they can use it to give themselves advantage on a roll or to reward another player for good roleplaying.