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Can a character perform other actions, such as move, move action, swift, or immediate action after the character has declared a Readied Action but before that Readied Action occurs (or the start of the character's next turn)?
For example, a PC is has declared a Readied Action to attack an enemy when in range as a Standard Action. Can that PC also move to complete his turn (i.e. Readied Action and move 30 feet or Readied Action and Retrieve an Item Move Action? Can that PC perform an Immediate Action before his Readied Action is triggered?
Or is the PC locked into the Readied Action, and cannot perform any other actions unless it wants to cancelled his Readied Action?
while you can have the readied action include a 5 ft step (if you didn't move in your turn) and i think also a swift action. it must be mentioned while reading the action. you can take a move action before reading an action but once you do ready your going off your turn until the ready action is triggered or your next turn start.
Move actions would need to be performed before the readied action is declared. If it's still the character's turn I'd let them rearrange their turn (eg. "I ready an action to attack the spellcaster when he starts casting - wait no I move here first to be closer THEN ready that action").
Free actions should be minimal enough that you can add them to a readied action without even stating it.
Swift actions can be performed any time a free action can be, so as far as I know they can be a part of a readied action, so they should follow the same rules (eg. You can include them before you declare the readied action, or after the readied action triggers).
Immediate actions can trigger any time, including after you declare a readied action but before it triggers.
AoOs can also happen any time off turn, and basically follow the same rules as Immediate actions. Neither AoOs nor Immediate actions inherently prevent your readied action from remaining readied, although there are cases where they might (eg. Sorcerer readies an action to cast a spell, then use an immediate action to cast their last remaining daily spell).
The 5-foot step should be declared as part (or a potential part) of a readied action, and - as zza ni said - can only happen if you didn't otherwise move that round.
I took a look through the Readied Action rules and I couldn't find anything definitive that says that you can or cannot perform other actions after you've readied an action. But, personally, I believe that when you "Ready an Action", you're focusing about 97.3% of your attention on waiting for a condition to occur, and once it does, you act a split second before the other person who triggered the condition. It doesn't say that in the rules obviously, that's just how I envision it.
However, it does explicitly say that you can take a 5ft step as part of your Readied Action, provided that you haven't moved yet. But that's the only action that the rules call out that you can take once you've Readied an Action.
So honestly, I'd argue that the only actions that you can do once you've Readied an Action is an Immediate Action or an Attack of Opportunity, or a Free Action that is allowed when it's not your turn (such as speaking). Because once you've Readied an Action, your turn is essentially over, and is contingent upon a condition to trigger that action. Immediate Actions and Attacks of Opportunity can happen at any time even when it's not your turn and take zero time to accomplish within a round, so I don't see how a Readied Action would stop either of those. That's not RAW either, just my opinion.
Free actions should be minimal enough that you can add them to a readied action without even stating it.
Free actions (and swift actions) can only be taken on your turn (with some specific exceptions for specific free actions). When your readied action is going off it is in response to something someone else did during their turn - hence you cannot take any free or swift actions that were not specifically readied (which is part of why readied actions can be used to take a swift or free action as the readied action).
Free actions (and swift actions) can only be taken on your turn (with some specific exceptions for specific free actions). When your readied action is going off it is in response to something someone else did during their turn - hence you cannot take any free or swift actions that were not specifically readied (which is part of why readied actions can be used to take a swift or free action as the readied action).Free actions should be minimal enough that you can add them to a readied action without even stating it.
If I ready an action to hit someone with my greatsword and I have CORNUGON SMASH you're saying that I can't take the free action to intimidate the opponent. I disagree ...
Free actions consume a very small amount of time and effort. You can perform one or more free actions while taking another action normally. However, there are reasonable limits on what you can really do for free, as decided by the GM.
Since a free action can be performed any time you take other actions I don't see how readying an action would change that.
I thought swift actions could be taken any time a free action could be, but I can't find that text now, so I may be mistaken on that one.
Free actions (and swift actions) can only be taken on your turn (with some specific exceptions for specific free actions). When your readied action is going off it is in response to something someone else did during their turn - hence you cannot take any free or swift actions that were not specifically readied (which is part of why readied actions can be used to take a swift or free action as the readied action).Free actions should be minimal enough that you can add them to a readied action without even stating it.
If I ready an action to hit someone with my greatsword and I have CORNUGON SMASH you're saying that I can't take the free action to intimidate the opponent. I disagree ...
Free actions consume a very small amount of time and effort. You can perform one or more free actions while taking another action normally. However, there are reasonable limits on what you can really do for free, as decided by the GM.Since a free action can be performed any time you take other actions I don't see how readying an action would change that.
I thought swift actions could be taken any time a free action could be, but I can't find that text now, so I may be mistaken on that one.
