At will? [Archive] - Wizards Community - Pages Merged by Solauren

At will? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Catryn008
02-28-07, 10:51 PM I know someone has probably asked this already, but without search, I have no idea where to find it. Does someone know what 'at will' means? Or what book states the definition of it?

I think it means they don't have to prep it, but someone else is telling me it means they can do it whenever they want in a round regardless of it being their turn, and they still get their other actions?

Help!?
paladin2019
02-28-07, 10:55 PM At will generally means any standard action the character takes can be used for the at will action. Specific abilities that do not follow this rule will be explicit in their descriptions.

As for reference, I don't have my books but check the MM Appendix 4(?) which discusses the more common special attacks and abilities. Also check the glossary of the PHB (my first stop for any question of terminology).
Tempest Stormwind
03-01-07, 12:10 AM All that "At Will" means is that there's no limit on the number of times you can use the ability. You can't go to use the ability and find out "oops, out of power", since you use it at will. However, you use it like it specifies -- and it WILL always specify how to use it.

For instance, a warlock's eldritch blast is an at-will spell-like ability that takes a standard action to use (and unlike other spell-like abilities, it has somatic components, but you ignore the ASF chance of light armor). Since it's at-will, he can always use it -- but the action required to use it is a standard action.

Action use of any type -- at will or not -- is limited by your actions in a round. Those actions are: 1 move, 1 standard, and 1 swift. The move and standard actions can be combined into a full-round action, the standard can be used to do anything a move action can, and NEXT round's swift action can be used when it's not your turn as an immediate action... but only once per round (obviously, as you can only steal an action once before it isn't there anymore to steal).

What your friend is confusing is "At will" (a term that does exist) with "infinite immediate actions in a round" (which doesn't).
risner
03-01-07, 01:57 PM Does someone know what 'at will' means?

At will means you can spend a standard action to activate the ability any time you have a standard action to spend. Nothing more.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Catryn008 02-28-07, 10:51 PM	I know someone has probably asked this already, but without search, I have no idea where to find it. Does someone know what 'at will' means? Or what book states the definition of it? I think it means they don't have to prep it, but someone else is telling me it means they can do it whenever they want in a round regardless of it being their turn, and they still get their other actions? Help!?
paladin2019 02-28-07, 10:55 PM	At will generally means any standard action the character takes can be used for the at will action. Specific abilities that do not follow this rule will be explicit in their descriptions. As for reference, I don't have my books but check the MM Appendix 4(?) which discusses the more common special attacks and abilities. Also check the glossary of the PHB (my first stop for any question of terminology).
Tempest Stormwind 03-01-07, 12:10 AM	All that "At Will" means is that there's no limit on the number of times you can use the ability. You can't go to use the ability and find out "oops, out of power", since you use it at will. However, you use it like it specifies -- and it WILL always specify how to use it. For instance, a warlock's eldritch blast is an at-will spell-like ability that takes a standard action to use (and unlike other spell-like abilities, it has somatic components, but you ignore the ASF chance of light armor). Since it's at-will, he can always use it -- but the action required to use it is a standard action. Action use of any type -- at will or not -- is limited by your actions in a round. Those actions are: 1 move, 1 standard, and 1 swift. The move and standard actions can be combined into a full-round action, the standard can be used to do anything a move action can, and NEXT round's swift action can be used when it's not your turn as an immediate action... but only once per round (obviously, as you can only steal an action once before it isn't there anymore to steal). What your friend is confusing is "At will" (a term that does exist) with "infinite immediate actions in a round" (which doesn't).
risner 03-01-07, 01:57 PM	Does someone know what 'at will' means? At will means you can spend a standard action to activate the ability any time you have a standard action to spend. Nothing more.