Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Ced666 07-19-06, 07:49 AM	I have a small question related to when a player want to switch weapons. Suppose he has a melee weapon (e.g. a great sword) and a ranged weapon (e.g. a longbow). At the begining of the combat, he uses his bow. Now, what happens when he wants to switch and use his great sword ? What time does that take ? Simply a movement action ? Or a complete round ? Sorry for the stupid question but I'm very new to this ;-) Thanks
ShadowDragon8685 07-19-06, 08:09 AM	I have a small question related to when a player want to switch weapons. Suppose he has a melee weapon (e.g. a great sword) and a ranged weapon (e.g. a longbow). At the begining of the combat, he uses his bow. Now, what happens when he wants to switch and use his great sword ? What time does that take ? Simply a movement action ? Or a complete round ? Sorry for the stupid question but I'm very new to this ;-) Thanks Okay. By the Rules As Written. First step is to drop the bow as a Swift action, and then draw the Greatsword. This will take a move action even if he has the Quickdraw feat, because he has already taken his Swift action to drop the bow. That's By the Rules As Written. Personally I woulden't make opening his hand and letting the bow drop cost him a Swift Action. If he wants to stow the bow, as opposed to just dropping it wherever, that is also a move action. The Quickdraw feat by the Rules As Written do not allow for the quick securing of a weapon, only the quick readying of one. But then, remember that the Rules As Written also do not describe the "Dead" status, and thus by the Rules As Written, you may continue to act freely after you are "Dead". (Obviously, while important, the Rules As Written are not a bible to be followed to the lettter or else.)
mesix 07-19-06, 08:41 AM	Where did they change Quick Draw from a free action to a swift action? It says "free action" in the my copy of the PHB, the SRD and I found no changes in the Errata or the FAQ? :confused: mesix ;)
Alynn 07-19-06, 08:49 AM	Last I checked dropping a weapon is a free action not a swift. Ok... generally speaking you can drop your bow (free action) and draw your sword (move action) however if your BaB is +1 or higher you can draw your weapon as part of your move action. So you can fire your bow, and the next round drop your bow draw your weapon while moving to your target (or draw your weapon while you stand there) and attack. So in review Drawing a weapon = Move action Drawing a weapon with quickdraw = free action Drawing a weapon during movement is allowed if BaB is +1 or better. Sheathing a weapon (putting away not dropping): Move action So the answer is, if he is putting away his bow and drawing his sword, and he doesn't have quickdraw, it takes a full round to change weapons, if he has quickdraw feat it only takes a move action to do the same. If he drops his bow and draws his sword without the quickdraw feat it is a move action, if he drops bow and draws his sword with quickdraw, they are both free actions. He can draw any weapon while moving as long as his BaB is +1 or better.
Ced666 07-19-06, 09:02 AM	Ok, thanks for the helpfull answers. Now, a small bonus question :D : what if the guy has a single-handed weapon and a shield ? For the weapon, it stay the same but for the shield, I suppose it takes one move action to attach it ?
Yami 07-19-06, 09:29 AM	without the quickdraw feat, I would say yes. (Quickdraw specifically says you can draw "weapons" as a free action...but wouldn't that also count for shields?) Another way to quickly store/retrieve weapons are Gloves of Storing. Our group's paladin has one that he uses for his shield. During his normal round, he stores his sheild as a free action, attacks with his longsword 2-handed, and then retrieves his sheild from the Glove of Storing as another free action for the AC bonus during the course of the round. Very sweet. There's a reason they're pretty expensive!
Alynn 07-19-06, 09:30 AM	I believe that shields are a move action however I'm not in front of any of my books, but there is a section on donning armor in the PHB. The answer you are looking for is probably near that area. Tell you the truth it's never come up in any of my games. The only time shields werent worn was during formal occasions or staying the night in the inn.
