Immediate Actions

[Nexo]

Are immediate actions considered as actions prepared?

Can I use an immediate action in reaction to an event?

For example, can I cast Emergency Force Sphere to block an enemy attack?

http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/e/emergency-force-sphere/

I hope in a response from a developer.

[Matthew Downie]

There are plenty of cases where immediate actions make no sense unless they can be used to interrupt stuff happening. E.g., Duellist: "At any time before her next turn, she can attempt to parry an attack against her or an adjacent ally as an immediate action."

Although, giving how unbeatable Emergency Force Sphere can be, a GM could be forgiven for saying you have to declare it very early in the process, such as before the attack roll is announced.

[Moonheart]

Well, I'm not a developer but the rules are clear on the topic, IMHO.

A prepared action is basicaly a standard action that your chose to hold until a given condition is met, instead of completing it during your round.
It's basicaly to say "I'm waiting for my friend to move before I throw the bomb on the enemy": your turn isn't really "over" until you complete it by performing the prepared standard action.

A immediate action is basicaly a swift action that you can use outside of your round. It cost your the swift action of your next round, but as the action is quick enough to perform, it does not count has having delayed the end of your previous round.

So...

"Are immediate actions considered as actions prepared?"
No, they are different things, with different rules.
See the two different set of rules here:
- Immediate Actioons
- Readying an Action

"Can I use an immediate action in reaction to an event?"
As long you met the proper conditions for that, yes. One of those condition is that you didn't already use an immediate action since your last round.

"For example, can I cast Emergency Force Sphere to block an enemy attack?"
Yes, you can. But the drawback is that it will also prevent you to conterattack.
Still a very good spell however. It saves lives.
(Note that Matthew is however perfectly right that a DM will probably deny you to use it if the ennemy attack roll was already made. You must to declare it before the result is shown, or else, it's like cheating... it's like with the Bodyguard feat)

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PS: I -never- see a developper answering to a question from a single individual, and it sounds natural: they would just not have enough time in their all lives for that.
That's even more true if the one asking the question is not even referenced as a subscriber, I guess.

[DarkPhoenixx]

Thats what immediate actions are for. Usually it says something like "as an immediate action, when you are about to be hit by an attack" or "when ally withing 30ft fails a saving throw". Emergency Force sphere does not have such restriction.

[Nexo]

What I wonder is if immediate actions can not be used in response to something, what are they for?

Feather Fall home is an example.

[Mathmuse]

Nexo wrote:

What I wonder is if immediate actions can not be used in response to something, what are they for?

Feather Fall home is an example.

Immediate actions are used in response to something.

However, immediate actions are not allowed to back up time to do something before the thing they respond to.

Sometimes, a GM will rush ahead to the next event before the player can speak up, so backing up time is the fair way to allow a proper response. But if the GM just gave away tactical information about the opponent's abilities or made a random die roll, then backing up time breaks the fairness of the game. Hence, warning the GM before the triggering action, "I might cast Emergency Force Sphere, so pause at the beginning of the attack before rolling to hit, please," is the surest way to handle it.

[DarkPhoenixx]

Mathmuse wrote:

Immediate actions are used in response to something.

However, immediate actions are not allowed to back up time to do something before the thing they respond to.

Sometimes, a GM will rush ahead to the next event before the player can speak up, so backing up time is the fair way to allow a proper response. But if the GM just gave away tactical information about the opponent's abilities or made a random die roll, then backing up time breaks the fairness of the game. Hence, warning the GM before the triggering action, "I might cast Emergency Force Sphere, so pause at the beginning of the attack before rolling to hit, please," is the surest way to handle it.

Especially with things like Divine Intervention. You would want to use it to negate a crit, but GM naturally gonna roll his crit confirm almost instantly.

[Nexo]

Mathmuse wrote:

Nexo wrote:

What I wonder is if immediate actions can not be used in response to something, what are they for?

Feather Fall home is an example.

Immediate actions are used in response to something.

However, immediate actions are not allowed to back up time to do something before the thing they respond to.

Sometimes, a GM will rush ahead to the next event before the player can speak up, so backing up time is the fair way to allow a proper response. But if the GM just gave away tactical information about the opponent's abilities or made a random die roll, then backing up time breaks the fairness of the game. Hence, warning the GM before the triggering action, "I might cast Emergency Force Sphere, so pause at the beginning of the attack before rolling to hit, please," is the surest way to handle it.

RAW no.

I do not find anywhere written that immediate actions act in response to something, so I ask.

[DarkPhoenixx]

i mean it says

Quote:

However, unlike a swift action, an immediate action can be performed at any time—even if it’s not your turn

and "responding" to something is as good time as any