As a level 2 Cleric, when can I use any Bonus Actions? I see a level 1 spell called Shield of Faith. It's casting time says : 1 Bonus Action
If it's my turn during combat, what can I do to use it as a Bonus Action? Is there specific things I need to do to get a Bonus Action?
Or, do I use Shield of Faith and then I can do a different Bonus Action?
Basically, what do I need to do to get a Bonus Action, and what can I do as the Bonus Action? When Can I just use any spell with the casting time of 1 Bonus Action?
My DM is pretty cool and knows the game very well. But, I'm afraid that he won't be telling me when I can use a Bonus Action.
Just like a main Action - every character gets to use one Bonus Action every turn. It's really as simple as that. As long as you have something that can use a Bonus Action - such as the spell you mentioned - you can use a Bonus Action.
It's worth noting that there are ways to get more than 1 Action per turn (Action Surge - Haste - etc) but you only ever get one Bonus Action. At least - I'm not aware of anything that will give more in a single turn.
Just like a main Action - every character gets to use one Bonus Action every turn. It's really as simple as that. As long as you have something that can use a Bonus Action - such as the spell you mentioned - you can use a Bonus Action.
It's worth noting that there are ways to get more than 1 Action per turn (Action Surge - Haste - etc) but you only ever get one Bonus Action. At least - I'm not aware of anything that will give more in a single turn.
Entirely correct, but I would phrase it a different way: By default, nobody gets to use a Bonus Action unless they have a spell/ability/feature that grants a Bonus Action, and the maximum number of Bonus Actions a creature can use per round is one. The maximum of one Bonus Action per round is a hard cap no matter how many BA abilities a creature might have.
You don't know what fear is until you've witnessed a drunk bird divebombing you while carrying a screaming Kobold throwing fire anywhere and everywhere.
sigred's point is important on the bonus action...on your turn, you can't cast a spell as an action and then cast shield of faith as a bonus action because you can't cast two spells in your turn. Also, if it says its a bonus action, you have to cast it as your bonus action. You can't say you're casting a bonus action spell as a regular action and then do something else as a bonus action (which doesn't really make sense to me, but thems the rules: "You must use a bonus action on your turn to cast the spell") [personally, i allow this though, i play that a character can do 2 bonus actions in a turn so long as one bonus action is being used in place of their action]
I would also add that you can use a bonus action at any point during your turn, unless the specific bonus action has a prerequisite. For example, many bonus actions say something along the lines of "when you take the attack action on your turn, you may [x] as a bonus action." In such cases, you can't take the bonus action until after you've taken the "triggering" attack action.
In the case of shield of faith, there are no prerequisites for the bonus action, so you can cast it at any time during your turn.
In addition, if you cast a spell as a bonus action, you can cast a cantrip as your action, but not a spell of lvl 1 or higher.
And you can use your action or bonus action in whatever order you would like. You could start with the bonus action, and then take your action, or vide versa.
Entirely correct, but I would phrase it a different way: By default, nobody gets to use a Bonus Action unless they have a spell/ability/feature that grants a Bonus Action
True enough - but for all intents and purposes - those are the same. If you have a Bonus Action but nothing that can use it - it is functionally identical to not having a Bonus Action. Also everyone does get a Bonus Action - because everyone gets Two-Weapon Fighting. Sure not everyone can make use of it if they're not dual wielding the correct weapons - but they still have it.
Entirely correct, but I would phrase it a different way: By default, nobody gets to use a Bonus Action unless they have a spell/ability/feature that grants a Bonus Action
True enough - but for all intents and purposes - those are the same. If you have a Bonus Action but nothing that can use it - it is functionally identical to not having a Bonus Action. Also everyone does get a Bonus Action - because everyone gets Two-Weapon Fighting. Sure not everyone can make use of it if they're not dual wielding the correct weapons - but they still have it.
Yes, they are the same, and you are entirely correct. I wasn't disagreeing with you. I think it's just more accurate and beneficial to focus more on the fact that, since Bonus Actions do not occur in a vacuum, a character can only take a Bonus Action if they have fulfilled the requirements to do so.
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You don't know what fear is until you've witnessed a drunk bird divebombing you while carrying a screaming Kobold throwing fire anywhere and everywhere.
Can I double check a ruling... when you have Bonus Action ability that has the prerequisite of "When you take the Attack Action" and you're also playing as a class with the Extra Attack feature, you have to complete all of your attacks from the attack action before using your Bonus Action... correct? Or is it possible to sprinkle the bonus action in between attacks?
