2 Questionable Readied Actions [Archive] - Wizards Community

2 Questionable Readied Actions [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
CalculatedTHAC0
07-21-05, 01:55 PM Please let me know if you think the following two readied action scenarios are possible:

Scenario 1. In an encounter with a few orcs, a monk winning initiative readies the action, "The first orc that, charging or otherwise, comes close (enters an adjacent square), I will attempt Stunning Fist on him."

Scenario 2. A monk in the same scenario who just happens to have the spell True Strike (from multiclassing), and who has already cast the spell and is holding the charge of the spell readies the action, "The first orc that enters an adjacent square, I will release the charge of True Strike as a free action and then use Stunning Fist."

In both these cases, would it work on an orc that was charging the monk? Is releasing the charge of True Strike really a free action?
Arindor
07-21-05, 02:32 PM Yes for the first no for the second. True strike has range Personal and only touch spells can have there charged held and even then the spell is complete you just haven't discharged it yet.
ashcat_lt
07-21-05, 02:37 PM True Strike always affects your very next attack roll. You can't hold the charge, you don't have to anounce that you're using it. Once cast it is a non-action like benefitting from Bull's Strength or Magic Weapon, only it goes away after your first attack.

Scenario 1 is exactly the same as 2, except the monk gets +20 to hit in 2.
CalculatedTHAC0
07-21-05, 02:58 PM True Strike always affects your very next attack roll.

The player who tried to use this tactic realized that the attack used for True Strike must be "made before the end of the next round." Therefore, he wouldn't be able to cast it at the beginning of the day and then use it on the first attack when he gets into combat.

So, the player wanted to refrain from saying the last part of the verbal portion of the spell before entering the orc's camp, and then say the final word as an orc ran up to him. We agreed that it was possible, as long as he didn't do anything else besides a move action, but I'd like to know what some other DMs or players think about this before he tries to use it again. Thanks!
Tony Vargas
07-21-05, 03:27 PM So, the player wanted to refrain from saying the last part of the verbal portion of the spell before entering the orc's camp, and then say the final word as an orc ran up to him. We agreed that it was possible, I'd renege on that if I were you. You can't start casting a spell, then pick it up later. (actually, in a flavor sense, you can - it's part of the rationale for 'preparing' spells in the first place, but you've already done so, you can't further break up that last triggering part of a prepared spell).

Aside from that, both ready actions are fine. You can ready a specific type of attack against the first enemy to come into your threatened area. You can ready an attack that will benefit from True Strike (as long as you cast True Strike the round before, and the ready goes off before the end of the round).

as long as he didn't do anything else besides a move action, but I'd like to know what some other DMs or players think about this before he tries to use it again. Thanks![/QUOTE]
ashcat_lt
07-21-05, 03:50 PM yeah, i misread the spell. i completely ignored the part in the () and was thinking they'd removed that part from 3.5, which would be great, but maybe too much for a lvl1 spell.

I definetly wouldn't allow that whole "holding back the last word" crap. Next thing you know you'll have people "cocking" fireballs for use as AoO's!

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
CalculatedTHAC0 07-21-05, 01:55 PM	Please let me know if you think the following two readied action scenarios are possible: Scenario 1. In an encounter with a few orcs, a monk winning initiative readies the action, "The first orc that, charging or otherwise, comes close (enters an adjacent square), I will attempt Stunning Fist on him." Scenario 2. A monk in the same scenario who just happens to have the spell True Strike (from multiclassing), and who has already cast the spell and is holding the charge of the spell readies the action, "The first orc that enters an adjacent square, I will release the charge of True Strike as a free action and then use Stunning Fist." In both these cases, would it work on an orc that was charging the monk? Is releasing the charge of True Strike really a free action?
Arindor 07-21-05, 02:32 PM	Yes for the first no for the second. True strike has range Personal and only touch spells can have there charged held and even then the spell is complete you just haven't discharged it yet.
ashcat_lt 07-21-05, 02:37 PM	True Strike always affects your very next attack roll. You can't hold the charge, you don't have to anounce that you're using it. Once cast it is a non-action like benefitting from Bull's Strength or Magic Weapon, only it goes away after your first attack. Scenario 1 is exactly the same as 2, except the monk gets +20 to hit in 2.
CalculatedTHAC0 07-21-05, 02:58 PM	True Strike always affects your very next attack roll. The player who tried to use this tactic realized that the attack used for True Strike must be "made before the end of the next round." Therefore, he wouldn't be able to cast it at the beginning of the day and then use it on the first attack when he gets into combat. So, the player wanted to refrain from saying the last part of the verbal portion of the spell before entering the orc's camp, and then say the final word as an orc ran up to him. We agreed that it was possible, as long as he didn't do anything else besides a move action, but I'd like to know what some other DMs or players think about this before he tries to use it again. Thanks!
Tony Vargas 07-21-05, 03:27 PM	So, the player wanted to refrain from saying the last part of the verbal portion of the spell before entering the orc's camp, and then say the final word as an orc ran up to him. We agreed that it was possible, I'd renege on that if I were you. You can't start casting a spell, then pick it up later. (actually, in a flavor sense, you can - it's part of the rationale for 'preparing' spells in the first place, but you've already done so, you can't further break up that last triggering part of a prepared spell). Aside from that, both ready actions are fine. You can ready a specific type of attack against the first enemy to come into your threatened area. You can ready an attack that will benefit from True Strike (as long as you cast True Strike the round before, and the ready goes off before the end of the round). as long as he didn't do anything else besides a move action, but I'd like to know what some other DMs or players think about this before he tries to use it again. Thanks![/QUOTE]
ashcat_lt 07-21-05, 03:50 PM	yeah, i misread the spell. i completely ignored the part in the () and was thinking they'd removed that part from 3.5, which would be great, but maybe too much for a lvl1 spell. I definetly wouldn't allow that whole "holding back the last word" crap. Next thing you know you'll have people "cocking" fireballs for use as AoO's!