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Getting a Handle on 5E Rules
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<blockquote data-quote="Rhys Cargolor" data-source="post: 6841623" data-attributes="member: 6826000"><p>Hi guys. I'm new to the forum. I was recently invited to join an online D&D Game and thought it might be helpful if I understood the rules. I anticipate I'll be using this thread to ask lots of questions. Hopefully you won't tire of answering them. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /></p><p></p><p>For a game reference, I've been using the <strong>D&D Basic Rules </strong>found on the dnd.wizard-basic rules page. (I'd include a link but forum rules for noobs won't let me). I am also aware of <strong>the Player's Handbook</strong>. Honestly, I'm not impressed with the way the Basic Rules describes the rules. I've spent a good portion of my life digesting manuals converting them into quick reference guides, right to the point without pages of generalized verbiage. I'm wonder if the Player's Handbook is better and would it be worth the purchase? If better, please say why.</p><p></p><p>I'll start off with one rules topic. Imagine you are a new player and this is an intro to bonus actions. All references refer to BR= Basic rules, version number, page number:</p><p><em></em></p><p><em><strong>Bonus Action </strong>(BRv0.3 p69)</em></p><p><em>*Various class features, spells, and other abilities let you take an additional action on your turn called a bonus action.</em></p><p><em>*The Cunning Action feature, for example, allows a rogue to take a bonus action. You can take a bonus action only when a special ability, spell, or other feature of the game states that you can do something as a bonus action.</em></p><p><em>*You otherwise don’t have a bonus action to take.You can take only one bonus action on your turn, so you must choose which bonus action to use when you have more than one available.</em></p><p><em>*You choose when to take a bonus action during your turn, unless the bonus action’s timing is specified, and anything that deprives you of your ability to take actions also prevents you from taking a bonus action.</em></p><p></p><p><em><strong>Bonus Action</strong> (BRv0.3p79)- A spell cast with a bonus action is especially swift. You must use a bonus action on your turn to cast the spell, provided that you haven’t already taken a bonus action this turn. You can’t cast another spell during the same turn, except for a cantrip with a casting time of 1 action.</em></p><p></p><p>Huh? This is pretty generalized description except for the Rogue example, not noob friendly but is a clue as to the class specialized nature of bonus actions.</p><p></p><p>From the reading I've done, my impression is that in each turn basically you are allowed a <u>move</u> (possibly split in two), an <u>attack</u> (spell or physical), a <u>Tandem (Free) Action</u>(s), pick up something, yell a warning, etc (BRv0.3p70), and a <u>bonus action</u> (which is looking like specific bonus actions are unique to each class). In addition my impression is that a <u>Opportunity Attack</u> and a <u>Reaction</u> are also possible. Does this sound reasonable?</p><p></p><p>For now, I'd like to focus on spells. I'll be starting off as a L1 Cleric. I see in the Level 1 Spells what appears to be 2 spells with <em>bonus</em> attached to them:</p><p><strong>* Healing Word</strong>- single target, <strong>1 bonus action</strong>, instantaneous, ranged 60 feet, regains 1d4+ spellcasting ability modifier (Wisdom +3).</p><p><strong>* Shield of Faith</strong>- <strong>1 bonus action</strong>, duration up to 10 min, ranged 60’, Protects a target with a +2 Bonus to AC for duration.</p><p></p><p>I'm trying to make heads or tails out of the BR p79 reference above and this is one of the rules I'd like to clarify. First of all <u>I'm looking for a concise list of rules for bonus actions</u>. References to bonus actions are scattered though out the Basic Rules manual. Questions follow...</p><p></p><p>1. I assume that a bonus action is a bonus action because the game gods decided to categorize these particular actions as "something extra". For a duel wielding character I understand the need to allow that character to attack with both weapons, so that aspect makes sense.</p><p></p><p>2. For a spell caster on your turn, your action besides a <u>move</u>, could either be to cast a <u>spell</u> or launch a <u>physical attack</u>, in any order. However the bonus action would allow you to take an additional attack in a single turn.</p><p></p><p>But the description (BRp79) appears to say, you can only cast one spell per turn period. Does this mean that if want to make two attacks in your turn, you'd have to cast a spell (a designated bonus spell (as per my two spell examples above) as a bonus action, your other action would have to be a physical attack?</p><p></p><p>3. I assume for my example above, two actions in a turn could take place in any order, or must the bonus action always happen last?