Trading in combat?

[vhailor]

As what action does it count if you want to give something (a potion or the weapon you're holding) to an ally during combat?

 

[gtoasnt3]

I don't recall reading that one, but I probably would consider it "drawing a weapon or item" and make it a minor for the person receiving the item. Since it is being "dropped" by the holder, I'd call it a free action.

 

[AbdulAlhazred]

Worst case you might call it a minor action for each character, but I would say if they are adjacent then just call it a minor action for the taker, assuming the item is in the giver's hand. Even if it isn't, would it be more work for someone to take a potion out of the pack of a guy next to him than to reach into his own pack and get it out? Probably should still be a minor action.

If you want to toss someone something, then I'd call it a minor action for both and require an easy DC dex check to catch it. The hitch being how do you work that in terms of turns? You would have to essentially have the throw happen on one player's turn and the catch happen on the other's. This kind of issue also comes up with any other sort of situation (usually stunts) where two characters attempt to do something requiring action from each of them.

 

[Mort_Q]

The hitch being how do you work that in terms of turns? You would have to essentially have the throw happen on one player's turn and the catch happen on the other's. This kind of issue also comes up with any other sort of situation (usually stunts) where two characters attempt to do something requiring action from each of them.

One of the PCs would just have to delay.

 

[AbdulAlhazred]

One of the PCs would just have to delay.

Nope: Won't help. One PC delays, now they can take turns one after the other. What actually you would need to do is set a triggered minor action. That is one PC would prepare an action to catch, then the other would throw, triggering the catch. Alternately the catch could trigger the throw (sounds a bit backwards, but it seems reasonable).

Frankly I just think the whole preparing mechanic and all it implies is a bit too involved for the example of throwing and catching. If it was a potion, I'd just let the thrower throw it and make the catcher expend his minor action to catch it on his turn, or else it falls to the ground. Just much simpler overall.

For other more involved stunts, yeah, I'd go with triggered actions.

 

[vhailor]

thanks

 

[gtoasnt3]

If they are adjacent, the taker can just grab it and a willing PC/NPC let's him/her have it as a free action. If they aren't adjacent, it becomes a little more like what Abdul is describing.