Running a function with args in add_action()

No, this cannot work. Haven’t you tested your idea?

A simple workaround would be a class:

class WPSE_53453_Action_Handler 
{
    public $tokens, $payloads;
    public function process() 
    {
        $tokens   = $this->tokens;
        $payloads = $this->payloads;
        // do something awesome
    }
}

$WPSE_53453           = new WPSE_53453_Action_Handler;
$WPSE_53453->tokens   = array ( 'foo', 'bar' );
$WPSE_53453->payloads="hello";

add_action( 'publish_post', array ( $WPSE_53453, 'process' ) );