Core Rule Spells & Swift & Immidiate Actions [Archive] - Wizards Community

Core Rule Spells & Swift & Immidiate Actions [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Lassar
06-29-05, 05:11 PM Hi brainpool,

just a short one this time :-)

Does somebody know about the Core Rule Spells integrated in the swift and immediate action rules?

One obvious example would be: Featherfall.
But are there any other spells that could/should be changed to swift or immediate actions?

Thanks again :D

lassar
He Who Lurks
06-29-05, 06:56 PM I believe that any spell that could be cast as a free action is changed to a swift action unless some element of the spell description would indicate otherwise. The words "even if it is not your turn..." or "takes place before damage is calculated..." or something of the sort would mean an immediate action, and not a swift action.

If you didn't know already, featherfall is cast as an immediate action.
smrtgmp
06-29-05, 07:06 PM The only problem with feather fall as an immediate action is that you cant use immediate actions while flat footed. Assuming your fall took you by suprise (such as a pit trap or whatever), does that mean you wouldnt be able to get the spell off in time? If so, that would suck.
He Who Lurks
06-29-05, 07:12 PM Even if your fall takes you by surprise, a fall takes a finite non-zero amount of time, no matter the distance. I would say you are flat footed for the first instant, but not for the rest of the fall. That's what I would rule, though your mileage may vary.
smrtgmp
06-29-05, 07:23 PM Thats how I would rule as well, as I have no desire to change the intended effects of the spell. I was just wondering how it would react with a RAW interpreation of immediate actions.
Jaid
06-29-05, 08:34 PM you can't move when it's not your turn anyways, so obviously you don't fall until it's your turn (uhhh... for the record, i'm just being facetious).

but yeah, i would say falling doesn't catch you flatfooted.
Greyman
06-29-05, 10:42 PM The only problem with feather fall as an immediate action is that you cant use immediate actions while flat footed. Assuming your fall took you by suprise (such as a pit trap or whatever), does that mean you wouldnt be able to get the spell off in time? If so, that would suck.The psionic power catfall can be manifested as an immediate action. Catfall merely reduces the damage as if the fall were 10' less (plus 10' per power point augmentation) than it was, rather than negate the fall damage entirely, but otherwise the wording and function of the power is quite similar to that of featherfall.

Since both the spell and power are intended to be used in just such a situation, falling does not, in itself, catch you flatfooted. However, if someone were to trigger a pit trapdoor beneath you before you can act in the first round of combat, you would be flatfooted and unable to catfall/featherfall.
smrtgmp
06-30-05, 05:52 AM However, if someone were to trigger a pit trapdoor beneath you before you can act in the first round of combat, you would be flatfooted and unable to catfall/featherfall.This is what I was wondering. If thats true, it goes agaisnt the original intent of feather fall, so changing it to an immediate action would have a pretty signifigant impact on the spell.
MrkGrismer
06-30-05, 10:00 AM Of course, due to the nature of abstraction, you don't actually start falling until it is your turn, and thus can cast featherfall.
Bulabase
06-30-05, 10:06 AM It's hardly worth mentioning, but any quickened spell should now be a swift action.
WombleHunter
06-30-05, 10:09 AM This is what I was wondering. If thats true, it goes agaisnt the original intent of feather fall, so changing it to an immediate action would have a pretty signifigant impact on the spell.
But leaving it as a free action means you can't cast it unless it's your turn anyway, so in the above example you still go splat.
Bulabase
06-30-05, 10:58 AM Perhaps feather fall should be considered a contingent spell with disgressional override?
Merestil Haye
06-30-05, 11:02 AM Feather Fall has a casting time of one free action. However text in the spell qualifies this to say that Feather Fall can be cast even if it is not your turn.

So making it an immediate action preserves its power level.

As to why; you fall an awful long way in the space of a round, such that free-falling motion should not count towards movement you take in a turn.
Lassar
06-30-05, 11:13 AM well....ahm...thanks

actually - I have to confess - that I was looking for a list or something where someone already did the work, to look through the core spells and change some into swift/immediate actions.

My DM asked me to find such a list until saturday, otherwise I would look through all spells myself, but I'm runnning out of time :-)

Maybe some of you have already some spells in mind? Featherfall was the only one I could remember from the back of my head...

Thanks again!
MrkGrismer
06-30-05, 01:00 PM As to why; you fall an awful long way in the space of a round, such that free-falling motion should not count towards movement you take in a turn.

