AoOs are free actions; I've never seen it run any other way.
Sometimes a combatant in a melee lets her guard down or takes a reckless action. In this case, combatants near her can take advantage of her lapse in defense to attack her for free. These free attacks are called attacks of opportunity. See the Attacks of Opportunity diagram for an example of how they work.
Edit: As an additional thought, consider how this would work with the Combat Reflexes feat if they were not free actions. You would be granted additional AoOs you could not use.
An aoo is an aoo, its never actually defined as anything else. Its its own action.
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AoOs are free actions; I've never seen it run any other way.
Sometimes a combatant in a melee lets her guard down or takes a reckless action. In this case, combatants near her can take advantage of her lapse in defense to attack her for free. These free attacks are called attacks of opportunity. See the Attacks of Opportunity diagram for an example of how they work.Edit: As an additional thought, consider how this would work with the Combat Reflexes feat if they were not free actions. You would be granted additional AoOs you could not use.
They are free attacks, but they are NO actions at all.
AoOs are free actions; I've never seen it run any other way.
Sometimes a combatant in a melee lets her guard down or takes a reckless action. In this case, combatants near her can take advantage of her lapse in defense to attack her for free. These free attacks are called attacks of opportunity. See the Attacks of Opportunity diagram for an example of how they work.Edit: As an additional thought, consider how this would work with the Combat Reflexes feat if they were not free actions. You would be granted additional AoOs you could not use.They are free attacks, but they are NO actions at all.
They are not listed under 'no action' (nor are they listed under free actions); they are referred to as free attacks and attacks are actions so... Why are you even bothering with a distinction? Because GMs can limit free actions to a reasonable amount?
My issue with calling them not an action is with the description of that action type:
Not an Action: Some activities are so minor that they are not even considered free actions. They literally don't take any time at all to do and are considered an inherent part of doing something else, such as nocking an arrow as part of an attack with a bow.
Doesn't sound like an AoO. Really, they are a super special action with their own category and rules, but they are effectively free actions.
Edit: Although, I guess, under my reasoning it wouldn't make sense to call a 5-foot step a 'no action' which it clearly is listed as.
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Attacks of Opportunity are their own action.
It's an action. It's not a free or a standard or a full-round or an immediate or a swift action, but it IS still an action. Since it's something you're doing.The other issue is that coms with AoO...
Is an AoO an action? I believe no.
Attacks of Opportunity are their own action.
It's an action. It's not a free or a standard or a full-round or an immediate or a swift action, but it IS still an action. Since it's something you're doing.The other issue is that coms with AoO...
Is an AoO an action? I believe no.
Consider them Opportunity Actions, an action type of its own. They run outside of the full/standard/move/swift/Immediate sceme and are not free actions, because you can take them when it is not your turn. You get one per turn, more if you have Combat Reflexes. Whether you take an AoO has no effect on whether you can take other actions like a swift action.
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AoOs are free actions; I've never seen it run any other way.
Sometimes a combatant in a melee lets her guard down or takes a reckless action. In this case, combatants near her can take advantage of her lapse in defense to attack her for free. These free attacks are called attacks of opportunity. See the Attacks of Opportunity diagram for an example of how they work.Edit: As an additional thought, consider how this would work with the Combat Reflexes feat if they were not free actions. You would be granted additional AoOs you could not use.They are free attacks, but they are NO actions at all.
They are not listed under 'no action' (nor are they listed under free actions); they are referred to as free attacks and attacks are actions so... Why are you even bothering with a distinction? Because GMs can limit free actions to a reasonable amount?
My issue with calling them not an action is with the description of that action type:
Not an Action: Some activities are so minor that they are not even considered free actions. They literally don't take any time at all to do and are considered an inherent part of doing something else, such as nocking an arrow as part of an attack with a bow.Doesn't sound like an AoO. Really, they are a super special action with their own category and rules, but they are effectively free actions.
Edit: Although, I guess, under my reasoning it wouldn't make sense to call a 5-foot step a 'no action' which it clearly is listed as.
The problem is that free actions (with the exception of speaking) can be done only during your turn.
Calling them free actions interact with several other rules. Doing an AoO, if it was an action, would allow you to use an ability that is triggered when you make an action, so allowing you to use abilities that are meant to be used only during your turn outside it.
AoO instead are free attacks and that interact with a different set of rules, allowing you to trigger abilities that are available when you make an attack.
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Remember, folks, the word "action" is important, as is its absence.
Doing something "for free" is not the same as doing something "as a free action".
Doing something "immediately" is not the same as doing something "as an immediate action".
Doing something for "one full round" is not the same as doing something "as a full-round action".
I think that the system might benefit from coining another type of action; something like a Free Action that can be done outside your turn.
Otherwise, you run into shenanigans like 'I can AoO even if paralyzed, since it's not an action, and being paralyzed (or stunned) only says I cannot take any actions. Which an AoO isnt.'
I'd almost be tempted to call the whole stuff a 'reflexive action', but then again, this might encroach on White Wolf's territory.
The problem is that free actions (with the exception of speaking) can be done only during your turn.
Of course. Funny, as I just brought that up to my DM in a different context.
I think that the system might benefit from coining another type of action; something like a Free Action that can be done outside your turn.
Otherwise, you run into shenanigans like 'I can AoO even if paralyzed, since it's not an action, and being paralyzed (or stunned) only says I cannot take any actions. Which an AoO isnt.'
I'd almost be tempted to call the whole stuff a 'reflexive action', but then again, this might encroach on White Wolf's territory.
I agree with you - I also agree that they're might be too many action classifications. I was in another message board where this was discussed at great length (it escapes me at the moment where it was) and there are a few instances where phrases are used but they don't mean the action named.
Like "as a free action" is not a Free Action by the limited definition of a free action.