When to take the "Use an Object"-action? - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 lkwpeter Mar 07, 2015 9:09:19	Hello, as in the PHB on pg. 190 wirtten (green box "interacting with objects"), a lot of actions can be done as free actions. Since I read the green text box I haven't got problems to think about actions that are free ones, but now I am not quite sure what actions specificly need to take the "Use an object"-action. Can somebody help me, pls? Thanks, Peter
#2 Kalani Mar 07, 2015 12:35:02	As per the text on page 190: Other Activity on your Turn (p190) 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 stride toward a foe, or you could draw your weapon as part of the same action you use to attack. If you want to interact with a second object, you need to use your action. Some magic items and other special objects always require an action to use, as stated in their descriptions.
#3 Coredump00 Mar 07, 2015 13:03:54	It would also be used for things like a stuck door, or a complex interaction, or even game balance things....like drinking a potion or throwing oil.
#4 lkwpeter Mar 08, 2015 6:10:15	Thanks for your answers! Examples: a) I throw a bottle of oil from my backpack (or belt) to the ground. Afterwards I want to throw a torch behind it to fire the ground. b) I throw a bottle of oil from my backpack (or belt) to a monster. Afterwards I want to throw a torch to the monster to spark it. 1) My DM always calls for a RA throw, if trying to hit something with an object. This absolutely makes sense, but does the action count as an attack or still as using an object then? 2) A Rogue (Thief) can take the "Use an Object"-action as a bonus action. Would it be possible to do the things mentioned above? My guess is yes, because a rogue could use his bonus action to fight with two weapons (this includes throwing them as well, PHB 195) why shouldn't he be able to throw objects instead? 3) Can dragging the object from a backpack or belt be included in the "Use an Object"-action as well? So that you not only throw an object, but drag the object and drop/throw it afterwards? I would be glad about yours answers! Thanks in advance! Peter
#5 mrpopstar Mar 08, 2015 12:09:36	p-touch wrote:
#6 lkwpeter Mar 10, 2015 12:06:26	mrpopstar wrote:
#7 Kalani Mar 10, 2015 12:59:20	lkwpeter wrote:
(Reply to #6) Coredump00	lkwpeter wrote:
(Reply to #4) FrogReaver	lkwpeter wrote:
#10 RealSeolfor Mar 12, 2015 23:30:01	In the case of throwing something at a specific point (on the Bugbear, or even on the floor tile on which the bugbear stands), the specific item descriptions in the PHB, specify that it is an 'Attack' action e.g. Acid flask, Alchemist Fire etc. I'm still to find in-combat effective uses of 'fast hands' for this reason, the best I've seen so far by a Thief are: In addition to his attack and move actions, using cunning action and his 'fast hands' to - drops caltrops on a bottleneck hallway as he moves away - drops ball bearings in an area as he attempts to hide - sleight of hand vs an enemy caster to remove his spellbook (no effect on combat instantly, but that's a very useful tome he's grabbed, whispering me, no one in the group knows)

Post/Author/DateTime

Post

lkwpeter

Mar 07, 2015 9:09:19

Hello,

as in the PHB on pg. 190 wirtten (green box "interacting with objects"), a lot of actions can be done as free actions.

Since I read the green text box I haven't got problems to think about actions that are free ones, but now I am not quite sure what actions specificly need to take the "Use an object"-action.

Can somebody help me, pls?

Thanks,

Peter

Kalani

Mar 07, 2015 12:35:02

As per the text on page 190:

Other Activity on your Turn (p190)
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 stride toward a foe, or you could draw your weapon as part of the same action you use to attack.

If you want to interact with a second object, you need to use your action. Some magic items and other special objects always require an action to use, as stated in their descriptions.

Coredump00

Mar 07, 2015 13:03:54

It would also be used for things like a stuck door, or a complex interaction, or even game balance things....like drinking a potion or throwing oil.

lkwpeter

Mar 08, 2015 6:10:15

Thanks for your answers!

Examples:

a) I throw a bottle of oil from my backpack (or belt) to the ground. Afterwards I want to throw a torch behind it to fire the ground.

b) I throw a bottle of oil from my backpack (or belt) to a monster. Afterwards I want to throw a torch to the monster to spark it.

My DM always calls for a RA throw, if trying to hit something with an object. This absolutely makes sense, but does the action count as an attack or still as using an object then?

A Rogue (Thief) can take the "Use an Object"-action as a bonus action. Would it be possible to do the things mentioned above? My guess is yes, because a rogue could use his bonus action to fight with two weapons (this includes throwing them as well, PHB 195) why shouldn't he be able to throw objects instead?

Can dragging the object from a backpack or belt be included in the "Use an Object"-action as well? So that you not only throw an object, but drag the object and drop/throw it afterwards?

I would be glad about yours answers! Thanks in advance!

Peter

mrpopstar

Mar 08, 2015 12:09:36

p-touch wrote:

lkwpeter

Mar 10, 2015 12:06:26

mrpopstar wrote:

Kalani

Mar 10, 2015 12:59:20

lkwpeter wrote:

(Reply to #6)

Coredump00

lkwpeter wrote:

(Reply to #4)

FrogReaver

lkwpeter wrote:

#10

RealSeolfor

Mar 12, 2015 23:30:01

In the case of throwing something at a specific point (on the Bugbear, or even on the floor tile on which the bugbear stands), the specific item descriptions in the PHB, specify that it is an 'Attack' action e.g. Acid flask, Alchemist Fire etc.

I'm still to find in-combat effective uses of 'fast hands' for this reason, the best I've seen so far by a Thief are:

In addition to his attack and move actions, using cunning action and his 'fast hands' to

- drops caltrops on a bottleneck hallway as he moves away

- drops ball bearings in an area as he attempts to hide

- sleight of hand vs an enemy caster to remove his spellbook (no effect on combat instantly, but that's a very useful tome he's grabbed, whispering me, no one in the group knows)