Questions tagged [actions]
For questions involving the rules that apply to taking a certain action in a specified system.
-4
votes
3answers
93 views
How long does it take to use first aid to save a dying character?
In the PHB, it says that a character can perform first aid in order to stabilize a dying character. The Heal DC is 15 and if the character makes it, then the character immediately stops losing HP and ...
6
votes
4answers
1k views
Can you use the Shield Master feat to shove someone before you make an attack by using a Readied action?
Can you perform a Ready action with the condition being that you complete your bonus action, then do your bonus action, and then complete your readied action?
For instance, say I have the Shield ...
2
votes
1answer
53 views
Does Double Move allow you to cast spells or activate abilities that require swift or standard actions without changing weapon set up?
Can a character that, for example, holds a weapon in each hand, use its move action to sheathe one of them, cast a spell (a divine spell with the Quicken Spell metamagic feat which is a swift action) ...
11
votes
1answer
458 views
If I cast Expeditious Retreat, can I Dash as a bonus action on the same turn?
I am new to D&D, and am playing 5th Edition. I have a level 3 wizard who has the spell expeditious retreat:
This spell allows you to move at an incredible pace. When you cast this spell, and ...
3
votes
0answers
49 views
Swift action movement and 5-foot step [duplicate]
I realize swift actions came out after the PHB was printed, but how can we reconcile them with this part from the PHB:
If you move no actual distance in a round (commonly because you have swapped ...
3
votes
1answer
199 views
Can I touch something with a hand that is holding a shield?
This question might seem kind of stupid (and it might be), but let me explain. In real life, a shield isn't specifically held, but rather strapped to someone's arm, and although it renders the arm (...
14
votes
1answer
564 views
Can you take a “free object interaction” while incapacitated?
The incapacitated condition description (PHB 290) says:
An incapacitated creature can't take actions or reactions.
Meaning that you can still move. But what about "interactions"?
Page 190 of the ...
5
votes
3answers
179 views
Hideous Laughter: What actions are available?
Ah Tasha's Hideous Laughter, or simply Hideous Laughter in Pathfinder.
My monster's fell fast and hard to this spell last night, and though it was a wonderful victory for the PCs, I'm now filled with ...
12
votes
1answer
490 views
Would it take an action or something similar to activate the blindsight property of a Dragon Mask?
In the Tyranny of Dragons campaigns, there are magic items called Dragon Masks.
They also appear in this supplement (p. 4).
In particular, I'm interested to know how this property works:
Dragon ...
2
votes
1answer
132 views
How can one cast Liquid Pain as a standard action?
So, a certain character likes making stuff. He isn't sufficiently morality-bound to not use Liquid Pain/Agony as a material, but practical concerns prevent him from setting up a factory for it. So he ...
12
votes
1answer
322 views
Would an aboleth's Phantasmal Force lair action be affected by Counterspell, Dispel Magic, and/or Slow?
I was rummaging through some information on the Monster Manual and came across Aboleths. In particular, one of its lair actions says, "The Aboleth casts Phantasmal Force on any number of creatures ...
4
votes
1answer
226 views
What are you allowed to do while using the Warlock's Eldritch Master feature?
One of my Warlocks has taken an interesting turn... After casting a spell that required concentration, he used his Eldritch Master feature. Next turn, he cast Eldritch Blast.
This series of turns ...
7
votes
1answer
391 views
Can I take the the bonus-action attack from Two-Weapon Fighting without taking the Attack action?
So I wanted to do a dual wielder rogue and I had a question about the bonus-action attack.
Can I take the bonus-action attack first and without taking an Attack action?
Basically, if I'm face to ...
11
votes
2answers
1k views
For a 1-action spell, do I need to take a turn to ready the spell before I can cast it, or can I cast it immediately?
I am still very new to all of D&D 5e's rules.
Let's say I have a wizard that knows fireball; he has the spell prepared and has an available spell slot. Basically, assume ideal for everything.
Do ...
4
votes
1answer
183 views
How bad an idea would it be to grant an additional action on a crit? [closed]
As an alternative to the standard crit mechanic, how bad an idea would it be to give the player an additional action after rolling a crit? It's kind of like a stunting mechanic (a la AGE system) but I'...
8
votes
3answers
429 views
Are there any outlying considerations if I treat donning a shield as an object interaction during the first round of combat?
A shield takes 1 action to equip (PHB 146). I'm an new DM and would like to allow that in the first round of battle the PC may use the "interact with objects" time (PHB 190) to equip its shield, if ...
