D&D 5E (2014) Thoughts on bonus action potions?

[TiQuinn]

You can take yours as a bonus action and roll, or as your action and get max healing.

Ooh, I like this!

 

[Benjamin Olson]

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.

 

[Deset Gled]

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.

 

[Sorcerers Apprentice]

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]

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.

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!

 

[AlViking]

... You can take yours as a bonus action and roll, or as your action and get max healing...

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.