Closing Eyes - Free action?

[Sadronmeldir]

When examining the different types of actions, I noticed that speaking a line or two is considered a free action that can even be spoken out of turn. I was wondering, perhaps a little optimistically, if closing ones eyes is also considered a free action that can be done out of turn?

I wouldn't think it would be possible to close your eyes in reaction to an attack, such as a gaze attack. The use case I have in mind is if I am about to cast Color Spray, can I shout to my allies to close their eyes (or use a code word) so that they aren't impacted.

[Cheapy]

Here's a developer discussing more or less this scenario.

Basically, it's not specified. But doing it as a free action is cheesing the rules away from the intent, so he'd make it require about a move action.

[Sadronmeldir]

Cheapy wrote:

Here's a developer discussing more or less this scenario.

Basically, it's not specified. But doing it as a free action is cheesing the rules away from the intent, so he'd make it require about a move action.

Yeah, makes much more sense. Thanks!

[DM_Blake]

Closing your eyes is a full-round action and you need two free hands to do it.

Joking aside, if I'm fighting a wizard and he shouts to close his eyes, I will too, so consider that if you could do this to warn your teammates, your enemies will close their eyes, if they're smart enough. So you'll use codes. When you shout "Bananahammock!" your team will close their eyes and no enemies will know the code so they're all affected normally, right?

Even that wouldn't be necessary, all but the stupidest INT-dumping teammates can be taught to recognize the verbal components and then you wouldn't have to shout anything at all, they would all just know that when they hear you start incanting your verbal component "Klaatu barada necktie!" that they all have to close their eyes.

Unfortunately, there is nothing in the spell description that says closing your eyes protects you from the spell. Sightless creatures are immune, but maybe sighted creatures closing their eye lids are still fully affected as the rainbow patterns of color flash right through their eye lids and onto their perfectly functioning retinas.

There is a saving throw, maybe making the save represents squeezing your eyes closed hard enough to resist the effects.

Who knows exactly how it works, but there is nothing there about closing your eyes to be immune. As a GM I would not allow it. This is arguably the most powerful level 1 spell around. Giving it more power by letting you cast it mid-combat on your own teammates without having to worry about harming them just makes it even more powerful - right now, you have to be careful not to mess up your allies; it's just about the only limiting factor of the spell.