We have recently come across the "Ready" action.. One of my players tells that he has listened to a podcast where, if they know an enemy is comming, they can use the ready action, to prepare an attack, and when the enemy draws near they can use their reaction to take the attack action.. How do you guys do this?
Because i'm quite new as a DM, and i think this "ready" action is a bit tricky to interpret. Last session, they knew there were monsters behind a door, so they used the ready action, sayin "as soon as the door is kicked open i will jump in and attack the first monster i see!" It makes sense because if you get a jump on someone on the opposite side of a door they will be caught off guard.. But on the other hand i think it might tip the balance scales, because then they can just say, "when i get around the corner i attack the first monster i see" How do you guys do this??
It sounds like they aren't quite using it right, but they are probably closer than you think.
The idea of the ready action is to prepare to do something on another creature's turn as a reaction.
In the door scenario, if combat had not started yet, I would have just used surprise mechanics. If combat had started, then they could have readied actions to attack creatures as they came through the door or otherwise entered attack range.
The going around a corner scenario does not require the ready action. They go around the corner on their turn, then can use their actions to attack.
The ready action cannot be used to postpone your entire turn, you can either move or use an action (decided when readied) such as attack (one attack, no extra attack), cast a spell (the slot is consumed when it is readied and it takes concentration), interact with objects, or perform some other action.
As far as balance is concerned, monsters can perform all the same actions as players.
As DxJxC said, ready isn't really used if combat hasn't started yet. If you know an enemy is there and they don't know you are, then use surprise rules. In combat it is situationally useful, but keep in mind that if the trigger doesn't come up before your next turn, then you've just wanted a turn (and a spell slot if you were readying a spell). It also uses your reaction to use it, so you won't get be able to use an opportunity attack that round.
You can't prepare move and attack as a readied action, you have to pick one. Also, you only get one attack even if you would normally get more than that.
It's important to note that using the ready action also uses up your reaction - this is because you use your reaction to 'trigger' the readied action.
When using the ready action, the player should specify what the trigger is. In your example, "I ready my bow attack for when I can see an enemy" so if they open the door and see an enemy, they can use their reaction to shoot the bow.
As others have said, you can't ready your action so you can move and attack, it has to be "I ready my sword attack for when an enemy comes within range".
The important thing for the ready action is to set conditions for what will set it off too. Like, "on my turn, I ready an action to attack the enemy AS SOON AS the wizard drops polymorph". Then, polymorph ends and you use your reaction to make a single attack (multiattack doesn't apply to reactions).
However, if the conditions you set are not met, and the wizard doesn't end their polymorph spell that turn, your readied action goes to waste.
But if you barge into a room knowing enemies are in there, and they are surprised, should they not be able to roll a perception check contested by af stealth (or something else) check to see if they are surprised
If the DM rules that the monsters are surprised, it's too late for them to notice the players. They already failed to notice them; that's what it means to be surprised.
But if you barge into a room knowing enemies are in there, and they are surprised, should they not be able to roll a perception check contested by af stealth (or something else) check to see if they are surprised
It is actually a stealth check versus passive perception, and you can give advantage to the check if the monsters dont have line of sight to the players. You can also just seem it an auto success if you feel they have earned it. When initiative is rolled, surprise is determined.
You can't prepare move and attack as a readied action, you have to pick one. Also, you only get one attack even if you would normally get more than that.
RAW implies that it can only be an action, so you can't ready movement. I lamented this in a previous thread where I noted that the older editions had a "delay" mechanic which acts similar to readying, but for an entire turn, ie. you can delay your turn to act at a different (lower) initiative count.
You can't prepare move and attack as a readied action, you have to pick one. Also, you only get one attack even if you would normally get more than that.
RAW implies that it can only be an action, so you can't ready movement.
You could, however, ready the 'Dash' action, which is pretty close.
