Can a Dazed character use an Action Point?

[Goonalan]

Sorry Warlord.

 

[Terramotus]

Tharg, Dwarven Fighter and Leader of the "Numpty Boys" felt... strange, his head full of odd shaped things, some pointy and sharp, others floppy and squishy- the blow to the helm had left him dazed. Behind him the other members of the "Numpty Boys", sat, sprawled and stumbled- the fight was not going well.

This was it...

Tharg summoned all of his strength, one last time, if he could only...

<<<PING>>>

ACTION POINT

The Orc before him cowered, a milenia or two of racial enmity, Tharg swung his Craghammer...

And missed the Orc by a mile, and instead took the head off Dickie Smallarse the Halfling Rogue, the Numpty Boys foundered on the Orcish shaped rocks.

Yeah, I'd allow it.

You make a good point. This was why I was tempted to allow it. However, what's good for the goose is good for the gander: monsters with action points would be able to use them too.

In my case, this came up in an encounter that included a flameharrow from Ari's Orcus article. They managed to daze him at the beginning of the encounter, and I refrained from using his action point because of his status, just because I assumed it wasn't allowed. Then, at the end, a player wanted to use one when he was dazed.

In this particular case, the flameharrow using that action point would have significantly changed the encounter against the players, I think. They probably also would have been disappointed that their daze didn't seem to do as much as they'd like, especially since when the DM doesn't roll like garbage, saves come a round or two later.

 

[catsclaw227]

We had this come up two nights ago. Our warlock was dazed and prone and need to be able to use an action point to stand and then get the heck outta there.

 

[inkmonkeys]

Yes. A dazed character can take free actions on its turn, and spending an action point is a free action.

 

[tiornys]

You can absolutely use an action point while Dazed. Spending an action point is a free action, and being Dazed does not limit the number of free actions you can take (note that the above comment about spending an action point while unconscious was incorrect; you can't take free actions while unconscious). That, however, is not really the question.

The real question is: can you benefit from the extra action that an action point provides? RAW is unclear on this issue, but a strict reading suggests that you can. Dazed states "You can take either a standard action, a move action, or a minor action on your turn". Spending an action point causes you to "gain an extra action this turn. You decide if the action is a standard action, a move action, or a minor action." Since you're gaining an action, I believe that trumps the action limiting text of Dazed.

Ultimately, it comes down to a DM ruling on whether the specific of "gaining" overrules or is overruled by the specific of taking one action.

t~

 

[Vael]

Our group ruled that dazed overrides the bonus action and limits you to just one action.

 

[Nail]

You can absolutely use an action point while Dazed. Spending an action point is a free action, and being Dazed does not limit the number of free actions you can take.

Agreed. tiornys spells it out well.

 

[ForbidenMaster]

Do note though that you cannot spend an action point when you are stunned as you cannot take any actions (including a free action to spend an action point).

 

[cbbakke]

it is a free action so I would say you could use an action ponit unless it states specifically some where that you cant.

 

[ValhallaGH]

Simple question that came up in my game last week. Can a Dazed character use an Action Point to gain an additional action?

The rules don't specifically mention it, other than you only get one standard, move, or minor action. The character is indeed spending a resource with the action point, but at the same time he certainly seems to be taking a lot of actions for someone who's Dazed.

Thoughts?

Pushing your heroic ability when the villain thought he'd taken you out of the round? Surprising him, and your team, by being extra cool?
I'd allow it. But I like cool.