Actions upon waking

[IndySteve]

I can't locate an official rule regarding the subject, so what do you other DMs allow players/NPCs/creatures to do after awakening from sleep (magical or otherwise)???

In my campaign, we've agreed to treat awakening creatures as 'staggered' (i.e. partial action only in their first turn after awakening).

Thanks!

-Steve

 

[Archer]

Awakened character already need a full round to stand from prone and draw a weapon. A partial action means choosing between standing up and drawing a weapon on the first round. No actions were taken in the round when you were woken or do you mean the awakened person gets a partial action immediately after the action that woke them before the next person acts?

 

[IndySteve]

I meant the very next time the awakened creature gets to act after it is awakened. Not all creatures need to draw a weapon to attack. Some creatures have spells or special abilities, some have natural weapons, and it's possible to have a weapon locked in a gauntlet. In these cases (under our house rule), the creature needs to decide between standing up, attacking, or something else.

The reason I bring this up is because during a combat in our campaign, one of the player sorcerers successfully cast sleep on an enemy sorcerer. During the next round, a goblin used the Aid Another action to awaken the enemy sorcerer, who then proceded to stand up, take a five foot step, and blast the player sorcerer with a barrage of magic missiles. Cries of outrage and despair from the players ensued! "No way, he just woke up, doesn't he need a little time to get his bearings?" After some debate and making sure the players understood they would be similarly affected, we came up with the aforementioned house rule.

 

[strongbow]

Archer, a creature with a BAB of +1 or higher can draw his/her weapon while taking a move action. Since standing up from being prone (while sleeping) is a move-equivalent action, the awakened sleeper could draw a weapon in the same round.

I like the partial action idea, but if you want something with a bit more randomness, invent an awareness/reaction roll based on either dex (for speed) or wisdom (for perception). There are a few distinct stages of sleep, some deeper than others, and thus at times it may be harder to 'wake up' completely.

You may want to institute Spot checks as well, since some people wake up with blurred vision.

Or if you really want to play up the fact that people are asleep, you can have sleepers roll Listen Checks
Just some options, since you are the DM you have rule 0 at your discretion.

 

[Slander]

Jes a quick aside ... I don't think drawing a weapon is free with an MEA ... only with actual movement. I believe the intent was if you have a +1 BAB, you can draw your weapon while advancing on your opponent. Otherwise, I could ready my shield (an MEA), draw my sword and attack.



Slander