The idea of taking a potion as a bonus action bugs me. You are 100% right about the action economy! But the idea that my character is going to stop combat, open up his bag, look for a bottle, open it, and drink it while dodging, weaving, and parrying is just a little to ridiculous to me.
I agree with you. I mitigate it in my brain by imagining a potion vial with a wax seal holding a very loose cork in like a bandolier or belt loop, so it could be done blindly, but even then I don’t think it lands right narratively, but it’s kind of one of those things we have to suspend disbelief on for the sake of the mechanics of the game.
If the logic of it irks you, make potions syringes in your game instead, or an ampule, or skin contact rather than drinking, anything that helps you rationalise it being a bonus action
Thanks for the insight. Your cutaway camera use is more balanced this time and the audio is better, Does your chair swivel? That would be a little smoother and add to the options of the bit. You can either turn the chair and keep a straight face to the camera or turn and lean like you have been doing. Adding that option will increase the types of action on the screen making it more engaging to the viewer. The effect you're going for is best exemplified by Stephen Colbert, watch some of his bits where he "reports" from the desk.
Thanks so much! It has been pointed out that we might just be waiting on the DMG to codify potion use as a bonus action, but boy I'm hoping that's not the case!! :D I do get the need for bonus action potions, but I love leaving options open, even if it means an extra line in a potion description. :)
@@DM-Timothy As for myself, I am going to go ahead and hold my breath until Monster Manual next summer before assuming anything about the true nuances the designers may have built in…or missed.
page 190 of 2014 rules gave an example of interacting with objects in addition to action and movement. One was drawing a potion, another was drinking a flagon of ale. So you could technically draw a potion one round then swill it chug chug chug the next, both for free.
Fun! Incidentally, the specific rules in the DMG regarding potions superseded that in play for RAW, but I can see the argument for it! Imagine how messy that flagon of ale had to be. Lol
Was that an actual hard limit in the VTT or was it something Aabria allowed? I got really bored with the live play and haven't watched all of it or really paid attention. I remember there being something like that, that I interpreted as Aabria allowing it, but not necessarily being in the rules.
They probably just did this one because the DMG isn't printed to include the general rule that states potions take a bonus action to use. So as a stop gap, this particular potion needed the clarification on this specific use.
There would be nothing keeping them from explaining that drinking a potion is a bonus action under the bonus action rules. This makes it seem like healing potions are going to be bonus actions while other potions are not. Though I do think if you end up with half the potions as bonus actions, and half not, everyone is just going to end up playing it as every potion is a bonus action, cause no one is going to remember which is which.
@@bradleyhurley6755 super fair point about people not wanting to check the potion descriptions every time. That might be the most sensible argument for keeping it one action type of all the arguments I’ve heard, actually!
You should have a potion belt as a wearable item that can hold 2-3 and then when you use one, bonus action you can drink half the potion for half the potency and action for full potion
Listening to this video makes it suuuper clear that WotC should have given the "standard action" action a different name. "casting a spell uses the magic action but that doesnt mean it always takes an action, it could take a different kind of action like a bonus action". They super overload the term action. It's the English term of "a thing you can do", it's the overarching group of all action types, it's the standard "long" time to do something, and it's the suffix for individual times (bonus action) as well as suffix for types of things you can do (magic action). They really needed to whip out a thesaurus.
The magic action being either an action or bonus action got me really confused. Because I assumed (or is that how it is supposed to be) you could only ever take one magic action, because it is an action. You could cast a spell that would then be a bonus action, but you could not then take another Magic action, because you already took one (which I"m still not sure if you can take more than one magic action per turn).
It is a bit of an oddity, but I think that the intention is to classify action types for purpose of interaction with other rules but not to limit to any specific number of a type of action. For instance a magic action to bonus action Misty step plus a magic action to cast a cantrip is explicitly allowed in the rules. But, for instance, you cannot use action surge to take a magic action, apparently, regardless of what you do with your normal and bonus actions.
@@DM-Timothy Yeah, I just assumed that you could only take one magic action (Thus could only ever cast one spell whether it was a bonus action or action) Its just odd for me that you can take a magic action multiple times, but can only take an action once. And magic actions let you do bonus actions, while actions don't.
