Per RAW, you can take as many free actions as you want, so long as it's your turn, and you haven't used up all your normal actions.
From a reality check perspective, I've never had a problem. The most free actions I've ever seen in a game was about 7 and most of that involved quickdrawing/throwing daggers with iterative attacks.
RPG Superstar 2013 Top 32
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I generally limit my players to no more than 2 "free" actions per round. If they want to speak as a free action, I require that the player speak aloud, in-character, what they wish to say and it must take no longer than two full seconds to speak. The other characters hear exactly what the player said, verbatim, and nothing more.
EDIT: In response to MDT, yes, things like quickdrawing weapons or plucking arrows from a quiver for rapid firing I don't even really consider "free actions," they are merely part of the attack action. But I suppose technically they ARE actions. The game limits those for me, though, by the number of attacks per round a character is capable of.
It's probably been asked numerous times before, but just again...How many free actions per turn is a reasonable amount? If the round is 6 seconds I reckon making 6 free actions finishes your turn...
Suggestions please :)
I only let my players have one free action a round.Normally it is to drop a weapon to spend a move action to draw another one. Would I allow a player to drop a weapon and then say something giving them two free action, sure why not. My players really have never asked for more than this though.I cannot see letting them have unlimited free actions.
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thnx guys - in most combat situations I've seen only one or two free actions in one turn. Usually 'drop my bow (Free action) and draw my melee weapon as I move to there' type stuff.
As for talking it comes down to the player whose turn it is shouting 'Attack the (insert monster/NPC here) first!' Job done.
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If you want to get picky about RAW, it's an arbitrary call by the GM.
Free Action: Free actions consume a very small amount of time and effort. You can perform one or more free actions while taking another action normally. However, there are reasonable limits on what you can really do for free, as decided by the GM.
I've only seen a few things I would call a player on for being unreasonable though.
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"Free actions don’t take any time at all, though there may be limits to the number of free actions you can perform in a turn."
I agree with the sentiment that there should not be any hard limits set. I'd look at what actions made up the whole turn. If player tried something like multiple free actions, a swift action and a full round attack I would be looking at what the free actions were and what I thought was reasonable to achieve within the turn.
YeaH I wasn't taking into account quick draw or loading bows when I said I limited players to one free action. Like fatespinner I just considered those part of combat.
No hard or preset limit. That's just so counter to the intention of free actions that I don't know why anyone would do it.
The only abuse I can possibly think of is the quickdraw shield, but that was clearly intentional.
I'm pretty open. I don't allow crazy stuff like dropping in and out o rage before every attack or speaking as long as you want. But if it the free actions can reasonably be done in the same round, I allow it.
If anyone would like to disagree with my opinion on quickdraw shields, or anyone else's specific example, remember to do so in the relevant thread :)
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For me it depends on the particular mix of free actions, as I see each one as being "free" for a different reason.
For instance, Quickdraw is "free" because it's really fast - but not instantaneous.
Speaking is "free" not because it's fast, but because it can be done at the same time as something else. As long as you're not also casting a spell with verbal components, talk for the whole round as far as I care. (Note that if you ask another character a question and need an answer before you attack, then obviously you can't say you were doing all that talking while you attacking, so you'd need to keep it short for it to stay "free".)
Entering a rage is "free" because you're not really even doing anything.
So basically, I look at the total package of what the player intends to do, and see if it sounds reasonable.
How many free actions per turn is a reasonable amount?All of them.
-Kle.
^^ That ^^
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No it doesn't because those are part of an iterative attack sequence, not actions of their own. My hard limit is one free action and you're allowed two seconds to talk during your turn, unless you want to give up a move or standard action, depending on how much you want to gab.
Limiting the players to 1 or 2 free actions per round would break some aspects of the game, I think. It's an enormous nerf to almost any archer build or thrower build, for example.
There are no RAW in Pathfinder to give up Move or Standards for more Free or Swift actions. Don't confuse the community with 4e rulings.
There are no RAW in Pathfinder to give up Move or Standards for more Free or Swift actions. Don't confuse the community with 4e rulings.No it doesn't because those are part of an iterative attack sequence, not actions of their own. My hard limit is one free action and you're allowed two seconds to talk during your turn, unless you want to give up a move or standard action, depending on how much you want to gab.
