Disabled and 5 Foot Step? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Disabled and 5 Foot Step? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
nlentz88
04-19-07, 05:54 PM A PC takes damage reducing his current hp to 0 and becomes disabled. He can now only take a standard action on his next turn, but if he does he loses one hp and is reduced to -1 hp. On his turn, instead of taking a standard action, could the PC take a 5 foot step and avoid the hp loss? Or does the 5 foot step count as a standard action even if that's the only thing he's doing that round?
Merestil Haye
04-19-07, 05:58 PM A PC takes damage reducing his current hp to 0 and becomes disabled. He can now only take a standard action on his next turn, but if he does he loses one hp and is reduced to -1 hp. On his turn, instead of taking a standard action, could the PC take a 5 foot step and avoid the hp loss? Or does the 5 foot step count as a standard action even if that's the only thing he's doing that round?The PC can take a standard or move action. If he takes a move action he does not take damage. So he can do a limited withdraw (a Withdraw action that moves only up to his speed).

Or he can take a 5' step, which not being a standard action, will not cause him to take damage.
Eerongal
04-19-07, 05:59 PM A PC takes damage reducing his current hp to 0 and becomes disabled. He can now only take a standard action on his next turn, but if he does he loses one hp and is reduced to -1 hp. On his turn, instead of taking a standard action, could the PC take a 5 foot step and avoid the hp loss? Or does the 5 foot step count as a standard action even if that's the only thing he's doing that round?

only standard actions and actions deemed too strenuous by your DM count. Most free actions do not, however a quickened spell for example would be too strenuous, even though it's free. Really, it's just down to a DM call, but i would say no, it's less strenuous than a move action, which you can take at no penalty.
tos_shai_hulud
04-19-07, 06:07 PM In fact, you could take a 5'-step and a move action. For instance, next to you, a guy dropped a shield. You can 5'-step and grab his shield. The 5'-step is a free action, picking up an object is a move action (be careful, as picking up an object provokes an attack of opportunity).
meabolex
04-19-07, 06:12 PM 5 ft. step is classified as "not an action" - which is kind of counterintuitive.

Therefore, as long as you can normally take a 5 ft. step, you can take a 5 ft. step while disabled.

You can theoretically take a 5 ft. step and perform a standard action - which causes you to take 1 point of damage and thus you start dying.
nlentz88
04-20-07, 01:43 PM Thanks for your help, guys!
Marcus Majarra
04-21-07, 02:16 AM On the issue of quickened spells, keep in mind that they're generally considered to be swift or immediate actions now, and these cause strain to disabled characters.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
nlentz88 04-19-07, 05:54 PM	A PC takes damage reducing his current hp to 0 and becomes disabled. He can now only take a standard action on his next turn, but if he does he loses one hp and is reduced to -1 hp. On his turn, instead of taking a standard action, could the PC take a 5 foot step and avoid the hp loss? Or does the 5 foot step count as a standard action even if that's the only thing he's doing that round?
Merestil Haye 04-19-07, 05:58 PM	A PC takes damage reducing his current hp to 0 and becomes disabled. He can now only take a standard action on his next turn, but if he does he loses one hp and is reduced to -1 hp. On his turn, instead of taking a standard action, could the PC take a 5 foot step and avoid the hp loss? Or does the 5 foot step count as a standard action even if that's the only thing he's doing that round?The PC can take a standard or move action. If he takes a move action he does not take damage. So he can do a limited withdraw (a Withdraw action that moves only up to his speed). Or he can take a 5' step, which not being a standard action, will not cause him to take damage.
Eerongal 04-19-07, 05:59 PM	A PC takes damage reducing his current hp to 0 and becomes disabled. He can now only take a standard action on his next turn, but if he does he loses one hp and is reduced to -1 hp. On his turn, instead of taking a standard action, could the PC take a 5 foot step and avoid the hp loss? Or does the 5 foot step count as a standard action even if that's the only thing he's doing that round? only standard actions and actions deemed too strenuous by your DM count. Most free actions do not, however a quickened spell for example would be too strenuous, even though it's free. Really, it's just down to a DM call, but i would say no, it's less strenuous than a move action, which you can take at no penalty.
tos_shai_hulud 04-19-07, 06:07 PM	In fact, you could take a 5'-step and a move action. For instance, next to you, a guy dropped a shield. You can 5'-step and grab his shield. The 5'-step is a free action, picking up an object is a move action (be careful, as picking up an object provokes an attack of opportunity).
meabolex 04-19-07, 06:12 PM	5 ft. step is classified as "not an action" - which is kind of counterintuitive. Therefore, as long as you can normally take a 5 ft. step, you can take a 5 ft. step while disabled. You can theoretically take a 5 ft. step and perform a standard action - which causes you to take 1 point of damage and thus you start dying.
nlentz88 04-20-07, 01:43 PM	Thanks for your help, guys!
Marcus Majarra 04-21-07, 02:16 AM	On the issue of quickened spells, keep in mind that they're generally considered to be swift or immediate actions now, and these cause strain to disabled characters.