D&D 5E Dropping a Weapon

[pepticburrito]

it's not always helpful to say "it's up to the DM."

In 5e, it's quite often the only correct answer. There are some things the rules are unambiguous on, but the designers of 5e have intentionally left pretty much all fine details up to the GM.

The correct answer to the question "Does dropping an object count as an object interaction?" is "ask your GM". The rules are written don't give an answer. The rules as intended say "ask your GM".

 

[Ravenheart87]

Use common sense. Does it take you time or effort to drop a weapon? Unless it's cursed, tied or glued to you, nope.

 

[Meliath1742]

Use common sense. Does it take you time or effort to drop a weapon? Unless it's cursed, tied or glued to you, nope.

Agreed. Dropping "anything" would require no action. I would say that sheathing or placing a bow on your back would be considering as interacting with the environment and that in most cases you could still draw another weapon as you moved into melee. Every situation is different but in most cases the player would say "I put away my bow, pull out my sword and attack!"...or in the scenario in question "after I shoot, I drop the bow and move towards the hobgoblin drawing my sword as I go". It all seems doable/plausable to me and does what 5E is designed to do...keep it simple and focus on the fun.

 

[delericho]

In 3e and 4e, dropping an item was a free action, while drawing a weapon took a minor (in 4e) or... hmm... maybe a move-equivalent, if you didn't have a +0 BAB? Anyway, some kind of action in 3e.

In 3e, drawing a weapon was a move action (because swift actions weren't introduced until later). Unless you had Quick Draw, in which case it was a free action.

Oh, and if you had a BAB of +1 or higher, you could combine drawing a weapon with a 'regular' move.

in 5e, does dropping a weapon count as your free interaction with the environment for the round? In other words, is it impossible to attack, drop, draw on the same turn in 5e (without some kind of extra action shenanigans)?

I would say that dropping an item should be completely free. Unless you have a locked gauntlet or some other factor preventing you from simply doing so by opening your hand.

 

[Plaguescarred]

Considering picking up a dropped item is specifically said to be free, dropping a held item should be free as well IMO (Basic rules pg. 70)

 

[Scorpio616]

I'd rule free action to drop anything on your turn, Reaction to drop something when not your turn.

 

[Sword of Spirit]

Are you basing this on the fact that dropping a weapon isn't in the list of examples given of things that count as your free Interact with the Environment, or am I missing something more explicit?

It's a combination of that, precedent + logic, and common sense visualization.

In no previous edition did it require any sort of action to drop a weapon.
5e is more generous in what it allows you to do than most previous editions (including the last two, that let you do it for free).
Therefore, it would be counter to 5e's generous trend to have a stricter action requirement than the previous edition's consensus.

Plus, when I imagine it, it doesn't seem like it would take nearly as much effort as things that count as interacting with the environment. But really, my strongest argument is the 5e logic one.

 

[guachi]

My only issue with "how much can I do" is just how incredibly short one combat round is. Six seconds is very, very short. Although nothing much prevents me from making in 10 or 15 seconds.

 

[MechaPilot]

I think dropping is more than a free action. It's like getting an arrow to fire a bow. It just happens. No use of the action economy at all.

I agree with that, and I would handle it exactly the same way.

Now, if the PC wanted to toss it up in the air and do whatever she needed the free hand for before catching it again, then I'd require the expenditure of her one free item interaction for the combined toss and catch.