Using Multi-attack action with different weapons

[CuriousBard]

Ok.....

PC is 10ft from his target. With QuickDraw the PC can technically ready his weapon as a free action, take a 5ft adjustment and then unleash with multiple attacks in a round. Or if he had a reach weapon, he could forego the 5ft adjustment.

Now assuming the PC did in fact have a reach weapon, is it possible for him to fire a heavy crossbow with his first attack, ready the reach weapon as his free action, and then continue his other attacks?

 

[kreynolds]

I guess it's possible. Dropping an item is a free action that does not trigger an attack of opportunity. So...maybe? I never thought about it actually. Without any help right this second, I would say yes. Mostly because you are not actually interupting the full attack action. Technically, dropping your crossbow and switching to your reach weapon with quick-draw doesn't take any time away from your turn, so, yeah. I guess so.

 

[Ranger REG]

Make sure you have Combat Reflexes in case your enemies decided to pick up your dropped weapons.

 

[BeauNiddle]

The books suggest you limit to only one free action a round. Since dropping a weapon is a free action and quick draw is also a free action I personally wouldn't allow it.

That said I can't see anything abusive about it. YMMV

 

[hong]

The books suggest you limit to only one free action a round. Since dropping a weapon is a free action and quick draw is also a free action I personally wouldn't allow it.

Where exactly in the books is this suggestion of limiting free actions to one per round? The only thing I can find is "the DM puts reasonably limits on what you can really do for free" [PHB p.121], which isn't the same thing.

 

[CuriousBard]

Hmm......ok, so if dropping a crossbow is a free action, what if you fired the crossbow, but then didn't drop it. You hold it in one hand while you ready your reach weapon with your other as your sole free action? Sure reach weapons are two-handed weapons, but Monkey Grip should help there. hehe

I mean I suppose different DM's can get picky on this one. I was just wondering if there was a stated rule anywhere that would forbid this activity.

 

[BeauNiddle]

Maybe I'm thinking about Quickened spells. The glossary says '... one or more such action ...' so you're probably right.

I still wouldn't allow it tho [I'm just like that]

 

[kreynolds]

Hmm......ok, so if dropping a crossbow is a free action, what if you fired the crossbow, but then didn't drop it. You hold it in one hand while you ready your reach weapon with your other as your sole free action? Sure reach weapons are two-handed weapons, but Monkey Grip should help there.

Technically, there is nothing wrong with what you are describing. If you want to fire your crossbow, hold the empty crossbow in one hand (you don't need monkey grip for this unless you intend to use the weapon, which you can't because you need both hands to reload and it doesn't qualify as a melee weapon) and reach for your reach weapon with your other hand. Now, you are fighting with a reach weapon in one hand suffering a -4 attack penalty to all rolls with the reach weapon, while your other hand sits there and does nothing but hold an empty heavy crossbow. Do I have that right? My question is this; why would you want to do this? I don't see any tactical or utilitarian advantage to it.

 

[kreynolds]

Maybe I'm thinking about Quickened spells. The glossary says '... one or more such action ...' so you're probably right.

You are correct in regards to Quickened spells. You can cast only 1 quickened spell per round.

I still wouldn't allow it tho [I'm just like that]

harsh...I remember DM's like you, but I thought they faded away with 2nd edition.

 

[CuriousBard]

Umm.....actually I was thinking the Monkey Grip Feat would be applied to the weapon that gets readied by QuickDraw (hence a -2 to hit with the new weapon). No sense in using it on an empty crossbow.

But what seems odd is that it would take a non-action to hang onto the crossbow, and yet cost a free-action (whether you're only allowed one in a round or not), to drop the thing. Of course if we get TOO picky on what is a free action and what isn't, we'd end up ruling "Drop your sword!" as 3 free actions.

But I think the basics are there. As a DM, I'd allow such a thing. Fire the crossbow, dump it, quickdraw weapon, continue to attack. Not a problem in my mind. After all, 3E is hardly in the realm of 'realism'. Not sure how many games could result in a Halfling with a Str of 4 rolling a 20 and successfully Pinning a Hill Giant who rolls a 1 on his check.

(For those that want to crunch the numbers to find out if this works.........Halfling; -3 Str, -4 Size. Nat20 equals 13. Hill Giant; +7 Str, +4 Size. Nat1 equals 12. Halfling wins!).

Which reminds me.........this would probably go into the House Rule section, but I'm thinking of basing opposing attribute checks on a d12 or d10. But that could be another thread.