Ready-Move action

[Artoomis]

Okay, I was assuming he was backing off more than 5'. Anyway, here's another stab at it.

Artoomis, not to question your understanding of the rules, but

1. Rogue declares a readied action to strike when the wizard cast his spell.

2. Wizard backs off to cast spell.

3. This is a question, if the wizard backs off only 5 feet, then no AoO from the rogue, if the Wizard backs off more then 5 feet, then the rogue does get his AoO.

True - of course, if he backs off only 5', then the rogue can step up 5' to deliver his readied partial action attack - but he gets only one attack, not two, because there is no AoO.

4. Wizard starts to cast a spell.

5. Readied action kicks in, but what was the readied action, to attack the wizard. Unless the rogue has a ranged weapon or a weapon with reach, he will be unable to do his readied action. Now, my understanding was any partial action can be readied with a readied action, so the rogue, if he was expecting the wizard to back up and cast, he could have readied a partial charge to attack the wizard, if so, he could then leap and attack. However, what if the wizard never moved and cast instead on the defensive, the rogue decided to partial charge the wizard if he started to cast, well, he is in melee with the wizard so he can't charge and thus receives no extra attacks on the wizard.

A readied action can be "attack" generically - which includes a partial charge. There is a specific example of this in the PHB or FAQ, I don't recall which.

6. Resolve spell.

Now, I could very well be wrong, but I believe this is the set of actions to take.

1. Rogue readies a partial charge when Wizard begins to cast a spell.

He may ready an "attack" which includes a possibility of a partial charge.

2. Wizard backs off 5 feet, not provoking an attack of opportunity.

3. Wizard starts to cast spell.

4. Readied action of the rogue happens, partial charge against the wizard.

Can't be partial charge due to the lack of 10' movement, but can be 5-foot move and attack.

5. Resolve spell.

Someone please correct me

 

[Alaxk Knight of Galt]

This seems reasonable, though I would very much like to know where it says you can move to attack on a readied action. I've been looking for it and have been unable to locate it.

 

[Cloudgatherer]

I think the original idea was to be able to "move with" said wizard. I'll use the now popular wizard example.

Note: Ready-Move is probably a poor name for this, as it is not really meant to adjust initiative.

1) Rogue declares a ready move, he wants to move with the wizard (up to his base move).

2) Wizard moves 20' feet, rogue moves with him (no AoO, their relative distance stays constant, the two simply shift on the battle field).

3) The rogue and wizard are now displaced 20 feet, and the wizard can opt to cast a spell (AoO) or do something else. The rogue has not "attacked" at this point, merely used his movement to stay with the wizard.

Clear as mud, eh?

 

[hong]

5. Readied action kicks in, but what was the readied action, to attack the wizard. Unless the rogue has a ranged weapon or a weapon with reach, he will be unable to do his readied action. Now, my understanding was any partial action can be readied with a readied action, so the rogue, if he was expecting the wizard to back up and cast, he could have readied a partial charge to attack the wizard, if so, he could then leap and attack. However, what if the wizard never moved and cast instead on the defensive, the rogue decided to partial charge the wizard if he started to cast, well, he is in melee with the wizard so he can't charge and thus receives no extra attacks on the wizard.

This is addressed in the FAQ, and was also the subject of some notorious flamewars on rec.games.frp.dnd last year.

Is it possible to ready an action as follows: If the wizard casts a spell, I attack him; if he leaves, I follow. Or is that condition not specific enough?

It's actually over specific, because you're really specifying two different conditions and two different actions here. The ready action allows you to specify one partial action and the condition under which you will perform the action. You could simply ready an attack on the wizard whenever he casts a spell, and this would allow you to do any number of things, including attack, take a 5-foot step and attack, or even make a partial charge and attack. In such a case, you would not get an attack of opportunity on the wizard when he cast the spell, but you would force a Concentration check if you damage the wizard.

 

[hong]

I think the original idea was to be able to "move with" said wizard. I'll use the now popular wizard example.

Note: Ready-Move is probably a poor name for this, as it is not really meant to adjust initiative.

1) Rogue declares a ready move, he wants to move with the wizard (up to his base move).

2) Wizard moves 20' feet, rogue moves with him (no AoO, their relative distance stays constant, the two simply shift on the battle field).

3) The rogue and wizard are now displaced 20 feet, and the wizard can opt to cast a spell (AoO) or do something else. The rogue has not "attacked" at this point, merely used his movement to stay with the wizard.

Clear as mud, eh?

I'm not sure that this proposed "ready-move" thing will really see that much use. You can already do what you describe via delaying or readying, albeit with some messing up of the initiative order. If it's not going to be that useful, I don't see the reason to introduce a new type of action.

 

[Artoomis]

This seems reasonable, though I would very much like to know where it says you can move to attack on a readied action. I've been looking for it and have been unable to locate it.

I only had time for a quick look, but I found this in the FAQ:

You also could do the following: Ready an action so
that when the archer steps away from you, you make a
partial charge against him or just a 5-foot step and an
attack). When you've finished your attack, he's within
your reach and you'll get an attack of opportunity against
him if he tries to shoot.

There is another example somewhere that that makes it clear you can ready an "attack" which could be:

1. An attack with no move at all.
2. A 5-foot move plus the attack (in either order, the 5-foot move doesn't really count as movement).
3. A partial charge, your regular movement rate plus one attack, albeit at +2 attack and -2 AC.

Does this clear that up?

I think it takes away the need for making a new "Ready-Move" rule, which doesn't help you all that much anyway.

Why?

Because you can ready an action to attack and you'll:

1. Get an AoO AND attack if he does not move at all.
2. Get to "follow" him with a 5-foot move and an attack if takes a 5-foot move to avoid the AoO. And, he's STILL subject to the AoO.
3. If he moves more than 5 feet, you get the AoO for movement AND still get to partial charge to interrupt his spell.

A bit better than following with a move.

But, if you wanted to ready a move, you could do that, too. All you have to do is ready an action to move up to him when he stops moving. In that case, you'll be right next to him when he tries to cast his spell.

You're still better off with the declared attack, though.

No new rule is needed.

I'm all in favor of house rules when you need them, but pretty much against them when they are not needed.

edit: Nasty gremlins getting in the keyboard again!

 

[Alaxk Knight of Galt]

Ah the wonderful FAQ, I haven't read it enough times it seems. Yeap, what you have posted seems correct and solves many of issues in the current game we are playing in.