Leilond 07-19-06, 09:39 AM	SRD Strapping a shield to your arm to gain its shield bonus to your AC, or unstrapping and dropping a shield so you can use your shield hand for another purpose, requires a move action. If you have a base attack bonus of +1 or higher, you can ready or loose a shield as a free action combined with a regular move. and more Dropping a carried (but not worn) shield is a free action. Emphasis is mine
Ced666 07-19-06, 09:40 AM	Tell you the truth it's never come up in any of my games. The only time shields werent worn was during formal occasions or staying the night in the inn. Hmmm, and what about the case I described ? So, you have a longbow (and in that case, you cannot wear your shield cause it is a two handed weapon) and you want to swith to melee combat (and of course use your shield).
mesix 07-19-06, 09:45 AM	without the quickdraw feat, I would say yes. (Quickdraw specifically says you can draw "weapons" as a free action...but wouldn't that also count for shields?) Another way to quickly store/retrieve weapons are Gloves of Storing. Our group's paladin has one that he uses for his shield. During his normal round, he stores his sheild as a free action, attacks with his longsword 2-handed, and then retrieves his sheild from the Glove of Storing as another free action for the AC bonus during the course of the round. Very sweet. There's a reason they're pretty expensive! I don't think that this should work. Shields are not "held in one hand" when equipped ... they are strapped to your arm as the SRD indicates: You strap a shield to your forearm and grip it with your hand.. mesix ;)
Leilond 07-19-06, 09:50 AM	SRD Dropping a carried (but not worn) shield is a free action. It is very different to have a shield in my hand and to WORN it, by the RAW
Arganis 07-19-06, 10:00 AM	Another way to quickly store/retrieve weapons are Gloves of Storing. Our group's paladin has one that he uses for his shield. During his normal round, he stores his sheild as a free action, attacks with his longsword 2-handed, and then retrieves his sheild from the Glove of Storing as another free action for the AC bonus during the course of the round. Very sweet. There's a reason they're pretty expensive! I don't think that this should work. Shields are not "held in one hand" when equipped ... they are strapped to your arm as the SRD indicates: Allowing the Glove of Storing to store an equipped shield is hardly gamebreaking. It is a magic item after all. The real problem with what this paladin is doing is that he is gaining an AC bonus when he shouldn't. If the paladin had a buckler on one arm and used a sword two-handed, he does not gain the buckler's bonus to AC until his next turn, even though it is equipped. This has to do with the PC using two arms to do something other than present the shield. The glove of storing situation is not different in the slightest, therefore the paladin should not be benefiting from additional AC between his turns.
mesix 07-19-06, 10:05 AM	Thus it is gamebreaking to allow to store worn shields in gloves of storing and retrieve them worn. At least my comment was supposed to be applied to "worn" shields. Shields in general certainly can be held in a hand with enough strength. As any board can. mesix ;)
Alynn 07-19-06, 10:20 AM	Hmmm, and what about the case I described ? So, you have a longbow (and in that case, you cannot wear your shield cause it is a two handed weapon) and you want to swith to melee combat (and of course use your shield). Ok in that case if you drop the longbow free action, draw your weapon as a move action, then bring your shield out of storage (whatever container it's in), which ends your turn, you now have your weapon out, and your shield in hand (but not equipped). On your next turn it takes a move action to equip your shield or if your base attack bonus is +1 or better you can equip that shield as part of your movement. Quickdraw has no effect on getting a shield, as the feat specifically states weapons. Even though you can Shield Bash with a shield making it weapon like, it is a special attack made by an item that doesn't normally get used for attacks and therefore does not qualify it as a weapon. Since you quoted what I said before about it not coming up in my game, of the 5 characters in the party only 4 used ranged weapons at all, out of those 4 only one had a shield, and he used a sling for his ranged weapon. The Paladin, the other shield wearer, had no ranged weapons, period. The wizard had a longbow, the sorc had a light crossbow, and the rogue had a shortbow, none of them were shield wearers. It isn't game breaking for the gloves of storing to hold a shield, it is however wrong for the DM to allow it to be equipped as soon as it is removed, while the storing and retreving of the item is a free action, equipping it and removing it, is still a move action.
Arganis 07-19-06, 10:38 AM	it is however wrong for the DM to allow it to be equipped as soon as it is removed, while the storing and retreving of the item is a free action, equipping it and removing it, is still a move action. First, nowhere in the description for the Glove of Storing does it say that you can store a weapon. That's assumed based on the description of the item. Ask yourself how an enlarging sword gets into your hand in a wieldable manner without cutting you or falling out of your hand, when it grows from a shrunken patch in the palm of a glove. Then forget about all that flavor stuff. The mechanical effect of the glove is to reduce the move action required to draw a one-handed item to a free action. For 10,000gp, it is not a stretch to allow the exact same mechanic to apply to equipping a shield. After all, it's not like you have to spend a move action to draw a shield and a second move action to equip it. Thus it is gamebreaking to allow to store worn shields in gloves of storing and retrieve them worn. Gamebreaking is too strong a term to use here altogether, and the Glove of Storing is not the problem. It's slightly imbalancing to circumvent the buckler rule. However, being able to arm a shield as a free action is still useful. Ok in that case if you drop the longbow free action, draw your weapon as a move action, then bring your shield out of storage (whatever container it's in), which ends your turn, you now have your weapon out, and your shield in hand (but not equipped). On your next turn it takes a move action to equip your shield or if your base attack bonus is +1 or better you can equip that shield as part of your movement. How do you equip a shield with a sword in your only free hand, huh?
