Rules for Crouching?

[The Diehard Bard]

So we have prone, swift to fall, move (or swift) to get back up, but what about crouching? The first book of the AP mentions enhancing cover by "ducking down" or going prone. I understand that those sorts of things are GM calls, but I'd like to know if there are any concrete rules (or fun ideas) for how this actually works.

Me personally, I'd let it be a free (or swift) action that can improve cover, but give a -2 against melee attacks. What do you think?

[EC Gamer Guy]

I'd consider it a non-entity. You are either prone or standing. Crouching is a form of standing that take advantage of lower cover but isn't so low as to make it impossible to go up to a melee stance.

Watch some martial arts videos and videos of tactical teams clearing rooms. Look at how erect they stand vs someone walking normally.

[Keshon]

If dropping prone/standing from prone is only a swift action, simply squatting/standing from a squat should be a free action imo. Try it-- it's much faster.

Since it's not covered in the rules it's GM discretion, but if I were GMing that's how I'd rule it, hands down.

[EC Gamer Guy]

Without a feat or racial ability it is a move action to standard up (or part of a move, I forget.)

Keshon wrote:

If dropping prone/standing from prone is only a swift action, simply squatting/standing from a squat should be a free action imo. Try it-- it's much faster.

Since it's not covered in the rules it's GM discretion, but if I were GMing that's how I'd rule it, hands down.

[Redskies]

In Combat section of the Core Rulebook, there is a situation called "Kneeling or sitting". It modifies defender's AC as -2 for melee, +2 for ranged. I use this rule for crouching in my games. I guess it is free action to kneel, but move action to stand up which provokes attack of opportunity (as being prone).

Edit: It is in Pathfinder Core Rulebook, I forgot to specify. I could not find kneeling (or similar something) in Starfinder, either.

[Peat]

Second the "either you're prone or you're standing" interpretation. When something is tall enough to be considered cover when you're Standing (and what type of cover) is just GM fiat unless it's a floor to ceiling wall, or defined by rules like a creature providing Soft Cover or the created cover from Barricade.

[Ravingdork]

I've always treated kneeling as prone.

[Kagerage]

hmmm prone and kneeling or so different in how to get up though

[baggageboy]

I feel like kneeling should be a thing. It would provide a partial version of the bonuses/penalties that prone does. It should be a free action to kneel and a swift action to stand from kneeling. Transitioning from prone to kneeling should be a swift.

[Xenocrat]

Prone/kneeling should also give a +2/1 bonus to hit. No one does difficult marksmanship standing up.

[baggageboy]

Agreed, but I don't think that most people would want a to hit bonus added. And in the same vane prone should add probably double a to hit bonus kneeling does. It's definitely a good house rule option for people who would like something a bit closer to real life.

[Malk_Content]

Well I'm assuming my character is taking non action appropriate position when they fire so I don't believe it needs a homebrew rule to cover it.

[baggageboy]

But kneeling and prone are not non actions. In real life there are many time you don't have to time to get into a better position before shooting and you you take the shot offhand. However any real marksman will take a better position if there is time because it makes a big difference. In order of preference it goes something like this prone>sitting>kneeling>offhand. Also to be fair you would take support from my thing you can, be that leaning against a wall, or vehicle, or if possible a bipod.

Now trying to implement a system that had varying levels of benefit for every possible situation is not practical. But it would be pretty simple to have the 3 positions as opposed to two, Offhand, kneeling/sitting, and prone, and a small to hit bonus would be an incentive to behave more like shooters would in real life. It's not for everyone, but I think it would be an excellent house rule.

[Malk_Content]

I meant non action in game mechanics terms. I'm assuming characters are constantly adjusting grip, stance, controlling their breathing etc. A poor roll represents one or more of these factors not lining up and rolling well means you've executed them right.

The problem with trying to home brew it is the action economy. Someone above said it should be free, after all its quicker than dropping prone and thats already as fast as it gets (swift) economy wise. So what action should it be, because if its free then you might as well just build that To Hit bonus into every shot because there is no reason not to do it. Which is functionally the same as saying "characters are doing or not doing it based on the circumstance and their attack roll"