I'm going to feel stupid asking this question...

[Sonofapreacherman]

What's the difference between a regular action and an attack action?

A regular action can only be performed once per round, along with a move action.

Is an "attack action" one of multiple actions in a full round action (like one of two multiple attacks from a +6/+1 base attack bonus), or is an attack action merely a regular action under a different name?

I've been playing attack actions as regular actions, which is what I'm inclinded to think is the case, but you know, every so often I have to second guess even the basic rules.

 

[Scion]

'regular action'? I am guessing that you mean 'standard action' Similar words, but one is the game term and that makes it easier to talk about.

here is part of the srd for help:
SRD:
Standard Action: A standard action allows you to do something, most commonly make an attack or cast a spell. See Table: Actions in Combat for other standard actions.
Move Action: A move action allows you to move your speed or perform an action that takes a similar amount of time. See Table: Actions in Combat.
You can take a move action in place of a standard action. If you move no actual distance in a round (commonly because you have swapped your move for one or more equivalent actions), you can take one 5-foot step either before, during, or after the action.
Full-Round Action: A full-round action consumes all your effort during a round. The only movement you can take during a full-round action is a 5-foot step before, during, or after the action. You can also perform free actions (see below).
Some full-round actions do not allow you to take a 5-foot step.
Some full-round actions can be taken as standard actions, but only in situations when you are limited to performing only a standard action during your round. The descriptions of specific actions, below, detail which actions allow this option.
Free Action: Free actions consume a very small amount of time and effort. You can perform one or more free actions while taking another action normally. However, there are reasonable limits on what you can really do for free.
Not an Action: Some activities are so minor that they are not even considered free actions. They literally don’t take any time at all to do and are considered an inherent part of doing something else.


now, a standard action can be used for a lot of things. You can move with it or perform any action that requires a move action to perform. You can perform any action that requires a standard action (such as attacking, drinking a potion, etc).

You can make an attack with a standard action, making it an attack. With a full round attack, which is a seperate thing, a person can sometimes make multiple attacks. With this you could make your full round attack and then likely make a 5' step as well.

It is late here and I am not very coherant currently, I hope that helped a little!

If that doesnt answer your question perhaps someone else will be along to explain better

Edit: you modified your question while I was typing!

With a standard action you make a single attack, so just the primary one and none of the others (there are acceptions to this, but that is the basic part).

Pretty much the only time you get multiple attacks is with the full round action, wherein you actually use that full spread (ie +14/+9/+4).

In general you can pick different targets for each of these attacks.

 

[Sonofapreacherman]

It does. And confirms what I thought. An attack action is merely a standard action used to attack.

This leaves room for a new action as I see it. Going back to my example, take a character with +6/+1 base attack bonus. These two attacks can only be brought to bear during a full round action. But what if you broke them up into two seperate actions? The +6 attack action and the +1 attack action.

You could call them combat actions or fragment actions.

I would say that a combat or fragment action could not be used to "physically" move, but could be used to perform combat manuevers that would normally require a move action ... like feinting in combat.

Does that seem so far out of whack?

 

[Scion]

I am not entirely sure what you mean, especially since you would then have to figure out when and how people get those fragments.

That sounds more like play stuff for the houserules board though

 

[Geoff Watson]

Are you talking abour D20 Modern?

They call what are called 'standard actions' in D&D, 'attack actions' in D20 Modern.

Geoff.

 

[Hypersmurf]

It does. And confirms what I thought. An attack action is merely a standard action used to attack.

The Attack Action is a specific standard action. It allows you to make a single melee, unarmed, or ranged attack.

Just like the Cast a Spell Action is a specific standard action that allows you to cast a spell with a one action casting time.

I would say that a combat or fragment action could not be used to "physically" move, but could be used to perform combat manuevers that would normally require a move action ... like feinting in combat.

The wording you're looking for is in footnote 7 of the Table of Action Types.

If you want to house-rule a feint to act like this, then you would redefine it as 'Action Type: Varies' instead of a Move Action, and give it Footnote 7.

7: These attack forms substitute for a melee attack, not an action. As melee attacks, they can be used once in an attack or charge action, one or more times in a full attack action, or even as an attack of opportunity.

-Hyp.

 

[cmanos]

I think this is what you are looking for

FULL-ROUND ACTIONS
A full-round action requires an entire round to complete. Thus, it can’t be coupled with a standard or a move action, though if it does not involve moving any distance, you can take a 5-foot step.

Full Attack
If you get more than one attack per round because your base attack bonus is high enough, because you fight with two weapons or a double weapon or for some special reason you must use a full-round action to get your additional attacks.

From the way that reads, it looks like if you want to take more than one attack in a round for any reason, you have to make a full attack as a full-round action.

 

[Sonofapreacherman]

From the way that reads, it looks like if you want to take more than one attack in a round for any reason, you have to make a full attack as a full-round action.

Exactly. This is how I understand it as well. To even use multiple attacks in a round, I have to take a full attack action. The idea would be to then convert one of those multiple attacks into a move action that does not actually require moving ... like, for example, fienting in combat with the Improved Feint feat.

 

[Hypersmurf]

The idea would be to then convert one of those multiple attacks into a move action that does not actually require moving ... like, for example, fienting in combat with the Improved Feint feat.

Well, you can't take a move action as part of a full attack action. You can only make attacks, or take actions that replace an attack.

That is, the ones with footnote 7 on the Table of Action Types.

-Hyp.

 

[Vigwyn the Unruly]

You can already do both a move action and a standard action in a round. You don't need to re-invent this.