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

[Maxperson]

How is the risk substantially different than drawing a weapon, or nocking an arrow?

It takes significantly longer. You have to open your pouch, pack or whatever that is closed tightly enough so that stuff doesn't fall out in combat, climbing, etc. Then you have to find the potion, and god help you if you have multiple potions in that container. Then pull it out, uncork it, and swallow it. All in 6 seconds.

Realistically, you aren't doing that in a round, but we handwave the unrealistic portion in the name of fun.

 

[Tessarael]

Which is why you have a bandolier of potions to ensure that they are readily accessible. Look at military kit over the last couple of millennia, there's a reason why bandoliers, quivers, and belt pouches for ammunition were used.

 

[pawsplay]

It takes significantly longer. You have to open your pouch, pack or whatever that is closed tightly enough so that stuff doesn't fall out in combat, climbing, etc. Then you have to find the potion, and god help you if you have multiple potions in that container. Then pull it out, uncork it, and swallow it. All in 6 seconds.

Realistically, you aren't doing that in a round, but we handwave the unrealistic portion in the name of fun.

We're talking about a pouch with magical potions in it, not a parent of three kids' diaper bag.

 

[Maxperson]

We're talking about a pouch with magical potions in it, not a parent of three kids' diaper bag.

Yep. A pouch you will have to untie, unless you've lost all the potions because you left it open, then find the one you are looking for, then pull it out, unstopper it and drink it. That ain't happening in 6 seconds.

 

[pawsplay]

Yep. A pouch you will have to untie, unless you've lost all the potions because you left it open, then find the one you are looking for, then pull it out, unstopper it and drink it. That ain't happening in 6 seconds.

... because?

Anyway, here's a video of Meryl Streep drinking a potion in 3 seconds.

 

[Maxperson]

... because?

Anyway, here's a video of Meryl Streep drinking a potion in 3 seconds.

Thank you for proving my point. Half of the 6 second is just drinking the thing. That leaves 3 seconds to open a tied pouch, find the potion, and pull it out. There's no way.

That's fine, though. This isn't about realism. Drinking potions in combat is unrealistic fun, so we do it. I don't know why it's so important to you that it be possible in reality(which it isn't).

 

[ECMO3]

It takes significantly longer.

Not according to the rules it isn't any longer.

Compare pulling a potion from my belt to:


Pulling a greatsword off my back: Less time

pulling a Rapier out of a scabbard: Less time

pulling a dagger out of a scabbard: about the same

knocking an arrow: about the same

loading a stone into a sling: less time

loading a "light" crossbow: less time

Drawing my gat: Less time unless I have a holster made for doing a quick draw

Cranking and loading a "heavy" crossbow: MUCH, MUCH less time

If I can do all these things in combat I can pull out a potion.

 

[Maxperson]

Not according to the rules it isn't any longer.

You realize we're talking about how long it would REALLY take, not about the rules, right?

Compare pulling a potion from my belt to:


Pulling a greatsword off my back: Less time

pulling a Rapier out of a scabbard: Less time

pulling a dagger out of a scabbard: about the same

knocking an arrow: about the same

loading a stone into a sling: less time

loading a "light" crossbow: less time

Drawing my gat: Less time unless I have a holster made for doing a quick draw

Cranking and loading a "heavy" crossbow: MUCH, MUCH less time

If I can do all these things in combat I can pull out a potion.

Only heavy crossbow loading takes anywhere near as much time as a potion really would take. Again, we weren't discussing the rules.

 

[pawsplay]

Thank you for proving my point. Half of the 6 second is just drinking the thing. That leaves 3 seconds to open a tied pouch, find the potion, and pull it out. There's no way.

Why is there no way?

 

[Maxperson]

Why is there no way?

I suppose if you were supernaturally fast. Like 5x faster than a normal human, you might be able to untie your pouch, fish around for the right potion, pull it out and drink it inside 6 seconds.

Something else you are overlooking is that a combat round, while played out in consecutive turns, happens in the same 6 seconds. That means that if you have to make a dex save to try and avoid a fireball, you technically did that while you were drinking the potion.

For the most part, it's completely unrealistic to be drinking potions in a 6 second combat round.