Limiting the players to 1 or 2 free actions per round would break some aspects of the game, I think. It's an enormous nerf to almost any archer build or thrower build, for example.
He said his hard limit. As in his house rule. He can do whatever he wants as a house rule. It has nothing to do with 4e.
No set limit of free actions, that opens a huge can of worms instead just don't allow the player to do anything silly like giving a 30 minute speech during combat.
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It's probably been asked numerous times before, but just again...How many free actions per turn is a reasonable amount? If the round is 6 seconds I reckon making 6 free actions finishes your turn...
Suggestions please :)
I know I am late to the party.. but my limit is "what makes sense". Seeing as we try to play by RAW wherever possible, this interestingly vague rule should rub us the wrong way but I have yet to tell someone they're overstretching the limits of free actions. My players seem to police themselves pretty well here.
Incidentally, I definitely give extra freedom where speech is concerned. As a comic book fan, I'm ok with big ol' speech bubbles popping up during combat... so long as its not too outrageous. I remember the Soliloquy card from the TORG Drama Deck being very appropriately played for these circumstances, though.
Limiting the players to 1 or 2 free actions per round would break some aspects of the game, I think. It's an enormous nerf to almost any archer build or thrower build, for example.No it doesn't because those are part of an iterative attack sequence, not actions of their own. My hard limit is one free action and you're allowed two seconds to talk during your turn, unless you want to give up a move or standard action, depending on how much you want to gab.
They are actions:
"Drawing ammunition for use with a ranged weapon (such as arrows, bolts, sling bullets, or shuriken) is a free action."
Rapid Reload: "The time required for you to reload your chosen type of crossbow is reduced to a free action (for a hand or light crossbow)"
Reloading is only part of the ranged attack when using Snap Shot to take an AoO.
Your hard limit is pretty tough on barbarians, who can't enter rage and draw a weapon during his charge. He can't even surrender by exiting rage and dropping his weapon.
Or a bard who would like to maintain his bardic performance and cast a spell that uses spell components. He can't stop concentrating on Lullaby and then cast Sleep. For that matter, anyone who wants to use the free action touch attack granted by a spell with material components. You can't even use a counterspell if it has material components, since identifying the spell being cast is also a free action.
No guiding a mount with knees and then quickly dismounting. No activating your oathbow then firing it. Panther Claw doesn't really work anymore.
Personally I prefer to just rule on what makes sense, rather than a hard limit, even if the limit was increased to two free actions instead of one. Maybe this should go under Advice...
For me it depends on the particular mix of free actions, as I see each one as being "free" for a different reason.
For instance, Quickdraw is "free" because it's really fast - but not instantaneous.
Speaking is "free" not because it's fast, but because it can be done at the same time as something else. As long as you're not also casting a spell with verbal components, talk for the whole round as far as I care. (Note that if you ask another character a question and need an answer before you attack, then obviously you can't say you were doing all that talking while you attacking, so you'd need to keep it short for it to stay "free".)
Entering a rage is "free" because you're not really even doing anything.
So basically, I look at the total package of what the player intends to do, and see if it sounds reasonable.
That is how I do it also. Not all free actions are equal.
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Your hard limit is pretty tough on barbarians, who can't enter rage and draw a weapon during his charge. He can't even surrender by exiting rage and dropping his weapon.
In the first example, no it's not a problem because the barbarian who will have that minimum bab of +1 will draw his weapon as part of his movement. it's simply not something that needs tracking separately.
Exiting rage isn't a free action it's a non-action, he's simply stopped raging.
Either way, your limit is unreasonable.
Fighter : You, mage! I got my blade at your throat, stop that flame ball and drop your wand, or I'll slit your throat.
Wizard : Uhm, I cease concentrating on the spell. I'll drop the wand next round, I only have one free action per turn.
Fighter : Too late, I told you to drop the spell and the wand. *snick*
Wizard : Grrrk
It's worse than that mdt.
Preparing spell components is a free action.
Speaking is a free action.
If there's a hard limit of one per turn...any spell with Verbal and Material components can't be cast!
Nevermind that the characters in such games are so inept that they can't even speak and drop something at the same time.