The Universal Monster Rule for Trip in the Bestiary states the following:
Format: trip (bite); Location: individual attacks.
Since a creature can generally only perform free actions on their own turn, this means that if say a Wolf used its Bite on an AoO outside of its' own turn, it would not be able to Trip with the Bite. Is that correct?
As an ancillary question - is the Trip UMR ability restricted like a normal Trip Combat Maneuver, in that it only works on creatures no more than one size category larger than the creature initiating the trip? Or can monsters with Trip use this ability as a free action against creatures of all sizes?
Why can you only perform free actions on your own turn? Can I not talk with others when it's not my turn?
Why can you only perform free actions on your own turn? Can I not talk with others when it's not my turn?
Why would you be able to perform free actions outside your own turn? The only action type explicitly allowed to take place outside your turn is the immediate action. As Archaeik mentioned above, Speak is a special type of action explicitly allowed to occur even when it's not your turn, and somewhat reinforces the idea that normally free actions are restricted to your turn.
EDIT: Okay, I just wanted to confirm I wasn't crazy for reading it strictly RAW as creatures using the Bestiary UMR Trip are unable to use the ability when it's outside their turn. I GM for PFS fairly regularly, and try to stick as close to strict RAW as possible. That said, I'd love to hear some RAI arguments, as I could see this going either way, and I'm not sure how I'd rule it in home games. As you mentioned Nefreet, there are some instances where 'free action' seems to clearly indicated 'not an action' instead.
Also, if this has come up before, any chance you have links to the previous forum threads discussing this? Doing a search of paizo.com for Bestiary Trip AoO and similar phrases didn't come up with anything.
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You could argue that the Snap Shot FAQ sets the precedent that free actions may be performed outside of your turn so long as they are "part of" some other action, like a monster making an AoO with trip or grab.
You could argue that the Snap Shot FAQ sets the precedent that free actions may be performed outside of your turn so long as they are "part of" some other action, like a monster making an AoO with trip or grab.
Ah ha! I think that does indeed work. In fact, re-reading the Action types part of the Combat section again...
"You can perform one or more free actions while taking another action normally."
That line in the Free Action definition seems to indicate that you should be able to take free actions while taking an Immediate Action. There's nothing explicitly denying that type of interaction. And while there is the whole murky "What kind of an action is an Attack of Opportunity, exactly?" question, that Snap Shot FAQ does seem to indicate that Free Actions can be taken as part of an Attack of Opportunity Action (whatever action type that may be in the end).
It seems clear-cut that, at the very least, you can take free actions as part of an immediate action by RAW. From the FAQ, it seems plausible that you can take them as part of an AoO, although that is a bit less definitive (it could be argued that that FAQ applies only to reloading a ranged weapon as a free action). Thanks!
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There are lots of instances where "free action" really means "not an action". I'd personally group things like grab and trip in that category, but I recognize the argument.
+1
Devs have said in the past that they should have made pulling and preparing an arrow for shooting as a "no action" instead of free action.
RAW you can't trip on an AoO, but RAI is probably you can.
Edit: I forgot about the "take free while doing other actions" line.
All the same, I advise against attempting to piggybacking a regular free action "while taking" the free action used to speak. Your GM may very well resort to violence.