Expanded Rules: Bonus Actions & Reactions

In the Expanded Rules feature, we will explore adaptations of existing rules: tweaks or additions to add flavor to your Taluma (or any other) campaign. In this feature we will explore and expand options for Bonus Actions and Reactions.

During Combat characters can take three types of actions: a Action, a Bonus Action, and a Reaction (as well as movement). An Action and a Bonus Action are taken on your turn, while a Reaction can be any time during a round. On your action turn, you can take a Bonus Action only if a rule explicitly says so: this is often a class feature. A Reaction is a special action taken in response to a trigger defined in the Reaction’s description. It is not uncommon for Bonus Actions and/or Reactions to go unused during a turn, reducing a character’s action economy. Here are some new rules for each to give more opportunities for characters to be able to use their Action, Bonus Action, and Reaction every round.

Focus

Use your Bonus Action to focus on your main Action, giving you +2 to Attack rolls or the DC of Saving Throws against your Action.

Bolster

Use your Reaction to give yourself +2 to a Saving Throw or your AC vs. one Attack roll.

These new options for Bonus Actions and Reactions are meant to expand your tactical options by leveraging your Bonus Action and Reaction to enhance both offense and defense.

When you don’t have other ways or reasons to use either, these can give you a way to utilize them to help your character.

Download a pdf of the Focus and Bolster rules here.