Sage Advice Compendium Update 1/30/2019

[Yunru]

Generally speaking it's not said that you have taken a drink, taken a turn, taken a college course etc until you have completed whatever it is that you are taking.

Ummm... no.
I've taken a computing course for a year and a bit. I haven't finished, but I've most definitely taken the course (just not to completion).
Further more, ruling otherwise means you still have your action available until you make all the attacks. So I can take the Attack action to attack a creature. Then since I haven't taken an action yet, I can kick down a door, and attack another creature. Then, because I'm an 11th level fighter, I'm stuck at the next door because I did take an action to kick down the last one, so I use my third attack against the door. But then I can't, because that would mean I've taken two actions.

 

[FrogReaver]

Ummm... no.
I've taken a computing course for a year and a bit. I haven't finished, but I've most definitely taken the course (just not to completion).
Further more, ruling otherwise means you still have your action available until you make all the attacks. So I can take the Attack action to attack a creature. Then since I haven't taken an action yet, I can kick down a door, and attack another creature. Then, because I'm an 11th level fighter, I'm stuck at the next door because I did take an action to kick down the last one, so I use my third attack against the door. But then I can't, because that would mean I've taken two actions.

I think the nuance of the English Language in relation to tense alludes you.

You have been taking a computer course for a little over a year. You do that by attending the classes etc.
But, you have not taken a computer course for a little over a year. You have only taken the course once it's completed.

You could say "I've taken 12 months of a computer course" and that would be accurate as you already have completed those 12 months of the course.

For example:
Has a 2nd day Calculus student taken a calculus course because he went to class on day one? No, that's a ridiculous.
However, the 2nd day Calculus student could say "I've taken 1 day of a calculus course".

See the difference?

 

[Yunru]

I think the nuance of the English Language in relation to tense alludes you.

You have been taking a computer course for a little over a year. You do that by attending the classes etc.
But, you have not taken a computer course for a little over a year. You have only taken the course once it's completed.

You could say "I've taken 12 months of a computer course" and that would be accurate as you already have completed those 12 months of the course.

For example:
Has a 2nd day Calculus student taken a calculus course because he went to class on day one? No, that's a ridiculous.
However, the 2nd day Calculus student could say "I've taken 1 day of a calculus course".

See the difference?

I see you trying to argue your interpretation is the correct and only interpretation, but you're wrong.

From the dictionary:
Take: "make, undertake, or perform (an action or task)."
Undertake: "commit oneself to and begin (an enterprise or responsibility); take on."

Thus you have taken an action once you have committed yourself to it and begun it. Such as by saying "I take the Attack action."

 

[FrogReaver]

I see you trying to argue your interpretation is the correct and only interpretation, but you're wrong.

From the dictionary:
Take: "make, undertake, or perform (an action or task)."
Undertake: "commit oneself to and begin (an enterprise or responsibility); take on."

Thus you have taken an action once you have committed yourself to it and begun it. Such as by saying "I take the Attack action."

WOW. You really believe you have taken a college course just because you signed up and paid your tuition and went to it one day?

If you really do there's no point in us discussing this further because that's such a divergent view that we aren't going to find any common ground. So if you really believe that then I'll happily let you have the last word as I see no value in debating something that should be a simple axiomatic truth.

 

[Yunru]

WOW. You really believe you have taken a college course just because you signed up and paid your tuition and went to it one day?

If you really do there's no point in us discussing this further because that's such a divergent view that we aren't going to find any common ground. So if you really believe that then I'll happily let you have the last word as I see no value in debating something that should be a simple axiomatic truth.

Read: I don't have a counter argument so I'm going to say wow and pretend your point is absurd?
Yes, that is exactly what I believe. Because, and this seems to be an alien concept to you, taking an action and completing an action are two different things.

 

[FrogReaver]

[MENTION=6780961]Yunru[/MENTION]

Try whatever tactic you want to entice me back into the argument. It's not going to work. I'm done wasting my time on pointless arguments.

 

[Umbran]

Read: I don't have a counter argument so I'm going to say wow and pretend your point is absurd?
Yes, that is exactly what I believe. Because, and this seems to be an alien concept to you, taking an action and completing an action are two different things.

You see, here's the thing - you *state* what the counter argument is, right after you say he doesn't have one. So, your characterization of this is pretty bogus. It treads rather like you are trying to win, rather than to understand. How do you figure that's going to play out, hm? Is it going to end well?

How about you, and everyone else, stop treating each other badly, and accept that it is entirely possible for two entirely reasonable people come to different conclusions based on slightly different perspectives and word use.

If you are not willing to do that, please leave the thread, because you will not be capable of discussion of the topic. Argument and beating of heads together is your only option at that point, and it isn't constructive for anyone.

 

[Yunru]

I was genuinely asking, although I could of been more verbose about it for clarity.
An ad hominem was the only interpretation I could read, but didn't think it matched Frog's norm.
I meant no insult.

 

[5ekyu]

Read: I don't have a counter argument so I'm going to say wow and pretend your point is absurd?
Yes, that is exactly what I believe. Because, and this seems to be an alien concept to you, taking an action and completing an action are two different things.

Actually taking a college course by signing up, paying tuition then showing for one day brings back very bad memories.

"Did you take Meyers Chemistry this semester?"
"Yup"
"How is it going?"
"So far, so good."

I think there is in the common language a difference between taking a course, passing a course or even completing a course.

Of course, shield master references take not taken, right?

"If you take the Attack action on your turn,..."

So, taken is not really part of the rule.

The for attack action...

"With this action, you make one melee or ranged attack. "


But SM is not one I currently see need to fuss over.

 

[Azzy]

So, who's winning?

*muching on popcorn*