Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Luca Jul 06, 2014 0:09:46	Are the following statements true?   1) The Extra Attack feature is not a Bonus Action.   2) An Off-hand Attack Action (the Bonus Action gained by using two wespons) is not a true Attack Action, so it can't be combined with the Extra Attack feature.   3) An Opportunity Attack Reaction is not a true Attack Action, so it can't be combined with the Extra Attack feature and it can't trigger an Off-hand Attack Action (the Bonus Action gained by using two weapons).
#2 pukunui Jul 06, 2014 0:13:54	Yes, yes and yes.
#3 Plaguescarred1 Jul 06, 2014 2:50:03	To support pukunui;   1) Yes   2) Yes   3) Yes
#4 trigician Jul 17, 2014 15:32:04	Does anyone picking up or drawing a weapon with their off hand gain the bonus action to two-weapon fight? The rules that came with the Starter Set say you "gain" a bonus action the basic rules, on page 74 say you can "use" a bonus action, but do not say you gain one. When I ran the Lost Mine last weekend, I had some NPCs and monsters pick up 2nd weapons (or trade them back and forth with one another) to two-weapon fight. The players protested, saying that NPCs and monsters can only take that bonus attack if something else grants it to them. Does having the 2nd weapon in your off hand grant you the bonus action, or does it have to come from somewhere else?
#5 Saelorn Jul 17, 2014 15:42:35	Everyone has a bonus action, just like they have their regular action and reaction. It's just that most people don't have anything to let them spend their bonus action.   Unless they pick up a dagger, that is. Dual-wielding is the single method of spending a bonus action that is available to every PC, NPC, and monster in the game.
#6 Noctaem Jul 17, 2014 15:58:26	Right, Two-weapon fighting is something anybody can do.  You just need to wield a light weapon in each hand which allows you to use your bonus action during your turn when you use an Attack Action to do an extra attack.  There doesn't seem to be any other requirement listed in the Basic rules PDF that I could find.     Your players are right to protest considering that it sounds like you really abused this mechanic during the encounter(s).  Monsters passing each other weapons between their turns so that they can get an extra attack in?  I mean you can do it sure, but that's pretty close to violating Wheaton's Law in my books.  However they are incorrect that something needs to grant the bonus action.  Having the two weapons just let's you use the bonus action you have.
#7 E-Tallitnics Jul 17, 2014 20:27:08	^
#8 Valheru_Blade Jul 18, 2014 9:55:31	Wow trigician...were the npcs a band of murderous jugglers? :P
#9 JRutterbush Jul 18, 2014 13:40:37	Saelorn wrote:
#10 Noctaem Jul 18, 2014 13:53:35	ah no, it is an action type.  Second Wind, Cunning Action, etc are all under Bonus Action.  Look at page 69 of the Basic Rules PDF under the heading Bonus Action.
#11 JRutterbush Jul 19, 2014 0:26:15	Noctaem wrote:
#12 Noctaem Jul 19, 2014 7:38:29	Bonus ACTION   You're seriously going to argue that it's not an action?  It's even listed under the Bonus Actions in Chapter 9: Combat with:   "Various class features, spells, and other abilities let you take an additional action on your turn called a Bonus Action."   I'm sorry, but you're wrong.  It is an action type, since it's specifically called as such in the text I just copy pasted.  They also explain that anything that deprives you of your ability to take actions also prevents you from taking a bonus action on page 69.  The list of actions within 5e is as follows:   Attack Ation Move Action Reaction Bonus Action   There is no such thing as a free action in the rules so it's not a defined game term in 5e as far as I was able to find.  Talking to someone isn't even an action as far as the rules are concerned which is why it's explained that anyone can speak at any time, or in combat, you can speak short sentences or make gestures to communicate.  Reactions are also not once per turn.  Everyone has a Bonus Action on their turn, they might simply not have something to do with it, that's what the sentence on page 69 explains.  You can't just decide to take a Bonus Action, since the rules list very specific things that are Bonus Actions, you can only spend that action type on doing those things if you can do them to begin with.  If you don't have something that let's you use a Bonus Action you can't spend one at all.
#13 Karnos Jul 21, 2014 4:53:26	I have to agree.  Bonus Action is absolutely an action type.
#14 mrpopstar Jul 21, 2014 5:12:21	Nobody is saying that a bonus action isn't an action type. It's being asserted that a bonus action isn't a prescribed action type that is an assumed capability of all characters at all times (barring situational interference), as is the action, reaction, and movement.   You do not have a bonus action to take unless you have a special ability, spell or other feature of the game that states you can use one—that's the only point being made.   Everyone has a bonus action. VS. You do not have a bonus action unless you have a special ability, spell or other feature that states you can use one. — That's the argument.
#15 Karnos Jul 21, 2014 5:22:40	mrpopstar wrote:
#16 mrpopstar Jul 21, 2014 5:43:17	Karnos wrote:
#17 Lord_Kyrion Jul 21, 2014 12:01:12	So... one side believes everyone has a bonus action but must be given a way to use it by some additional capability. The other believes nobody has a bonus action until being granted it by some additional capability. I sure hope whoever is right wins this so we aren't all calling it the wrong thing.
#18 Saelorn Jul 21, 2014 12:12:55	Lord_Kyrion wrote:
#19 kanageddaamen Jul 21, 2014 12:53:09	Basically, if something says you can spend or use a bonus action, or if something grants you a bonus action, its all the same.  It isn't that you need to earn a bonus action in some way, and then you have to have something ELSE give you an ability to use AS a bonus action.  That would make bonus actions nigh unusable.
#20 CJonnyL Jul 22, 2014 4:26:19	So do you need a special ability to dual wield? Or by the nature of having two weapons you can use that bonus action. If so, why would everyone not dual wield? Unless they're using a shield or a two handed weapon?
#21 mrpopstar Jul 22, 2014 4:59:05	CJonnyL wrote:
(Reply to #15) Overpromises	Karnos wrote:
#23 E-Tallitnics Jul 22, 2014 8:17:54	Rogue, Cunning Action!
#24 Mephi1234 Jul 22, 2014 8:22:50	Yes, rogues and cunning action.  Paladins use bonus action to smite.    Bards can use their inspirations as a bonus action.   Healing Word is a bonus action for clerics, druids, and bards.   Monks likely have their own related to ki magic.      Lots of reasons!   You get one bonus action, but lots of stuff to do with it!
#25 kanageddaamen Jul 22, 2014 8:44:29	Just to add more, many spells use a bonus action instead of a regular action (eg, misty step, magical weapon, etc), and many conjurations can be interacted with via bonus actions (eg flaming sphere, spiritual weapon, etc).
#26 Lawolf Jul 23, 2014 8:19:57	Don't worry, with the final PHB everyone will have uses for their bonus actions if you build your PC to take advantage of them. Reactions too!