I think that will probably fall to DM interpretation of "take the Attack Action". If you've declared that you will attack and can't go back on it, is the action taken? After an attack has been made but not all? After all of them have been made? I think that by default I would rule after one has been made. I could see instances where I could be inclined to agree to either other view. Considering that all are being made within 6 seconds plus anything else that you do it usually wouldn't matter unless one would be a shove attack or otherwise provide a buff or debuff. Those edge cases are where I'd pay more attention to the specific details.
Can I double check a ruling... when you have Bonus Action ability that has the prerequisite of "When you take the Attack Action" and you're also playing as a class with the Extra Attack feature, you have to complete all of your attacks from the attack action before using your Bonus Action... correct? Or is it possible to sprinkle the bonus action in between attacks?
You only have to make one attack, not complete the attack action. Just as you can move between attacks, you can also insert your bonus action (assuming you have one) between attacks.
Can I double check a ruling... when you have Bonus Action ability that has the prerequisite of "When you take the Attack Action" and you're also playing as a class with the Extra Attack feature, you have to complete all of your attacks from the attack action before using your Bonus Action... correct? Or is it possible to sprinkle the bonus action in between attacks?
You only have to make one attack, not complete the attack action. Just as you can move between attacks, you can also insert your bonus action (assuming you have one) between attacks.
Not actually true (even though I personally agree it should be). I'm not going to get into an argument about SAC or what is/isn't official because the truth is the core RAW do not ever say that you actually can insert bonus actions between attacks in the Attack action. There is only a rule stating that you can insert movement between attacks in the Attack action.
I do not like Jeremy Crawford, or the vast majority of "rulings" he's made (especially lately). That is pretty well known. That said, he does talk about this topic quite extensively in this compilation. He does clearly state what the actual RAW is, not just the RAI, and (not frequently enough) actually acknowledges his own role in causing confusion about how Bonus Actions work.
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You don't know what fear is until you've witnessed a drunk bird divebombing you while carrying a screaming Kobold throwing fire anywhere and everywhere.
Can I double check a ruling... when you have Bonus Action ability that has the prerequisite of "When you take the Attack Action" and you're also playing as a class with the Extra Attack feature, you have to complete all of your attacks from the attack action before using your Bonus Action... correct? Or is it possible to sprinkle the bonus action in between attacks?
You only have to make one attack, not complete the attack action. Just as you can move between attacks, you can also insert your bonus action (assuming you have one) between attacks.
Not actually true (even though I personally agree it should be). I'm not going to get into an argument about SAC or what is/isn't official because the truth is the core RAW do not ever say that you actually can insert bonus actions between attacks in the Attack action. There is only a rule stating that you can insert movement between attacks in the Attack action.
I do not like Jeremy Crawford, or the vast majority of "rulings" he's made (especially lately). That is pretty well known. That said, he does talk about this topic quite extensively in this compilation. He does clearly state what the actual RAW is, not just the RAI, and (not frequently enough) actually acknowledges his own role in causing confusion about how Bonus Actions work.
I think I am stating RAW. The PHB says:
"You choose when to take a bonus action during your turn, unless the bonus action's timing is specified, and anything that deprives you of your ability to take actions also prevents you from taking a bonus action."
It's pretty clear from that you can take it any time during your turn unless some other rule prohibits it. So, absent something to the contrary, you can take a bonus action between attacks.
Can I double check a ruling... when you have Bonus Action ability that has the prerequisite of "When you take the Attack Action" and you're also playing as a class with the Extra Attack feature, you have to complete all of your attacks from the attack action before using your Bonus Action... correct? Or is it possible to sprinkle the bonus action in between attacks?
You only have to make one attack, not complete the attack action. Just as you can move between attacks, you can also insert your bonus action (assuming you have one) between attacks.
Not actually true (even though I personally agree it should be). I'm not going to get into an argument about SAC or what is/isn't official because the truth is the core RAW do not ever say that you actually can insert bonus actions between attacks in the Attack action. There is only a rule stating that you can insert movement between attacks in the Attack action.
I do not like Jeremy Crawford, or the vast majority of "rulings" he's made (especially lately). That is pretty well known. That said, he does talk about this topic quite extensively in this compilation. He does clearly state what the actual RAW is, not just the RAI, and (not frequently enough) actually acknowledges his own role in causing confusion about how Bonus Actions work.
