5' Step in Surprise Round?

[Pat Smith]

Can a PC take a 5' Step and then take a standard action in a surprise round? We had a discussion about this evening and the DM (me) ruled that the 5' step would be an "action" in the surprise round. A player felt it should be allowed.

Thoughts?

Thanks for any input and clarification.

[Quandary]

5´ step isn`t really an action.
¨You can move 5 feet in any round when you don't perform any other kind of movement.¨

Surprise Rounds says you can ¨take a standard or move action during the surprise round. You can also take free actions during the surprise round¨
The Surprise Round is still `a round`, so if you don`t otherwise move, I would allow the 5` step.

Basically, I think you just can`t make Full-Round and Swift Actions,
although I would allow using a Swift Action with your Standard Action in this case (e.g. you have a Swift Action spell memorized).

[Lockgo]

Pat Smith wrote:

Can a PC take a 5' Step and then take a standard action in a surprise round? We had a discussion about this evening and the DM (me) ruled that the 5' step would be an "action" in the surprise round. A player felt it should be allowed.

Thoughts?

Thanks for any input and clarification.

I'm pretty sure a 5-foot step is a free action, so long as you don't move any more distance on your turn, and surprise round allow you to take free actions, so I think the player could take a 5-foot step.

[Jiggy]

Lockgo wrote:

I'm pretty sure a 5-foot step is a free action, so long as you don't move any more distance on your turn, and surprise round allow you to take free actions, so I think the player could take a 5-foot step.

Interestingly, if you go and look it up you'll find that a 5' step is kind of its own special thing and technically isn't even a free action.

[Starglim]

Quandary wrote:

The Surprise Round is still `a round`, so if you don`t otherwise move, I would allow the 5` step.

My reading also.