Thank you everyone for your input. So what I gather from the conversation is as follows. There are no specific rules on how a character switches weapons.
Well, kind of. It's established that drawing and storing are each an object interaction. The fuzziness is on whether dropping is, and whether your table cares anyway.
This all being said, I contest that no hero walks around with their sword drawn and in hand 24 hours a day. So it would stand to reason that when entering a fight, when not waiting in ambush, your first movement on your turn would be to draw your weapon to attack. So I would enter the fight, take my first movement, and if I’m not within melee range, draw a dart for free and throw it. My next turn would be drawing my hammer and attacking.
That's entirely reasonable. Though, in a dungeon or other scenario where you're expecting conflict, this might be different. Or rather, you'd expect it to be, but because of how the rules work, you'd actually see adventurers prowling around dungeons with one hand holding their shield (or perhaps a lantern) and the other one holding nothing at all.
Thank you everyone for your input. So what I gather from the conversation is as follows. There are no specific rules on how a character switches weapons. Switching weapons rules are all based on your own tables agreements on how the game should be played, Aka house rules. The general idea is that it takes no effort to drop a weapon but would require an action to either pick it up or draw another. At the same time, a free object interaction, allows you to draw a weapon, and then attack with said weapon. If you choose to pick up said dropped weapon with an enemy within 5 feet, you either take an opportunity of attack, or must take a strength or dexterity contest with said enemy to pick it up. This all being said, I contest that no hero walks around with their sword drawn and in hand 24 hours a day. So it would stand to reason that when entering a fight, when not waiting in ambush, your first movement on your turn would be to draw your weapon to attack. So I would enter the fight, take my first movement, and if I’m not within melee range, draw a dart for free and throw it. My next turn would be drawing my hammer and attacking.
This isn't correct. There are specific rules regarding drawing and sheathing of weapons. They are not based on table agreements though some folks may modify RAW at their tables. Below are the rules for switching weapons.
On your turn you are allowed ONE free interaction with an object in addition to your move and your action. That free interaction can be used to draw or sheath a weapon. If you want to have TWO or more object interactions you must use your action to do so.
"OTHER ACTIVITY ON YOUR TURN Your turn can include a variety of flourishes that require neither your action nor your move. You can communicate however you are able, through brief utterances and gestures, as you take your turn.
You can also interact with one object or feature of the environment for free, during either your move or your action. For example, you could open a door during your move as you stride toward a foe, or you could draw your weapon as part of the same action you use to attack. If you want to interact with a second object, you need to use your action. Some magic items and other special objects always require an action to use, as stated in their descriptions.
The DM might require you to use an action for any of these activities when it needs special care or when it presents an unusual obstacle. For instance, the DM could reasonably expect you to use an action to open a stuck door or turn a crank to lower a drawbridge."
Below are examples of free object interactions from PHB p190 - they include both drawing or sheathing a weapon and picking up a dropped weapon - both as free object interactions. However, depending on the circumstances the DM could require the character to use their action to perform the object interaction rather than as a free object interaction. For example, a DM could decide that picking up a dropped weapon in combat with an opponent next to you requires special care (which it should :) ) and will require the character to use their action to pick it up.
"INTERACTING WITH OBJECTS AROUND YOU Here are a few examples of the sorts of thing you can do in tandem with your movement and action: • draw or sheathe a sword • open or close a door • withdraw a potion from your backpack • pick up a dropped axe • take a bauble from a table • remove a ring from your finger • stuff some food into your mouth • plant a banner in the ground • fish a few coins from your belt pouch • drink all the ale in a flagon • throw a lever or a switch • pull a torch from a sconce • take a book from a shelf you can reach • extinguish a small flame • don a mask • pull the hood of your cloak up and over your head • put your ear to a door • kick a small stone • turn a key in a lock • tap the floor with a 10-foot pole • hand an item to another character"
Switching weapons - RAW - you can use a free object interaction to sheath a weapon. However, you need a second object interaction to draw a different weapon which will require your action and you will be unable to attack. Those are the RAW rules for switching weapons.