I think I am stating RAW. The PHB says:
"You choose when to take a bonus action during your turn, unless the bonus action's timing is specified, and anything that deprives you of your ability to take actions also prevents you from taking a bonus action."
It's pretty clear from that you can take it any time during your turn unless some other rule prohibits it. So, absent something to the contrary, you can take a bonus action between attacks.
That's what I'm getting at--the general rules do not allow for anything to disrupt an entire action before it is completed, with exceptions for things that do allow for interruptions. There is a general exception for allowing movement to be inserted. There is not a general exception for bonus actions to be inserted. The rule on bonus action timing only means that, unless the BA has a specified timing/trigger, the BA doesn't have to come before or after action/movement. I.e., Shield of Faith can be cast before or after an action/movement, but it cannot be cast between two attacks in the Attack without having forfeited any remaining attacks.
Like I said, I don't like the rule, and my tables generally don't roll that way either. I feel like it makes Martial characters with Extra Attack less effective than they ought to be, but it does match what the rules actually say.
[edit] For context, consider the Shield Master & Great Weapon Master feats.
Shield Master requires the Attack action as its trigger. RAW, the Attack action is not done until either all attacks have been made, or forfeiting further attacks. Movement can be inserted between attacks, but the BA granted cannot occur until the character is done with their action.
Great Weapon Master does not trigger off of an action; it triggers off of scoring a critical hit with a melee weapon, or reducing a creature to 0 HP. The BA attack granted by this feat can be taken immediately upon fulfilling one of those conditions.
You don't know what fear is until you've witnessed a drunk bird divebombing you while carrying a screaming Kobold throwing fire anywhere and everywhere.
But, the bonus action rule does allow an interruption because it says "You choose when to take a bonus action during your turn, unless the bonus action's timing is specified." Your choice isn't limited in any way (unless the bonus action itself has limitations).
Now, I agree this gets hazy when the trigger for a BA is the attack action (as illustrated by the never-ending shield master feat thread), but as a general proposition where there's no "trigger," I don't see how you can read the rule as requiring completion of the attack action before using your bonus action. There's no general rule I'm aware of that says the attack action has to be completed before you do something else, and there's a specific exception for movement (and, I think, for bonus actions as well).
General rule: Nothing but movement can interrupt Attack action.
Specific rule: Take a Bonus Action anytime you want, unless timing is specified.
Remember, the rules tell you want you CAN do not what you CAN'T do unless specifically called out. In the compilation thread linked, Crawford admits this as well:
A bonus action that has no trigger—such as Cunning Action and the misty step spell—can take place whenever you want on your turn (PH, 189).
But, the bonus action rule does allow an interruption because it says "You choose when to take a bonus action during your turn, unless the bonus action's timing is specified." Your choice isn't limited in any way (unless the bonus action itself has limitations).
Now, I agree this gets hazy when the trigger for a BA is the attack action (as illustrated by the never-ending shield master feat thread), but as a general proposition where there's no "trigger," I don't see how you can read the rule as requiring completion of the attack action before using your bonus action. There's no general rule I'm aware of that says the attack action has to be completed before you do something else, and there's a specific exception for movement (and, I think, for bonus actions as well).
I get what you're saying, and trust me that's how I wish it worked. What I think gets people tripped up on this is the "unless the bonus action's timing is specified" part--the timing is specified on way more things than we typically think. Anything that has an "if you can X then you can Y" type of statement is the specified timing. Things like BA spells typically don't have specified timing, and the same is true of a significant amount of BA class features. These can generally be taken at any point during your turn, but can't interrupt an action unless they say they can (like GWM).
5e is significantly better than prior editions when it comes to flexibility in action-order agnosticism, and the allowance of bonus actions being inserted between attacks makes a ton of sense as a game mechanic. Unfortunately, that mechanic does not actually exist within 5e. I am seriously loathe to admit it, but Crawford is correct in his rather thorough explanation that there is no exception for bonus actions like there is with movement. We've gotten used to playing 5e as a better system than it really is on this point.
[edit]
Y'know, now that I'm really thinking about it, the only thing that's actually a problem with 5e and Bonus Actions simply comes down to how Extra Attack is handled by the rules. If Extra Attack were handled like how Haste is handled, simply providing an "extra" action which can only be used to make a single weapon attack, none of these issues would ever arise. I think I'll start using that as a house rule.
You don't know what fear is until you've witnessed a drunk bird divebombing you while carrying a screaming Kobold throwing fire anywhere and everywhere.
General rule: Nothing but movement can interrupt Attack action.
