Introducing Immediate and Swift actions?

[Legildur]

Our group plays pretty much original (hopefully Diaglo doesn't read this) 3.5E with errata. We have a couple of house rules around dying, tumbling and concentration checks.

While we use some splatbooks (mostly the Complete series), generally it is only for the feats and prestige classes.

However, one of my fellow players is now showing interest in some of the spells, namely Gravestrike.

I know the DM is going to ask my advice on this, so is the introduction of Immediate and Swift actions straightforward? Are there any issues around some of the new spells making use of those actions?

 

[Doug McCrae]

I know the DM is going to ask my advice on this, so is the introduction of Immediate and Swift actions straightforward?

Yes. Quickened spells have always operated almost exactly like a swift action.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Are there any issues around some of the new spells making use of those actions?

Well, there's a discussion about the problems with Immediate Actions in progress right now...

-Hyp.

 

[The Souljourner]

Pretty much immediate and swift actions are just defining things that are already in the game but had no strict definition. They just allow you to use the "one quickened spell per round" mechanic on whatever you want, plus allow you to do things even when it's not your turn (like cast feather fall).

-Nate

 

[robberbaron]

Haven't seen much of a problem with either yet. They both arrived with the Exp. Psi Handbook and I have players using both sparingly. I guess that it makes it harder for me to set challenges when the psis start doing stuff Immediately, thwarting my best laid plans but such is the price of DMing.

I think there might be an issue if I allowed access to the multitude of gratuitous powerups available in the twinkbooks, but I don't so there isn't.

 

[Nail]

As Hypersmurf mentioned, I started a thread discussing some issues with Immediate Actions.

Swift Actions have worked well in our game,FWIW.

 

[frankthedm]

Biggest problem is that the swift and immediate spells let spellcasters "spell dump" faster, burning off thier spells and then trying to get the party to rest.

The problem with Gravestrike is that most of the Undead were not statted out with the HP to handle being sneak attacked. Thankfully gravestrike is very hard to cast if you are not a spellcaster. Scrolls, wands & spell storing rings can never work with it because those all make the casting time a standard action.

 

[Caliban]

The problem with Gravestrike is that most of the Undead were not statted out with the HP to handle being sneak attacked. Thankfully gravestrike is very hard to cast if you are not a spellcaster. Scrolls, wands & spell storing rings can never work with it because those all make the casting time a standard action.

Fortunately, the party cleric can give it to the rogue via Imbue with Spell Ability, if they are so inclined.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Fortunately, the party cleric can give it to the rogue via Imbue with Spell Ability, if they are so inclined.

Fortunately - because when you're creating a spell that lets you strike the vital organs of a creature with no vital organs, the obvious school choice is Divination...

-Hyp.

 

[Caliban]

Fortunately - because when you're creating a spell that lets you strike the vital organs of a creature with no vital organs, the obvious school choice is Divination...

-Hyp.

Apparently the vital organs are still there somewhere, just really hard to find.