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Message: <blockquote data-quote="2o-Eyed Foe" data-source="post: 1493332" data-attributes="member: 16753">As I was at work today I was thinking more about this discussion and I realized what it actually was that has been "bugging" me about the 5' step. I use the word bugging loosely because, as I have stated before, I do not have a problem with the idea of the 5' step nor do I have any desire to remove it from my campaign.According to the PHB pg. 144 you can take a 5' step, take a move equivalent action (action as long as it is not actually moving again) and then make a standard action in your turn. Based on the formula of allowable actions in a given turn (barring the use of haste and so forth):1 round of action = 1 free action, 1 standard action and 1 move equivalent action - or some combination thereof.Even though the 5’ step is listed under the No Action list, it is basically functioning in the same manner as a free action (at least according to the above formula when compared to the text on pg 144). Your move equivalent action is the drawing of your weapon, your standard action is your attack and your free action becomes your 5’ step. In fact the other No Action listed with the 5’ step is delay. I don’t care how quickly you can move, you can certainly think to wait for something much more quickly than you can actually move 5’ while concentrating on not leaving yourself open.If you look at the list of free action examples (PHB pg 141) all of them either require a feat (cast a quickened spell) or are something you could easily do in less than a second. How long does it take to drop an item or fall down (in the case of drop to the floor)?Once again I go back to PHB 144, where it states that you can take a 5’ step, DRAW A WEAPON, AND attack on your turn. Now, I will agree that a person can move 5’ very quickly. But keep in mind that you are not just moving, but concentrating on not being attacked and moving in such a fashion so as not to leave yourself open to attack. This is going to take a little longer than simply stepping 5’ when not in combat.I agree that in my previous post I overstated my case by saying that the 5’ step could be unbalancing, this perhaps was a tad overdramatic. However, I still contend that the 5’ step is very powerful since you can also take a standard action AND a move equivalent action in the same round that you take the 5’ step. Perhaps if the 5’ step was classified as a move equivalent action the result would make more sense.1 round = 1 move equivalent action (or a 5’ step to avoid the AoP), 1 standard action, and a free action (if desired)2o-Eyed Foe</blockquote>

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