WotC_Shoe on leaderless parties

[SoulStorm]

Drinking a potion as a minor action shouldn't be a problem provided you have one hand free and have easy access, such as in your belt. Uncork the bottle with your thumb or teeth. I don't see the problem here.

 

[Benimoto]

I seem to remember reading Shoe's Red Hand of Doom diaries, and in that he mentioned that he had made drinking potions a swift action in 3.5. The guy just likes people drinking potions I think. It's not something that really happens in battle in most D&D games I've witnessed, so it's like a whole class of items is barely used. Still, I'll probably personally stick to the default rule in 4th ed, which seems to be longer than a minor action.

 

[Stogoe]

I know it's horribly gamist, but I think that potions as a minor action, with a limit to the number of potions you can have 'ready', would be a good way to go about it. Unfortunately, I can't think of any way to 'sell' a non-monetary limit on how many potions you can have to players who want a rationale for it other than, "It makes it possible to make potions a good option, without meaning that a big bankroll makes you effectively invincible."

Maybe something like, you can only metabolize two potions per encounter. That wouldn't make your 'loadout' of potions a meaningful choice, but it would make their availability a useful piece of tactical information.

I don't think there needs to be a limit on how many potions you can drink 'per encounter', but I do think there should be a limit to the number of potions you can hang on your belt, ready to quaff with but a minor action. The rest can be stowed away, where you'll have to take an action to retrieve them.

 

[Incenjucar]

Honestly, if I expected to need potions mid-battle, I would develop some kind of "Grapes of Healing" or "Gushers of Healing" so I could just chug and go.

For those who think it should take longer... how about two minor actions, one to grab and uncork, one to drink and toss?

That way you don't completely eliminate a round of action, but still have to expend significant flexibility.

 

[Lizard]

I think it worth recalling that a potion is one ounce of liquid. You don't have to "chug" anything to down one liquid ounce, and with the 1 hit point/hardness 1 state of most potion bottles, a reasonably strong PC can just toss the whole vial in his mouth and _bite_ it open.

Now, do it with both hands holding weapons/shields and trying to keep several orcs from playing "find the spleen". The 3x rules are damn generous, if you ask me, esp. since I've never met a DM who ever asked "Just where are you keeping those potions, anyway?"

(And do you want those 1 hardness/1 hp vials out where a 10' fall can shatter them?)

 

[Cadfan]

I'm not a fan of mid battle potions. Especially not if they're that fast to drink. It kind of removes the restriction on second wind by making it purchasable.

 

[mach1.9pants]

my complete ass-pullery

ROFL

 

[Voss]

And I'm disturbed that they haven't finalized this rule yet. 15 weeks to release (and less than that to shipping off to printers)... and they're still sitting around a table going, 'Hmm, potions?'

I love it when the statements from the devs actually make me more negative...
Sigh.

 

[rkanodia]

I don't think there needs to be a limit on how many potions you can drink 'per encounter', but I do think there should be a limit to the number of potions you can hang on your belt, ready to quaff with but a minor action. The rest can be stowed away, where you'll have to take an action to retrieve them.

I personally think this would be good, but I think it would also create too much trouble from the 'realism' crowd. 'You can only drink two potions a combat because your stomach can't process more than that' is more likely to find a successful compromise.

 

[Fallen Seraph]

I don't think there needs to be a limit on how many potions you can drink 'per encounter', but I do think there should be a limit to the number of potions you can hang on your belt, ready to quaff with but a minor action. The rest can be stowed away, where you'll have to take an action to retrieve them.

Well, I have always in 3e done things where. You can only access things in mid-battle, scenario, action, etc. if it is on your belt, pouch or pocket. Things in your backpack you can't access unless you take a full round action.