9
votes
1answer
349 views
Does 5e have a free item interaction?
Does 5e have an item interaction?
I could really have some help in understanding how the item interactions work and how they are used during combat.
8
votes
1answer
765 views
If the UA artificer casts an attack cantrip from a wand, is that considered an “Attack action made with a magic weapon”?
So I'm looking at the Artificer Revisited Unearthed Arcana (PDF direct link).
The 5th-level Arcane Armament feature says if you make an Attack action using a magic weapon, you can attack twice in ...
5
votes
1answer
283 views
Can I use a mote from Crown of Stars to attack and also cast Eldritch Blast on the same turn?
The PHB delineates the circumstances under which 2 spells could be cast in a turn.
My 15th-level Warlock knows Crown of Stars. The spell says it costs a bonus action to attack with a mote, which to ...
3
votes
1answer
239 views
One with Shadows and Skulker
This is something I have been wondering for a bit. I am currently playing with a Rogue/Warlock Mousefolk build. Here is the link to the Mousekin homebrew race I am playing. I am planning on a build of ...
0
votes
2answers
189 views
Can I use an extra attack when using war magic for a bonus attack? [duplicate]
I’m nearly level 7 as an Eldritch knight. Because of that, I’m planning how to do the most damage as I can to defeat a very threatening and greedy party member so obviously being an Eldritch knight ...
-1
votes
2answers
196 views
Can Mage Hand be renewed and moved to continuously carry a torch?
If a character needs two hands to hold a weapon (e.g. Heavy Crossbow), can they cast the Mage Hand cantrip to carry a torch for them since the torch weighs less than 10 pounds? I'm specifically ...
14
votes
2answers
330 views
Would it harm game balance to allow the Haste action to be used to Ready one of its allowed actions?
Normally, haste grants the following benefit:
[The target] gains an additional action on each of its turns. That action can be used only to take the Attack (one weapon attack only), Dash, Disengage,...
9
votes
1answer
192 views
Can I pick up and drop a person in one turn?
I am playing a level 6 Barbarian (I have 2 attacks). I picked up a person as one attack and walked him over to a well, and with my second attack I want to drop him. Can I do that all in one turn?
...
16
votes
1answer
759 views
Can you cast Sanctuary after initiating a grapple without causing the spell to immediately end?
I think it's pretty well established that if you cast Sanctuary on yourself, then initiate a grapple, sanctuary is broken because initiating a grapple is a "special melee attack." However, a situation ...
4
votes
1answer
119 views
If I'm holding two weapons, can I momentarily hold one under my arm to free a hand?
Let's say I have Two-weapon Fighting, and I am wielding a light weapon in each hand. I have an ability that lets me conjure a certain item as a swift action. Can I momentarily hold one of my light ...
5
votes
1answer
110 views
Does drawing your weapon take an action?
Previous versions of Savage Worlds explicitly stated that it took one action, and there was the Quick Draw action that turned it into a free action. However, that Edge does not seem to exist in the ...
2
votes
1answer
118 views
Does counterspelling as an immediate action allows you to cast another spell the same turn?
I have this doubt. For what I have been reading it seems so, indeed you can counterspell and cast the same turn. So, whoever can counter as an immediate action like the abjurer (counterspell) or the ...
13
votes
1answer
184 views
Is it possible to not apply a feat passive such as Rapid metamagic?
The description of Rapid Metamagic (Complete Mage, p. 46):
[General]
You possess an uncanny mastery of your magic, enabling you to modify spells on the fly much faster than others can.
...
7
votes
2answers
178 views
Why do you get so few questions when using the Action: Investigate a Mystery?
It seems strange to me that you'd typically only be allowed to ask 0-2 questions when taking the Investigate a Mystery action. Specifically, I'm imagining situations where a Keeper calls for the ...
4
votes
4answers
852 views
Can I still make an opportunity attack against a creature I have previously disengaged from?
Let's say that I am in melee with an enemy. On my turn, for one reason or another, I take the Disengage action but do not move out of melee range.
In the same round, the enemy starts their turn by ...
12
votes
2answers
1k views
How many actions or attacks are involved in picking up and throwing a creature?
Let's say my Minotaur ally decided during a brawl to grapple with the nearest brigand, pick him up over his head (or maybe just throw him from a standing position), and chuck him as far as his beefy (...
