Standing up from crouching a free or ME action?

[Kershek]

Picture if you will a sorcerer hiding behind a low wall by crouching (not kneeling). He wants to pop up and cast a maximized magic missile. Can he do it in one round, or does standing up from crouching require a ME action?

 

[Darklone]

He can't.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

If he's really good with Tumble, he can.

 

[Darklone]

If he's really good with Tumble, he can.

Depends on the books you are using. I don't think he can do it with the core rules.

Assuming he has some nice feats, he can do it too.

But yes, usually it's a ME action to get up.

 

[drnuncheon]

Depends on the books you are using. I don't think he can do it with the core rules.

Assuming he has some nice feats, he can do it too.

But yes, usually it's a ME action to get up.

"stand up from prone" is an MEA. I don't know about you, but it takes me a lot less time to straighten my legs than it does to climb up off the floor.

Now, 'crouching' hasn't been defined in D&D, so it's not going to be explicitly stated in the rules - it's going to be a DM's call. I'd suggest crouching down behind a low wall and timing how long it takes you to get to a standing position. If it's less than a second or so, I'd call it the equivalent of a 5' step - meaning you can combine it with a full action just fine.

 

[Tabarnak Smokeblower]

"stand up from prone" is an MEA. I don't know about you, but it takes me a lot less time to straighten my legs than it does to climb up off the floor.

Now, 'crouching' hasn't been defined in D&D, so it's not going to be explicitly stated in the rules - it's going to be a DM's call. I'd suggest crouching down behind a low wall and timing how long it takes you to get to a standing position. If it's less than a second or so, I'd call it the equivalent of a 5' step - meaning you can combine it with a full action just fine.

Will the sorceror be able to crouch back down again, or is he stuck "standing up" until his next round?

TS

 

[Macbrea]

Crouching is the same as being prone. For purposes of D&D.

Giving that.

1) MEA to Stand from prone
2) Standard Action to cast Maximized Magic missile for Wizard
3) Free Action to Drop back to prone

As a sorceror your alittle out of luck.
1) MEA to stand from prone
Next round

1) Full Round action to cast a Maximized Magic missile
2) Free action to drop back to prone.


So, unless you haste that Sorceror.. he is out of luck.

 

[drnuncheon]

Crouching is the same as being prone. For purposes of D&D.

Since when? Or is that an executive DM decision?

Edit: in fact, that's a really silly rule, because it would mean that someone crouching would be harder to hit than someone sitting or kneeling (PHB 132 - sitting/kneeling is +2/-2 for melee/ranged, while prone is +4/-4.)

J

 

[Tellerve]

I agree with drnuncheon that it should just be an equivalent 5' move, although even then I don't really like the idea of straightening your legs as 5' of movement. But then again as per 3.5 and d20 modern jumping rules. To hop up onto a waist high object is 10' so maybe it is pretty in sync with the rules as they've laid them out.

And yes, the sorcerer would be sadly standing up behind the low wall or whatever and visible. *sigh* another unfortunate side effect of dnd combat rules. People weren't go at leaning around corners in the middle ages, that only came about with guns apparently.

Tellerve

 

[jodyjohnson]

Abstracted out:

If he had Full cover he needs to take a MEA to cast and then has a maximum of 9/10 cover.

If he only had 9/10 or 3/4 cover in the first place no MEA is required since he can cast from cover.

The exact positioning of his legs and the bend of the knees is irrelevant.