How many "Encounter" powers can you use outside an "Encounter"?

[fafhrd]

Encounter powers are all attacks of some sort, are they not? When you're in a situation to use one, does that not make it an encounter by definition?

The Tumble and Displacement powers aren't attacks, but I'm having a hard time coming up with a use for them outside of combat.

EDIT: If you want to include class abilities Healing Word is very useful outside of an encounter.

 

[Sadrik]

Hmm, can you "memorize" more than one encounter power at a time? What if you wanted two "passing attacks" per encounter? Or do you explicitly get each power only once?

The eladrin encounter power to teleport for instance can only be done every 5 minutes outside of combat? Hmm, that is a little gamey but workable. Have we ever figured out what the "catch your breath" really means -> story wise?

 

[Hella_Tellah]

Hmm, can you "memorize" more than one encounter power at a time? What if you wanted two "passing attacks" per encounter? Or do you explicitly get each power only once?

You explicitly get each only once. The only evidence we've seen of prepared powers is in the Wizard's use of daily abilities.

Have we ever figured out what the "catch your breath" really means -> story wise?

I'd bet that the paragraph in the PHB on short rests will give you a short list of things it can mean, but it won't give you a hard and fast "this is what it means and this is all it means."

 

[HeinorNY]

"2. Or after a five minute catch your breath? "

Characters recharge their encounter powers taking a short rest.

As a DM I would allow the players to use some encounter powers freely outside combat, if the character is in a situation he could take 10 on a skill check.
For example, if the elf is participating in a archery contest, I would allow him to use Elven Accuracy freely; or the cleric's Healing Word, since it is limited by Healing Surges anyway; or the Eladrin's Fey Step.

 

[Henry]

For example, if the elf is participating in a archery contest, I would allow him to use Elven Accuracy freely; or the cleric's Healing Word, since it is limited by Healing Surges anyway; or the Eladrin's Fey Step.

As another point of view, I'd treat the whole contest as an encounter; I think this would encourage the player to use it at an appropriate time, and save it for when the shot really counted, rather than let him get all the rerolls, etc. every round.

 

[small pumpkin man]

Hmm, can you "memorize" more than one encounter power at a time? What if you wanted two "passing attacks" per encounter? Or do you explicitly get each power only once?

Only once, there might be abilities to get per encounter powers back, but we haven't seen them.

The eladrin encounter power to teleport for instance can only be done every 5 minutes outside of combat? Hmm, that is a little gamey but workable. Have we ever figured out what the "catch your breath" really means -> story wise?

If it's anything like ToB it's something along the lines of 5 minutes of not attacking, not being attacked, and possibly not using other per encounter/daily powers. "short rest" was described with more detail in one of the DDXP handouts, but I can't remember the details off the top of my head.

The Tumble and Displacement powers aren't attacks, but I'm having a hard time coming up with a use for them outside of combat.

EDIT: If you want to include class abilities Healing Word is very useful outside of an encounter.

Invisibility and Fly for utility powers, all of the cantrips we've seen. Whatsisname's Resilient Sphere is an attack spell, and I can see good out of combat uses for it.

 

[fafhrd]

Invisibility and Fly for utility powers, all of the cantrips we've seen. Whatsisname's Resilient Sphere is an attack spell, and I can see good out of combat uses for it.

No question. I was limiting my comments to encounter powers.

 

[small pumpkin man]

No question. I was limiting my comments to encounter powers.

Oh, of course, I should've payed more attention.

You're right though, while the sample size is small, the ones we have seen don't seem particularly useful out of combat. (excepting of course Fey Step, which has already been mentioned)

 

[Irda Ranger]

Encounter powers are all attacks of some sort, are they not? When you're in a situation to use one, does that not make it an encounter by definition?

Even the ones that have "combat utility" often have secondary effects that can be put to use outside of combat. I bet I could find several utility applications involving Ray of Frost. Applications involving beer.

 

[LostSoul]

The rule I'll think I will use is:

You can use your abilities when you're not in an encounter. But since you're not in an encounter, it doesn't matter - there's no conflict, nothing at stake, you can't get XP, and we can just assume you succeed at whatever you're trying to do.

If there is some conflict, then you're in an encounter, and we'll use those rules. This means that every time you pick up the dice, you're going to be risking something. But you'll get XP for it.