I know a couple GMs that because of some players who somehow abused speaking in combat created a houserule that states no PC can speak more than 3 words unless a standard action is used. Also stemming from this is a limit of 1 free action per round. How am I supposed to accomplish anything when certain attacks, skills, and/or abilities can be done as said free action? It is most frustrating. My PC doesn't even speak in combat anymore as it is most unrealistic in ANY sense of the word to speak. I am not wasting an action on 5 words. I would rather attack instead.
In any case, I call shenanigans on it. Thoughts?
What levels are yal playing at? I've notice a lot of dms will incorporate this when players are at low levels so that the game can run faster and sometimes smoother. Usually at higher levels the rule gets all but the spirit of the rule gets thrown out the window because characters are able to do a lot more than a low level character. They do it at lower levels because really there's not a lot that u are gonna benefit from free actions compared to higher level characters so they do the 1 free action basically as a way to say "talk or play". They might have been dealt with players who gave away info that the player knows to the character (meta gaming) or they've had players who talked at inappropriate times.
But again depends on what level ya are. If ur low level, don't wry bout it to much. If ur concerned about how the rule will change at higher levels since u will be gaining more actionsand the free actions help to make those possible, then talk with the dm outside of game and bring up examples. If its at a higher level, then talk with the dm outside of game and ask if the restriction is mainly for talking and such and if the dm is not counting the free actions in ur full round attacks.
And maybe, ur dm has incountered some major cheese in the past that has scarred him/her and then outside of game explain ur usual rotations and the free actions involved and see if those free actions are what they are counting.
Also playing devils advocate, usually 3 words is plenty enough.
Heal me! Help me! Kill it! Watch out! There's a trap! There's a monster! Over there! Get it off! Attack this one! Stay away! I'm dying! get on otherside! Burn it! Freeze it! Magic missil it! Etc etc etc.
Hmmm. I suppose multitasking is not an option in that DM's world. I'm surely can speak for 6 seconds while I wield my flies splatter and hunt down a flying insect in my house. Well, maybe a bit distracted, but I normally not so impaired. I expect an adventurer is far more coordinated than me and can speak more than 3 words per round.
I don't believe its multitasking, I believe it because players abused the speaking is why it was limited. I don't believe the dm believes adventurers can only speak 3 words, the 3 words were imposed because the players abused it. They were problemly asking questions and waiting on responses or having conversations in a 6 sec window. So the dm had enough and stated that 3 words were the limit. Now 3 words is debateable if being to many or to few, but I gave examples that u can really go on 3 words and still function. Not that the dm believes that by the rules u can only speak 3 words, it was set in place as a houserule because the speaking got abused.
@Super Nobody
It's a free action to speak in combat even out of your turn generally. I am not sure what kind of houserule are you talking about really.
I thought free actions were what u took during ur turn and immediate actions is when u can do at anytime? I don't believe u actually can technically speak outside ur turn inside combat though. Outside combat I totally agree, but inside combat u can only speak during ur turn.
I don't believe its multitasking, I believe it because players abused the speaking is why it was limited. I don't believe the dm believes adventurers can only speak 3 words, the 3 words were imposed because the players abused it. They were problemly asking questions and waiting on responses or having conversations in a 6 sec window. So the dm had enough and stated that 3 words were the limit. Now 3 words is debateable if being to many or to few, but I gave examples that u can really go on 3 words and still function. Not that the dm believes that by the rules u can only speak 3 words, it was set in place as a houserule because the speaking got abused.
Yup, I was a bit eccessive. But really, 3 words are a poor limit.
I don't believe its multitasking, I believe it because players abused the speaking is why it was limited. I don't believe the dm believes adventurers can only speak 3 words, the 3 words were imposed because the players abused it. They were problemly asking questions and waiting on responses or having conversations in a 6 sec window. So the dm had enough and stated that 3 words were the limit. Now 3 words is debateable if being to many or to few, but I gave examples that u can really go on 3 words and still function. Not that the dm believes that by the rules u can only speak 3 words, it was set in place as a houserule because the speaking got abused.Yup, I was a bit eccessive. But really, 3 words are a poor limit.
I can agree with that 3 is a poor limit. I do have a feeling its problemly backlash for the abuse but if the dm won't relent at this time because maybe they want the party to get used to not speaking much, there are ways to roll with it. But yes I do agree I wouldn't hab e gone with the 3 limit, if I ever have to do this I'd problemly do maybe 6 lol. That's only if it was getting abused otherwise as long as things seem natural and not taking to long, I usually let them speak as many words that are reasonable. Sadly reasonable varies from person to person. OP I would talk though with ur dm and find out if the amount of free actions are gonna hampe you from full attacks and using skills lime bluff and so forth.
