Correct Persistent Tail usage?

[DarkLord Of DForce]

Hey gang - we've trying to figure out the correct way to use "Persistent Tail":

Persistent Tail

At Will Move Action Stealth Utility 10

You follow your prey unseen, waiting for the best time to strike.
At-Will
Move Action Close burst 20
Target: One creature in the burst that you can see and that you have cover or concealment against
Effect: The first time the target moves before the start of your next turn, you can move your speed as an immediate reaction. If you end the movement with cover or concealment against the target, you can make a Stealth check to become hidden.

Published in Player's Handbook 3, page(s) 175.

One player argued that as long as he had cover/concealment, any creature that he saw move would allow him to move his speed, then roll for stealth again.

Another player said that he had to declare the target, then only if that single declared target moved, could he then move his speed as an immediate reaction, and roll for stealth. Also he argued that using Persistent Tail then takes your regular move action away on your turn.

Can anyone clear this up? Thanks much!

 

[mudlock]

"Target: One creature..."
"Effect: The first time the target moves..."

You choose targets before resolving effects. If it was suppose to work on any creature in the burst it would say "Target: Creatures in burst..."

 

[Chronosome]

The power, per activation, works only against a particular target once per turn. There's really no way around that. You activate the power on your turn with a move action which effectively "brands" the target. Then, when they move, you have the opportunity (via immediate reaction) to move and roll a Stealth check at the end of your movement. The immediate action is triggered only the first time a target moves during the turn.

The fact you can only use one immediate action per turn affects the power in an interesting way -- since you can use two move actions on your turn (by downgrading one standard), you could target two individuals then choose which of them to follow with the immediate reaction.

The second player is closest to correct but the immediate reaction, as far as I know, does not negate your next turn's move action. I'd be interested to know if I'm wrong about that, but I'm pretty sure I'm not.

 

[Dice4Hire]

I am quite sure you only get one immediate reaction a turn. It is not like an OA, which you get on each enemies' turns.

 

[OnlineDM]

Just to clarify terminology, you get one immediate action per ROUND (from the start of your turn this round to the start of your turn next round - and you can't take an immediate action on your turn). Each creature in a combat getting a TURN represents a ROUND.

 

[Saeviomagy]

Spend your move action and choose one monster that you can see, have cover or concealment against and is within 20 squares.

The first time that monster moves, you can spend your immediate action (which you ONLY HAVE ONE OF per round - see below) to move then potentially re-hide.

That's the power.

Each round, you only get ONE immediate action. You may only take immediate actions when it is NOT your turn. Immediate actions include:
* The reaction of this power
* Immediate interrupts
* Immediate reactions

You may not take an immediate action if you are dazed or stunned.
Other immediate actions include disruptive shot (ranger power), combat challenge (the fighter's revenge for mark violation) and a bunch of others.


All up, the power basically lets you ready a move action against a target, but allows you to perform the ready with your move action instead of your standard action.

 

[bobhayes]

Your second player is correct. It's all right there in the power description; there is no ambiguity.

 

[SabreCat]

Your second player is correct.

Except for the "lose your next move action" part.

 

[OSEZNO]

Except for the "lose your next move action" part.

I think that is ambiguously written/spoken by the OP.

It is likely that he meant that the power requires a move action, thus you cannot move on the turn you activate this power (except by use of the immediate action of this power, or by use of an action point or downgrading a standard action).

 

[DarkLord Of DForce]

Thanks gang - that pretty well helped clear things up for us. We had mostly worked it out to about the same conclusion.

The biggest thing that raised a question in our groups minds was the fact that it is a move action. This threw people off.

Only thing I'm worried about now is, that once our DM knows someone has put Persistent Tail on a target, he won't *ever* move that target again.


PS Oops, a player wanted to know that since it says "creature" you could even put this on an ally that you knew was going to move and it would still work, right?