Combat Speech [Archive] - Wizards Community

Combat Speech [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Omaha_beach
10-27-04, 10:17 AM One of the main things in combat is that there are no talking allowed...or at least not lenghty discussions about you go there, I go there we flank him and then we'll later do this and that...but how much talk is allowed? We are developing a system of one syllable-commands, so that e.g. I say: Left, and everybody attacks the guy on my left, and so onwards...
Now the question is:
Is this only allowed during my turn in the combat sequence or is it a free action that can be done anytime during the combat turn?

I imagine that we can plan strategy this way during combat, as one syllable commands and thereby stay within limit of the free-action?

regards
Chrash
Naeron
10-27-04, 10:20 AM The SRD says the following:

Speak
In general, speaking is a free action that you can perform even when it isn’t your turn. Speaking more than few sentences is generally beyond the limit of a free action.

So coming up with a set of one word commands should be well within the limits if the Speak free action and you would be able to give such commands even when it isnt your turn.

However the DM will likely impose a limit on the number of such commands you can give in a round.
Omaha_beach
10-27-04, 10:55 AM I need the SRD document for 3.0? And where exactly is it written? We live by the books (and die by them :-D)
Regards
Chrash
Phrennzy
10-27-04, 11:08 AM You can find it here:

http://www.opengamingfoundation.org/srd.html

But it's just an online printing of the three core books. So that quote is in one of the books.
Cade Hedger
10-27-04, 11:09 AM Speak
In general, speaking is a free action that you can perform even when it isn't your turn. Some DMs may rule that a character can only speak on his turn, or that a character can't speak while flatfooted (and thus can't warn allies of a surprise threat until he has a chance to act). Speaking more than a few sentences is generally beyond the limit of a free action; to communicate more information that that, your DM may require that you take a move action or even a full-round action

thats from PHB pg 144

Im sure single word statements would fall under that. Even things like "Hey, get those guys over there", or "I need some help here" would be acceptible. I would allow anything that could acually be said in six seconds, taken on your turn of course and i would acctually time it, if it goes over i would give you the choice of letting it be your move action or taking a small (-1 or 2 at max) penelty to your attack for the round since you werent focusing on hurting your foe
Omaha_beach
10-27-04, 11:14 AM Allrighty...now I just need the reference for that for D&D 3.0?
Regards
Chrash
mean_liar
10-27-04, 11:38 AM This is solely a houserule, but I encourage PCs to take "Profession: Military Commander". Anytime the DM gives you flak about coordinating spells or actions or whatever, bust out a high DC Profession roll to keep him quiet.

"Hey, we go over this stuff all the time! Its my Profession!"
Cade Hedger
10-27-04, 11:45 AM my refence is straight from the 3.5 handbook so it should be in the 3.0 handbook around that same page. I dont think they changed much on speech
Omaha_beach
10-27-04, 12:00 PM It seems that they have...because I cannot find anything in there about speech...

So ...Help?
Regards
Chrash
Mit Ratten Lebt
10-27-04, 12:11 PM :) In my group, you are allowed three words. If you need more, then it's a move-equivelant action to speak pretty much whatever you want.
richelieu
10-27-04, 01:07 PM Well basketball and football players trashtalk, set up defense, coordinate passes, etc in the thick of melee and it doesn't seem to affect their performance much. Therefore I think PCs should be able to say anything that they could say in 6 seconds as a free action.
The test: Can you say, "Get outta my house!" and make a lay-up at the same time? Could you yell, "I'm open!" and still catch a twenty yard pass?
Surely yes to both.
CruelDM
10-27-04, 01:17 PM I dont have a 3.0 PH handy, but its under combat and free actions in the 3.5 PH, check those sections in the older PH. Also look in the back for a page reference in the index for free actions if you cannot find it in the combat section.
Spitkahn
11-02-04, 08:58 AM from the 3.0, located at :
http://www.opengamingfoundation.org/srd/SRDCombatActions.rtf

Speak [Free][AoO: No]
Description: The DM may place limits on what may be reasonably communicated in a six-second combat round.

