Basically the question is in the title. The signal whistle's description for the is simply, "A small whistle used for signaling." Which provides no help.
The Player's Handbook just tells us that the Signal Whistle costs 5 copper and has no meaningful weight. So how to adjudicate what it takes to use one is up to the DM.
Most DMs I have played with allow some speaking during the turn for free and I can see treating the Signal Whistle similarly. This assumes however that the whistle is already in hand. If it isn't, then that adds the cost of needing to draw it and potentially the need to stow something to free up a hand first.
I'd consider a signal whistle a free item interaction used in tandem with your movement and action since it doesn't specifically require an action to use.
Like plague I treat the whistle as a free interaction. However I do so to smooth out play realizing that to be actually useful it would have to already be in your mouth in the middle of the heavy breathing of combat during a 6 second round. Even if it was on a chain (like a coaches whistle) to actually grab it, insert it into mouth, whistle and then drop it breath and defend/attack would take over( or most of) the 6 seconds. Having actually tried playing where you had to say what you were doing in 6 seconds most of what we normally do in a round is taking far longer than reality even if far shorter than we say it.
Using a signal whistle is interacting with an object. You can interact with one object for free as part of your turn. If you have already interacted with one object then interacting with a second requires a full action. That’s RAW.
Like plague I treat the whistle as a free interaction. However I do so to smooth out play realizing that to be actually useful it would have to already be in your mouth in the middle of the heavy breathing of combat during a 6 second round. Even if it was on a chain (like a coaches whistle) to actually grab it, insert it into mouth, whistle and then drop it breath and defend/attack would take over( or most of) the 6 seconds. Having actually tried playing where you had to say what you were doing in 6 seconds most of what we normally do in a round is taking far longer than reality even if far shorter than we say it.
I use a whistle daily, it does indeed take time to grab a whistle from around your neck and blow on it. That is why it is wrapped around my wrist and it takes almost no time to blow. It also does not greatly limit my hand.
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"Sooner or later, your Players are going to smash your railroad into a sandbox."
-Vedexent
"real life is a super high CR."
-OboeLauren
"............anybody got any potatoes? We could drop a potato in each hole an' see which ones get viciously mauled by horrible monsters?"
Now try doing so with a sword in one hand and a shield in the other, or a wand in one and a staff in the other - without clonking or zapping yourself. 🤪😜🤡
Now try doing so with a sword in one hand and a shield in the other, or a wand in one and a staff in the other - without clonking or zapping yourself. 🤪😜🤡
Some DMs may require a free hand to use the whistle where others will allow you to safely bring it to your mouth with your sword's hand.
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Basically the question is in the title. The signal whistle's description for the is simply, "A small whistle used for signaling." Which provides no help.
The Player's Handbook just tells us that the Signal Whistle costs 5 copper and has no meaningful weight. So how to adjudicate what it takes to use one is up to the DM.
Most DMs I have played with allow some speaking during the turn for free and I can see treating the Signal Whistle similarly. This assumes however that the whistle is already in hand. If it isn't, then that adds the cost of needing to draw it and potentially the need to stow something to free up a hand first.
I'd consider a signal whistle a free item interaction used in tandem with your movement and action since it doesn't specifically require an action to use.
Like plague I treat the whistle as a free interaction. However I do so to smooth out play realizing that to be actually useful it would have to already be in your mouth in the middle of the heavy breathing of combat during a 6 second round. Even if it was on a chain (like a coaches whistle) to actually grab it, insert it into mouth, whistle and then drop it breath and defend/attack would take over( or most of) the 6 seconds. Having actually tried playing where you had to say what you were doing in 6 seconds most of what we normally do in a round is taking far longer than reality even if far shorter than we say it.
Wisea$$ DM and Player since 1979.
Using a signal whistle is interacting with an object. You can interact with one object for free as part of your turn. If you have already interacted with one object then interacting with a second requires a full action. That’s RAW.
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I use a whistle daily, it does indeed take time to grab a whistle from around your neck and blow on it. That is why it is wrapped around my wrist and it takes almost no time to blow. It also does not greatly limit my hand.
"Sooner or later, your Players are going to smash your railroad into a sandbox."
-Vedexent
"real life is a super high CR."
-OboeLauren
"............anybody got any potatoes? We could drop a potato in each hole an' see which ones get viciously mauled by horrible monsters?"
-Ilyara Thundertale
Now try doing so with a sword in one hand and a shield in the other, or a wand in one and a staff in the other - without clonking or zapping yourself. 🤪😜🤡
Wisea$$ DM and Player since 1979.
Some DMs may require a free hand to use the whistle where others will allow you to safely bring it to your mouth with your sword's hand.