Picking up an item [Archive] - Wizards Community

Picking up an item [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Benorf
04-23-08, 10:25 AM Ok, to pick up an item is a move action that provokes.

In my group the other night, I was disarmed, and I wanted to pick up my weapon, but I didn't want to provoke, so I figured I'd use tumble to pick it up. The DM thought that the DC should be a 35 if you want to do it as a free action, and a DC 30 if you want to keep it as a move action, just not provoking. This means that your average character with a dex of 18 (+4) can't even try to do this until they are level 8 ( 8 + 3 ranks = 11... 11 + 4 = 15) assuming they rolled a natural 20. This seems slightly ridiculous to me, as I would think it's harder to move through an opponents square, which is a DC 25 I believe. Any input?

Thanks!
Orenmir
04-23-08, 10:43 AM Ok, to pick up an item is a move action that provokes.

In my group the other night, I was disarmed, and I wanted to pick up my weapon, but I didn't want to provoke, so I figured I'd use tumble to pick it up. The DM thought that the DC should be a 35 if you want to do it as a free action, and a DC 30 if you want to keep it as a move action, just not provoking. This means that your average character with a dex of 18 (+4) can't even try to do this until they are level 8 ( 8 + 3 ranks = 11... 11 + 4 = 15) assuming they rolled a natural 20. This seems slightly ridiculous to me, as I would think it's harder to move through an opponents square, which is a DC 25 I believe. Any input?

Thanks!

Your DM is using a lot of houseruling and rule 0.

By the RAW, picking up an item is a move action that provokes. You can't Tumble to bypass the AoO - Tumbling is for bypassing an AoO that is provoked from your movement. Just because picking an item up is a move action does qualify it as movement.

Your DM can alway houserule that you can Tumble to avoid the AoO. I think allowing it to be done as a free action is way too generous, especially with a DC that is only 5 greater than a move action. Since it is a houserule, the DM can set the DCs wherever he likes. I think his choice of putting the DC very high is a good one. Why? - Because you really shouldn't be able to pick up something (especially your weapon) without provoking.

Also, rolling a natural 20 is not an automatic success for any skill check. Although, it is a popular (albeit unbalanced) houserule.

Hope that helps.
Essex
04-23-08, 01:11 PM My old group houseruled that various mundane acts which would provoke AoO when performed as standard actions wouldn't provoke AoO if performed as full-round actions. This way there were ways for you to safely do them, it just took longer.
Mahali Audran
04-24-08, 03:22 PM We do that as well by allowing a full round actions to avoid an AoO for picking up an item or standing up from prone.
herrdoktor
04-24-08, 08:06 PM since there are no tumble rules for avoiding AoOs while picking up items, the DM's rule was the best your group could have got.

personally, though, i think 30 is far too high - 25 would be a lot more reasonable.

as a free action though, 35 is alright (though i'd recommend making it a swift action (dropping an item is a free action, so you don't want any shenanigans involving repeated dropping and picking up items in one turn))

@Orenmir: the op never implied a nat.20 on a skill check was an automatic success (in fact, it was vital to his argument that one isn't - the whole point was that you had to be mid-level to have even a 5% chance of succeeding)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Benorf 04-23-08, 10:25 AM	Ok, to pick up an item is a move action that provokes. In my group the other night, I was disarmed, and I wanted to pick up my weapon, but I didn't want to provoke, so I figured I'd use tumble to pick it up. The DM thought that the DC should be a 35 if you want to do it as a free action, and a DC 30 if you want to keep it as a move action, just not provoking. This means that your average character with a dex of 18 (+4) can't even try to do this until they are level 8 ( 8 + 3 ranks = 11... 11 + 4 = 15) assuming they rolled a natural 20. This seems slightly ridiculous to me, as I would think it's harder to move through an opponents square, which is a DC 25 I believe. Any input? Thanks!
Orenmir 04-23-08, 10:43 AM	Ok, to pick up an item is a move action that provokes. In my group the other night, I was disarmed, and I wanted to pick up my weapon, but I didn't want to provoke, so I figured I'd use tumble to pick it up. The DM thought that the DC should be a 35 if you want to do it as a free action, and a DC 30 if you want to keep it as a move action, just not provoking. This means that your average character with a dex of 18 (+4) can't even try to do this until they are level 8 ( 8 + 3 ranks = 11... 11 + 4 = 15) assuming they rolled a natural 20. This seems slightly ridiculous to me, as I would think it's harder to move through an opponents square, which is a DC 25 I believe. Any input? Thanks! Your DM is using a lot of houseruling and rule 0. By the RAW, picking up an item is a move action that provokes. You can't Tumble to bypass the AoO - Tumbling is for bypassing an AoO that is provoked from your movement. Just because picking an item up is a move action does qualify it as movement. Your DM can alway houserule that you can Tumble to avoid the AoO. I think allowing it to be done as a free action is way too generous, especially with a DC that is only 5 greater than a move action. Since it is a houserule, the DM can set the DCs wherever he likes. I think his choice of putting the DC very high is a good one. Why? - Because you really shouldn't be able to pick up something (especially your weapon) without provoking. Also, rolling a natural 20 is not an automatic success for any skill check. Although, it is a popular (albeit unbalanced) houserule. Hope that helps.
Essex 04-23-08, 01:11 PM	My old group houseruled that various mundane acts which would provoke AoO when performed as standard actions wouldn't provoke AoO if performed as full-round actions. This way there were ways for you to safely do them, it just took longer.
Mahali Audran 04-24-08, 03:22 PM	We do that as well by allowing a full round actions to avoid an AoO for picking up an item or standing up from prone.
herrdoktor 04-24-08, 08:06 PM	since there are no tumble rules for avoiding AoOs while picking up items, the DM's rule was the best your group could have got. personally, though, i think 30 is far too high - 25 would be a lot more reasonable. as a free action though, 35 is alright (though i'd recommend making it a swift action (dropping an item is a free action, so you don't want any shenanigans involving repeated dropping and picking up items in one turn)) @Orenmir: the op never implied a nat.20 on a skill check was an automatic success (in fact, it was vital to his argument that one isn't - the whole point was that you had to be mid-level to have even a 5% chance of succeeding)