Alynn 07-19-06, 10:57 AM	First, nowhere in the description for the Glove of Storing does it say that you can store a weapon. That's assumed based on the description of the item. Ask yourself how an enlarging sword gets into your hand in a wieldable manner without cutting you or falling out of your hand, when it grows from a shrunken patch in the palm of a glove. Then forget about all that flavor stuff. The mechanical effect of the glove is to reduce the move action required to draw a one-handed item to a free action. For 10,000gp, it is not a stretch to allow the exact same mechanic to apply to equipping a shield. After all, it's not like you have to spend a move action to draw a shield and a second move action to equip it. If you have your shield in your backpack, or some other container, then yes it takes a move action (that draws AoO) to retrieve the item from that container, then another move action to equip it to your arm. How do you equip a shield with a sword in your only free hand, huh? Since it seems you want to get nitpicky It depends on the design of the shield, is it some sort of slip knot, or is it tied? perhaps pull straps. I can slip my arm through a shield harness and easily pull a small rope using just a couple of fingers, or even my mouth. If you have to put the shield up against a wall or the floor and tie it, well how are you going to TIE something with one hand anyway? The mechanics do not call for a free hand to equip a shield (as far as I've read and seen, however feel free to point out the source if otherwise). So I would assume they go for the slip your arm in and grab the handle and pull the rope/strap approach as well.
Paxar 07-19-06, 11:18 AM	First, nowhere in the description for the Glove of Storing does it say that you can store a weapon. From the DMG pg. 257: Many owners of a glove of storing find it to be a useful and dramatic way to store weapons, wands, and--because the item is stored in stasis--even lit torches Ok, had to say that. As for the "equipped" shield, I probably wouldn't allow a shield to be stored "equipped", held sure, but you'd have to make a move action to equip it once you retrieve it. Now if I did slip up and let someone store it equipped, I wouldn't allow the AC bonus if retrieved if they had used that hand in the round, similar to the rule about bucklers. thedicebag.blogspot.com shameless self-plug
Arganis 07-19-06, 11:21 AM	If you have your shield in your backpack, or some other container, then yes it takes a move action (that draws AoO) to retrieve the item from that container, then another move action to equip it to your arm. If it were in a container, yes, but not if it is on your back or in an otherwise accessible location... to my knowledge at least. Since it seems you want to get nitpicky It depends on the design of the shield, is it some sort of slip knot, or is it tied? perhaps pull straps. I can slip my arm through a shield harness and easily pull a small rope using just a couple of fingers, or even my mouth. If you have to put the shield up against a wall or the floor and tie it, well how are you going to TIE something with one hand anyway? The mechanics do not call for a free hand to equip a shield (as far as I've read and seen, however feel free to point out the source if otherwise). So I would assume they go for the slip your arm in and grab the handle and pull the rope/strap approach as well. I don't want to get nitpicky. I was (albeit facetiously) pointing out that the mechanics do not specify anything about how to equip a shield other than that it is a move action. The mechanics specify the same thing about drawing a weapon. My point being that a sword coming out of a glove "drawn" is not mechanically different than a shield coming out "equipped". Except that you must be careful of the buckler issue. But now that I think about it, if you made a single attack with a 2-handed weapon and then used your move action to equip your shield, the buckler issue seems to suggest that you do not gain the benefit of the shield... but you didn't use a free action to exploit anything... I'm not sure what to think about this. Maybe I give too much weight to the buckler issue.