For the specific example you've given, I agree with you that you get your intimidate check as a free action on a readied attack. But not for the same reasons. I'll break down my reasoning here:
1) This FAQ sets a precedent that free actions that are associated with (or a rider effect to) something else can be taken off turn. Cornugon smash falls into this category. And so while not explicitly listed in this FAQ, certainly falls within the same parameters.
2)
You can perform one or more free actions while taking another action normally.
Normally you can only take actions on your turn. Unless you want to suggest that by talking (a free action I can take outside of my turn) I can also take other free actions because I'm taking an action? I think the rule is poorly worded, but that is the meaning I take from that context.
3) If any free action can be taken at anytime you are taking any kind of action at all, why bother specifying that some free actions can be taken out of turn while most cannot. There are even several FAQs that change something from a free action to a non-action because the ability would almost never trigger on the characters turn (summoner to eidolon life link for example).
4) Swift actions can be taken any time a free action can be taken (per the rules on swift actions). If any free action can be taken when you are doing an AoO (or some other out of turn action) then you could for example take a swift action as part of an AoO (casting a spell, self lay on hands, etc). In this case why bother distinguishing between swift and immediate actions. All I have to do is talk outside of my turn, and take my swift action while talking. Clearly swift actions are intended only to be usable on your turn.
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I took a look through the Readied Action rules and I couldn't find anything definitive that says that you can or cannot perform other actions after you've readied an action.Immediate actions have their own language which defines when they can be used and normally are used in response to something else, and again, are not prohibited in any way by the language of the ready action.Really? People aren't looking all that close at the rules, then.
Readying an Action: You can ready a standard action, a move action, a swift action, or a free action. To do so, specify the action you will take and the conditions under which you will take it. Then, anytime before your next action, you may take the readied action in response to that condition.Not "before your next turn", but "before your next action".
Besides the 'no action', pretty much everything else is an action. Free Action, Swift Action, Immediate Action, etc.To put it another way, if you Ready and take a Move Action, you didn't trigger your readied before you took your next action(which was the move action), so its lost. If you speak as a free action after readying, you technically have taken an action and lose your Ready, though most GMs would probably let that slide.
Actually, Firebug just answered the question. The Readied Action ends when you use another action or when you complete the Readied Action itself. So if you used an Immediate Action, your Readied Action would end. An argument could be made to allow Free actions to speak, but strictly RAW, that would also end the Readied Action.
So... Attacks of Opportunity aren't actually an Action, they're essentially "free attacks" that consume no action of any kind, so that wouldn't end the Readied Action would it?
Actually, Firebug just answered the question. The Readied Action ends when you use another action or when you complete the Readied Action itself. So if you used an Immediate Action, your Readied Action would end. An argument could be made to allow Free actions to speak, but strictly RAW, that would also end the Readied Action.So... Attacks of Opportunity aren't actually an Action, they're essentially "free attacks" that consume no action of any kind, so that wouldn't end the Readied Action would it?
Correct. AoO doesn't cancel a readied. The phrasing of "until your next action" I take to actually mean "your next turn", so I would allow immediate or frees that can be taken off turn, but I can't make a RAW argument for that allowance.
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Let's mix it up a little bit. Style Feat Overwatch Vortex allows you to Ready four different attack actions with four separate triggers. When one of those triggers, you then perform the attack action you readied. With this (frankly zombie-like) reading of the RAW, performing one of your triggered actions immediately dismisses the other 3? In a style feat chain with 5 feat prerequisites and a BAB +11 prerequisite.
Clearly this isn't the intended rules for readied actions.
That's a specific rule that breaks the general rule for Readied Actions.
Huh.
You can ready a standard action, a move action, a swift action, or a free action. To do so, specify the action you will take and the conditions under which you will take it. Then, anytime before your next action, you may take the readied action in response to that condition.
Was the bolded text exhaustive? Would taking even a free action now be "your next action" and thus prohibit taking the readied action?
I never noticed this before--in my head canon it said "anytime before your next turn".
I'm 100% sure the RAI is "before your next turn", and I've always played RAI over RAW.
But since this is the Rules forum it's fair enough to let people argue the RAW.
Correct. AoO doesn't cancel a readied. The phrasing of "until your next action" I take to actually mean "your next turn", so I would allow immediate or frees that can be taken off turn, but I can't make a RAW argument for that allowance.
Actually, Firebug just answered the question. The Readied Action ends when you use another action or when you complete the Readied Action itself. So if you used an Immediate Action, your Readied Action would end. An argument could be made to allow Free actions to speak, but strictly RAW, that would also end the Readied Action.So... Attacks of Opportunity aren't actually an Action, they're essentially "free attacks" that consume no action of any kind, so that wouldn't end the Readied Action would it?
*facepalm* I see my post was already covered better by bbangerter.