So how many types of actions are there?

[irdeggman]

All these different actions is one of the things WotC needs to clean up in the next edition. It's too complicated for new players. Move action, full round action, standard action, free action, swift action, immediate action. It's far more complicated than it needs to be.

Actually I think that swift and immediate actions help to clarify the rules.

You no longer end up with a lot of things being "a free action that can be done outside of yuor turn", like Feather Fall used to be. Feather Fall is now an immediate action. Which is a swift action that can be done outside of your turn, but takes up your next swift action.

By calling them swift and immediate actions you also limit the number of actions that can be done with them. 1 swift action per turn and an immediate action uses up your next swift action. There is potentially an infinite amoutn of "free" actions per turn, only limited by the DM's interpretation of what is "reasonable" or not.

 

[Aaron L]

Immediate Actions are reflexive, things you can do even when it isn't your turn to act because they are reactions, and that's something that D&D has needed BADLY.

They are a GREAT addition.

 

[RigaMortus2]

In 4E, WotC needs to make conterspell feats or a counterspell spell that uses immediate actions instead of having to "Ready" to counter a spell that someone might or might not end up casting... Example:

Simple Counter Spell
Wizard 1/Sorcerer 1
Action: Immediate

You may counter any 0th level or 1st level spell as it is being cast. As per the rules on the Spellcraft skill, a successful Spellcraft check (DC = 15 + spell level being cast) will tell you what the spell being cast and it's level.

 

[DreamChaser]

So what is the difference between Free Actions and Swift Actions?

So I can do a move action, a standard actions, a free action, and a swift action in one round?

during a normal (non surprise, not hasted, not slowed) round (from the moment you go till the moment you go again) you can:

take one standard action and one move action (or one full round action)
take one swift action or one immediate action
take any number of free actions.

 

[irdeggman]

In 4E, WotC needs to make conterspell feats or a counterspell spell that uses immediate actions instead of having to "Ready" to counter a spell that someone might or might not end up casting... Example:

Simple Counter Spell
Wizard 1/Sorcerer 1
Action: Immediate

You may counter any 0th level or 1st level spell as it is being cast. As per the rules on the Spellcraft skill, a successful Spellcraft check (DC = 15 + spell level being cast) will tell you what the spell being cast and it's level.

Reactive Counterspell feat from Player's Guide to Faerun. Allows counterspelling even if not "readied". I'm surprised that feat didn't make it into the Complete Mage.