Leilond 07-19-06, 11:31 AM	My point being that a sword coming out of a glove "drawn" is not mechanically different than a shield coming out "equipped". You're wrong here from SRD Drop an Item Dropping an item in your space or into an adjacent square is a free action. ... Ready or Loose a Shield Strapping a shield to your arm to gain its shield bonus to your AC, or unstrapping and dropping a shield so you can use your shield hand for another purpose, requires a move action. If you have a base attack bonus of +1 or higher, you can ready or loose a shield as a free action combined with a regular move. Dropping a carried (but not worn) shield is a free action. emphasis is mine As you can see you can drop a drawn weapon and carried shield with a free action but NOT a worn shied... you need a move action or a free action as part of a move to drop a worn shield This HARDLY implies that draw weapon IS mechanically different from equipped shield Drawn weapon is like carried shield, not like worn shield... And this means that a glove of storing bring out a drawn weapon or a carried shield and not an equipped one ;)
Arganis 07-19-06, 12:01 PM	You're wrong here I disagree that dropping a shield has anything to do with anything. As you can see you can drop a drawn weapon and carried shield with a free action but NOT a worn shied... you need a move action or a free action as part of a move to drop a worn shield Do you require that a player take a full round action to shoulder a shield then?
Paxar 07-19-06, 12:30 PM	Yes, a move action to "loose" the shield, another move action to put it away.
Leilond 07-19-06, 12:35 PM	Do you require that a player take a full round action to shoulder a shield then? Well... that's the RAW
Arganis 07-19-06, 12:44 PM	Well... that's the RAW And a full round action to get it out and put it on?
Leilond 07-19-06, 12:50 PM	Don't be angry with me :D that's the RAW Retrieve a stored item - Move action Ready a shield - Move action (unless you have +1 BAB and you can do it as a free action combined with a movement)
Arganis 07-19-06, 01:19 PM	Don't be angry with me :D that's the RAW Retrieve a stored item - Move action Ready a shield - Move action (unless you have +1 BAB and you can do it as a free action combined with a movement) Angry? No, at least as long as you stop :Ding and ;)ing at me. :rolleyes: Intrigued is more like it. It appears our interpretations differ with respect to the definition of a stored item. I have never considered a shield on the back, shoulder, or side to be Stored. There is other precedent for some things being treated differently: Retrieving specific spell components is always a free action, but retrieving even a non-specific gold coin from your purse, right next to your spell component pouch, is not. I went to the SRD to find a definition of Stored, but came up empty-handed. The fact that Loose a Shield contains the verbiage "unstrapping and dropping" seems to give weight to your interpretation, but I do not consider this an explicit statement in and of itself. I'd be interested to hear some additional thoughts on the issue.
Leilond 07-19-06, 01:24 PM	Retrieving specific spell components is always a free action That's only a balance issue. if it was "move action" all spells become "full round action" and full round casting time spells become "two round casting time"!! Only balance, not any logic issue there
Arganis 07-19-06, 01:30 PM	That's only a balance issue. if it was "move action" all spells become "full round action" and full round casting time spells become "two round casting time"!! Only balance, not any logic issue there Requiring 1.5 rounds for a Sword & Boarder to become combat-effective is a balance issue too.
Leilond 07-19-06, 01:51 PM	Requiring 1.5 rounds for a Sword & Boarder to become combat-effective is a balance issue too. Instead of keep the shield "stored" keep it in your hand. If you need you can ready it with a move action (or free combined with a movement) or drop it as a free action or store it as a move action. If you used to use a lot you shield it is not very smart too keep it stored At the end of the combat loose or unstore it and keep it "carried" instead of "readied" or "stored" My party fighter always play like this
Alynn 07-19-06, 02:24 PM	After thinking about this some I think I have come up with a way to explain this. First off, I consider stored anything that isn't in its normal readied position, and not in your hands, which in the case of shields is not strapped to your arm, or being held in your hand. Putting your shield on your back is stored because it isn't on your arm, nor is it in your hand. A sheathed (or tucked in your belt or whatever is appropriate) weapon is also in the stored state. Drawing a weapon is a move action, I believe this implies you also ready your weapon which is a free action since there is no hard and fast timed rule for readying a weapon for combat. You may use this yourself and not realize it, how many times have you heard a player say I ready my <insert weapon here> and you say OK not assigning it a time. Drawing a weapon is essentially getting a weapon from storage. Now a shield you do the same thing, you spend a move action getting it from storage, essentially drawing a shield, however the redying action (strapping it to your arm) is defined to take a move action as well. Timing for readying a weapon is a free action since there is no rule for it in the RAW, timing for readying a shield takes a move action because it is defined in the RAW. I think I got my thoughts together enough...
