Ooh, I like this!
D&D 5E (2014) Thoughts on bonus action potions?
- Thread starter Sword of Spirit
- Start date
Benjamin Olson
Hero
I've basically always played them as a bonus action, including having a DM who's singular house rule was bonus action potions. I find it hard enough to use a hard to find and non-regenerating resource when it doesn't also have a prohibitively expensive action economy cost.
As a bonus action, Health Potions are basically just expensive, self-administered Healing Words. As an action they are expensive, self-administered, and crappier Cure Woundses. A group without a healer is already paying through the nose, they shouldn't also have to take the crappier version. If doing it as a bonus action feels too strong to the DM they still have absolute control of how many healing potions are available and how much they cost.
As a bonus action, Health Potions are basically just expensive, self-administered Healing Words. As an action they are expensive, self-administered, and crappier Cure Woundses. A group without a healer is already paying through the nose, they shouldn't also have to take the crappier version. If doing it as a bonus action feels too strong to the DM they still have absolute control of how many healing potions are available and how much they cost.
As someone who is primarily using 2014 rules with 2024 gradually sneaking in, I can comment as someone just transitioning into using potions as a bonus action.
So far: It's stupid. I hate it. It's among the worst rules changes in the 2024 edition. Makes no sense from a simulation standpoint. Discourages tactical planning. Makes healing even easier in a game with too much healing. Also, it really hasn't made a notable difference at all, and has worked out well on the rare occasion it comes up.
So far: It's stupid. I hate it. It's among the worst rules changes in the 2024 edition. Makes no sense from a simulation standpoint. Discourages tactical planning. Makes healing even easier in a game with too much healing. Also, it really hasn't made a notable difference at all, and has worked out well on the rare occasion it comes up.
Sorcerers Apprentice
Hero
Most potions just aren't powerful enough to justify spending an action to drink one, so bonus action potions is the way to go if you want potions to be useful in combat.
Clint_L
Legend
I'm curious how you got from "I hate it" to "it really hasn't made a noticeable difference" to "has worked out well on the rare occasion it comes up." It felt like quite a journey!
I've been doing the same thing for a couple of years now, not sure where I first heard the rule.
I allow other potions as a bonus action now as well, if people want to spend money on consumable items, it's up to them.
el-remmen
Moderator Emeritus
Using potions continues to be an action in my D&D games, assuming it is somewhere accessible. I can imagine it being deep in a pack and requiring an action just to get out (though that is rare). Characters still use potions during combat - but I have never had the experience where 3 round combat is the norm (more like 6 to 7 rounds minimum in my games).
Every turn does not need to be optimum.
Every turn does not need to be optimum.
My potion house-rule with WotC 5e was that you could swap out an attack for drinking a potion- this gave martials a boost. When we switched to A5E, I dropped that house-rule because A5E has a martial maneuver called ?Quick Drink? that allows bonus action potions, but it costs exertion so it's a little limited.
With either of these rules, my tables have never been shy of drinking potions in a fight. But if I had to choose universal bonus action potions, or nothing, I'd go with nothing. Potions were still drunk in my old RAW 5e games, but they were more often drunk outside of combat. In fact, they're still drunk outside of combat most often! I think folk are assuming potions are only useful in combat.. but out of combat healing's quite useful when you're pressing the party's resources. Hit dice are limited!
edit: drunk or drank? damn
With either of these rules, my tables have never been shy of drinking potions in a fight. But if I had to choose universal bonus action potions, or nothing, I'd go with nothing. Potions were still drunk in my old RAW 5e games, but they were more often drunk outside of combat. In fact, they're still drunk outside of combat most often! I think folk are assuming potions are only useful in combat.. but out of combat healing's quite useful when you're pressing the party's resources. Hit dice are limited!
edit: drunk or drank? damn