Like I said if ur at low levels right now OP I wouldn't wry to much about it, usually at higher levels the rule gets thrown out in all but spirit meaning that u can do the free actions but don't abuse or otherwise it comes back out type of thing. But if ur worried, just talk with ur dm outside of game and see what's up and present ur case. If u are at higher levels, my advice is do ur reg thing but quickly and normally and see if u get called out on it. If so, then u definitely need to speak with the dm outside of game and see what can be done.
@Redneckdevil
Out of Combat Section:
"In general, speaking is a free action that you can perform even when it isn't your turn. Speaking more than a few sentences is generally beyond the limit of a free action."You are mixing swift and immediate actions.
That's outside of combat section which I said I agree with outside of combat. Inside of combat it states that free actions are part of ur turn meaning inside combat u can only speech during ur turn. Swift actions inside of combat can only be taking during ur turn. Inside combat immediate actiosn are the only actions u can do outside ur turn, hence why I said immediate.
@Redneckdevil
From where are you exactly getting that statement?
The bit you quoted starts with out of combat section..
What levels are yal playing at? I've notice a lot of dms will incorporate this when players are at low levels so that the game can run faster and sometimes smoother. Usually at higher levels the rule gets all but the spirit of the rule gets thrown out the window because characters are able to do a lot more than a low level character. They do it at lower levels because really there's not a lot that u are gonna benefit from free actions compared to higher level characters so they do the 1 free action basically as a way to say "talk or play". They might have been dealt with players who gave away info that the player knows to the character (meta gaming) or they've had players who talked at inappropriate times.
But again depends on what level ya are. If your low level, don't wry about it too much. If your concerned about how the rule will change at higher levels since you will be gaining more actionsand the free actions help to make those possible, then talk with the dm outside of game and bring up examples. If its at a higher level, then talk with the dm outside of game and ask if the restriction is mainly for talking and such and if the dm is not counting the free actions in ur full round attacks.
And maybe, your dm has encountered some major cheese in the past that has scarred him/her and then outside of game explain ur usual rotations and the free actions involved and see if those free actions are what they are counting.
Also playing devils advocate, usually 3 words is plenty enough.
Heal me! Help me! Kill it! Watch out! There's a trap! There's a monster! Over there! Get it off! Attack this one! Stay away! I'm dying! get on otherside! Burn it! Freeze it! Magic missile it! Etc etc etc.
I see it at any level that we have played at really. I am playing a 10th level fighter and the gm is limiting us even then.
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In the Combat section, of the PRD, here, it notes that not only can you speak outside your turn, but it also mentions speaking a few sentences.
So, in combat, you can speak, any time.
A few sentences, is not three words.
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As a houserule, some of the GMs in my group only allow 6 seconds of speech during the round per party member. This can be swayed depending on how dramatic the moment is.
Speaking in combat always reminded me of comic books wherein the hero or villain would be in mid-leap or mid-swing and there would be a paragraph-long word balloon next to their heads. Haha.
Yeah, I don't see anything wrong with restricting PCs from shouting lengthy instructions across the room at one another. A round is six seconds and you can't shout over one another, after all. My biggest concern is metagaming.
A three-word or even a six-word rule is fine. It would probably even be fun. Compel a little creativity and all that.
As a houserule, some of the GMs in my group only allow 6 seconds of speech during the round per party member. This can be swayed depending on how dramatic the moment is.
It's mostly what my group does. We don't get on each others' cases about it, but we all try to keep what we're saying short and sweet. If you can say it in 6 seconds, then you can say it in 6 seconds, period.
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As a houserule, some of the GMs in my group only allow 6 seconds of speech during the round per party member. This can be swayed depending on how dramatic the moment is.It's mostly what my group does. We don't get on each others' cases about it, but we all try to keep what we're saying short and sweet. If you can say it in 6 seconds, then you can say it in 6 seconds, period.
This is what we do too. I only cut someone off if they are getting a little long-winded.
My friends and I are not combat trained. It will take us a few sentences to coordinate things like tactics and knowledge of enemy that our characters who are trained and have worked together in combat before should be able to accomplish with a few hand signals, hoots, or whistles or whatever. So the information we convey to one another in 30 seconds would and should be easily conveyed by our characters in 1-2 seconds.