Dropping items is not covered in the PHB but most DMs allow a character to let go of something in their hands for free during their turn. In the case of shields though, the rules explicitly state that putting on or taking off a shield requires an action (probably because they are usually strapped on).
Everything regarding consequences for picking up a dropped item are house rules - opportunity attacks, strength or dex checks - the DM is using their own house rules to resolve it. RAW, the only thing the DM can do is to require the character to use their full action to pick up the item rather than allowing it as a free object interaction.
Finally, there are many situations when a character will walk around with a weapon out - dungeons or exploring are likely times - and there are others when it is unlikely, usually social interaction situations. It is a good idea to check with the players how they usually do things so that when action starts the DM knows whether the character needs to use their free object interaction to draw their weapon or not.
Well, kind of. It's established that drawing and storing are each an object interaction. The fuzziness is on whether dropping is, and whether your table cares anyway.
That's entirely reasonable. Though, in a dungeon or other scenario where you're expecting conflict, this might be different. Or rather, you'd expect it to be, but because of how the rules work, you'd actually see adventurers prowling around dungeons with one hand holding their shield (or perhaps a lantern) and the other one holding nothing at all.
This isn't correct. There are specific rules regarding drawing and sheathing of weapons. They are not based on table agreements though some folks may modify RAW at their tables. Below are the rules for switching weapons.
On your turn you are allowed ONE free interaction with an object in addition to your move and your action. That free interaction can be used to draw or sheath a weapon. If you want to have TWO or more object interactions you must use your action to do so.
"OTHER ACTIVITY ON YOUR TURN
Your turn can include a variety of flourishes that require neither your action nor your move. You can communicate however you are able, through brief utterances and gestures, as you take your turn.
You can also interact with one object or feature of the environment for free, during either your move or your action. For example, you could open a door during your move as you stride toward a foe, or you could draw your weapon as part of the same action you use to attack. If you want to interact with a second object, you need to use your action. Some magic items and other special objects always require an action to use, as stated in their descriptions.
The DM might require you to use an action for any of these activities when it needs special care or when it presents an unusual obstacle. For instance, the DM could reasonably expect you to use an action to open a stuck door or turn a crank to lower a drawbridge."
Below are examples of free object interactions from PHB p190 - they include both drawing or sheathing a weapon and picking up a dropped weapon - both as free object interactions. However, depending on the circumstances the DM could require the character to use their action to perform the object interaction rather than as a free object interaction. For example, a DM could decide that picking up a dropped weapon in combat with an opponent next to you requires special care (which it should :) ) and will require the character to use their action to pick it up.
"INTERACTING WITH OBJECTS AROUND YOU
Here are a few examples of the sorts of thing you can do in tandem with your movement and action:
• draw or sheathe a sword
• open or close a door
• withdraw a potion from your backpack
• pick up a dropped axe
• take a bauble from a table
• remove a ring from your finger
• stuff some food into your mouth
• plant a banner in the ground
• fish a few coins from your belt pouch
• drink all the ale in a flagon
• throw a lever or a switch
• pull a torch from a sconce
• take a book from a shelf you can reach
• extinguish a small flame
• don a mask
• pull the hood of your cloak up and over your head
• put your ear to a door
• kick a small stone
• turn a key in a lock
• tap the floor with a 10-foot pole
• hand an item to another character"
Switching weapons - RAW - you can use a free object interaction to sheath a weapon. However, you need a second object interaction to draw a different weapon which will require your action and you will be unable to attack. Those are the RAW rules for switching weapons.
Dropping items is not covered in the PHB but most DMs allow a character to let go of something in their hands for free during their turn. In the case of shields though, the rules explicitly state that putting on or taking off a shield requires an action (probably because they are usually strapped on).
Everything regarding consequences for picking up a dropped item are house rules - opportunity attacks, strength or dex checks - the DM is using their own house rules to resolve it. RAW, the only thing the DM can do is to require the character to use their full action to pick up the item rather than allowing it as a free object interaction.
Finally, there are many situations when a character will walk around with a weapon out - dungeons or exploring are likely times - and there are others when it is unlikely, usually social interaction situations. It is a good idea to check with the players how they usually do things so that when action starts the DM knows whether the character needs to use their free object interaction to draw their weapon or not.