Quicken Spell and Spell-like now swift action!?

[Scharlata]

Hi, fastacastas!

I've stumbled upon a new (?) ruling concerning Quicken Spell and Quicken Spell-like Ability. The Sidebar on page 207 of the Monster Manual 3 states that now all quickend spells/spell-like abilities are swift actions that do not provoke attacks of opportunity, instead of the ruling in the PHB.

True?

Kind regards

 

[Thanee]

Isn't that just the same only with a fancy name?

Bye
Thanee

 

[Scharlata]

Isn't that just the same only with a fancy name?

It seems to be, indeed!

Kind regard

 

[Targos]

Maybe its just a way of saying its a free action that can only be done once per round as opposed to an unlimited number of times.

 

[Lord Pendragon]

Maybe its just a way of saying its a free action that can only be done once per round as opposed to an unlimited number of times.

Except Quicken was already limited to once a round...

Can someone give me the definition of a Swift Action, and tell me where it's printed? Is it different from a Free Action in any way?

And here I thought 3.5's reason for removing the Partial Action was to simplify the Actions. Here they go again adding Swift and Immediate actions back into the mix.

 

[Thanee]

A swift action is the same as a free action, basically, but unlike free actions you can only do one of those during your turn. Casting a quickened spell is a swift action (this is part of the introduction of swift actions in the Miniatures Handbook).

Swift actions have pretty much only been introduced to make spells with casting time: one swift action.


Immediate actions are swift actions, which can be taken outside of your own turn, like casting Feather Fall. I think those were first introduced in the XPH.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Spatula]

Except Quicken was already limited to once a round...

Can someone give me the definition of a Swift Action, and tell me where it's printed? Is it different from a Free Action in any way?

And here I thought 3.5's reason for removing the Partial Action was to simplify the Actions. Here they go again adding Swift and Immediate actions back into the mix.

Quicken was an exception to the normal rules (free action, but only once per round). That exception has now been codified into an action type (swift action).

 

[Taluron]

MY take on it:

Quickened spells/abilities were recast as immediate and swift because sometimes you need to know what can only be done when you go and what can be done at any time - especially in psioincs when you can activate a defense out of the combat round sequence. It is also important for things like Feather Fall. Being able to cast FF as a free-action does you no good if you hit the ground before your round.

Immediate actions can be done at any time.
Swift action can only be done on your round.

 

[Lord Pendragon]

Thanks guys!

I do wish they'd just gone with fewer actions types, and one exception. But I guess time marches on.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

I think it's actually clearer than before. Instead of "you cast it as a free action, but you're only allowed 1 of these per round" you have "it's a swift action". Once you know what a swift action does you won't have to read the whole thing again. Same with immediate. Instead of reading that it counts as your one free action to cast a spell, but that you can also cast it out of turn, you only have to read that once, and then only read immediate action.