D&D 5E (2024) Weird Potion House Rule Idea

[aco175]

You could make them permanent items usable 1/day with an option to use a second time but then it is gone. This way players will use them since they still have it tomorrow just in case I need it thinking.

Or, do not worry about it since it is a player thing and you are the DM. Eventually the players will use them to aid a dying wagon driver on the side of a road or help the little boy that fell into a well or some other silly way to cross them off.

 

[Wizard65]

This is a similar problem to inspiration. Players just hang onto it because there may be a stronger need later. Even if your GM gives them out like candy, they just don't wish to "waste" it. My suggestion is just go with bonus action to retrieve and use. It is on them if they don't make use of them. You can give them a hammer, and they may still choose a rock to hammer the nail. Their choice.

 

[aco175]

@Wizard65 welcome to the site. Cheers

 

[billd91]

Might be worth using cards to display what consumables they can use, as a physical reminder.

It has been my experience that potions tend to be forgotten, same with inspiration. When a DM friend of mine gave out inspiration as poker chips, we used it fairly regularly. Without the physical token reminder, it is often forgotten. I think I’ll start using chips for inspiration in my game tonight and see if it improves inspiration use. If so, I may start doing index card consumables.

 

[Stalker0]

It's still an action to get one out of your backpack or whatever.

It is?

I figured that's the "interact with object" free action....though i think a lot of people would just include it in the bonus action to drink anyway.

 

[el-remmen]

Give out more potions that serve a utility function or last longer if used out of combat (the adrenaline and fast movement of combat processes them through your body faster).

For example I am not likely to use a potion of climbing during combat but to get up to somewhere we need to investigate? Yes. Same with potion of flight or even a potion of invisibility.

 

[Seramus]

I always end up saving my consumables for some "greater future danger", unless it's a really obvious one like fire resistance before a red dragon fight.

And then the campaign ends with 90% of my consumables unused. I'm the same way in computer games, sadly.