Sage Answer: Haste & 5ft Step(s)

[Xahn'Tyr]

If I am hasted, can I take a 5ft step as part of my normal action and then another one as part of my hasted (partial) action?

No. You are only allowed one 5 ft-step per turn, and then only if you take no other movement actions.


If so, are both safe from attacks of opportunity like a single 5ft step would be?

See above.

 

[Uller]

So what about...

Well...now we know his answer. Of course many will vehemently disagree(I don't. I agree completely and that's the way we've been playing it).

But this begs the question: What if you take your partial action _first_ and do a 5' step as part of that, and then you want to move as part of your normal action?

In other words, is it legal to do the following(while hasted):

5' step(that avoids an AoO)
Cast a 1 action spell.
Move you're full speed(30' for an unarmored human)
Cast another spell(or single attack or whatever).

I say no. Once you do a 5' step to avoid an AoO, you can't move further for the rest of the round, hasted or no. You've moved in such a way that you are concentrating on maintaining your defense, so you can either continue to move in that manner or you may stop after only 5' and act "normally" for the rest of your round, but not both.

Another option might be that you can move your normal move minus 5'? I don't know, though because that makes it so you can weasel out of AoOs and still take two actions and move your full speed. I don't like that.

 

[Artoomis]

Uller - per this sage's ruling (and the core rules, in my opinion), no you can't take a 5-foot step and any other movement in the round - no matter how you set things up or in what order. This is pretty straightforward.

 

[Uller]

That's what I think, too Arty...but you know that everyone you spent last week arguing with about this will disagree and will probably point out the above "inconsistancy"(not that I think it is inconsistant...you take a 5' step, you can't move anyfurther for the round. Period).

 

[SpikeyFreak]

All I have to say is that this is just another example of the sage placing the letter of the rules above consistency and common sense.

--Finished Spikey

 

[Artoomis]

All I have to say is that this is just another example of the sage placing the letter of the rules above consistency and common sense.

--Finished Spikey

--ROFL Artoomis

 

[Darklone]

Common sense?

All I have to say is that this is just another example of the sage placing the letter of the rules above consistency and common sense.

--Finished Spikey

Naaaah please! Don't start with words like common sense in one sentence with AoOs!

 

[Junkheap]

Wohoo!

I knew i was playing it the right way!. Anwyay, the sage's interpretation is what i sometimes go with, but i agree with this one 110% I see all the guys that were opposed to this starting to diagree or bash the sage already, so really this din't solve anything.

 

[Caliban]

No one else finds it odd that if you are hasted you can take the extra Partial Action before your turn, use it to Move 30 feet, then take your normal action and take another Move action to move another 30 feet, and then attack someone, but if you instead take a 5' step during that initial extra partial action you are now somehow barred from moving again for the rest of the round?

 

[Uller]

All I have to say is that this is just another example of the sage placing the letter of the rules above consistency and common sense.

--Finished Spikey

Ideally, that's what the Sage is _for_. To allow DMs and players to find out the letter of the rules(or the intent of the designers when the rules aren't clearly stated) so they can take that into account when questions arise.

Individual DMs need to think about how they rule for each circumstance and ask themselves "does this seem silly, inconsistant, fair, etc." and if the answer to that, make a ruling that fits _their_ game. If you allow an extra 5' step with haste, you are not breaking the rules(you are going against the sage's official "advice"). You are making the rules consistant with your game and presumably you "adjust" other rules to be consistant with that. The important thing is that your players understand your ruling and can reasonably predict how you will rule in similar circumstances.

For me, this ruling makes perfect sense for my game. A 5' step is a small adjustment in position and/or a way to move a little and act without provoking an AoO but still allow you to perform an action(or an action and a non-movement MEA). You cannot take one if you've moved already nor can you move if you've taken one because you are concentrating on not provoking an AoO or you are too busy doing other things. It is consistant. It is simple to apply and it is easy to make rational logical rulings based on this. I've been playing 3e since it came out and have yet to run into a situation where the rules on avoiding AoOs(as I interprit them) didn't make sense or couldn't be easily applied...