This looks like the DM is in total control. He can set any limits on any reasonably communication!

signed Spitkahn
playing a Fiendish Gnome battlemager

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Omaha_beach 10-27-04, 10:17 AM	One of the main things in combat is that there are no talking allowed...or at least not lenghty discussions about you go there, I go there we flank him and then we'll later do this and that...but how much talk is allowed? We are developing a system of one syllable-commands, so that e.g. I say: Left, and everybody attacks the guy on my left, and so onwards... Now the question is: Is this only allowed during my turn in the combat sequence or is it a free action that can be done anytime during the combat turn? I imagine that we can plan strategy this way during combat, as one syllable commands and thereby stay within limit of the free-action? regards Chrash
Naeron 10-27-04, 10:20 AM	The SRD says the following: Speak In general, speaking is a free action that you can perform even when it isn’t your turn. Speaking more than few sentences is generally beyond the limit of a free action. So coming up with a set of one word commands should be well within the limits if the Speak free action and you would be able to give such commands even when it isnt your turn. However the DM will likely impose a limit on the number of such commands you can give in a round.
Omaha_beach 10-27-04, 10:55 AM	I need the SRD document for 3.0? And where exactly is it written? We live by the books (and die by them :-D) Regards Chrash
Phrennzy 10-27-04, 11:08 AM	You can find it here: http://www.opengamingfoundation.org/srd.html But it's just an online printing of the three core books. So that quote is in one of the books.
Cade Hedger 10-27-04, 11:09 AM	Speak In general, speaking is a free action that you can perform even when it isn't your turn. Some DMs may rule that a character can only speak on his turn, or that a character can't speak while flatfooted (and thus can't warn allies of a surprise threat until he has a chance to act). Speaking more than a few sentences is generally beyond the limit of a free action; to communicate more information that that, your DM may require that you take a move action or even a full-round action thats from PHB pg 144 Im sure single word statements would fall under that. Even things like "Hey, get those guys over there", or "I need some help here" would be acceptible. I would allow anything that could acually be said in six seconds, taken on your turn of course and i would acctually time it, if it goes over i would give you the choice of letting it be your move action or taking a small (-1 or 2 at max) penelty to your attack for the round since you werent focusing on hurting your foe
Omaha_beach 10-27-04, 11:14 AM	Allrighty...now I just need the reference for that for D&D 3.0? Regards Chrash
mean_liar 10-27-04, 11:38 AM	This is solely a houserule, but I encourage PCs to take "Profession: Military Commander". Anytime the DM gives you flak about coordinating spells or actions or whatever, bust out a high DC Profession roll to keep him quiet. "Hey, we go over this stuff all the time! Its my Profession!"
Cade Hedger 10-27-04, 11:45 AM	my refence is straight from the 3.5 handbook so it should be in the 3.0 handbook around that same page. I dont think they changed much on speech
Omaha_beach 10-27-04, 12:00 PM	It seems that they have...because I cannot find anything in there about speech... So ...Help? Regards Chrash
Mit Ratten Lebt 10-27-04, 12:11 PM	:) In my group, you are allowed three words. If you need more, then it's a move-equivelant action to speak pretty much whatever you want.
richelieu 10-27-04, 01:07 PM	Well basketball and football players trashtalk, set up defense, coordinate passes, etc in the thick of melee and it doesn't seem to affect their performance much. Therefore I think PCs should be able to say anything that they could say in 6 seconds as a free action. The test: Can you say, "Get outta my house!" and make a lay-up at the same time? Could you yell, "I'm open!" and still catch a twenty yard pass? Surely yes to both.
CruelDM 10-27-04, 01:17 PM	I dont have a 3.0 PH handy, but its under combat and free actions in the 3.5 PH, check those sections in the older PH. Also look in the back for a page reference in the index for free actions if you cannot find it in the combat section.
Spitkahn 11-02-04, 08:58 AM	from the 3.0, located at : http://www.opengamingfoundation.org/srd/SRDCombatActions.rtf Speak [Free][AoO: No] Description: The DM may place limits on what may be reasonably communicated in a six-second combat round. This looks like the DM is in total control. He can set any limits on any reasonably communication! signed Spitkahn playing a Fiendish Gnome battlemager