I was pondering the idea of a level 1 character (no specific class) using switch-hit tactics to
1) Use heavy cross bows at long range
2) thrown weapons at short range
3) switch to long spear to incur attack of opportunity at shorter range
4) step back and drop caltrops to keep enemy at bay, while maintain long spear threat.
Or am I mistaken that caltrops do not prevent five-ft stepping?
Quarter staffs and clubs are cheap, so one could get some bludgeoning weapon options pretty easily.
One thing to note is that these are all simple weapons. That's kind of neat. How successful could I be at creating a caster combatant?
I was pondering the idea of a level 1 character (no specific class) using switch-hit tactics to
1) Use heavy cross bows at long range
2) thrown weapons at short range
3) switch to long spear to incur attack of opportunity at shorter range
4) step back and drop caltrops to keep enemy at bay, while maintain long spear threat.Or am I mistaken that caltrops do not prevent five-ft stepping?
Quarter staffs and clubs are cheap, so one could get some bludgeoning weapon options pretty easily.
One thing to note is that these are all simple weapons. That's kind of neat. How successful could I be at creating a caster combatant?
Caltrops do not prevent five foot steps. But it's still a pretty cool strategy. At 1st level any class could do this. But eventually being a caster will mean your attacks will have a hard time hitting, unless you're a cleric maybe.
I feel like somewhere is an ability to sheath as a free action, but I'm not sure. That would be handy if your opponent moved in the opposite range category.
Any creature moving at half speed or slower can pick its way through a bed of caltrops with no trouble.It kind of depends on how you define "half speed or slower". If you gauge it by your total speed, then with a normal speed of 30, half speed or slower is 15' or less. So you can pass through a 5' square of caltrops, then move up to 10' more. But can you say you're going to move farther beyond that? AFAIK, you don't really declare how "fast" you're moving at the start of the move.
The other option is to say that moving at "half speed" through the caltrops means it takes 10' of movement to move through the 5' square. This is equivalent to difficult terrain. Since moving through the area would take 10' of motion, a 5' step is insufficient to cross it so, if you want to take a 5' step, you're moving at "full speed" for those 5 feet, thus you trigger the caltrops.
Given that we have two equally viable methods with divergent conclusions, I'd say this is a matter that needs to be cleared up via FAQ:
Is "half speed or slower" movement for the purpose of stealth, crossing caltrops, and the like determined on a "square-by-square" basis or a "move-by-move" basis?
square by square
Difficult terrain, such as heavy undergrowth, broken ground, or steep stairs, hampers movement. Each square of difficult terrain counts as 2 squares of movement. Each diagonal move into a difficult terrain square counts as 3 squares. You can't run or charge across difficult terrain.
If you occupy squares with different kinds of terrain, you can move only as fast as the most difficult terrain you occupy will allow.
Moving slowly for stealth or to carefully cross caltrops isn't moving through difficult terrain. You can still choose to move full-speed through a field of caltrops at the risk of stepping on one. You have no such option in crossing difficult terrain. So, while similar, it's not solid evidence for validating one option over the other.
Any potential ruling that requires you to know what the conditions after your turn will be before you decide your action for that turn is 99.9% likely to be the incorrect ruling.
The question is moot for stealth because its.done as part of the move, so you're locked in either way. But there is definitely some clear parallels between a caltrop square and difficult terrain. But they're not the same thing. Since difficult terrain calls this out and caltrops does not, what else could you go by, and what would be the point in using different methods? And like I said at the beginning, if you have to decide to move half speed after crossing the caltrops before you go anywhere, suspension of disbelief is killed and something is wrong. Square by square prevents this.
Can a level 2 monk with flurry of blows throw staffs or clubs at people as part of flurry of blows?
Can a level 2 monk with flurry of blows and quick draw throw staffs or clubs at people as part of flurry of blows?