When can you perform a free action? Only on your turn, or at any time?
Looks like it is limited to your turn, with the following exception:
SpeakIn general, speaking is a free action that you can perform even when it isn't your turn.
And as I understand it, that makes speaking an immediate action? At least that's how we define it at our table.
But yes, a free action is on your turn. An immediate action can be taken at any time even if it is not your turn. Hope that helps.
And as I understand it, that makes speaking an immediate action? At least that's how we define it at our table.
But yes, a free action is on your turn. An immediate action can be taken at any time even if it is not your turn. Hope that helps.
I don't think speaking out of turn is typically considered an immediate action. That seems a little punitive to me. Eg, you couldn't yell "Look out, the cliff is giving way!" followed by casting Feather Fall, since they'd both be immediate actions then.
And as I understand it, that makes speaking an immediate action? At least that's how we define it at our table.
But yes, a free action is on your turn. An immediate action can be taken at any time even if it is not your turn. Hope that helps.
I don't think speaking out of turn is typically considered an immediate action. That seems a little punitive to me. Eg, you couldn't yell "Look out, the cliff is giving way!" followed by casting Feather Fall, since they'd both be immediate actions then.
+1
And as I understand it, that makes speaking an immediate action? At least that's how we define it at our table.
But yes, a free action is on your turn. An immediate action can be taken at any time even if it is not your turn. Hope that helps.
I don't think speaking out of turn is typically considered an immediate action. That seems a little punitive to me. Eg, you couldn't yell "Look out, the cliff is giving way!" followed by casting Feather Fall, since they'd both be immediate actions then.
True that. At our table you can talk and it technically doesn't take up any actions (if you keep it short and sweet) so you could shout "look out!" and still use your immediate action to cast feather fall. But that's a valid point that you don't actually get two immediate actions during any one turn. Thanks!
I'm taking a free action right now. I'm not sure if it's my turn or not.
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True that. At our table you can talk and it technically doesn't take up any actions (if you keep it short and sweet) so you could shout "look out!" and still use your immediate action to cast feather fall. But that's a valid point that you don't actually get two immediate actions during any one turn. Thanks!
I ruled last week IMC that talking was free but could only happen on your own turn. The phrase "In general" as a prefix to that sentence became important as a PC had a Contingency spell on themselves that was based on them speaking a phrase (such as "Oh Fudge" :).
I had come across a note in the CotCT AP, book #6, that snapping your fingers was a swift action (see the first column on pg 31; I don't want to give away any plot items). I decided that if something that simple was a swift action, then speaking should be free -- but ONLY if there are no in-game consequences. Otherwise what's to stop a command word activated magic item from being activated by just speaking a free action? Why would it be a standard action?
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Speaking in general doesn't take much thought no more than walking... however using a command word item requires more attention than just blabbering. Call it focusing your force of will on it (and thus the Chr basis for UMD) means it takes a Standard Action to use.
--Vrocking Grasp
Then why does the section on command word activated magic items say that items can be activated accidentally?
Command Word: If no activation method is suggested either in the magic item description or by the nature of the item, assume that a command word is needed to activate it. Command word activation means that a character speaks the word and the item activates. No other special knowledge is needed.
A command word can be a real word, but when this is the case, the holder of the item runs the risk of activating the item accidentally by speaking the word in normal conversation. [...]
Then why does the section on command word activated magic items say that items can be activated accidentally?
Continuing the quote:
A command word can be a real word, but when this is the case, the holder of the item runs the risk of activating the item accidentally by speaking the word in normal conversation. More often, the command word is some seemingly nonsensical word, or a word or phrase from an ancient language no longer in common use. Activating a command word magic item is a standard action and does not provoke attacks of opportunity.
I think a way to reconcile this is that if you accidentally said the command word as a free action during someone else's turn, or during your turn after you used a standard action, then the magic item would be activated as a standard action during your subsequent turn.
You've pulled the pin on the grenade and it is going to go off in the next 6 seconds.
Last I heard, free actions can only take place on your turn, except for talking (a free action) which is an exception.
I treat speaking as a "non-action." Effectively a free action that can be done anytime. The only limit I place on it is in commbat is how much a player can say in 6 seconds.
I treat speaking as a "non-action." Effectively a free action that can be done anytime. The only limit I place on it is in commbat is how much a player can say in 6 seconds.
My characters luckily have the ability to speak as quickly as the Micro-Machine guy even if I do not :D