But if you barge into a room knowing enemies are in there, and they are surprised, should they not be able to roll a perception check contested by af stealth (or something else) check to see if they are surprised
Normally, you might have the party make a stealth check against the passive perception of the room's occupants before they open the door to see if they make too much noise and alert someone inside.
In addition, depending on whether the occupants of the room are alert or paying attention, the few seconds it takes to slam the door open will make them aware of the people entering the room and surprise would not apply. Surprise is much more difficult to achieve in 5e than in previous editions.
Keep in mind that a combat round is 6 seconds. Doing almost ANYTHING including, opening a door, might well negate any chance of actually surprising the occupants of the room. It is a DM call. However, the only times I have really seen surprise rounds happen is when an undetected attacker is able to start executing movement/attacks without doing anything that would alert the defenders to the impending attacks.
Examples might be:
-ambushing creatures in a forest or other setting where the party is already in place and succeeds on a stealth check.
-attacking through an open doorway against distracted opponents.
Basically, surprise could apply when the defender is unaware of the attacker and the attacker can move directly into combat without making any other interaction that could alert the defender to their presence (which could include opening a door) ... OR ... when the DM decides that surprise should apply.
You can't prepare move and attack as a readied action, you have to pick one. Also, you only get one attack even if you would normally get more than that.
RAW implies that it can only be an action, so you can't ready movement.
RAW implies no such thing. RAW states clearly that you can ready movement.
Then, you choose the action you will take in response to that trigger, or you choose to move up to your speed in response to it.
1) you can lure the enemies out with one character and ready actions for the others and attack as they come through the door. Pro: easy damage on the first round of combat. Con: what if they don’t fall for it and just prep instead?
2) barge in forcefully and hopefully quickly enough to get Surprise. Pro: a surprise round for your group. Con: there’s nothing to surprise and now you’ve made a lot of noise.
3) Try sending in the sneaky ones to get the drop. Pro: sneak attacks everywhere. Con: Fail that stealth roll and he’s in there all alone...
You should be able to move AND bonus action, and still take the Ready Action. All the Ready Action does, is spend your Action and set it up to be a Reaction (to whatever condition you are Ready for).
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BioWizard
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Hello Guys!
We have recently come across the "Ready" action.. One of my players tells that he has listened to a podcast where, if they know an enemy is comming, they can use the ready action, to prepare an attack, and when the enemy draws near they can use their reaction to take the attack action..
How do you guys do this?
Because i'm quite new as a DM, and i think this "ready" action is a bit tricky to interpret. Last session, they knew there were monsters behind a door, so they used the ready action, sayin "as soon as the door is kicked open i will jump in and attack the first monster i see!"
It makes sense because if you get a jump on someone on the opposite side of a door they will be caught off guard.. But on the other hand i think it might tip the balance scales, because then they can just say, "when i get around the corner i attack the first monster i see"
How do you guys do this??
I hope you can help me!!
It sounds like they aren't quite using it right, but they are probably closer than you think.
The idea of the ready action is to prepare to do something on another creature's turn as a reaction.
In the door scenario, if combat had not started yet, I would have just used surprise mechanics. If combat had started, then they could have readied actions to attack creatures as they came through the door or otherwise entered attack range.
The going around a corner scenario does not require the ready action. They go around the corner on their turn, then can use their actions to attack.
The ready action cannot be used to postpone your entire turn, you can either move or use an action (decided when readied) such as attack (one attack, no extra attack), cast a spell (the slot is consumed when it is readied and it takes concentration), interact with objects, or perform some other action.
As far as balance is concerned, monsters can perform all the same actions as players.
As DxJxC said, ready isn't really used if combat hasn't started yet. If you know an enemy is there and they don't know you are, then use surprise rules. In combat it is situationally useful, but keep in mind that if the trigger doesn't come up before your next turn, then you've just wanted a turn (and a spell slot if you were readying a spell). It also uses your reaction to use it, so you won't get be able to use an opportunity attack that round.
You can't prepare move and attack as a readied action, you have to pick one. Also, you only get one attack even if you would normally get more than that.
