D&D 5E Can Someone Explain Bonus Actions?

[Agamon]

For some of us, it's a minor homage to a former poster here who passed away in 2008, who loved his puns.

Read Mark's post a little more closely, Henry. He too was paying homage.

 

[Thaumaturge]

For some of us, it's a minor homage to a former poster here who passed away in 2008, who loved his puns.

Who was it? 2008 is around the time I dropped out for a while.

Thaumaturge.

 

[Henry]

Read Mark's post a little more closely, Henry. He too was paying homage.

I know - I was referring to Tony Semana above, who looks like he only joined recently - could've been clearer, I apologize.

Who was it? 2008 is around the time I dropped out for a while.

Thaumaturge.

That would be Gary Gygax. Man loved his puns and in-game jokes. It's kind of my tradition to invoke a few puns around every edition change for luck.

 

[Thaumaturge]

That would be Gary Gygax. Man loved his puns and in-game jokes. It's kind of my tradition to invoke a few puns around every edition change for luck.

Ah. Well. I did know about him. And I'll gladly couch my puns as homages.

There are a number of other posters I remember from earlier days (@hong being one) who I haven't seen around in awhile. I was wondering if you were referencing one of them.

Thaumaturge.

 

[MarkB]

"Trap build" lol

I suppose a wizard is a trap build because he can cast a spell and throw a dagger in the same round. He actually has to make choice. Heaven forbid a PC can't do every thing every round.

Oh, it's not the need to make a choice that I was considering a trap - it's more that, if a character has a number of similarly-triggered Bonus Action abilities, to the extent that he frequently finds himself thinking "shall I use this, or this, or that with my Bonus Action?" then probably one of those abilities will see hardly any use - and that makes that ability much less valuable to this character build than it would be in a build which wasn't already so heavy on Bonus Actions.

 

[Nikosandros]

In 3e and 4e swift/minor actions could *only* be used if you had a power or ability that could use them. So everyone had them but not everyone could use them.
In 5e, everyone has them as everyone can pick up a second weapon and unlock said bonus action without taking a special feat or spell or option. But, for the most part, you only get bonus actions if you have a power or ability that uses them.

So, really, the big difference is instead of saying "hey, everyone has this minor action thingy" they're saying "hey, you have this extra action thingy."

In 4e, there are actually several minor actions that any character can take: loading a crossbow, opening a door, drinking a potion, drawing a weapon, etc.

 

[Aaron T. Pacy]

Hi, I know this is 3 years old and you may not see this, but I have a question:
The Sorcerer's "Quickening Spell" Meta Magic says a spell that costs 1 action can be cast as a bonus action (for 2 sorcery points).
There is no real ability that gives Sorcerers a bonus action, but do they automatically get one if the use the Quickening Spell?
For instance, cast a fireball spell, then use 2 Sorcery points to use "Quickening Spell" and then gain a bonus action to cast Fireball again?

 

[TheWriterFantastic™]

Hi, I know this is 3 years old and you may not see this, but I have a question:
The Sorcerer's "Quickening Spell" Meta Magic says a spell that costs 1 action can be cast as a bonus action (for 2 sorcery points).
There is no real ability that gives Sorcerers a bonus action, but do they automatically get one if the use the Quickening Spell?
For instance, cast a fireball spell, then use 2 Sorcery points to use "Quickening Spell" and then gain a bonus action to cast Fireball again?

Every character has the ability to use Bonus Actions - they just need features that require their use to do anything with them. The Quicken Spell metamagic option does just that - so the sorcerer is able to use the bonus action to cast the spell instead of a regular action, if the sorcery points are spent.

However, in terms of casting fireball and another spell using a bonus action from Quicken Spell, it can't happen. Under the rules for spells with casting times of a Bonus Action, only Cantrips can be cast with the accompanying Action. If the Fireball has already been cast, Quicken Spell cannot be used to cast another spell with a Bonus Action, and vice versa. The only means to cast two regular spells of 1st level or higher in one round, that I'm aware of, is the Fighter's Action Surge feature, which grants an extra Action, as opposed to Bonus Action. And that being said, if the Bonus Action that round were used for Quicken Spell, both regular Action uses must be for Cantrips, not 1st level or higher level spells.

 

[Hetch]

My parents told me bonus actions come from under a rock.

Thaumaturge.

My Grandma told me a bonus action is when you fart and burp at the same time.

I am new to 5e and haven't played since 3e was new so I am trying to get all this action stuff figured out myself, all the info you good folks have provided has answered many questions, I thank you all for your time.