D&D 4E [4e] Readied Slow vs. Double Move

[Mistwell]

This topic was raised in a different thread, but it's about a different aspect so I thought it was worth making it into it's own topic.

A PC readies an attack that causes a target to become slowed, and the condition for the readied action is that the attack goes off if the target tries to move more than 2 squares.

A creature tries to double move. My readied action goes off after that creature moves 2 squares, and hits. Creature stops moving.

Now what? Can the creature take a second move action, or was that second move action eaten by the attempt to double move, which in 4e is "add the speeds of the two move actions together and then move"?

From the look of the text concerning double move, it sure seems like you would have to declare the double move in advance, and that it involves both actions being combined into one action rather that two separate actions (thus, if you have to stop, then your actions are done). But, I seek the wisdom of the masses to see if they confer.

Here is the rules text, with my highlights to emphasis the parts I found relevant:

Slowed (PHB pg. 277):

Your speed becomes 2. This speed applies to all your movement modes, but it does not apply to teleportation or to a pull, a push, or a slide. You can’t increase your speed above 2, and your speed doesn’t increase if it was lower than 2. If you’re slowed while moving, stop moving if you have already moved 2 or more squares.

Double Move (PHB pg. 284):
Same Move Action: To double move, you have to take the same move action twice in a row on the same turn.
One Speed: When you double move, add the speeds of the two move actions together and then move.
Occupied Squares: When you double move, your first move action can end in an ally’s space, because you’re not stopping. Your second move action can’t end in an ally’s space, as normal.
Difficult Terrain: When you double move, you can sometimes move over more squares of difficult terrain than normal, because you add the speeds of the two move actions together and then move. For example, if your speed is 5, you can enter only 2 squares of difficult terrain when you walk. If you double move by walking twice in a row, you can enter 5 squares of difficult terrain, not 4.

BTW, I asked Customer Service / The Sage, and their answer was:

The rules do not give a specific rule that situation, the Dungeon Master will have to make the call on what happens there. I’ve passed along this conversation to the game’s developers. Hopefully, we’ll see an update or FAQ entry covering it soon, but until then it’s up to the campaign’s Dungeon Master to decide. The DM is always the final arbiter on how they want their campaign to run. Have fun!

 

[Zelc]

First of all, readied actions are immediate reactions and thus the enemy should get the full amount of its first move before your attack goes off as reactions don't interrupt an action. Afterwards, I'd rule that if it wishes to double move further, he can move 2 squares. I'd check the move speed separately for the first and second move, rather than treating it as the limit and prevent its second move.

 

[Mistwell]

Hyp also pointed out that I left out this part of Double Move (it was not in the shaded section of the rules so I missed it):

On your turn, you can move twice if you take a move action instead of a standard action. If you take the same move action twice in a row—two walks, two runs, two shifts, two crawls—you’re taking a double move.

 

[FireLance]

Based on this FAQ answer, I'd say that a slowed creature who takes a double move moves four squares. So, if a creature who took a double move and then was hit by a slow effect can still move two squares.

 

[Hypersmurf]

First of all, readied actions are immediate reactions and thus the enemy should get the full amount of its first move before your attack goes off as reactions don't interrupt an action.

Read Immediate Reactions again, specifically for their relationship to movement:
Reaction: An immediate reaction lets you act in response to a trigger. The triggering action, event, or condition occurs and is completely resolved before you take your reaction, except that you can interrupt a creature’s movement. If a creature triggers your immediate reaction while moving (by coming into range, for example), you take your action before the creature finishes moving but after it has moved at least 1 square.

-Hyp.

 

[Zelc]

Oops. So 4 squares total then.

 

[Mistwell]

Based on this FAQ answer, I'd say that a slowed creature who takes a double move moves four squares. So, if a creature who took a double move and then was hit by a slow effect can still move two squares.

I do not see what that FAQ answer has to do with this topic. The target is not running, and a double move does not have similar language to the running language. Why do you feel it is applicable?

 

[Mistwell]

Oops. So 4 squares total then.

Why do you feel the target gets a second move action and that second move action is not taken up by the attempt to double move?

 

[FireLance]

I do not see what that FAQ answer has to do with this topic. The target is not running, and a double move does not have similar language to the running language. Why do you feel it is applicable?

The FAQ states that the Run action does not change your speed. Similarly, taking a double move should not change your speed, either. When you double move, you add the speeds of your two move actions together, then move. Because you are slowed, your speed is two, so when you double move, your speed is four.

I would interpret the rule that "If you’re slowed while moving, stop moving if you have already moved 2 or more squares" as applying to each move action of a double move separately. In other words, if you are hit by a slow effect after moving two squares, you can't move any further with your first move action, and you have a speed of 2 for your next move action. For that matter, if you had moved four squares before you were hit by the slow effect (and your speed is 4 or more), I would allow you to move another 2 squares with a double move.

 

[Mistwell]

The FAQ states that the Run action does not change your speed. Similarly, taking a double move should not change your speed, either. When you double move, you add the speeds of your two move actions together, then move. Because you are slowed, your speed is two, so when you double move, your speed is four.

Slow does two things though: 1) reduce speed to 2, 2) ends movement if you have already moved 2. So I do not see what it matters if your speed is 4 while double moving, since you still stop if you have already moved 2. You could not, for example, get the other stated benefits of double moving, like moving further in difficult terrain or occupying an already occupied space. So why would you get any other benefits of a double move?

I would interpret the rule that "If you’re slowed while moving, stop moving if you have already moved 2 or more squares" as applying to each move action of a double move separately. In other words, if you are hit by a slow effect after moving two squares, you can't move any further with your first move action, and you have a speed of 2 for your next move action. For that matter, if you had moved four squares before you were hit by the slow effect (and your speed is 4 or more), I would allow you to move another 2 squares with a double move.

So you would let them stop while in an occupied square, something you can only do if you combined your speed with a double move rather than took two separate moves?