D&D 5E Pick up a fallen sword

[maritimo80]

Pick up a fallen sword in front of the floor requires a free action or an action?


Need to use half of its movement (as in the prone character to stand up)?

 

[Tormyr]

Doing 1 interaction with the environment is free. Just pick up the sword and use it. If there is already something in your hand, you probably need to drop it first, as there would not necessarily be enough time to sheath the first sword to pick the sword up off the ground.

 

[Dausuul]

You get one free "interact with an object" during your turn. This is not considered an action and doesn't cost you anything. The examples given are opening a door or drawing a weapon. However, the DM may rule that some interactions are unusually time-consuming and require you to use your action. Examples of time-consuming interactions are forcing a stuck door open, or turning a crank to lower a drawbridge.

It's up to the DM whether any given action counts as "unusually time-consuming." However, based on the examples, I would say that picking up a fallen sword should not cost an action; you can do it for free on your turn as your "interact with an object."

See page 70 of the basic rules.

 

[maritimo80]

You get one free "interact with an object" during your turn. This is not considered an action and doesn't cost you anything. The examples given are opening a door or drawing a weapon. However, the DM may rule that some interactions are unusually time-consuming and require you to use your action. Examples given are forcing a stuck door open, or turning a crank to lower a drawbridge.

It's up to the DM whether any given action counts as "unusually time-consuming." However, based on the examples, I would say that picking up a fallen sword should not cost an action; you can do it for free on your turn as your "interact with an object."

See page 70 of the basic rules.

Do not think like this sword on the ground, would not cost a part of the move, how to stand up?

 

[Sir Brennen]

Just making a total gut call without looking at any rules, I'd say picking up a weapon or object from the ground uses your reaction for the round, whether it's on your turn or not. A DC 10 Dex check might be required if you're trying to grab it will moving past its current position. A Dex contest would be called for if another creature also wants to pick it up or get it away from you (kicking the weapon away, for example.)

Edit: yeah, I think I agree with others that this would fall under "interact with object in environment". However, I'd still probably allow a character to use their reaction when it's not their turn to do it, and the Dex checks I'd keep as I described.

 

[Sir Brennen]

Do not think like this sword on the ground, would not cost a part of the move, how to stand up?

A quick crouch or bending over is much quicker than actually getting your feet under you to stand up.

 

[Prism]

Do not think like this sword on the ground, would not cost a part of the move, how to stand up?

Its listed as one of the free interactions on page 190. The only one in that list I might have an issue with is removing something from your backpack. Pouches should be for quick access and backpacks for storage

 

[AmerginLiath]

I'd likely rule that it costs some movement, but not a lot (since there would be that element of decelerating/crouching/accelerating during the move). Probably rule that it's an object interaction and a cost of 5 feet of movement if no one else is going for the same sword and there's no weird terrain involved.

If it's a fallen weapon buried under debris (as obviously the temple crashes down around it, just because!), or an enemy is also going for it, then it gets more complicated – but also a whole cooler!

 

[AmerginLiath]

Its listed as one of the free interactions on page 190. The only one in that list I might have an issue with is removing something from your backpack. Pouches should be for quick access and backpacks for storage

I think of that one in terms of how a backpacking pack is laid out. Getting something from the main compartment(s) wouldn't be an interaction, but you could interact with the outside pouches meant specifically for holding things that you get in and out during the day (think of the traditional canteen pouch on the side of a hiking backpack, or the lantern hooks on older packs).

 

[Dausuul]

Do not think like this sword on the ground, would not cost a part of the move, how to stand up?

Again, it's really up to the DM. This is going outside of what's explicitly laid out in the rules, so it's a judgement call.

The standing up rules assume that you're starting out flat on the floor. Bending down for a second to scoop up a sword is a lot less of a time investment than getting to your feet from a lying position. On the other hand, it also makes sense that it should take longer to pick up a sword off the ground than it does to draw a sword from its sheath. Requiring the PC to expend part of his or her movement is a reasonable compromise. Maybe just 5 feet instead of half your move?