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Message: <blockquote data-quote="jgsugden" data-source="post: 7716901" data-attributes="member: 2629">While you can use bonus actions as a mechanic, as Mearls suggests, they're not necessary.  All we're talking about is the packaging of the activities PCs are allowed to take and - as he implicitly notes - there is no reason to muddy the waters with multiple types of actions when you can just make more packages that include the right activities.Making packages that explicitly include all the combinations of activities that a PC can take gives the game designers greater control and less risk of abusive combinations.  As such, I prefer the simplicity of it to the status quo.However, I also think there is room to go to the other extreme and also improve on the status quo.  Instead of simplifying, give players 'action points' to use each round which can be used to move, attack, cast spells, etc.. on your turn - or saved to do reactions on another creature's turn if the qualifying trigger is met.  Then give actions and reactions action point costs that may change as PCs gain levels and gets better at doing things.  Let's say that moving 5' costs 1 AP.  Attacking with a heavy weapon takes 11 AP - unless you've a fighting class that has advanced to the point where the cost is reduced.  Attacking with a dagger might take 8 AP.  If the dagger is in your off hand and you attack with the main hand, that second AP cost is reduced by 4.  Casting a spell has a specified AP - some of our weaker combat spells in the PHB could be buffed with low APs to make them competitive.  Each turn you get X AP to spend - which might be increased by a haste spell, reduced by a slow spell, reduced by exhaustion, etc...  This gets really complex, which usually means harder to balance to avoid abusive combinations, but it offers a more comprehensive situation as well with more detail.  I prefer both approaches to the current, but they're pretty far in opposite directions.</blockquote>

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