I was thinking of how to make D&D encourage more emotional growth and vulnerability. Initial thoughts:
You have a handful of aspects (ala Fate) and earn Inspiration when they cause you trouble.
Inspiration cap of 2 instead of 1.
Once per session, if someone emotionally comforts someone else and they open up, the party gets a chunk of XP and either of those PCs can spend inspiration to instantly give the party the benefits of a short rest.
I'm thinking also of a way for everyone to chip in an inspiration to give the team the benefit of a long rest but I'm not sure what the right trigger is
maybe resolving a more longstanding emotional subplot? like a really significant positive shift in any relationship is the trigger for potentially doing the friendship is magic thing
I think I'd allow either in the middle of combat, too, because I love it when people shout at each other and cry and fall in love during swordfights
Oh, and the XP boost is available once per session per character (only one short rest tho)
OH! Maybe one of your inspiration slots is for your aspects and your other is more like 'friendship is magic' friendship gems and awarded by other players when you do stuff that embodies the Virtue their characters care about ala Epyllion?
They both spend the same, or maybe the long rest requires that everyone spend Friendship Inspiration so you can only do the big magic thing when you're all charged up with teamwork feels