Specific rule: Take a Bonus Action anytime you want, unless timing is specified.
Remember, the rules tell you want you CAN do not what you CAN'T do unless specifically called out. In the compilation thread linked, Crawford admits this as well:
A bonus action that has no trigger—such as Cunning Action and the misty step spell—can take place whenever you want on your turn (PH, 189).
I think we reach the same point, but I'd formulate it this way:
General rule: A bonus action can occur whenever you want on your turn.
Specific rule: If a bonus action has a triggering condition, that condition must occur before you take the bonus action.
Can I double check a ruling... when you have Bonus Action ability that has the prerequisite of "When you take the Attack Action" and you're also playing as a class with the Extra Attack feature, you have to complete all of your attacks from the attack action before using your Bonus Action... correct? Or is it possible to sprinkle the bonus action in between attacks?
You only have to make one attack, not complete the attack action. Just as you can move between attacks, you can also insert your bonus action (assuming you have one) between attacks.
Not actually true (even though I personally agree it should be). I'm not going to get into an argument about SAC or what is/isn't official because the truth is the core RAW do not ever say that you actually can insert bonus actions between attacks in the Attack action. There is only a rule stating that you can insert movement between attacks in the Attack action.
I do not like Jeremy Crawford, or the vast majority of "rulings" he's made (especially lately). That is pretty well known. That said, he does talk about this topic quite extensively in this compilation. He does clearly state what the actual RAW is, not just the RAI, and (not frequently enough) actually acknowledges his own role in causing confusion about how Bonus Actions work.
I think I am stating RAW. The PHB says:
"You choose when to take a bonus action during your turn, unless the bonus action's timing is specified, and anything that deprives you of your ability to take actions also prevents you from taking a bonus action."
It's pretty clear from that you can take it any time during your turn unless some other rule prohibits it. So, absent something to the contrary, you can take a bonus action between attacks.
That's what I'm getting at--the general rules do not allow for anything to disrupt an entire action before it is completed, with exceptions for things that do allow for interruptions. There is a general exception for allowing movement to be inserted. There is not a general exception for bonus actions to be inserted. The rule on bonus action timing only means that, unless the BA has a specified timing/trigger, the BA doesn't have to come before or after action/movement. I.e., Shield of Faith can be cast before or after an action/movement, but it cannot be cast between two attacks in the Attack without having forfeited any remaining attacks.
Like I said, I don't like the rule, and my tables generally don't roll that way either. I feel like it makes Martial characters with Extra Attack less effective than they ought to be, but it does match what the rules actually say.
[edit] For context, consider the Shield Master & Great Weapon Master feats.
Shield Master requires the Attack action as its trigger. RAW, the Attack action is not done until either all attacks have been made, or forfeiting further attacks. Movement can be inserted between attacks, but the BA granted cannot occur until the character is done with their action.
Great Weapon Master does not trigger off of an action; it triggers off of scoring a critical hit with a melee weapon, or reducing a creature to 0 HP. The BA attack granted by this feat can be taken immediately upon fulfilling one of those conditions.
As gone through ad nauseam in the Shield Master thread, it does not require that you complete the Attack action; it requires that you take the Attack action. That condition is satisfied once you make at least one attack.
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As a level 2 Cleric, when can I use any Bonus Actions? I see a level 1 spell called Shield of Faith. It's casting time says : 1 Bonus Action
If it's my turn during combat, what can I do to use it as a Bonus Action? Is there specific things I need to do to get a Bonus Action?
Or, do I use Shield of Faith and then I can do a different Bonus Action?
Basically, what do I need to do to get a Bonus Action, and what can I do as the Bonus Action? When Can I just use any spell with the casting time of 1 Bonus Action?
My DM is pretty cool and knows the game very well. But, I'm afraid that he won't be telling me when I can use a Bonus Action.
Just like a main Action - every character gets to use one Bonus Action every turn. It's really as simple as that. As long as you have something that can use a Bonus Action - such as the spell you mentioned - you can use a Bonus Action.
It's worth noting that there are ways to get more than 1 Action per turn (Action Surge - Haste - etc) but you only ever get one Bonus Action. At least - I'm not aware of anything that will give more in a single turn.
For the rules:
https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/basic-rules/combat#BonusActions
It's also worth noting the spellcasting rules around Bonus Actions as well - because you may run afoul of it if you don't.
https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/basic-rules/spellcasting#CastingTime
Mega Yahtzee Thread:
Highest 41: brocker2001 (#11,285).
