Can you ready a move action?

[irdeggman]

Yes the entire ready action system makes for some rather bizarre combinations.

As as been stated you can move and then ready a standard action. Then later (prior to our next turn in the initiative order) you can perform your standard action if the trigger occurs.

What this ends up doing is spreading a character's actions out over an entire round vice the standard concept of all of your actions occur at the same time. Messes with one's mind after a while even though it does make sense when looked at from a game mechanic standpoint - it is just not consistent with the rest of the combat system.

 

[Shellman]

The more accurate approach IMO is to treat the move + attack as a single action, with the opponent's Readied action taking place in the middle of the sequence. Just as you can change the target of an iterative attack if your first opponent drops, IMO you can finish a Move action differently if circumstances change during the move.

Assuming a fighter has a speed of 30'.

The fighter moves 30' to attack, but wait the target had a readied action to move when the fighter threatened the target.

Then the fighter either attacks the empty square completing his actions for this round, or he continues to make a double move (following the target, completing his actions this round) and he still can not attack this round.

Or does the targets readied action go off after the fighter moves?

 

[S'mon]

Assuming a fighter has a speed of 30'.

The fighter moves 30' to attack, but wait the target had a readied action to move when the fighter threatened the target.

Then the fighter either attacks the empty square completing his actions for this round, or he continues to make a double move (following the target, completing his actions this round) and he still can not attack this round.

Or does the targets readied action go off after the fighter moves?

I think I would rule that the Fighter has already declared his action to be move + attack not move + move, and he can't change it to move + move when interrupted. So if he moved his full 30' before the Readied action went off he'd be stuck swinging at the air. I find it helps a lot to think of each round's action as a single packet, a single action-reaction cycle, not 2 discrete actions (standard + move actions).

Edit: I suspect in-game a player could persuade me otherwise though. I'm weak. Plus I allow "Fighting on the Run" from Conan OGL anyway, which lets you attack _during_ a move (provoking AoOs normally).

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

Or you could 5' step.

I see nothing preventing you from readying an action to attack anyone who attacked you, then taking a 5' step away from them.

Except for:

I move to a certain square, and ready an action to move away should anyone attack me.

In the example, I've already moved this round. I cannot then take a 5' step.

 

[irdeggman]

I think I would rule that the Fighter has already declared his action to be move + attack not move + move, and he can't change it to move + move when interrupted. So if he moved his full 30' before the Readied action went off he'd be stuck swinging at the air. I find it helps a lot to think of each round's action as a single packet, a single action-reaction cycle, not 2 discrete actions (standard + move actions).

Edit: I suspect in-game a player could persuade me otherwise though. I'm weak. Plus I allow "Fighting on the Run" from Conan OGL anyway, which lets you attack _during_ a move (provoking AoOs normally).

Except the only things "declared" are the conditions for a readied action. For instance a spellcaster can cast any spell he is capable of on his turn - in fact many spells let the caster determine which version he casts at the time of casting vice memorizing specific versions (there is no declare precurser anymore). The whole combat round is much more on the fly then it used to be. Basically it comes down to "It's your PC turn to act, what is he doing?" Which is really more along the lines of "Do it" then asking what is he doing.

Another similarity is that a character need not take his entire move when moving (i.e., he can move up to his speed).

 

[ThirdWizard]

Except for:

In the example, I've already moved this round. I cannot then take a 5' step.

Thus my quote. It is a better option to not move beforehand and just stay where you are if you plan on doing anything beyond movement. Especially if you want to avoid an AoO and don't have the Tumble skill. Options.

The more accurate approach IMO is to treat the move + attack as a single action, with the opponent's Readied action taking place in the middle of the sequence. Just as you can change the target of an iterative attack if your first opponent drops, IMO you can finish a Move action differently if circumstances change during the move.

That doesn't really work under RAW, though you could make it a House Rule. Ignoring the fact that it isn't a single action like a 3.0 standard action, it creates a chicken and egg scenario. If he can continue his move and then attack, then the readied action shouldn't have gone off. If the readied action didn't go off, then he's still in the same square, and he can attack. And so the readied action goes off. And so forth. You can't even drop the attack to move next to him.

 

[Stalker0]

My favorite use of ready tactics if against a charging character.

I ready to move 10 feet when he charge within 10 feet of me.

When gets within 10 feet and I move to the side 10 feet. He can't change a charge action, so he either stops, moves to his intended square, or keeps moving past. In most cases however he will be within a 5ft square of me....so not only do I get my full attacks while he got none, he has a -2 to AC.

 

[RigaMortus2]

Assuming a fighter has a speed of 30'.

The fighter moves 30' to attack, but wait the target had a readied action to move when the fighter threatened the target.

Then the fighter either attacks the empty square completing his actions for this round, or he continues to make a double move (following the target, completing his actions this round) and he still can not attack this round.

Or does the targets readied action go off after the fighter moves?

Quick question: Why would the fighter not charge? If the opponent moves another 30 feet away, his charge still covers the distance moved.

At any rate... Your action (the move) goes off BEFORE the trigger (the fighter threatening you). So before the Fighter gets into threat range, you could move. The Fighter could then choose to follow you, or stop at his 30' and perform another action (Quickdraw a bow and fire?). That is how I would rule it anyway...

 

[RigaMortus2]

My favorite use of ready tactics if against a charging character.

I ready to move 10 feet when he charge within 10 feet of me.

When gets within 10 feet and I move to the side 10 feet. He can't change a charge action, so he either stops, moves to his intended square, or keeps moving past. In most cases however he will be within a 5ft square of me....so not only do I get my full attacks while he got none, he has a -2 to AC.

Until the NPC decides not to charge and instead draws a bow and fires at you, or simply walks 30' up to you to attack. Then you waste your action for that round

 

[Hypersmurf]

I ready to move 10 feet when he charge within 10 feet of me.

Be very careful with that one. It can cause D&D to Crash to Desktop.

The key is never set your readied move to trigger when he's only travelled 5 feet.

The Charge action requires that he move at least 10 feet, so he can't stop.
The Charge action requires that he travel in a straight line, so he can't angle to chase you.
The Charge action requires that he travel directly towards his target, so he can't continue along his original line.

He can't stop, and he can't move. You just broke D&D.

So be very careful.

-Hyp.