@@bradleyhurley6755 Fair enough. Essentially it's the other way around, Actions allow you to take certain kinds of Attack or Magic action, and Bonus actions allow you to take certain kinds of actions, too.
This is video game healing, where you instantly heal and use up a potion by pressing a button mid-combat (Diablo). It's very unrealistic. Drinking a potion is very difficult while engaged. It made more sense when it provoked an attack of opportunity (3e). It doesn't fix any problems because there was no problem. I see making D&D more like a video game as a problem.
@@DM-Timothy I hope it does turn out to be an improvement on 5e - I watched a little video from IndestructoBoy yesterday where he walked about the design of the book and his disappointment with it - he made some interesting points that reinforced my concerns - at the very least, if they had these interactions in mind, it seems they haven't done a great job highlighting / flagging them
@@TwinSteel I've been largely following Treantmonk's commentary (with a side order from D4) for my insight into the book, but honestly I've been reasonably pleased so far... I'm looking forward to getting my hands on my own eventually :D
@@DM-Timothy can’t go wrong with a side of Colby 😄 - I’m surprised you haven’t been invited to their press distribution program, given your upload schedule and following - when is yours arriving? I could send you mine to review and send back to me once yours gets there
The idea of taking a potion as a bonus action bugs me. You are 100% right about the action economy! But the idea that my character is going to stop combat, open up his bag, look for a bottle, open it, and drink it while dodging, weaving, and parrying is just a little to ridiculous to me.
I agree with you. I mitigate it in my brain by imagining a potion vial with a wax seal holding a very loose cork in like a bandolier or belt loop, so it could be done blindly, but even then I don’t think it lands right narratively, but it’s kind of one of those things we have to suspend disbelief on for the sake of the mechanics of the game.
I don't think it would have been at the same time. Dodge a few projectiles then soon as it's clear, pull out a potion and quickly drink it. Sure.
@@clayman648get in the ring with Mike Tyson. And try to drink a potion
i have used the bonus action rule with a modifier, bonus action you roll for healing, take an action to do it (or out of combat) you get max roll.
If the logic of it irks you, make potions syringes in your game instead, or an ampule, or skin contact rather than drinking, anything that helps you rationalise it being a bonus action
Thanks for the insight. Your cutaway camera use is more balanced this time and the audio is better,
Does your chair swivel? That would be a little smoother and add to the options of the bit. You can either turn the chair and keep a straight face to the camera or turn and lean like you have been doing. Adding that option will increase the types of action on the screen making it more engaging to the viewer. The effect you're going for is best exemplified by Stephen Colbert, watch some of his bits where he "reports" from the desk.
Thanks for the feedback, I’ll have to take a look at Colbert!
the cutaway is jarring
Thank you Tim. This is super insightful to both the action economy of today and the mechanics to come.
Thanks so much! It has been pointed out that we might just be waiting on the DMG to codify potion use as a bonus action, but boy I'm hoping that's not the case!! :D I do get the need for bonus action potions, but I love leaving options open, even if it means an extra line in a potion description. :)
@@DM-Timothy As for myself, I am going to go ahead and hold my breath until Monster Manual next summer before assuming anything about the true nuances the designers may have built in…or missed.
@@agesisafk131 That's fair. Also, very long holding of breath. :D
I'm just gonna be my optimistic self about it, until proven otherwise. :D
I like allowing my players to use potions as a bonus action AND an action. 2 per turn (more possible with action surge) makes things more fun.
Interesting! What kinds of uses of multiple potions have you seen crop up thanks to that?
page 190 of 2014 rules gave an example of interacting with objects in addition to action and movement. One was drawing a potion, another was drinking a flagon of ale. So you could technically draw a potion one round then swill it chug chug chug the next, both for free.
Fun! Incidentally, the specific rules in the DMG regarding potions superseded that in play for RAW, but I can see the argument for it! Imagine how messy that flagon of ale had to be. Lol
I noticed in the GenCon live play, that showed off the Sigil VTT, one of the players bonus-action drank an acid resistance potion
Nice perception check!! I would imagine a resistance potion as being a prime candidate.
Was that an actual hard limit in the VTT or was it something Aabria allowed? I got really bored with the live play and haven't watched all of it or really paid attention. I remember there being something like that, that I interpreted as Aabria allowing it, but not necessarily being in the rules.
