What if a character uses the Dash as a Bonus Action after having completely depleted her movement?
1. Move (30 ft., all available movement speed).
2. Attack
3. Dash (BA given by Cunning Action, to move 30 ft. more)
As a DM I didn't allow that, stating that the Dash action transforms your speed, allowing the character to benefit it when they use the Move action, but it doesn't give you an extra Move action.
As you can split up your move any way you want in between actions, I would say the player moved 30 ft., attacked, and then added another 30 ft. of movement to still use. I would not be picky with that as a DM.
What if a character uses the Dash as a Bonus Action after having completely depleted her movement?
1. Move (30 ft., all available movement speed).
2. Attack
3. Dash (BA given by Cunning Action, to move 30 ft. more)
As a DM I didn't allow that, stating that the Dash action transforms your speed, allowing the character to benefit it when they use the Move action, but it doesn't give you an extra Move action.
Was I correct?
Movement isn't an action, it's a pool/resource based on your speed. For example, if your speed is 30 ft, you can move up to 30 feet on your turn, but there is no action involved.
When you take the Dash action (be it as an action or bonus action), this increases your available movement by an amount equal to your speed. So if a PC with 30 ft speed dashes, they get an additional 30 feet of movement on top of the 30 feet they already have. The dash doesn't "transform" your speed (it has no effect on your speed, instead it is affected by yoyur speed.
You are allowed to break up your movement around your actions (and also break up attacks with movement).
In the scenario described, the PC used up all their movement, then took a bonus action that increased their available movement, effectively 'topping up' their movement pool. Per the rules, they would be able to continue moving because they have not used up all their movement (they still have 30 feet of movement left).
What if a character uses the Dash as a Bonus Action after having completely depleted her movement?
1. Move (30 ft., all available movement speed).
2. Attack
3. Dash (BA given by Cunning Action, to move 30 ft. more)
As a DM I didn't allow that, stating that the Dash action transforms your speed, allowing the character to benefit it when they use the Move action, but it doesn't give you an extra Move action.
Was I correct?
You were incorrect. There is no Move action in the game - and thus the Dash action does not modify the Move action. The correct ruling is that what your player attempted to do is not only legal, it's the whole point of having Dash as a bonus action.
My issue is, the player had already used the Move action before using the Dash bonus action, hence she had already depleted her movement pool.
Even if there was such a thing as a move action (there isn't) why would you be a stickler for this anyway? Had they BA dashed at the start of their turn it'd bump their total movement to 60ft anyway. The exact thing they're trying to do. Having a hard time understanding the objection to what they're going for. Even by your own estimation it should be fine to dash as BA at the start of their turn move their 30ft, attack, then move the other 30ft. There is no issue here.
Anyway, PHB, Combat:
Dash
When you take the Dash action, you gain extra movement for the current turn. The increase equals your speed, after applying any modifiers. With a speed of 30 feet, for example, you can move up to 60 feet on your turn if you dash.
Any increase or decrease to your speed changes this additional movement by the same amount. If your speed of 30 feet is reduced to 15 feet, for instance, you can move up to 30 feet this turn if you dash.
What if a character uses the Dash as a Bonus Action after having completely depleted her movement?
1. Move (30 ft., all available movement speed).
2. Attack
3. Dash (BA given by Cunning Action, to move 30 ft. more)
As a DM I didn't allow that, stating that the Dash action transforms your speed, allowing the character to benefit it when they use the Move action, but it doesn't give you an extra Move action.
Was I correct?
As you can split up your move any way you want in between actions, I would say the player moved 30 ft., attacked, and then added another 30 ft. of movement to still use. I would not be picky with that as a DM.
My issue is, the player had already used the Move action before using the Dash bonus action, hence she had already depleted her movement pool.
If she hadn't already used all her 30 ft. available, no problem.
Perhaps it's here where I'm wrong, but I consider doubling the movement pretty different from regenerating it from zero.
Dash does not double your movement. You gain additional ft. of movement according to your speed.
Movement isn't an action, it's a pool/resource based on your speed. For example, if your speed is 30 ft, you can move up to 30 feet on your turn, but there is no action involved.
When you take the Dash action (be it as an action or bonus action), this increases your available movement by an amount equal to your speed. So if a PC with 30 ft speed dashes, they get an additional 30 feet of movement on top of the 30 feet they already have. The dash doesn't "transform" your speed (it has no effect on your speed, instead it is affected by yoyur speed.
You are allowed to break up your movement around your actions (and also break up attacks with movement).
In the scenario described, the PC used up all their movement, then took a bonus action that increased their available movement, effectively 'topping up' their movement pool. Per the rules, they would be able to continue moving because they have not used up all their movement (they still have 30 feet of movement left).
D&D Beyond moderator across forums, Discord, Twitch and YouTube. Always happy to help and willing to answer questions (or at least try). (he/him/his)
How I'm posting based on text formatting: Mod Hat On - Mod Hat Off
Site Rules & Guidelines - Homebrew Rules - Looking for Players and Groups Rules
You were incorrect. There is no Move action in the game - and thus the Dash action does not modify the Move action. The correct ruling is that what your player attempted to do is not only legal, it's the whole point of having Dash as a bonus action.
I posted this in another thread and think it will help:
As it applies to this question, it would be "it does not double your remaining movement."
Even if there was such a thing as a move action (there isn't) why would you be a stickler for this anyway? Had they BA dashed at the start of their turn it'd bump their total movement to 60ft anyway. The exact thing they're trying to do. Having a hard time understanding the objection to what they're going for. Even by your own estimation it should be fine to dash as BA at the start of their turn move their 30ft, attack, then move the other 30ft. There is no issue here.
Anyway, PHB, Combat:
I got quotes!