Shift and Difficult Terrain - And Kobolds!

[Ninja-to]

It takes an extra square of movement to move into or over difficult terrain. Ok.

Unless you can Shift two squares, you can't Shift into or over difficult terrain. Ok.

Question: Does the Shift x2 sqaures have to be in the same action? This question came up with one of the Kobold fights from KotSF session a few nights ago. Kobolds are 'shifty' both literrally and figuratively, and can shift one square as a minor action.

So, there's difficult terrain. Can the Kobold Shift (move action) and then Shift (because he's shifty) and move ONE square into/over difficult terrain? OR... does it have to be in the same action? Would you somehow need a power or effect that lets you Shift more than 1 square as part of the same action?

Please give reasons for your answers!

 

[Smog]

By the rules, I would say no it wouldn't be possible as actions are resolved independently. So he would try to shift for his minor, and not be able to because of the difficult terrain, and then try to shift as his move, and not be able to for the same reason.

But.

I would rule that he could just because I've never liked interpreting DnD's action regimented system so literally. It completely breaks my immersion picturing the game like a Final Fantasy turn based fight. Plus, it's a kobold, we gotta give the poor little guys SOMETHING.

 

[demonsquidgod]

I don't have a book quote but IMC I would say yes. It seems fair enough and in keeping with the kobold's flavor.

 

[TheGogmagog]

The players handbook does use movement 5 in difficult terrain as an example. One move gets you two squares, two move actions get you 5 squares. With the general rule president, It seems clear you can spend two shift 1 actions to shift one in difficult terrain.

 

[Infiniti2000]

I think generally by the rules it doesn't work, except maybe if the kobold upgrades his minor to a second move and you use the double move action indirectly referenced by TheGogmagog. (This would leave the kobold with another minor.) I don't think you can create a double move action via a move and a minor, leaving a standard.

 

[Hypersmurf]

I don't think you can create a double move action via a move and a minor, leaving a standard.

Hmm.

You double move when you 'take the same move action twice in a row - two walks, two runs, two shifts, two crawls".

Notice that while it says "the same move action twice", it doesn't refer to exactly the same thing that 'move action' means elsewhere - taking the "Escape a Grab" move action twice in a row is not a double move, for example. 'Move action' in this context refers explicitly to crawling, walking, running, or shifting... and so it might be that it covers a crawl, walk, run, or shift even if that movement is made in a fashion outside the normal definition of 'move action'... which isn't the definition being used here anyway.

Shifty is a minor action at-will power that lets the kobold shift one square.

So if the kobold takes a move action to shift, and uses a minor action power that allows him to shift, he isn't taking two move actions in a row, but he is making two shifts in a row.

Ultimately, it depends I think on how the DM interprets the Shifty power - is it essentially a power that grants someone the ability to take the Shift action, or not? If it is, he's using the minor action in order to take an identical move action to the Shift action he took immediately prior, and it's a double move. If it isn't, he isn't, and he can't double move.

I think a stringent reading forbids the double move, but very little 'intent interpretation' needs to be applied to allow it.

-Hyp.

 

[Caliban]

I think the shifty little bastards are obnoxious enough without also giving them the equivalent of the elven racial ability.

 

[Grabuto138]

I don't have a book quote but IMC I would say yes. It seems fair enough and in keeping with the kobold's flavor.

On the other hand, it steps on the player's ability to play tactically. Bullrushing and otherwise force-moving goblins into diifficult terrain to stop the shiftiness it part of the fun of fighting them.