Mistwell
Crusty Old Meatwad (he/him)
In my opinion, Action Surge can be used out of combat. Here is the text, "Starting at 2nd level, you can push yourself beyond your normal limits for a moment. On your turn, you can take one additional action on top of your regular action and a possible bonus action."
It says actions and turns, but then spells say the same thing (and yes I can quote plenty of places in the Spells section which mentions turns and actions)...but everyone agrees you can cast spells outside of combat as well, right? So by that logic, there should be no rule against using action surge out of combat in the appropriate situation.
What is the appropriate situation? Any encounter or challenge out of combat with a time constraint involved where normally the DM would ask the PC for their action. In such cases, a Fighter should be able to choose an action (like a skill check) and then action surge to apply a second action (like another skill check).
So what are some examples of out of combat challenges where action surge could help?
Here are some of mine.
1) Party is scaling a wall or cliff to enter a building and doing it quickly is of concern because they don't want to be spotted by the roving guards. Where others can climb 15 feet in 6 seconds, the fighter could climb 30 feat with an action surge.
2) The party ducks into the Count's bedroom during the ball to search for a key, and they have moments before they must leave or be caught. Where others can make either an active perception check or an active investigation check in 6 seconds, you can do both with an action surge.
3) Any sneaking: Where others can move 15 feet when sneaking, the fighter can move 30.
4) Some persuasion checks can benefit from PC knowledge mid-conversation. When the DM says "You can make either a history or religion check to try and remember something quickly to help you persuade the priest you mean well" others must choose one of those checks but you can make both checks with an action surge.
5) Chase: Where others can dash once per six seconds away from or after someone you can dash twice.
6) Any situation involving a quick skill check. Normally when you blow a skill check in those time-sensitive situations, you're screwed...but not you, sometimes. You can blow a skill check and where appropriate spend an action surge and try it again or try an alternative skill check. Do you need to get into the room quick before the villian slays your friend? Attempt to pick the lock with a thieves tools check, and if that fails action surge to try and bash the door open with an athletics check.
7) [MENTION=6801204]Satyrn[/MENTION] mentioned a situation that happened to me as well. An ally fell in rapids and was being swept towards a waterfall (in Forge of Fury). Anyone near the shore down stream had one chance to try and grab our ally before he went over the falls...except my fighter. I tried, failed, action surged, and succeeded on my second try!
What are some examples you can think of, and have you used Action Surge out of combat?
It says actions and turns, but then spells say the same thing (and yes I can quote plenty of places in the Spells section which mentions turns and actions)...but everyone agrees you can cast spells outside of combat as well, right? So by that logic, there should be no rule against using action surge out of combat in the appropriate situation.
What is the appropriate situation? Any encounter or challenge out of combat with a time constraint involved where normally the DM would ask the PC for their action. In such cases, a Fighter should be able to choose an action (like a skill check) and then action surge to apply a second action (like another skill check).
So what are some examples of out of combat challenges where action surge could help?
Here are some of mine.
1) Party is scaling a wall or cliff to enter a building and doing it quickly is of concern because they don't want to be spotted by the roving guards. Where others can climb 15 feet in 6 seconds, the fighter could climb 30 feat with an action surge.
2) The party ducks into the Count's bedroom during the ball to search for a key, and they have moments before they must leave or be caught. Where others can make either an active perception check or an active investigation check in 6 seconds, you can do both with an action surge.
3) Any sneaking: Where others can move 15 feet when sneaking, the fighter can move 30.
4) Some persuasion checks can benefit from PC knowledge mid-conversation. When the DM says "You can make either a history or religion check to try and remember something quickly to help you persuade the priest you mean well" others must choose one of those checks but you can make both checks with an action surge.
5) Chase: Where others can dash once per six seconds away from or after someone you can dash twice.
6) Any situation involving a quick skill check. Normally when you blow a skill check in those time-sensitive situations, you're screwed...but not you, sometimes. You can blow a skill check and where appropriate spend an action surge and try it again or try an alternative skill check. Do you need to get into the room quick before the villian slays your friend? Attempt to pick the lock with a thieves tools check, and if that fails action surge to try and bash the door open with an athletics check.
7) [MENTION=6801204]Satyrn[/MENTION] mentioned a situation that happened to me as well. An ally fell in rapids and was being swept towards a waterfall (in Forge of Fury). Anyone near the shore down stream had one chance to try and grab our ally before he went over the falls...except my fighter. I tried, failed, action surged, and succeeded on my second try!
What are some examples you can think of, and have you used Action Surge out of combat?
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