Just want to clear this up: Flyby attack doesn't grant an extra standard action! [Archive] - Wizards Community

Just want to clear this up: Flyby attack doesn't grant an extra standard action! [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
EvilVegan
03-19-07, 09:40 AM Greetings,

I've read a few times on this board that people think that flyby attack grants an additional standard action in a round. As in Standard Action + Flyby Attack (move+standard) + swift actions = 1 round is a viable use of the feat.

Here's the wording of flyby attack:

"Flyby Attack [General]
Prerequisite - Fly speed.

Benefit - When flying, the creature can take a move action (including a dive) and another standard action at any point during the move. The creature cannot take a second move action during a round when it makes a flyby attack.
Normal - Without this feat, the creature takes a standard action either before or after its move. "

Here's what most people focus on and the reason they think that it grants an additional standard action:

"...the creature can take a move action (including a dive) and another standard action ..."

They believe "Another standard action" means "In addition to the other normal standard action used in the round".

HOWEVER, this is not the case.

The reason for this is that the language used in flyby attack is not optimal and does not match what most people commonly use when describing things in combat. Most people view everything as [move actions], [standard actions], [full-round actions], [swift actions], and . When it is more correct to view them as [move, standard, full-round, swift, or immediate] actions.

Here is the proper way to read the above sentence, it involves proper separation of adjectives from the nouns they modify, I will separate the adjectives with ()'s and the true meaning of the sentence should be clearer:

"[I]...the creature can take a (move) action ... and another (standard) action at any point during the move..."

In other words: The creature can take an action and another action at any point during the first action.

The fact that the first action is a move action and the second is a standard action does not change the fact that you still only get a single move action and a single standard action in a round.

I apologize if this has already been cleared up. I just read a couple of recent posts and they seemed to indicate otherwise and it was bothering me...
DrMorganes
03-19-07, 10:01 AM Correct, EV!

Flyby Attack is nothing more than Spring Attack or Shot on the Run for critters with a fly speed. Same rules apply, though Spring Attack and SotR both specify an attack action rather than a standard action. The difference, though subtle, is very, very important. With the Spring Attack and SotR, only an attack of some sort can be made between moves. With Flyby Attack, the flying creature can do other things, like cast spells, drink potions, activate wands/rings, etc, and then fly away.
tarkin
03-19-07, 10:22 AM It should also be noted that Flyby Attack does not protect you from AoOs.

It's most obvious use is by dragons. They fly into position to do a Breath attack, make the attack, then fly away.

This means they don't neccesarily end their turn in a position for someone to do a full attack action on them.
WinterPsionic
03-19-07, 04:32 PM Hence FBA+Dual Strike = Eagle Style Strike :D

....not sure why that idea came to mind but it did...probably the whole SA+DS "debate".

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
EvilVegan 03-19-07, 09:40 AM	Greetings, I've read a few times on this board that people think that flyby attack grants an additional standard action in a round. As in Standard Action + Flyby Attack (move+standard) + swift actions = 1 round is a viable use of the feat. Here's the wording of flyby attack: "Flyby Attack [General] Prerequisite - Fly speed. Benefit - When flying, the creature can take a move action (including a dive) and another standard action at any point during the move. The creature cannot take a second move action during a round when it makes a flyby attack. Normal - Without this feat, the creature takes a standard action either before or after its move. " Here's what most people focus on and the reason they think that it grants an additional standard action: "...the creature can take a move action (including a dive) and another standard action ..." They believe "Another standard action" means "In addition to the other normal standard action used in the round". HOWEVER, this is not the case. The reason for this is that the language used in flyby attack is not optimal and does not match what most people commonly use when describing things in combat. Most people view everything as [move actions], [standard actions], [full-round actions], [swift actions], and . When it is more correct to view them as [move, standard, full-round, swift, or immediate] actions. Here is the proper way to read the above sentence, it involves proper separation of adjectives from the nouns they modify, I will separate the adjectives with ()'s and the true meaning of the sentence should be clearer: "[I]...the creature can take a (move) action ... and another (standard) action at any point during the move..." In other words: The creature can take an action and another action at any point during the first action. The fact that the first action is a move action and the second is a standard action does not change the fact that you still only get a single move action and a single standard action in a round. I apologize if this has already been cleared up. I just read a couple of recent posts and they seemed to indicate otherwise and it was bothering me...
DrMorganes 03-19-07, 10:01 AM	Correct, EV! Flyby Attack is nothing more than Spring Attack or Shot on the Run for critters with a fly speed. Same rules apply, though Spring Attack and SotR both specify an attack action rather than a standard action. The difference, though subtle, is very, very important. With the Spring Attack and SotR, only an attack of some sort can be made between moves. With Flyby Attack, the flying creature can do other things, like cast spells, drink potions, activate wands/rings, etc, and then fly away.
tarkin 03-19-07, 10:22 AM	It should also be noted that Flyby Attack does not protect you from AoOs. It's most obvious use is by dragons. They fly into position to do a Breath attack, make the attack, then fly away. This means they don't neccesarily end their turn in a position for someone to do a full attack action on them.
WinterPsionic 03-19-07, 04:32 PM	Hence FBA+Dual Strike = Eagle Style Strike :D ....not sure why that idea came to mind but it did...probably the whole SA+DS "debate".