I have a question about a ready action. I am going to lay out how I think it works and then ask my questions. Please feel free to make fun of me if I deserve it.
Wizard has 11 initiative and fighter has 9 initiative.
- Fighter insults Wizards mother
- Wizard cast magic missle at Fighter
- Fighter runs up to Wizard and says the are going to delay their action to wait for the wizard to start casting and when he does start casting the fighter wants to hit him
- Next round, wizard starts casting another MM which triggers the ready action and the fighter gets an attack on the wizard before the spell goes off, causing a spellcraft check whic would include any damage the fighter does
So, my questions....
Is this really how it works?
What is there to prevent the Wizard from just taking a 5' step and casting?
No -- the fighter cannot delay his action in the middle of taking it.
Instead he must ready an action to attack when the wizard casts a spell.
And in reality it wouldn't work -- after all the wizard will take a five foot step and cast his spell -- or take a move action (which will provoke) deal with the AoO and know that when he casts his spell the fighter won't be able to interrupt it.
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That's why feats like Step Up are nice to have, plus there is always, "You can take a 5-foot step as part of your readied action, but only if you don't otherwise move any distance during the round" to consider too.
You have other tactics in your bag of tricks to use though so take care not to forget about them. The fighter in this case might have a better time of things moving up to the wizard and kicking him down to the floor with his standard action rather then readying if there is a lot of room to move around where they happen to be fighting.
There is even the possibility of throwing your weapon at them if you don't need to get too specific about what kind of attack your going to make if they start with all the crazy words and silly hand gestures.
Actually as Morgen points out a trip attack (even if you provoke) is highly likely to work on said wizard... and if he casts while he's down that just makes hitting him that much easier.
An even better solution might be to Bull Rush him -- which can knock him prone if you run him into a wall.
A thunderstone isn't a bad option either for a fighter.
Or a readied action with a ranged weapon to disrupt his spell which is much more likely to work than closing on him.
Remember the lesson of the wizard -- you don't have to be near your enemy to beat your enemy -- use the bow.
if the fighter and the wizard are beside each other at thevstart of this. the fighter when he declares his ready action can take a five foot step as part of thecreadied action.
There is even the possibility of throwing your weapon at them if you don't need to get too specific about what kind of attack your going to make if they start with all the crazy words and silly hand gestures.
Please note that this is only possible with a one-handed or light melee weapon (or a weapon designed to be thrown). A two-handed melee weapon not otherwise designed for throwing takes a full round action to throw. Since you can only read a standard action, you cannot throw a two-handed melee weapon in this instance.
If the fighter and the wizard are beside each other at the start of this. The fighter when he declares his ready action can take a five foot step as part of the readied action.
I believe this is possible, but what happens if he moved or 5-foot stepped on his last turn prior to readying an action?
If the fighter and the wizard are beside each other at the start of this. The fighter when he declares his ready action can take a five foot step as part of the readied action.I believe this is possible, but what happens if he moved or 5-foot stepped on his last turn prior to readying an action?
Then he can't do so as part of the readied action.
You can also ready a (partial) charge, though terrain could interfere. I emphasize partial because you can only charge up to your normal move, not double, with a readied action.
Grapple him!
An even better solution might be to Bull Rush him -- which can knock him prone if you run him into a wall.
From Combat: Bull Rush: "You cannot bull rush a creature into a square that is occupied by a solid object or obstacle."
You can also ready a (partial) charge, though terrain could interfere. I emphasize partial because you can only charge up to your normal move, not double, with a readied action.
I didn't think you could voluntarily engage in a partial charge, but the wording is a bit nebulous.
From Combat: Charge: "If you are able to take only a standard action on your turn, you can still charge, but you are only allowed to move up to your speed (instead of up to double your speed) and you cannot draw a weapon unless you possess the Quick Draw feat.
You can't use this option unless you are restricted to taking only a standard action on your turn."
I guess the question I was trying to understand....
If the fighter is standing next to the Wizard can the fighter "Ready and Action" to "attack the wizard if he starts casting".
If so, can the wizard simply take a 5' stap away to avoid that attack from the readied action or can the fighter take a 5' step to follow the wizard and attack?
I guess the question I was trying to understand....
If the fighter is standing next to the Wizard can the fighter "Ready and Action" to "attack the wizard if he starts casting".
If so, can the wizard simply take a 5' stap away to avoid that attack from the readied action or can the fighter take a 5' step to follow the wizard and attack?
You can make a five-foot step as part of a readied action. So, yes -- if the fighter readies to disrupt, he can shift and attack in response to the wizard shifting and casting.
Grapple him!
An even better solution might be to Bull Rush him -- which can knock him prone if you run him into a wall.From Combat: Bull Rush: "You cannot bull rush a creature into a square that is occupied by a solid object or obstacle."
You can also ready a (partial) charge, though terrain could interfere. I emphasize partial because you can only charge up to your normal move, not double, with a readied action.I didn't think you could voluntarily engage in a partial charge, but the wording is a bit nebulous.
From Combat: Charge: "If you are able to take only a standard action on your turn, you can still charge, but you are only allowed to move up to your speed (instead of up to double your speed) and you cannot draw a weapon unless you possess the Quick Draw feat.
You can't use this option unless you are restricted to taking only a standard action on your turn."
Hm... I was sure there was something somewhere about knocking people prone with bull rush -- however it's been a while and I could be channeling some 3.5 there.
As to the partial charge: There is specifically a feat that allows one to charge with a readied action -- as such it's something that can't normally be done.
Hm... I was sure there was something somewhere about knocking people prone with bull rush -- however it's been a while and I could be channeling some 3.5 there.
Yes, I believe it was something from 3.5
Hm... I was sure there was something somewhere about knocking people prone with bull rush
You might be thinking about an unavoided, 5+ exceeded Overrun?
As to the partial charge: There is specifically a feat that allows one to charge with a readied action -- as such it's something that can't normally be done.
What feat is that?
What feat is that?
I believe he's referring to Rhino Charge from one of the APs.
The Shield Slam feat allows a free bull rush when you bash, and if the opponent has nowhere to go he will fall prone.
Hm... I was sure there was something somewhere about knocking people prone with bull rushYou might be thinking about an unavoided, 5+ exceeded Overrun?
Yup that's what I was confusing it with. Thank you.