Small Change for Quick Draw

[Three_Haligonians]

Hey all,

More than once, threads have appeared that talked about the usefulness (or lack thereof) of the Quick Draw feat and a few have suggested changes to try and give it a boost.

And now there is one more.. me!

What if the feat allowed the character with it to draw their weapon as an Immediate action? The major benefit that I can see is for AoO's (since you might not have a weapon out when your opponent provokes one).

It's not a real big benefit I know, but would it work balance wise? Or am I missing something that would make this too much..or is it still too little? Would letting the feat alow you to also sheathe a weapon as a free, or immediate, action top it off or put it over?

Thanks

J from Three Haligonians

 

[farscapesg1]

I don't see a balance issue with allowing the feat to let you draw the weapon as an immediate action. As with your example, it would be very useful to be able to draw a weapon and make the attack of opportunity when you were previously empty handed.

 

[genshou]

There are two aspects to look at here.

First, there's drawing a weapon as an attack of opportunity while flat-footed. You cannot make an attack of opportunity when flat-footed unless you possess the Combat Reflexes feat. Since drawing a weapon and attacking with it in these circumstances would require taking two feats, I don't see any reason why you shouldn't be able to do so. Even though making an attack of opportunity is not technically an "action," it functions similarly to an attack action in may ways, and I would allow Quick Draw to be used in that instance.

It becomes even easier when you are in the midst of combat. If you are fighting unarmed for some reason (but not flat-footed), and your opponent performs an action which provokes an attack of opportunity, you are not allowed to make an attack of opportunity normally unless you are considered "armed" when unarmed. However, since you are capable of drawing a weapon so quickly, I would rule that you are capable of using Quick Draw to allow yourself to make the attack of opportunity in the first place. If your character has studied iaijutsu and your opponent is stupid enough to cast a spell or fire a ranged weapon at you, I'd have nothing against drawing the weapon in the midst of the AoO. But, that's just my own ruling; it's not canon by any means.

Quick Draw does not, however, allow you to sheath a weapon as a free action. Sheathing or putting away a weapon is still a move-equivalent action which provokes an attack of opportunity. In order to switch from one weapon to another as [two] free action, you must drop the first and use Quick Draw for the second.

 

[glass]

What if the feat allowed the character with it to draw their weapon as an Immidiate action? The major benefit that I can see is for AoO's (since you might not have a weapon out when your opponent provokes one).

It's not a real big benefit I know, but would it work balance wise? Or am I missing something that would make this too much..or is it still too little? Would letting the feat alow you to also sheathe a weapon as a free, or immidiate, action top it off or put it over?

You'd have to specify in the feat that the character threated an area around him when he had a weapon 'on hand' but not drawn and an immediate action available, otherwise there would be no AoO to draw the weapon for.

Also, making it an immediate action would completely torpedo throw weapon users.


glass.

 

[the Jester]

Wow, whenever a thread about improving Quickdraw comes up I'm flabbergasted all over again. As long as the dm is strict about actions in combat, Quickdraw is a great feat. I see no need to improve it.

Now, I have made several feats that lead from Quickdraw in a chain, including Hidden Threat (basically you are considered to threaten an area if a weapon can be quickdrawn) and Quick-Strike (first round of combat your initiative is treated as a 20).

 

[Stalker0]

I think this is a fine change for campaigns that feel quickdraw is a little on the weak side, as long as you make sure that when flatfooted, you can still only draw if you have combat reflexes.

 

[Sledge]

Jester I'd love to see your write up of hidden strike.

 

[Three_Haligonians]

Oh boy.. My first clarification!

Also, making it an immediate action would completely torpedo throw weapon users.


glass.

Very true, what I meant of course was that a character could use the feat as it is written but with the added option of being able to draw as an immediate action. I definately didn't mean for it to sound like I wanted to replace the free action with an immediate one.

Sorry,

J from Three Haligonians

 

[the Jester]

Jester I'd love to see your write up of hidden strike.

HIDDEN THREAT (General, Fighter)
You are unusually capable of quickly drawing and striking when enemies leave you an opening.
Prerequisites: Base attack +3, Quickdraw
Benefit: If you have a melee weapon that you are proficient in on your person in easy reach, you may make attacks of opportunity as if you were armed with that weapon (for purposes of threatened area and such). You may only use this feat with melee weapons without reach.