Arganis 07-19-06, 02:47 PM	Instead of keep the shield "stored" keep it in your hand. If you need you can ready it with a move action (or free combined with a movement) or drop it as a free action or store it as a move action. If you used to use a lot you shield it is not very smart too keep it stored At the end of the combat loose or unstore it and keep it "carried" instead of "readied" or "stored" My party fighter always play like this Yes, and you should obviously walk through the dungeon with sword-in-hand at all times. But that's not the issue. Nor is the issue whether any interpretation is balance or logic based, or how players should cope with your interpretation of the RAW. The issue is how your interpretation and my interpretation differ. After thinking about this some I think I have come up with a way to explain this. First off, I consider stored anything that isn't in its normal readied position, and not in your hands, which in the case of shields is not strapped to your arm, or being held in your hand. Putting your shield on your back is stored because it isn't on your arm, nor is it in your hand. A sheathed (or tucked in your belt or whatever is appropriate) weapon is also in the stored state. Drawing a weapon is a move action, I believe this implies you also ready your weapon which is a free action since there is no hard and fast timed rule for readying a weapon for combat. You may use this yourself and not realize it, how many times have you heard a player say I ready my <insert weapon here> and you say OK not assigning it a time. Drawing a weapon is essentially getting a weapon from storage. Now a shield you do the same thing, you spend a move action getting it from storage, essentially drawing a shield, however the redying action (strapping it to your arm) is defined to take a move action as well. Timing for readying a weapon is a free action since there is no rule for it in the RAW, timing for readying a shield takes a move action because it is defined in the RAW. I think I got my thoughts together enough... I think you have your thoughts together as well, and the only place where you and I disagree (which causes us to diverge) is that I do not consider a shield stored. Let's consider this. Case 1: Fighter 1 (EWP: Bastard Sword) Mode 1: Shield, Bastard Sword (1h). Fighter 1 (EWP: Bastard Sword) Mode 2: Bastard Sword (2h). Shield = Stored 1 to 2 (fast*): Loose (1 move action) 1 to 2 (thorough*): Loose, Store (2 move actions) 2 to 1: Retrieve, Ready (2 move actions) Shield != Stored 1 to 2: Loose (1 move action) 2 to 1: Equip (1 move action) Case 2: Fighter 2 (Quickdraw) Mode 1: Shield, Longsword (1h). Fighter 2 (Quickdraw) Mode 2: Greatsword (2h). Shield = Stored 1 to 2 (fast*): Loose (1 move action) 1 to 2 (thorough*): Loose, Store, Sheath (3 move actions) 2 to 1 (fast*): Retrieve, Ready (2 move actions) 2 to 1 (thorough*): Sheath, Retrieve, Ready (3 move actions) Shield != Stored 1 to 2 (fast*): Loose (1 move action) 1 to 2 (thorough*): Loose, Sheath (2 move actions) 2 to 1 (fast*): Ready (1 move action) 2 to 1 (thorough*): Sheath, Ready (2 move actions) * = Fast is the quickest way to switch but does not allow for the character to switch back effectively, as it involves dropping an item to the ground. Thorough allows the character to return to the previous mode. Analysis: Regardless of the Shield interpretation, a comparison between Case 1 and Case 2 clearly illustrates the superiority of the Bastard Sword as a versatile combat tool. Comments on these numbers? For my own part, I currently prefer the dynamic provided by the Shield != Stored interpretation.
Ced666 07-20-06, 03:00 AM	That was quite an interesting debate. Thanks to everybody for your inputs, it make things clearer. I don't know exactly which solution I will choose (shield considered as stored or not) but I think this depends of the situation.
