Quickleaf
Legend
I know that they're interwoven into 5th edition, but I'd like to do away with bonus actions – or significantly reduce their restrictions – to allow for more creative play & intermixing of class features, spells, feats, etc. I have a rough draft house rule I'm considering, and was wondering if there are strong arguments against implementing it? I'll also include two related house rules, for context. Thanks!
The proposed house rule...
Unlimited Bonus Actions
Instead of being limited to one bonus action per turn, you can use any number of bonus actions so long as they have different sources and different effects. Here are the new guidelines:
Free Two-Weapon Fighting
When you take the Attack action with a Light melee weapon in one hand, as part of that Action you can attack with a Light melee that you're holding in your other hand. You don’t add your ability modifier to the damage of the bonus attack, unless that modifier is negative. If either weapon has the Thrown property, you can throw the weapon, instead of making a melee attack with it.
Unlimited Spellcasting
I’ve deleted the rule that “You can't cast another spell during the same turn you cast a spell as a bonus action, except for a cantrip with a casting time of 1 action.” Instead, like in the D&D 2024 playtest, there are specific house-ruled limits built into the fighter’s Action Surge and sorcerer’s Quicken Spell.
The proposed house rule...
Unlimited Bonus Actions
Instead of being limited to one bonus action per turn, you can use any number of bonus actions so long as they have different sources and different effects. Here are the new guidelines:
- If the source of the Bonus Action presents multiple options (e.g. rogue’s Cunning Action or monk’s Ki), you can only use one of those per turn.
- You can only gain one extra Bonus Action attack per turn, regardless of the sources (also see Free Two-Weapon Fighting).
- You can only cast one Bonus Action spell per turn (but see Unlimited Spellcasting).
Free Two-Weapon Fighting
When you take the Attack action with a Light melee weapon in one hand, as part of that Action you can attack with a Light melee that you're holding in your other hand. You don’t add your ability modifier to the damage of the bonus attack, unless that modifier is negative. If either weapon has the Thrown property, you can throw the weapon, instead of making a melee attack with it.
Unlimited Spellcasting
I’ve deleted the rule that “You can't cast another spell during the same turn you cast a spell as a bonus action, except for a cantrip with a casting time of 1 action.” Instead, like in the D&D 2024 playtest, there are specific house-ruled limits built into the fighter’s Action Surge and sorcerer’s Quicken Spell.