Skill check during combat - minor or free action?

[esparkhu]

We're having a dispute in my 4th edition game and I can't find the answer in the rule books.

If a player wants to role a skill check during combat, is it a free action or a minor action?

Thanks.

 

[Kordeth]

It's whatever kind of action the skill would normally be. That's why each skill use tells you right at the top of the description what kind of action it is (e.g. monster knowledge requires no action, identifying a ritual with Arcana is a standard action, etc.)

 

[eamon]

We're having a dispute in my 4th edition game and I can't find the answer in the rule books.

If a player wants to role a skill check during combat, is it a free action or a minor action?

Thanks.

It depends on what you're doing, not the skill check mechanic.

Many actions (say, jumping) aren't an action by themselves but part of a move. Others are standard actions (stabilizing the dying). There's a table in the Combat section for general actions (not necessarily skills), and each skill's description includes common uses and the types of action they require - anything beyond that would require DM adjudication.

Be aware that the Perception rules have been heavily updated in the online Updates.