Leilond 07-20-06, 04:30 AM	Yes, and you should obviously walk through the dungeon with sword-in-hand at all times. But that's not the issue. Nor is the issue whether any interpretation is balance or logic based, or how players should cope with your interpretation of the RAW. The issue is how your interpretation and my interpretation differ. I think you have your thoughts together as well, and the only place where you and I disagree (which causes us to diverge) is that I do not consider a shield stored. Let's consider this. Case 1: Fighter 1 (EWP: Bastard Sword) Mode 1: Shield, Bastard Sword (1h). Fighter 1 (EWP: Bastard Sword) Mode 2: Bastard Sword (2h). Shield = Stored 1 to 2 (fast*): Loose (1 move action) 1 to 2 (thorough*): Loose, Store (2 move actions) 2 to 1: Retrieve, Ready (2 move actions) Shield != Stored 1 to 2: Loose (1 move action) 2 to 1: Equip (1 move action) Case 2: Fighter 2 (Quickdraw) Mode 1: Shield, Longsword (1h). Fighter 2 (Quickdraw) Mode 2: Greatsword (2h). Shield = Stored 1 to 2 (fast*): Loose (1 move action) 1 to 2 (thorough*): Loose, Store, Sheath (3 move actions) 2 to 1 (fast*): Retrieve, Ready (2 move actions) 2 to 1 (thorough*): Sheath, Retrieve, Ready (3 move actions) Shield != Stored 1 to 2 (fast*): Loose (1 move action) 1 to 2 (thorough*): Loose, Sheath (2 move actions) 2 to 1 (fast*): Ready (1 move action) 2 to 1 (thorough*): Sheath, Ready (2 move actions) * = Fast is the quickest way to switch but does not allow for the character to switch back effectively, as it involves dropping an item to the ground. Thorough allows the character to return to the previous mode. Analysis: Regardless of the Shield interpretation, a comparison between Case 1 and Case 2 clearly illustrates the superiority of the Bastard Sword as a versatile combat tool. Comments on these numbers? For my own part, I currently prefer the dynamic provided by the Shield != Stored interpretation. It is obvious that the BASTARD SWORD has some advantages, because it require a feat to be used one handed, and deal less damage than a two handed sword I think that this Strapping a shield to your arm to gain its shield bonus to your AC, or unstrapping and dropping a shield so you can use your shield hand for another purpose, requires a move action. If you have a base attack bonus of +1 or higher, you can ready or loose a shield as a free action combined with a regular move. Dropping a carried (but not worn) shield is a free action. Is enought to understand that if you want to have your shield ready quickly you must take it in your hand and not stripped at your backback. But well... iterpretations :D
ShadowDragon8685 07-20-06, 05:28 AM	Time for a quick lesson in actions. The phraise "Free Action" was found to be incomplete and obsolete after the 3.5 revision. This is because you had two sorts of "Free Actions" - Free Actions that could be taken only during your turn to act, and Free Actions that can be taken any time you tell the DM, even during someone else's turn, but still use up a free action - from the round before if it was not taken, from the next round if it was. So rather than constantly defining certain things as "Free Actions that can only be taken during your turn" - such as a Barbarian's Rage - and "Free Actions that can be taken at any time" such as an Elan's ability to soak damage with power points, they needed to split "Free Actions". So a "Swift Action" is the first type. It's a Free Action, but can only be taken during your turn. An "Immideate Action" is something you can do at any time you please.
Alynn 07-20-06, 05:40 AM	Actually swift actions are not free actions, you can do multiple free actions in a round. You can not do multiple swift actions. At best you could say a swift action is a timeframe that falls between a move/standard action and a free action. Swift action is specifically ruled that you may only use one of them a round.
Leilond 07-20-06, 05:42 AM	There are 3 sort of "quick" action Swift Immediate Free The revision didn't CANCELED the free action splitting it in two. The revision ADDED two new action type, the swift and the immediate Drawing a weapon with quick draw is a FREE ACTION. It isn't a swift nor an immediate You can do as much FREE ACTION as your DM permit but only one swift OR immediate action (not both) SRD Free Action Free actions don’t take any time at all, though there may be limits to the number of free actions you can perform in a turn. Free actions rarely incur attacks of opportunity. Some common free actions are described below. Swift Actions A swift action consumes a very small amount of time, but represents a larger expenditure of effort and energy than a free action. You can perform one swift action per turn without affecting your ability to perform other actions. In that regard, a swift action is like a free action. However, you can perform only a single swift action per turn, regardless of what other actions you take. You can take a swift action any time you would normally be allowed to take a free action. Swift actions usually involve spellcasting or the activation of magic items; many characters (especially those who don't cast spells) never have an opportunity to take a swift action. Casting a quickened spell is a swift action. In addition, casting any spell with a casting time of 1 swift action is a swift action. Casting a spell with a casting time of 1 swift action does not provoke attacks of opportunity. Immediate Actions Much like a swift action, an immediate action consumes a very small amount of time, but represents a larger expenditure of effort and energy than a free action. However, unlike a swift action, an immediate action can be performed at any time — even if it's not your turn. Casting feather fall is an immediate action, since the spell can be cast at any time. Using an immediate action on your turn is the same as using a swift action, and counts as your swift action for that turn. You cannot use another immediate action or a swift action until after your next turn if you have used an immediate action when it is not currently your turn (effectively, using an immediate action before your turn is equivalent to using your swift action for the coming turn). You also cannot use an immediate action if you are flat-footed.