Pardon my ignorance, but...

[punkorange]

Is a swift action the same as a free action?

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

No, but they are close.

A swift action can be done in roughly the same amount of time it takes to perform a free action (i.e., none), but you can only do one per round.

You may perform an unlimited number of free actions per round, up until the DM decides that you have made enough.

EDIT:

Most swift actions are spells with a casting time of "1 swift action." Basically, they are ways to engage a [often short-lived] magical effect and then proceed with a full round action. Most are spells that improve a character's attacks, and are therefore most suitable for Fighter / Mage types who can cast the spell and then still make a full attack.

 

[MadMaxim]

Yes, except you can only perform one swift action each turn.

 

[Henrix]

I just thought I'd quote the relevant rules text here, as swift and immediate actions have, de facto, been added to the main D&D rules:

New Action Types

Swift Action
A swift action consumes a very small amount of time, but represents a larger expenditure of effort and energy than a free action. You can perform one swift action per turn without affecting your ability to perform other actions. In that regard, a swift action is like a free action. However, you can perform only a single swift action per turn, regardless of what other actions you take. You can take a swift action any time you would normally be allowed to take a free action. Swift actions usually involve psionics or the activation of psionic items; many characters (especially those who don’t use psionics) never have an opportunity to take a swift action. Manifesting a quickened power is a swift action. In addition, manifesting any power with a casting time of 1 swift action is a swift action. Manifesting a power with a manifesting time of 1 swift action does not provoke attacks of opportunity.

Immediate Action
Much like a swift action, an immediate action consumes a very small amount of time, but represents a larger expenditure of effort and energy than a free action. However, unlike a swift action, an immediate action can be performed at any time—even if it’s not your turn. Using an immediate action on your turn is the same as using a swift action, and counts as your swift action for that turn. You cannot use another immediate action or a swift action until after your next turn if you have used an immediate action when it is not currently your turn (effectively, using an immediate action before your turn is equivalent to using your swift action for the coming turn). You also cannot use an immediate action if you are currently flat-footed.

 

[punkorange]

Thanks, I had been seeing the term and wasn't quite sure how it played out in rules.

If you don't mind me asking, what is the best, most up to date SRD site? Right now I tend to visit d20srd.org.

 

[Rabelais]

I'm not sure how Swift and Immediate actions fit into a game. It just seems like a needless complication.

Rule 0 "Begone Foul Abberation"

 

[DungeonmasterCal]

Thanks, I had been seeing the term and wasn't quite sure how it played out in rules.

If you don't mind me asking, what is the best, most up to date SRD site? Right now I tend to visit d20srd.org.

I use that one and http://www.systemreferencedocuments.org/35/sovelior_sage/home.html. It's a little slow to load sometimes, though.

 

[glass]

I'm not sure how Swift and Immediate actions fit into a game. It just seems like a needless complication.

Rule 0 "Begone Foul Abberation"

So, do you ban featherfall too?


glass.

 

[Henrix]

If you don't mind me asking, what is the best, most up to date SRD site? Right now I tend to visit d20srd.org.

That's where I quoted from. The SRD hasn't been updated much, but the swift and immediate actions first appeared in the XPH, which is part of the SRD, and so they are still hiddin in the psionics part.

 

[argo]

I'm not sure how Swift and Immediate actions fit into a game. It just seems like a needless complication.

Rule 0 "Begone Foul Abberation"

Actually, they are a great way of handling Quickened spells as well as any ability that begins "once per round ..." without having to write half a page of explanatory text for each such ability.

I like em and I expect that they will be incorporated more into the core rules in the future.