They probably just did this one because the DMG isn't printed to include the general rule that states potions take a bonus action to use. So as a stop gap, this particular potion needed the clarification on this specific use.
Definitely a possibility. I can hope it means something more, though. :D
There would be nothing keeping them from explaining that drinking a potion is a bonus action under the bonus action rules. This makes it seem like healing potions are going to be bonus actions while other potions are not.
Though I do think if you end up with half the potions as bonus actions, and half not, everyone is just going to end up playing it as every potion is a bonus action, cause no one is going to remember which is which.
@@bradleyhurley6755 super fair point about people not wanting to check the potion descriptions every time. That might be the most sensible argument for keeping it one action type of all the arguments I’ve heard, actually!
You should have a potion belt as a wearable item that can hold 2-3 and then when you use one, bonus action you can drink half the potion for half the potency and action for full potion
It’d be a fun way to handle things potentially.
Listening to this video makes it suuuper clear that WotC should have given the "standard action" action a different name. "casting a spell uses the magic action but that doesnt mean it always takes an action, it could take a different kind of action like a bonus action".
They super overload the term action. It's the English term of "a thing you can do", it's the overarching group of all action types, it's the standard "long" time to do something, and it's the suffix for individual times (bonus action) as well as suffix for types of things you can do (magic action).
They really needed to whip out a thesaurus.
There are benefits to having them all the same, but the "Magic Action" jargon is going to take some getting used to, I agree.
The magic action being either an action or bonus action got me really confused. Because I assumed (or is that how it is supposed to be) you could only ever take one magic action, because it is an action. You could cast a spell that would then be a bonus action, but you could not then take another Magic action, because you already took one (which I"m still not sure if you can take more than one magic action per turn).
It is a bit of an oddity, but I think that the intention is to classify action types for purpose of interaction with other rules but not to limit to any specific number of a type of action. For instance a magic action to bonus action Misty step plus a magic action to cast a cantrip is explicitly allowed in the rules. But, for instance, you cannot use action surge to take a magic action, apparently, regardless of what you do with your normal and bonus actions.
@@DM-Timothy Yeah, I just assumed that you could only take one magic action (Thus could only ever cast one spell whether it was a bonus action or action) Its just odd for me that you can take a magic action multiple times, but can only take an action once. And magic actions let you do bonus actions, while actions don't.
@@bradleyhurley6755 Fair enough. Essentially it's the other way around, Actions allow you to take certain kinds of Attack or Magic action, and Bonus actions allow you to take certain kinds of actions, too.
@@DM-Timothy I think there is a chance that it will make more sense once I read the rules. RIght now going on what other people say, Its just weird.
Nope. The designers specifically said only Healing potions are bonus actions.
Orly?! Neat. Where?
This is video game healing, where you instantly heal and use up a potion by pressing a button mid-combat (Diablo). It's very unrealistic. Drinking a potion is very difficult while engaged. It made more sense when it provoked an attack of opportunity (3e).
It doesn't fix any problems because there was no problem. I see making D&D more like a video game as a problem.
Totally fair stance. It’s definitely anti-simulationist, and pointed more toward a game feel design philosophy.
I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s an oversight - the book seems undercooked to me, so that’s my bias approaching this question
I had concerns that was the case, too, but the more I see the more interconnected and organized it all actually feels… time will tell. :)
@@DM-Timothy I hope it does turn out to be an improvement on 5e - I watched a little video from IndestructoBoy yesterday where he walked about the design of the book and his disappointment with it - he made some interesting points that reinforced my concerns - at the very least, if they had these interactions in mind, it seems they haven't done a great job highlighting / flagging them
@@TwinSteel I've been largely following Treantmonk's commentary (with a side order from D4) for my insight into the book, but honestly I've been reasonably pleased so far... I'm looking forward to getting my hands on my own eventually :D
@@DM-Timothy can’t go wrong with a side of Colby 😄 - I’m surprised you haven’t been invited to their press distribution program, given your upload schedule and following - when is yours arriving? I could send you mine to review and send back to me once yours gets there
@@TwinSteel I haven’t actually heard of a “press distribution program” :) I’m just a wittle guy in that pool. :)