It's important to note that using the ready action also uses up your reaction - this is because you use your reaction to 'trigger' the readied action.
When using the ready action, the player should specify what the trigger is. In your example, "I ready my bow attack for when I can see an enemy" so if they open the door and see an enemy, they can use their reaction to shoot the bow.
As others have said, you can't ready your action so you can move and attack, it has to be "I ready my sword attack for when an enemy comes within range".
The important thing for the ready action is to set conditions for what will set it off too. Like, "on my turn, I ready an action to attack the enemy AS SOON AS the wizard drops polymorph". Then, polymorph ends and you use your reaction to make a single attack (multiattack doesn't apply to reactions).
However, if the conditions you set are not met, and the wizard doesn't end their polymorph spell that turn, your readied action goes to waste.
The stuff you says kindda makes sense.. :)
But if you barge into a room knowing enemies are in there, and they are surprised, should they not be able to roll a perception check contested by af stealth (or something else) check to see if they are surprised
If the DM rules that the monsters are surprised, it's too late for them to notice the players. They already failed to notice them; that's what it means to be surprised.
Thank you inquisitivecoder for shedding light on the last blank spots in my rule knowledge, it makes more sense now how reactions are to be used.
It is actually a stealth check versus passive perception, and you can give advantage to the check if the monsters dont have line of sight to the players. You can also just seem it an auto success if you feel they have earned it. When initiative is rolled, surprise is determined.
RAW implies that it can only be an action, so you can't ready movement. I lamented this in a previous thread where I noted that the older editions had a "delay" mechanic which acts similar to readying, but for an entire turn, ie. you can delay your turn to act at a different (lower) initiative count.
You could, however, ready the 'Dash' action, which is pretty close.
Normally, you might have the party make a stealth check against the passive perception of the room's occupants before they open the door to see if they make too much noise and alert someone inside.
In addition, depending on whether the occupants of the room are alert or paying attention, the few seconds it takes to slam the door open will make them aware of the people entering the room and surprise would not apply. Surprise is much more difficult to achieve in 5e than in previous editions.
Keep in mind that a combat round is 6 seconds. Doing almost ANYTHING including, opening a door, might well negate any chance of actually surprising the occupants of the room. It is a DM call. However, the only times I have really seen surprise rounds happen is when an undetected attacker is able to start executing movement/attacks without doing anything that would alert the defenders to the impending attacks.
Examples might be:
-ambushing creatures in a forest or other setting where the party is already in place and succeeds on a stealth check.
-attacking through an open doorway against distracted opponents.
Basically, surprise could apply when the defender is unaware of the attacker and the attacker can move directly into combat without making any other interaction that could alert the defender to their presence (which could include opening a door) ... OR ... when the DM decides that surprise should apply.
RAW implies no such thing. RAW states clearly that you can ready movement.
https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/basic-rules/combat#Ready
Thanks @DxJxC, I missed that particular phrasing so it is good to know for the future.
I’ll always tell the PCs this when I DM:
1) you can lure the enemies out with one character and ready actions for the others and attack as they come through the door. Pro: easy damage on the first round of combat. Con: what if they don’t fall for it and just prep instead?
2) barge in forcefully and hopefully quickly enough to get Surprise. Pro: a surprise round for your group. Con: there’s nothing to surprise and now you’ve made a lot of noise.
3) Try sending in the sneaky ones to get the drop. Pro: sneak attacks everywhere. Con: Fail that stealth roll and he’s in there all alone...
Can a character use his movement before declaring to take the Ready action or is the character locked at their current location to take that action.
A fair bit of thread necromancy here, but yes. You may use your movement before taking an action.
"Not all those who wander are lost"
Agree, but I felt better to necromancy than create a new thread on on a similar topic
You should be able to move AND bonus action, and still take the Ready Action. All the Ready Action does, is spend your Action and set it up to be a Reaction (to whatever condition you are Ready for).
BioWizard
I no longer post to the forums -- PM me if you need help or anything.