I know of the Hold Action action in D&D 5e. However, as the title asks do we have to define if we are going to do a range attack or melee attack (for the weapons that can do both such as a spear...or knife)?
Yes, you do need to specify. If you want to melee only, you will pretty much need to use the word "melee" and if you want to throw the weapon, you will probably have to say "throw". I don't know why you would want to throw only, but that's how it works. Ready Action is intentionally made difficult to use because it messes with Initiative order and if everyone starts doing it, the game slows to a crawl
Yes, you do need to specify. If you want to melee only, you will pretty much need to use the word "melee" and if you want to throw the weapon, you will probably have to say "throw". I don't know why you would want to throw only, but that's how it works. Ready Action is intentionally made difficult to use because it messes with Initiative order and if everyone starts doing it, the game slows to a crawl
That's definitely not correct. All you need to specify at the time of readying is that you're going to attack with your spear. DxJxC is absolutely correct in that usually, it won't be much a choice once the trigger occurs. But I can certainly imagine something like "if the goblin makes an attack, I'll take the Attack action," and then either stabbing in melee or throwing depending on the goblin's range when the trigger occurs. Heck, if you've got the Thrown Weapon Fighting fighting style, you can even make that attack with a thrown dagger that you have sheathed when you actually take the Ready action.
Yes, you do need to specify. If you want to melee only, you will pretty much need to use the word "melee" and if you want to throw the weapon, you will probably have to say "throw". I don't know why you would want to throw only, but that's how it works. Ready Action is intentionally made difficult to use because it messes with Initiative order and if everyone starts doing it, the game slows to a crawl
That's definitely not correct. All you need to specify at the time of readying is that you're going to attack with your spear. DxJxC is absolutely correct in that usually, it won't be much a choice once the trigger occurs. But I can certainly imagine something like "if the goblin makes an attack, I'll take the Attack action," and then either stabbing in melee or throwing depending on the goblin's range when the trigger occurs. Heck, if you've got the Thrown Weapon Fighting fighting style, you can even make that attack with a thrown dagger that you have sheathed when you actually take the Ready action.
I think you'll need to (or should even if it isn't RAW) state which weapon you will attack with when you take the ready action.
Otherwise it is a bit like saying you are going to "cast a spell" at an enemy when they attack, then decide which one when the trigger happens (obviously, there are a bit more specific limits on spells than weapons, but still).
You need to specify the action. This means in particular if you are taking the Attack action. Since you cannot change weapons outside of your turn, when you take the attack action it will have to be with whatever weapon you have to have in hand.
I agree in general, but I brought up Thrown Weapon Fighting specifically because it allows you to draw the weapon as part of the attack, irrespective of whose turn it is when you make the attack.
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I know of the Hold Action action in D&D 5e. However, as the title asks do we have to define if we are going to do a range attack or melee attack (for the weapons that can do both such as a spear...or knife)?
I think you mean the Ready Action? If so, you determine what attack action Melee/Range you take when the trigger occurs.
Ready triggers (which you have to state before hand) have only a little room for such variance.
Maybe if you are ready to attack someone who comes around the corner and then they happen to be crawling on the ceiling or something.
Yes, you do need to specify. If you want to melee only, you will pretty much need to use the word "melee" and if you want to throw the weapon, you will probably have to say "throw". I don't know why you would want to throw only, but that's how it works. Ready Action is intentionally made difficult to use because it messes with Initiative order and if everyone starts doing it, the game slows to a crawl
<Insert clever signature here>
That's definitely not correct. All you need to specify at the time of readying is that you're going to attack with your spear. DxJxC is absolutely correct in that usually, it won't be much a choice once the trigger occurs. But I can certainly imagine something like "if the goblin makes an attack, I'll take the Attack action," and then either stabbing in melee or throwing depending on the goblin's range when the trigger occurs. Heck, if you've got the Thrown Weapon Fighting fighting style, you can even make that attack with a thrown dagger that you have sheathed when you actually take the Ready action.
I think you'll need to (or should even if it isn't RAW) state which weapon you will attack with when you take the ready action.
Otherwise it is a bit like saying you are going to "cast a spell" at an enemy when they attack, then decide which one when the trigger happens (obviously, there are a bit more specific limits on spells than weapons, but still).
I agree in general, but I brought up Thrown Weapon Fighting specifically because it allows you to draw the weapon as part of the attack, irrespective of whose turn it is when you make the attack.