Movement vs. move action?

[Kakitamike]

Assuming I have a +1 attack bonus;

have a halberd and light shield equipped (phalanx fighter 3+)

drop the halberd as a free action, 5 foot step and draw a longbow

move action drop shield

Standard action attack with bow?

We weren't sure about things you were allowed to do during movement vs during a move action.

Thanks.

[Stynkk]

Kakitamike wrote:

Assuming I have a +1 attack bonus;

have a halberd and light shield equipped (phalanx fighter 3+)

drop the halberd as a free action, 5 foot step and draw a longbow

move action drop shield

Standard action attack with bow?

We weren't sure about things you were allowed to do during movement vs during a move action.

Thanks.

In the Combat Chapter under the Entry for Move Action it states: If you have a base attack bonus of +1 or higher, you may draw a weapon as a free action combined with a regular move. If you have the Two-Weapon Fighting feat, you can draw two light or one-handed weapons in the time it would normally take you to draw one.

If you're not using a Move Action to Move - that is to move a distance with your speed (a 5ft step is not an action at all) then you can't draw a weapon with it.

You would need a feat like Quickdraw to accomplish what you're trying to do.

[BigNorseWolf]

drop the halberd as a free action, 5 foot step and draw a longbow

5 foot step is free

Move action to draw

move action drop shield

You're done.

Not all move actions equivalent actions are the same. You can move move and draw, but not stand up and draw.

[Stynkk]

PRD - Core Rules - Combat - Move Action wrote:

Ready or Drop a Shield

Strapping a shield to your arm to gain its shield bonus to your AC, or unstrapping and dropping a shield so you can use your shield hand for another purpose, requires a move action. If you have a base attack bonus of +1 or higher, you can ready or drop a shield as a free action combined with a regular move.

Dropping a carried (but not worn) shield is a free action.

PRD - Core Rules - Combat - Move Action - Drawing a Weapon wrote:

If you have a base attack bonus of +1 or higher, you may draw a weapon as a free action combined with a regular move. If you have the Two-Weapon Fighting feat, you can draw two light or one-handed weapons in the time it would normally take you to draw one.

Here's an interesting follow-up for BNW or anyone else reading...

Can you combine the two rules cited above? Could the OP use a Move Action to move 5 feet (not a 5ft step), drop a shield and pull out the bow (both free because he has a +1 BAB), and a Standard to Shoot with the bow?

[Lakesidefantasy]

Maybe, but...

Quote:

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.

...maybe not.

I've noticed the designers usually err on the side of more restriction rather than less, so maybe not.

[Jeraa]

Stynkk wrote:

Can you combine the two rules cited above? Could the OP use a Move Action to move 5 feet (not a 5ft step), drop a shield and pull out the bow (both free because he has a +1 BAB), and a Standard to Shoot with the bow?

Yes. However, if you move 5' with a move action (as opposed to a 5' step as a free action), you do provoke an attack of opportunity.

Unless the DM limits the number of free actions you can take, in which case it might not be possible.

[Lakesidefantasy]

So, Kikatamike, the ruling is that a 5-foot step is not a move action, so you cannot draw weapons as free action with it. You might be able to get two free actions off by moving 5 feet as a move action, but that would be up to your DM.

I think your chances are good.

[Kakitamike]

That should work. We somehow missed the free action for un/equipping a shield if you have a +1 bab. And 3 free actions is what we usually limit a round.

Thanks

[Venthrac]

What is a "regular move" exactly? That's not a term I'm familiar with.

[HangarFlying]

Venthrac wrote:

What is a "regular move" exactly? That's not a term I'm familiar with.

It's like porn, you'll know it when you see it. In this context, it would be moving any distance up to your base speed as a move action, in which if you only move five feet, you are not doing so as a "5 ft step", but as only moving five feet of your base movement.

[Talonhawke]

Kakitamike wrote:

That should work. We somehow missed the free action for un/equipping a shield if you have a +1 bab. And 3 free actions is what we usually limit a round.

Thanks

Just to point out 3 free action limit means that after level 11 Full BaB archers should remember that they can only draw 3 arrows a round and thus if using rapid shot lose out on their last attack.

[Venthrac]

HangarFlying wrote:

Venthrac wrote:

What is a "regular move" exactly? That's not a term I'm familiar with.

It's like porn, you'll know it when you see it. In this context, it would be moving any distance up to your base speed as a move action, in which if you only move five feet, you are not doing so as a "5 ft step", but as only moving five feet of your base movement.

Sounds good to me!

Now for my next question, what's porn?