Can the ready action be used to prep a melee attack with the trigger being the target comes within range? It seems like that slightly negates movement restrictions.
If there is a Condition to restrict movement, the remaining movement speed is leftover within those movement restrictions. If you are unable to move (usually means movement speed is reduced to 0), you do not have any remaining movement speed for the readied action. If you are on difficult terrain with your movement halved, whatever you would have had left with difficult terrain is what you would have left for the readied action. You cannot move and take another action with a readied action. You can either move or take an action with a readied action as your reaction.
In regards to readied 1-action spells, a readied spell adds Concentration until the trigger which replaces any existing Concentration for other currently effective spells and any Components are used when readying the action prior to the trigger. If something breaks the Concentration before the trigger, the Components are already used and lost. That also means that the Verbal and Somatic Components are already complete prior to the trigger and, if the Concentration is not broken by some means when a Silenced or Restrained or similar Condition is applied, the spell will still go off on the trigger regardless if the person needs hands free or able to speak. This is just RAW. A spell that requires you to point a finger at a target is covered by this, but a DM might find it more realistic to break the Concentration if the caster ceases to be able to point at the target.
If Somatic is what you mean by movement restrictions, then... technically yes by RAW the restrictions can be sidestepped on successful Concentration.
EDIT: Be aware that Readying an action replaces the action part of one's turn. You do not get to take and Action and Ready an Action in the same turn if there is nothing granting another action (not a reaction). You can Move and Ready an Action the same as one can Move and take an Action. Ready is an Action. Also, be aware that the ranged casting rolls for readied spells happen when the trigger goes off. Any Conditions that were applied between Readying and the trigger (assuming Concentration wasn't broken) will apply to the rolls when the spell goes off.
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Just remember that you'll only get 1 attack even if you have the Extra Attack feature if you Ready your attack. So it's rarely worth it under normal conditions.
You can also use the ready action to prepare a spell ahead of time to be triggered according to your specifications. Just be aware that doing so needs you to make a concentration check every round you do so.
Awesome. Thanks for the insight. One additional thing. Do you have to call a specific target of attack or can it be a vague any hostile thing that enters the range.
The trigger can be as specific or as vague as you like and the DM will allow. It could be "I attack when that goblin there gets in range" or "I attack the next creature to get in range"
This interaction works really well with rogues and Haste to get two sneak attacks a round. Use the haste action to sneak attack on your turn, and use your normal action to ready an action to sneak attack on a different turn.
This interaction works really well with rogues and Haste to get two sneak attacks a round. Use the haste action to sneak attack on your turn, and use your normal action to ready an action to sneak attack on a different turn.
That sounds legal. I’ll have to do that on the next session I play as a rogue. What would you say to trigger this during a reaction turn?
Don't overthink it. There are only two things to the Ready Action: a perceptable trigger (something the character can see, hear, smell, taste, touch or otherwise perceive) and either an action or movement.
Taking the readied action or move uses your Reaction, so most creatures only get to take it once.
Can the ready action be used to prep a melee attack with the trigger being the target comes within range?
It seems like that slightly negates movement restrictions.
Sure, that would work, it seems like exactly the sort of thing it's for.
I don't see how it negates movement restrictions...
If there is a Condition to restrict movement, the remaining movement speed is leftover within those movement restrictions. If you are unable to move (usually means movement speed is reduced to 0), you do not have any remaining movement speed for the readied action. If you are on difficult terrain with your movement halved, whatever you would have had left with difficult terrain is what you would have left for the readied action. You cannot move and take another action with a readied action. You can either move or take an action with a readied action as your reaction.
In regards to readied 1-action spells, a readied spell adds Concentration until the trigger which replaces any existing Concentration for other currently effective spells and any Components are used when readying the action prior to the trigger. If something breaks the Concentration before the trigger, the Components are already used and lost. That also means that the Verbal and Somatic Components are already complete prior to the trigger and, if the Concentration is not broken by some means when a Silenced or Restrained or similar Condition is applied, the spell will still go off on the trigger regardless if the person needs hands free or able to speak. This is just RAW. A spell that requires you to point a finger at a target is covered by this, but a DM might find it more realistic to break the Concentration if the caster ceases to be able to point at the target.
If Somatic is what you mean by movement restrictions, then... technically yes by RAW the restrictions can be sidestepped on successful Concentration.
EDIT: Be aware that Readying an action replaces the action part of one's turn. You do not get to take and Action and Ready an Action in the same turn if there is nothing granting another action (not a reaction). You can Move and Ready an Action the same as one can Move and take an Action. Ready is an Action. Also, be aware that the ranged casting rolls for readied spells happen when the trigger goes off. Any Conditions that were applied between Readying and the trigger (assuming Concentration wasn't broken) will apply to the rolls when the spell goes off.
Human. Male. Possibly. Don't be a divider.
My characters' backgrounds are written like instruction manuals rather than stories. My opinion and preferences don't mean you're wrong.
I am 99.7603% convinced that the digital dice are messing with me. I roll high when nobody's looking and low when anyone else can see.🎲
“It's a bit early to be thinking about an epitaph. No?” will be my epitaph.
This
Just remember that you'll only get 1 attack even if you have the Extra Attack feature if you Ready your attack. So it's rarely worth it under normal conditions.
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You can also use the ready action to prepare a spell ahead of time to be triggered according to your specifications. Just be aware that doing so needs you to make a concentration check every round you do so.
Awesome. Thanks for the insight.
One additional thing. Do you have to call a specific target of attack or can it be a vague any hostile thing that enters the range.
The trigger can be as specific or as vague as you like and the DM will allow. It could be "I attack when that goblin there gets in range" or "I attack the next creature to get in range"
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This interaction works really well with rogues and Haste to get two sneak attacks a round. Use the haste action to sneak attack on your turn, and use your normal action to ready an action to sneak attack on a different turn.
That sounds legal. I’ll have to do that on the next session I play as a rogue. What would you say to trigger this during a reaction turn?
Don't overthink it. There are only two things to the Ready Action: a perceptable trigger (something the character can see, hear, smell, taste, touch or otherwise perceive) and either an action or movement.
Taking the readied action or move uses your Reaction, so most creatures only get to take it once.
As for what you'd say to trigger a reaction sneak attack with the readied action, it could be as simple as, "When the monster makes an attack".
Thanks very much!