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Free Actions question...When?

Psyduck

First Post
Can free actions be done only on your turn?

I found many conflicting examples for this. Changing the direction the shield spell faces is a free action, but so is feather fall. Obviously, if free actions can be done on your turn, this reduces feather fall's usefulness. If they can be done on anyone's turn, shield becomes really powerful.
 

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Free actions can be done only on one's turn, as any other action, unless specified otherwise. Check Feather Fall description in case it is an exception!
 

For the most part Free Actions can only be done on your turn. There are acceptions like speaking. I don't know if feather fall is or not.
 

Feather Fall
Transmutation
Level: Brd 1, Sor/Wiz 1
Components: V
Casting Time: See text
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Targets: Any free-falling objects or creatures in a 10-ft. radius whose weight does not total more than 300 lb./level
Duration: Until landing or 1 round/level
Saving Throw: Will negates (object)
Spell Resistance: Yes (object)
The creatures or objects affected fall slowly (though faster than feathers typically do). The rate of falling is instantly changed to
a mere 60 feet a round (equivalent to the end of a fall from a few feet), with no damage incurred upon landing while the spell is
in effect. However, when the spell duration ceases, a normal rate of fall resumes.
The character can cast this spell with an instant utterance, quickly enough to save herself if she unexpectedly falls. Casting the
spell is a free action, like casting a quickened spell, and it counts toward the normal limit of one quickened spell per round.
This spell has no special effect on ranged weapons unless they are falling quite a distance. If the spell is cast on a falling item,
such as a boulder dropped from the top of a castle wall, the item does half normal damage based on weight with no bonus for
the height of the drop.
The spell works only upon free-falling objects. It does not affect a sword blow or a charging or flying creature.
 


Crothian said:
There are acceptions like speaking.

Nice try! There is no exception for speaking. Just because we all do it doesnt mean it is an exception in the rules. Technically, speaking in character is something that you can only do on your turn.
 
Last edited:

I think Feather Fall is the only Free Action actually allowed out-of-turn.

Normally this is not allowed.

The character can cast this spell with an instant utterance, quickly enough to save herself if she unexpectedly falls.

It does say, that you can cast it quickly enough, when you unexpectedly fall... and unless you fall a large distance or fall in a cartoonish style (staying in the air until your initiative comes up) there won't be any action during which to cast the spell, before you hit the ground!

Bye
Thanee
 

There are a few exceptions in the Psionics Handbook: Prowess (extra AoO, kind of like Combat Reflexes in a power), Valor (+1 to a saving throw), and the feat Power Touch.
 

candidus_cogitens said:


Nice try! There is no exception for speaking. Just because we all do it doesnt mean it is an exception in the rules. Technically, speaking in character is something that you can only do on your turn.

Really, so all conversations and speeches take place in six seconds intervals?
 

Crothian said:


Really, so all conversations and speeches take place in six seconds intervals?

Of coarse. It is caused by the time lag for the sound to go through the magical ether, sort of the equivalent of the time lag we experience with satellite communication.

Just another example of how the D&D world physics is slightly different than our world.


:D
 

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