Quick Draw: What Can It Do?

[Villano]

I just started in an online arena game. My PC has the Quick Draw feat and I want to make sure that I know the limits of what it can do so I don't need to stop the game for rulings every other round.

Is switching weapons a free action or do you need to spend an action returning your old weapon before quick drawing the new one?

Can you use it to load your bow faster?

Can you use it to pick something up off the ground, like a discarded weapon or shield?

 

[Destil]

a) Sheathing a weapon is a move-equivelent action. Dropping one is a free action. Quickdraw dosn't affect either. So you can drop your bow, quickdraw a dagger and take a an attack against someone next to you. If you then have more attacks you can also throw the dagger and quickdraw a second one.

b) It's not needed. Getting ammunition for projectile weapons is a free action. You can use (and in fact need it) it to use more than one thrown weapon a round, typically, because drawing a thrown weapon is usualy a move-equivelent action.

c) No.

 

[Datt]

Basically what he said.

Quick Draw is useful for Melee/thrown weapons. That is it.

I believe in one of the splatbooks, S&F?, there is a feat Rapid Reload. It lets you load crossbows faster. The only thing that lets you load your bow faster is either a higher BAB or Rapid Shot which lets you get 1 extra attack.

 

[Villano]

b) It's not needed. Getting ammunition for projectile weapons is a free action. You can use (and in fact need it) it to use more than one thrown weapon a round, typically, because drawing a thrown weapon is usualy a move-equivelent action.

But I would still need a move equivilant action to load the bow, right? So Quick Draw won't help me with my bow (other than drawing it to begine with).

Currently, I'm in the ring with something with a greater speed than me and I'm trying to figure out if I can fire, back off, and reload my bow. I guess I can't, huh?

Damn. I wish I loaded my Heward's Handy Haversack with throwing daggers.

 

[Villano]

Basically what he said.

Quick Draw is useful for Melee/thrown weapons. That is it.

I believe in one of the splatbooks, S&F?, there is a feat Rapid Reload. It lets you load crossbows faster. The only thing that lets you load your bow faster is either a higher BAB or Rapid Shot which lets you get 1 extra attack.

Yeah, I checked out S&F and the feat is in there.

Thanks.

 

[Tabarnak Smokeblower]

But I would still need a move equivilant action to load the bow, right? So Quick Draw won't help me with my bow (other than drawing it to begine with).

Currently, I'm in the ring with something with a greater speed than me and I'm trying to figure out if I can fire, back off, and reload my bow. I guess I can't, huh?

Damn. I wish I loaded my Heward's Handy Haversack with throwing daggers.

What do you mean, load the bow

If you mean draw your bow and get into firing position, then, yes, Quickdraw will have been useful. Say you ended last round clutching your greataxe, and your opponent has moved away, you will drop your axe on the ground (free action), grab your bow (free action because of quickdraw) and turn the other guy into a pincushion (ie Full Attack action). The "action" of taking an arrow form your quiver and placing it on your bow (cocking it I think?) is (always) a free action. You can shoot multiple arrows in a round with your bow even if you don't have the quickdraw feat.

The difference comes with crossbows, where you need a certain amount of time to load another crossbow bolt into your crossbow. Quickdraw won't help you there.

TS

 

[Villano]

What do you mean, load the bow

If you mean draw your bow and get into firing position, then, yes, Quickdraw will have been useful. Say you ended last round clutching your greataxe, and your opponent has moved away, you will drop your axe on the ground (free action), grab your bow (free action because of quickdraw) and turn the other guy into a pincushion (ie Full Attack action). The "action" of taking an arrow form your quiver and placing it on your bow (cocking it I think?) is (always) a free action. You can shoot multiple arrows in a round with your bow even if you don't have the quickdraw feat.

The difference comes with crossbows, where you need a certain amount of time to load another crossbow bolt into your crossbow. Quickdraw won't help you there.

TS

What I mean is, can I fire, move (out of melee range), and reload all in one round?

My first 3E DM said that loading the bow was a movie equivilent action. I know it is with crossbow, so I assumed it was for the bow.

 

[Darklone]

What I mean is, can I fire, move (out of melee range), and reload all in one round?

My first 3E DM said that loading the bow was a movie equivilent action. I know it is with crossbow, so I assumed it was for the bow.

He was wrong. "Loading" (knocking an arrow) a bow is included in the shoot the bow attack.

 

[coyote6]

You don't have to "load" a bow. Pulling an arrow out of a quiver, nocking it, and drawing the string back is all part of making an attack with a bow, and thus all part of the attack action. In one round, you can move and attack with your bow (or attack then move). You can make a full attack with your bow, and get multiple attacks (if your BAB is high enough, or you have Rapid Shot).

The same goes for slings, FWIW. Only crossbows need to be loaded as separate actions.

(Thrown weapons -- darts, javelins, spears, etc. -- need separate actions to be drawn; Quick Draw is really handy for someone who wants to throw a lot of weapons.)

 

[Villano]

He was wrong. "Loading" (knocking an arrow) a bow is included in the shoot the bow attack.

Cool, cool, and cool.

I'm being chased by a lion now and am trying to stay away as far as possible.

Even though I don't think the DM should have allowed such a powerful animal companion in the arena. I've got to deal with both it and a druid by myself.