Ok, help me understand the intended design of Use an Object in 5e D&D. You can interact with basically anything once, as part of your movement, but some things require a separate Use an Object action to do? pic.twitter.com/kimhKl4oV0
— adam koebel (@skinnyghost) July 25, 2019
so you can DRINK ALL THE ALE IN A FLAGON but “drinking or administering a potion takes an action.” but then the DMG says "If an item requires an action to activate, that action isn't a function of the Use an Item action…"
— adam koebel (@skinnyghost) July 25, 2019
The DMG excerpt is referring to magic items, which are their own action (Thief rogues don’t get to use magic items as a bonus action).
Interacting with the environment is mostly free once, but the DM has leeway to say “that’s too complex, and needs the Use an Obeject” action
— Dan Dillon 👥 (@Dan_Dillon_1) July 25, 2019
That bit about drinking the contents of a flagon vs potion makes me sigh.
I suspect it’s simply a balance concern, that essentially getting spell effects for free, action economy wise, is a no-go.
— Dan Dillon 👥 (@Dan_Dillon_1) July 25, 2019
I’m sure, but Jeremy Crawford is the final word on that one.
You can 100% pick up a weapon off the ground as an interaction.
— Dan Dillon 👥 (@Dan_Dillon_1) July 25, 2019
Kicking a weapon away falls into the same category for me.
— Dan Dillon 👥 (@Dan_Dillon_1) July 25, 2019
That’s pretty much the deal, yeah.I think the clear answer should just be “on your turn you can do any one thing as part of movement, any non-Action thing” and then Use an Object gives you another Thing you can do. Potions and magic items and crap need some kind of fictional balance justification I guess.
Interact once for free, second time as an action, magic items are their own action.
— Dan Dillon 👥 (@Dan_Dillon_1) July 25, 2019
Yeah, but there’s some absurdity when you put those things side by side.It’s about Specific Rules beat General Rules (page 7, PHB). The general rule is you can drink something as a “free action”. The specific rule is you need an action to drink a healing potion.
— Dan Dillon 👥 (@Dan_Dillon_1) July 25, 2019
I’m sure you are right from a mechanics point of view, Dan. From a narrative point of view, I imagine that drinking a magic potion just takes a bit more effort than drinking normal liquid. Do you really think so? Effort? Like the potion is supernaturally chunky, or animates and resists being swallowed?
— Dan Dillon 👥 (@Dan_Dillon_1) July 25, 2019
