Hey all,
I'm helping my friend with his first Pathfinder experience. He's decided on a Skirmisher (Ranger Archetype) with a Wolf as his Animal Companion. He presented an interesting question:
Can I keep a sheathed weapon on my Wolf, as a back-up, and Draw it from him when he's next to me?
I wasn't sure how to answer him, and thought I'd present the question to you all here.
Drawing a Weapon is a Move Action that does NOT provoke and Attack of Opportunity (AoO). Common sense would dictate that the weapon is worn by the person drawing it. So:
i) How would one handle a player drawing an Ally's weapon?;
ii) How would one handle a player drawing an OPPONENT'S weapon?
Thanks,
:Byronus
Drawing an opponent's weapon is covered by the Steal combat maneuver.
You can attempt to take an item from a foe as a standard action. This maneuver can be used in melee to take any item that is neither held nor hidden in a bag or pack. You must have at least one hand free (holding nothing) to attempt this maneuver. You must select the item to be taken before the check is made. Items that are simply tucked into a belt or loosely attached (such as brooches or necklaces) are the easiest to take. Items fastened to a foe (such as cloaks, sheathed weapons, or pouches) are more difficult to take, and give the opponent a +5 bonus (or greater) to his CMD.
Drawing a weapon from an adjacent companion isn't covered, I don't think. I'd probably allow it as a standard action (or a move action with Quick Draw). Slightly less economical from an action economy perspective
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I would rule that as long as the ally was willing, and the item was within reach, it would simply be the pick up an object action (move equivalent) similar to picking up a weapon from the floor. It would provoke and things like quick draw wouldn't apply.
If the carrier of the weapon was an animal, rather than an intelligent creature, I would probably require the deliver trick (which specifies the move action to retrieve the the object from the animal).
Drawing a weapon from an adjacent companion isn't covered, I don't think. I'd probably allow it as a standard action (or a move action with Quick Draw). Slightly less economical from an action economy perspective
Thanks for the quick reply; I neglected to look into Combat Maneuvers.
I was going to suggest that, perhaps, Drawing a Weapon on an Ally would be the same as Retrieving an Item, a Move Action that provokes an AoO. The Ally would, of course, have to be aware of your intentions via a Free Action heads-up. Taking it would otherwise require a Steal Maneuver.
Fair?
EDIT: The Deliver trick: Brilliant! That would make more sense to me, though, if the Wolf would be bringing in a weapon in it's mouth. If it's worn on a specially designed scabbard, a Come command would be sufficient to bring him close enough for the Skirmisher to draw it.
Drawing a weapon from an adjacent companion isn't covered, I don't think. I'd probably allow it as a standard action (or a move action with Quick Draw). Slightly less economical from an action economy perspectiveThanks for the quick reply; I neglected to look into Combat Maneuvers.
I was going to suggest that, perhaps, Drawing a Weapon on an Ally would be the same as Retrieving an Item, a Move Action that provokes an AoO. The Ally would, of course, have to be aware of your intentions via a Free Action heads-up. Taking it would otherwise require a Steal Maneuver.
Fair?
Move action that provokes would probably be fair, yeah. That certainly seems reasonable to me. Like I said, it's in the grey area. So if you're the GM and you're comfortable with that, run with it. It shouldn't be as easy as drawing your own weapon (at least not initially - you could maybe make it a benefit of leveling up with the AC; s/he gets better at drawing the weapon the longer they work together).
But yeah, Steal is precisely what you're looking for regarding drawing an opponent's weapon. I'm actually working on a Skulking Slayer build that incorporates that to a minor degree, since they have some class benefits from stealing.
Could a character with Sleight of Hand use that skill instead of the Steal Maneuver?
Could a character with Sleight of Hand use that skill instead of the Steal Maneuver?
Technically no (at least, not that I'm aware of). Could be wrong, though. But if you're the GM, you can fiddle around with things however you want. I think there's some sense behind that. It might make for a good feat or alternate class ability. For instance, Rogues can take the Weapon Snatcher Advanced Rogue Talent which lets them disarm with a Sleight of Hand check instead of a CMB check.
EDIT: Well, I should be specific. I'm talking about being in combat under ordinary circumstances. You can use Sleight of Hand to take an opponent's weapon, under pretty severe restrictions.
You cannot use this skill to take an object from another creature during combat if the creature is aware of your presence.
And even then, I think a lot of people might be hesitant to apply this standard DC 20 use on an attempt to swipe a Greataxe or whatever.
RAW no:
You cannot use this skill to take an object from another creature during combat if the creature is aware of your presence.
The rules for Steal, Sleight of Hand, and Quick Draw, need not apply.
The conversation about Steal and Sleight of Hand was about drawing an opponent's weapon, not drawing your own weapon from a sheath on your AC.
Whoops. My mistake.
My quote still applies though.
Manipulate an Object is a good point, though. I hadn't thought of that. Move action that provokes makes sense, anyway.
As a GM, I could see working in a progressive ability with the AC by maybe spending tricks or something. Move Action (provoke) -> Move Action (no provoke) -> Free Action. Obviously house rules, but for a home game that could be a fun way to build on the player's character concept.
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I have found "manipulate an object" and Dirty Trick, the easiest way to handle many, many, crazy things players do in combat.
For example: We had a player wish to stand above an enemy, unbutton his pants, and urinate on his head. This was ruled to be a "manipulate an object" action(unbutton pants), and a Dirty Trick maneuver(Urinate).
I have found "manipulate an object" and Dirty Trick, the easiest way to handle many, many, crazy things players do in combat.
For example: We had a player wish to stand above an enemy, unbutton his pants, and urinate on his head. This was ruled to be a "manipulate an object" action(unbutton pants), and a Dirty Trick maneuver(Urinate).
There's a "manipulate an object" joke to be made in there...
If you spend more than a single move action your just playing with it