4
votes
1answer
253 views
What action is used to throw a javelin of lightning?
When you use a javelin of lightning, exactly what kind of action are you performing?
I'd initially assumed it would just be using your entire action, but it doesn't specifically state so. If anything,...
3
votes
1answer
99 views
Is using Doomspeak a standard action?
Doomspeak is a [bardic] feat from Champions of Ruin with the following benefit:
You can spend one of your bardic music uses to utter a string of crass and appalling epithets and curses at one enemy ...
5
votes
1answer
354 views
Can Storm Sphere's bonus action be used on the same turn the spell is cast?
I am wondering whether one could cast Storm Sphere as an action, and in the same turn immediately follow it up with the spell's bonus action to deal more damage.
I have a feeling this doesn't work, ...
6
votes
1answer
365 views
How does the Healing Spirit spell work when healing unconscious characters?
When a character is knocked unconscious (and about to begin making death saving throws) in a square covered by healing spirit, how does their next turn work?
Healing spirit will spare them from ...
7
votes
3answers
2k views
Can a Fighter use his Extra Attack to draw a weapon as a free action?
The rules state:
You can also interact with one object or feature of the environment
for free, during either your move or your action. For example, you
could open a door during your move as you ...
4
votes
2answers
2k views
Can a Reaction Cantrip be used as an action and bonus action? [closed]
I have a character in my most recent campaign. He is a homebrew race that weakens all checks and rolls in sunlight (unless properly covered), but gives +1AC and the Fire Bolt Cantrip.
His scenario: ...
9
votes
1answer
770 views
Is a Move any kind of movement, or a specific type of action?
The answer about the Bulette brings up an interesting question.
Is Move a defined game term?
Whether a creature is a friend or an enemy, you can't willingly end your move in its space.
(Basic ...
2
votes
0answers
75 views
Action Surge question [duplicate]
The Player's Handbook says that Action Surge grants one additional action on your turn, once per short or long rest.
The Extra Attack section of the PHB says that at level 11 (for example) when ...
4
votes
1answer
81 views
What kind of action is the Investiture of the Erinyes' beckoning?
While the spell is in effect, the subject can beckon a creature it can see clearly, forcing it to approach unless the creature succeeds on a Will save against the spell's save DC.
What kind of action ...
5
votes
2answers
277 views
Can a two-weapon combatant draw both weapons at once?
The only rule regarding this that I've managed to find is (PHB p190):
You can also interact with one object or feature of the environment for free, during either your move or your action. For ...
2
votes
1answer
107 views
Decisive Strike and secondary attacks
If my Warforged Monk has the Jaws of Death feat (provides a secondary natural weapon), can I use it after Decisive Strike?
20
votes
2answers
2k views
Can you cast a bonus-action spell, then Ready a leveled spell on the same turn?
In D&D 5e, a spellcaster (we’ll use cleric as an example) can cast a spell as a bonus action and one as an action on the same turn, but one must be a cantrip - for example, in the same turn, a ...
3
votes
2answers
73 views
What actions are involved when jumping down?
A character wants to move to the edge of a pit, jump down to the floor 10 feet below and move on to reach a certain spot at the lower floor. The total horizontal distance is equal to his movement. He ...
5
votes
1answer
66 views
Can staggered creatures use immediate actions?
The Staggered condition says (PHB p313):
[...] A staggered character may take a single move action or standard action each round (but not both, nor can she take fullround actions).
I know the text ...
2
votes
1answer
309 views
What action is picking up your disarmed weapon while Prone?
I have a fighter with Two-Weapon Fighting. In a Full Attack Action, I make a successful Trip attempt with my first attack and a successful Disarm attempt with the second Attack.
The foe is now prone ...
0
votes
1answer
162 views
Can you use swift actions as other action types?
Let’s say I am playing a Tome of Battle class that utilizes many stances and boosts. Can I ‘slow down’ a swift action and have it count as a move or standard action?
Example:
Swift action: use a ...
8
votes
1answer
2k views
Does the tentacle rod prevent multiattack?
Made by the drow, this rod is a magic weapon that ends in three rubbery tentacles. While holding the rod, you can use an action to direct each tentacle to attack a creature you can see within 15 feet ...
5
votes
1answer
101 views
When exactly can the target make an Int check to end Detect Thoughts?
The spell description for Detect Thoughts in D&D 5e says that after you have done a deep probe "unless you shift your attention to another creature's thoughts, the creature can use its action on ...