</p><p></p><p>4. Is an Opportunity Attack or a Reaction considered a bonus move? (I'm assuming not.)</p><p></p><p>Thanks! <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f600.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":D" title="Big grin :D" data-smilie="8"data-shortname=":D" /></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Rhys Cargolor, post: 6841623, member: 6826000"] Hi guys. I'm new to the forum. I was recently invited to join an online D&D Game and thought it might be helpful if I understood the rules. I anticipate I'll be using this thread to ask lots of questions. Hopefully you won't tire of answering them. :) For a game reference, I've been using the [B]D&D Basic Rules [/B]found on the dnd.wizard-basic rules page. (I'd include a link but forum rules for noobs won't let me). I am also aware of [B]the Player's Handbook[/B]. Honestly, I'm not impressed with the way the Basic Rules describes the rules. I've spent a good portion of my life digesting manuals converting them into quick reference guides, right to the point without pages of generalized verbiage. I'm wonder if the Player's Handbook is better and would it be worth the purchase? If better, please say why. I'll start off with one rules topic. Imagine you are a new player and this is an intro to bonus actions. All references refer to BR= Basic rules, version number, page number: [I] [B]Bonus Action [/B](BRv0.3 p69) *Various class features, spells, and other abilities let you take an additional action on your turn called a bonus action. *The Cunning Action feature, for example, allows a rogue to take a bonus action. You can take a bonus action only when a special ability, spell, or other feature of the game states that you can do something as a bonus action. *You otherwise don’t have a bonus action to take.You can take only one bonus action on your turn, so you must choose which bonus action to use when you have more than one available. *You choose when to take a bonus action during your turn, unless the bonus action’s timing is specified, and anything that deprives you of your ability to take actions also prevents you from taking a bonus action.[/I] [I][B]Bonus Action[/B] (BRv0.3p79)- A spell cast with a bonus action is especially swift. You must use a bonus action on your turn to cast the spell, provided that you haven’t already taken a bonus action this turn. You can’t cast another spell during the same turn, except for a cantrip with a casting time of 1 action.[/I] Huh? This is pretty generalized description except for the Rogue example, not noob friendly but is a clue as to the class specialized nature of bonus actions. From the reading I've done, my impression is that in each turn basically you are allowed a [U]move[/U] (possibly split in two), an [U]attack[/U] (spell or physical), a [U]Tandem (Free) Action[/U](s), pick up something, yell a warning, etc (BRv0.3p70), and a [U]bonus action[/U] (which is looking like specific bonus actions are unique to each class). In addition my impression is that a [U]Opportunity Attack[/U] and a [U]Reaction[/U] are also possible. Does this sound reasonable? For now, I'd like to focus on spells. I'll be starting off as a L1 Cleric. I see in the Level 1 Spells what appears to be 2 spells with [I]bonus[/I] attached to them: [B]* Healing Word[/B]- single target, [B]1 bonus action[/B], instantaneous, ranged 60 feet, regains 1d4+ spellcasting ability modifier (Wisdom +3). [B]* Shield of Faith[/B]- [B]1 bonus action[/B], duration up to 10 min, ranged 60’, Protects a target with a +2 Bonus to AC for duration. I'm trying to make heads or tails out of the BR p79 reference above and this is one of the rules I'd like to clarify. First of all [U]I'm looking for a concise list of rules for bonus actions[/U]. References to bonus actions are scattered though out the Basic Rules manual. Questions follow... 1. I assume that a bonus action is a bonus action because the game gods decided to categorize these particular actions as "something extra". For a duel wielding character I understand the need to allow that character to attack with both weapons, so that aspect makes sense. 2. For a spell caster on your turn, your action besides a [U]move[/U], could either be to cast a [U]spell[/U] or launch a [U]physical attack[/U], in any order. However the bonus action would allow you to take an additional attack in a single turn. But the description (BRp79) appears to say, you can only cast one spell per turn period. Does this mean that if want to make two attacks in your turn, you'd have to cast a spell (a designated bonus spell (as per my two spell examples above) as a bonus action, your other action would have to be a physical attack? 3. I assume for my example above, two actions in a turn could take place in any order, or must the bonus action always happen last? 4. Is an Opportunity Attack or a Reaction considered a bonus move? (I'm assuming not.) Thanks! :D [/QUOTE]
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