Yahtzee of 2's: Emmber (#36,161).
Lowest 9: JoeltheWalrus (#312), Emmber (#12,505) and Dertinus (#20,953).
Entirely correct, but I would phrase it a different way: By default, nobody gets to use a Bonus Action unless they have a spell/ability/feature that grants a Bonus Action, and the maximum number of Bonus Actions a creature can use per round is one. The maximum of one Bonus Action per round is a hard cap no matter how many BA abilities a creature might have.
Shield of Faith has a casting time of one Bonus Action, and the only rule relevant to usage is the bonus action spellcasting rule.
You don't know what fear is until you've witnessed a drunk bird divebombing you while carrying a screaming Kobold throwing fire anywhere and everywhere.
sigred's point is important on the bonus action...on your turn, you can't cast a spell as an action and then cast shield of faith as a bonus action because you can't cast two spells in your turn. Also, if it says its a bonus action, you have to cast it as your bonus action. You can't say you're casting a bonus action spell as a regular action and then do something else as a bonus action (which doesn't really make sense to me, but thems the rules: "You must use a bonus action on your turn to cast the spell") [personally, i allow this though, i play that a character can do 2 bonus actions in a turn so long as one bonus action is being used in place of their action]
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I would also add that you can use a bonus action at any point during your turn, unless the specific bonus action has a prerequisite. For example, many bonus actions say something along the lines of "when you take the attack action on your turn, you may [x] as a bonus action." In such cases, you can't take the bonus action until after you've taken the "triggering" attack action.
In the case of shield of faith, there are no prerequisites for the bonus action, so you can cast it at any time during your turn.
In addition, if you cast a spell as a bonus action, you can cast a cantrip as your action, but not a spell of lvl 1 or higher.
And you can use your action or bonus action in whatever order you would like. You could start with the bonus action, and then take your action, or vide versa.
Ludo ergo sum!
True enough - but for all intents and purposes - those are the same. If you have a Bonus Action but nothing that can use it - it is functionally identical to not having a Bonus Action. Also everyone does get a Bonus Action - because everyone gets Two-Weapon Fighting. Sure not everyone can make use of it if they're not dual wielding the correct weapons - but they still have it.
Mega Yahtzee Thread:
Highest 41: brocker2001 (#11,285).
Yahtzee of 2's: Emmber (#36,161).
Lowest 9: JoeltheWalrus (#312), Emmber (#12,505) and Dertinus (#20,953).
Yes, they are the same, and you are entirely correct. I wasn't disagreeing with you. I think it's just more accurate and beneficial to focus more on the fact that, since Bonus Actions do not occur in a vacuum, a character can only take a Bonus Action if they have fulfilled the requirements to do so.
You don't know what fear is until you've witnessed a drunk bird divebombing you while carrying a screaming Kobold throwing fire anywhere and everywhere.
Can I double check a ruling... when you have Bonus Action ability that has the prerequisite of "When you take the Attack Action" and you're also playing as a class with the Extra Attack feature, you have to complete all of your attacks from the attack action before using your Bonus Action... correct? Or is it possible to sprinkle the bonus action in between attacks?
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I think that will probably fall to DM interpretation of "take the Attack Action". If you've declared that you will attack and can't go back on it, is the action taken? After an attack has been made but not all? After all of them have been made? I think that by default I would rule after one has been made. I could see instances where I could be inclined to agree to either other view. Considering that all are being made within 6 seconds plus anything else that you do it usually wouldn't matter unless one would be a shove attack or otherwise provide a buff or debuff. Those edge cases are where I'd pay more attention to the specific details.
As far as I’m aware you only have to have taken one attack because by that point you’ve committed to using (and have used) the Attack action.
Mega Yahtzee Thread:
Highest 41: brocker2001 (#11,285).
Yahtzee of 2's: Emmber (#36,161).
Lowest 9: JoeltheWalrus (#312), Emmber (#12,505) and Dertinus (#20,953).
You only have to make one attack, not complete the attack action. Just as you can move between attacks, you can also insert your bonus action (assuming you have one) between attacks.
Not actually true (even though I personally agree it should be). I'm not going to get into an argument about SAC or what is/isn't official because the truth is the core RAW do not ever say that you actually can insert bonus actions between attacks in the Attack action. There is only a rule stating that you can insert movement between attacks in the Attack action.
I do not like Jeremy Crawford, or the vast majority of "rulings" he's made (especially lately). That is pretty well known. That said, he does talk about this topic quite extensively in this compilation. He does clearly state what the actual RAW is, not just the RAI, and (not frequently enough) actually acknowledges his own role in causing confusion about how Bonus Actions work.
You don't know what fear is until you've witnessed a drunk bird divebombing you while carrying a screaming Kobold throwing fire anywhere and everywhere.
I think I am stating RAW. The PHB says:
"You choose when to take a bonus action during your turn, unless the bonus action's timing is specified, and anything that deprives you of your ability to take actions also prevents you from taking a bonus action."
It's pretty clear from that you can take it any time during your turn unless some other rule prohibits it. So, absent something to the contrary, you can take a bonus action between attacks.
That's what I'm getting at--the general rules do not allow for anything to disrupt an entire action before it is completed, with exceptions for things that do allow for interruptions. There is a general exception for allowing movement to be inserted. There is not a general exception for bonus actions to be inserted. The rule on bonus action timing only means that, unless the BA has a specified timing/trigger, the BA doesn't have to come before or after action/movement. I.e., Shield of Faith can be cast before or after an action/movement, but it cannot be cast between two attacks in the Attack without having forfeited any remaining attacks.
Like I said, I don't like the rule, and my tables generally don't roll that way either. I feel like it makes Martial characters with Extra Attack less effective than they ought to be, but it does match what the rules actually say.
[edit] For context, consider the Shield Master & Great Weapon Master feats.
Shield Master requires the Attack action as its trigger. RAW, the Attack action is not done until either all attacks have been made, or forfeiting further attacks. Movement can be inserted between attacks, but the BA granted cannot occur until the character is done with their action.
Great Weapon Master does not trigger off of an action; it triggers off of scoring a critical hit with a melee weapon, or reducing a creature to 0 HP. The BA attack granted by this feat can be taken immediately upon fulfilling one of those conditions.
You don't know what fear is until you've witnessed a drunk bird divebombing you while carrying a screaming Kobold throwing fire anywhere and everywhere.
But, the bonus action rule does allow an interruption because it says "You choose when to take a bonus action during your turn, unless the bonus action's timing is specified." Your choice isn't limited in any way (unless the bonus action itself has limitations).
Now, I agree this gets hazy when the trigger for a BA is the attack action (as illustrated by the never-ending shield master feat thread), but as a general proposition where there's no "trigger," I don't see how you can read the rule as requiring completion of the attack action before using your bonus action. There's no general rule I'm aware of that says the attack action has to be completed before you do something else, and there's a specific exception for movement (and, I think, for bonus actions as well).
Specific rules override general rules.
General rule: Nothing but movement can interrupt Attack action.
Specific rule: Take a Bonus Action anytime you want, unless timing is specified.
Remember, the rules tell you want you CAN do not what you CAN'T do unless specifically called out. In the compilation thread linked, Crawford admits this as well:
I get what you're saying, and trust me that's how I wish it worked. What I think gets people tripped up on this is the "unless the bonus action's timing is specified" part--the timing is specified on way more things than we typically think. Anything that has an "if you can X then you can Y" type of statement is the specified timing. Things like BA spells typically don't have specified timing, and the same is true of a significant amount of BA class features. These can generally be taken at any point during your turn, but can't interrupt an action unless they say they can (like GWM).
5e is significantly better than prior editions when it comes to flexibility in action-order agnosticism, and the allowance of bonus actions being inserted between attacks makes a ton of sense as a game mechanic. Unfortunately, that mechanic does not actually exist within 5e. I am seriously loathe to admit it, but Crawford is correct in his rather thorough explanation that there is no exception for bonus actions like there is with movement. We've gotten used to playing 5e as a better system than it really is on this point.
[edit]
Y'know, now that I'm really thinking about it, the only thing that's actually a problem with 5e and Bonus Actions simply comes down to how Extra Attack is handled by the rules. If Extra Attack were handled like how Haste is handled, simply providing an "extra" action which can only be used to make a single weapon attack, none of these issues would ever arise. I think I'll start using that as a house rule.
You don't know what fear is until you've witnessed a drunk bird divebombing you while carrying a screaming Kobold throwing fire anywhere and everywhere.
I think we reach the same point, but I'd formulate it this way:
General rule: A bonus action can occur whenever you want on your turn.
Specific rule: If a bonus action has a triggering condition, that condition must occur before you take the bonus action.
As gone through ad nauseam in the Shield Master thread, it does not require that you complete the Attack action; it requires that you take the Attack action. That condition is satisfied once you make at least one attack.