(...) My fear with a pause is that it would be like... In Solasta. I love this game but those pause appear more than once on every turns. I can deal with it but I don't think lots of players would like this.
The reason you see many pop-up questions in Solasta is because it is *not* only for Reactions. If you play a Paladin, every hit ask you if you wish to smite. It is too much.
Reaction options are more rare : Shield spell, Batte Master Riposte, and a few rare others. For many parties, there will be no Reaction options, so no pop-up: just a standard Attack of opportunity (once per round, so there is a choice there if many enemies are in reach).
Originally Posted by 1varangian
I don't like the reaction pop up windows in Solasta. They kill the flow of combat. I've also never missed a reaction mechanic in BG, NWN or any other crpg. Those games play better without constant interruptions or the tedium of having to toggle reactions on and off trying to guess how things will play out.
There's a simple solution to this in BG3. Bonus Actions. Larian have already converted many Actions into Bonus Actions because they feel players need more to do during a turn. So... convert Reactions into Bonus Actions.
E.g. Shield -> Bonus Action spell, +5 AC for 3 turns. AoO's can be automatic. Riposte can also be activated as a Bonus Action and be "active" until discharged. Active is the key word in using abilities rather than the passive toggles you forget about.
Shield as a bonus action lasting 3 turns would be a significant buff. However I would still like to use spells as reactions.
It could work as a "prepped" reaction, similar to how Hellish Rebuke is represented now. The player would prepare Divine Smite, and if the next attack connects the spell slot is spent and Divine Smite is applied.
As I've posted earlier reaction spells should work as reactions, Hellish Rebuke, Shield, Feather Fall, etc. It's nice to have engagement on the enemies turn. Auto-opportunity-attack is fine, since the enemy never gives the player an opportunity attack. (However if a character has reaction spells, or other reactions they should be asked if they want to use their opportunity attack.)
As I've mentioned before, if the character has Hellish Rebuke and available spell slots they should get true reactions. With how potent shove is, being able to react with Feather Fall would be great.
