D&D 5E Potion of Healing in characters with 0pv

[Evhelm]

And to use a potion in itself, of course aware, spend an action or free action?

As far as I know, there are no more "free actions" (or at least that nomenclature is gone). The PHB's stance is definitely that it takes your normal action to use the potion or administer it.

I don't see anything in the Bard features that would allow administration of the potion as anything less than a standard, normal action.

As for the Rogue, a Cunning Action can only be used to Hide, Disengage, or Dash--basically speeding along actions a Rogue is already taking rather than granting an additional action. So again, no dice for the less-than-normal-action potion administration.

Unless there's a loophole I'm missing, it will take the full action.

 

[rjfTrebor]

As far as I know, there are no more "free actions" (or at least that nomenclature is gone). The PHB's stance is definitely that it takes your normal action to use the potion or administer it.

I don't see anything in the Bard features that would allow administration of the potion as anything less than a standard, normal action.

As for the Rogue, a Cunning Action can only be used to Hide, Disengage, or Dash--basically speeding along actions a Rogue is already taking rather than granting an additional action. So again, no dice for the less-than-normal-action potion administration.

Unless there's a loophole I'm missing, it will take the full action.

thief subclass.

 

[Evhelm]

thief subclass.

Ah, you're right! I forgot about Fast Hands. That makes sense. So a Rogue (Thief) could use a bonus action to administer a potion, but everyone else is relegated to a normal action. Good call.

 

[rjfTrebor]

Ah, you're right! I forgot about Fast Hands. That makes sense. So a Rogue (Thief) could use a bonus action to administer a potion, but everyone else is relegated to a normal action. Good call.

or curative lozenges as i detailed above.

 

[Evhelm]

or curative lozenges as i detailed above.

Those work if your DM allows it

I'd rule that a potion is a significant amount of liquid; if you were to hold that amount of liquid in your mouth, it'd be like walking around with a small water balloon in there. You'd have all kinds of issues with rudimentary concerns like speaking during the fight--not to mention the potential choking hazard! :-D

 

[rjfTrebor]

Those work if your DM allows it

I'd rule that a potion is a significant amount of liquid; if you were to hold that amount of liquid in your mouth, it'd be like walking around with a small water balloon in there. You'd have all kinds of issues with rudimentary concerns like speaking during the fight--not to mention the potential choking hazard! :-D

i've always thought of potions as being around the size of a shotgun shell just so i didn't have to imagine my characters frat-chugging bottles of magical fluid. it also helps with allowing them to be so handy during combat.

 

[Evhelm]

i've always thought of potions as being around the size of a shotgun shell just so i didn't have to imagine my characters frat-chugging bottles of magical fluid. it also helps with allowing them to be so handy during combat.

I'm with ya. The shotgun shell sounds about right (maybe a bit larger). And please don't see my further comments as anything but friendly commentary

I can't see being able to walk around with a shotgun shell between my teeth and still talking normally or breathing normally if I were exerting myself (as in combat).

The closest thing my players have come up with to compete with your idea of healing lozenges is a "beer helmet" that dispensed potions of healing. This had its own issues, of course, but it did allow for the same "instant gratification."

(Again, please continue doing what works for you and your group :-D.)

 

[rjfTrebor]

i wasn't really being serious about the lozenges thing and even if i was your posts wouldn't have been upsetting.

i do however remember something from a 3.5 splat book about replacing teeth with special capsules that could deliver poisons or spells on a bite attack.

 

[Meliath1742]

They have to butt chug it.

Lol...that's funny!

 

[Gilladian]

I've always figured that a potion of healing worked whether applied internally or externally; just pour the contents over the unconscious person, and their wounds heal from the outside inwards, instead of the other way around.