Except that would mean that a flying creature would be able to add diving movement to free-fall movement. :eek:

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Lassar 06-29-05, 05:11 PM	Hi brainpool, just a short one this time :-) Does somebody know about the Core Rule Spells integrated in the swift and immediate action rules? One obvious example would be: Featherfall. But are there any other spells that could/should be changed to swift or immediate actions? Thanks again :D lassar
He Who Lurks 06-29-05, 06:56 PM	I believe that any spell that could be cast as a free action is changed to a swift action unless some element of the spell description would indicate otherwise. The words "even if it is not your turn..." or "takes place before damage is calculated..." or something of the sort would mean an immediate action, and not a swift action. If you didn't know already, featherfall is cast as an immediate action.
smrtgmp 06-29-05, 07:06 PM	The only problem with feather fall as an immediate action is that you cant use immediate actions while flat footed. Assuming your fall took you by suprise (such as a pit trap or whatever), does that mean you wouldnt be able to get the spell off in time? If so, that would suck.
He Who Lurks 06-29-05, 07:12 PM	Even if your fall takes you by surprise, a fall takes a finite non-zero amount of time, no matter the distance. I would say you are flat footed for the first instant, but not for the rest of the fall. That's what I would rule, though your mileage may vary.
smrtgmp 06-29-05, 07:23 PM	Thats how I would rule as well, as I have no desire to change the intended effects of the spell. I was just wondering how it would react with a RAW interpreation of immediate actions.
Jaid 06-29-05, 08:34 PM	you can't move when it's not your turn anyways, so obviously you don't fall until it's your turn (uhhh... for the record, i'm just being facetious). but yeah, i would say falling doesn't catch you flatfooted.
Greyman 06-29-05, 10:42 PM	The only problem with feather fall as an immediate action is that you cant use immediate actions while flat footed. Assuming your fall took you by suprise (such as a pit trap or whatever), does that mean you wouldnt be able to get the spell off in time? If so, that would suck.The psionic power catfall can be manifested as an immediate action. Catfall merely reduces the damage as if the fall were 10' less (plus 10' per power point augmentation) than it was, rather than negate the fall damage entirely, but otherwise the wording and function of the power is quite similar to that of featherfall. Since both the spell and power are intended to be used in just such a situation, falling does not, in itself, catch you flatfooted. However, if someone were to trigger a pit trapdoor beneath you before you can act in the first round of combat, you would be flatfooted and unable to catfall/featherfall.
smrtgmp 06-30-05, 05:52 AM	However, if someone were to trigger a pit trapdoor beneath you before you can act in the first round of combat, you would be flatfooted and unable to catfall/featherfall.This is what I was wondering. If thats true, it goes agaisnt the original intent of feather fall, so changing it to an immediate action would have a pretty signifigant impact on the spell.
MrkGrismer 06-30-05, 10:00 AM	Of course, due to the nature of abstraction, you don't actually start falling until it is your turn, and thus can cast featherfall.
Bulabase 06-30-05, 10:06 AM	It's hardly worth mentioning, but any quickened spell should now be a swift action.
WombleHunter 06-30-05, 10:09 AM	This is what I was wondering. If thats true, it goes agaisnt the original intent of feather fall, so changing it to an immediate action would have a pretty signifigant impact on the spell. But leaving it as a free action means you can't cast it unless it's your turn anyway, so in the above example you still go splat.
Bulabase 06-30-05, 10:58 AM	Perhaps feather fall should be considered a contingent spell with disgressional override?
Merestil Haye 06-30-05, 11:02 AM	Feather Fall has a casting time of one free action. However text in the spell qualifies this to say that Feather Fall can be cast even if it is not your turn. So making it an immediate action preserves its power level. As to why; you fall an awful long way in the space of a round, such that free-falling motion should not count towards movement you take in a turn.
Lassar 06-30-05, 11:13 AM	well....ahm...thanks actually - I have to confess - that I was looking for a list or something where someone already did the work, to look through the core spells and change some into swift/immediate actions. My DM asked me to find such a list until saturday, otherwise I would look through all spells myself, but I'm runnning out of time :-) Maybe some of you have already some spells in mind? Featherfall was the only one I could remember from the back of my head... Thanks again!
MrkGrismer 06-30-05, 01:00 PM	As to why; you fall an awful long way in the space of a round, such that free-falling motion should not count towards movement you take in a turn. Except that would mean that a flying creature would be able to add diving movement to free-fall movement. :eek: