5-Foot Step

5-Foot Step

Type of Action: Free Action (special; see below)

Taking a 5-foot step is a special type of free action that allows you to move one square (five feet) from your current space without provoking attacks of opportunity from nearby enemy creatures which threaten your square. However, there are some conditions which must be met in order to take a 5-foot step on your turn.

There are three general ways in which a creature can become eligible for using one or more 5-foot steps.

• 1) A creature can take a 5-foot step in any round in which it doesn't perform any other kind of movement. Creatures cannot take more than one of these sorts of 5-foot step in a round, because you only get one base Move action per round. This is typically how monsters can gain a 5-foot step in combat, although players may also use this mechanic if they wish.

• 2) A creature can declare a Full Attack Action. This means the creature is concentrating utterly on physical combat, and 'uses up' its Standard and Move actions for the round. Declaring a Full Attack means that non-combat actions like skill uses and spell casting are not allowed that round, because the character in question does not have a Standard or Move action with which to do them. If a character can perform skill uses, spell casting, or any other activity in a swift or immediate or free action, then they may do so in a round in which they declared a Full Attack. (Yes, a Quickened Spell can be cast in the same round as you make a Full Attack.)

In exchange, a character can make a number of attacks equal to the number allocated by its class abilities and level, or, it can take a number of 5-foot steps equal to its normal number of attacks, or, it can do a combination of these things. For example, a Fighter declares a Full Attack and can make up to four attacks without moving. Alternatively, the Fighter can take four 5-foot steps, moving 20 feet without provoking attacks of opportunity due to their utter combat focus. Or, the Fighter can make one attack and take three 5-foot steps, or make three attacks and take one 5-foot step, or any other combination. In general, characters use their 'best' attacks to roll to-hit, and 'use up' their worst attacks to make moves. Namely, attacks are always made from the best numbers to the worst numbers, while 5-foot steps always use up the worst to-hits first.

• 3) A creature may gain access to a 5-foot step by using a feat, class ability, monster ability, or any other legal mechanism, subject to GM approval, of course. For example, some classes (e.g. Prowler) and races (e.g. Half-Orc) have special abilities which allow them to make more than one 5-foot step in a single round, or in rounds in which they have already moved. The listed rules may also specify different limitations for using the ability (e.g. the additional 5-foot step may cost a swift or move action to perform). In these cases, the specific ability's rules take precedence over the rules listed here.

No creature can take a 5-foot step in the same round in which it moved any distance through its own actions (e.g. Walk, Run, Charge, Spring Attack (Feat), casting a spell that moves the creature from its starting location, etc.).

Standing up from Prone is also considered movement, thus disallowing 5-foot steps.

A creature can take a 5-foot step before, during, or after its other actions in the round. A 5-foot step can even be used between attacks during a full attack action.

A creature can only take a 5-foot-step if its movement isn't hampered by difficult terrain or darkness. Any creature with a speed of 5 feet or less can't take a 5-foot step, since moving even 5 feet requires a move action for such a slow creature.

No creature may take a 5-foot step using a form of movement for which it does not have a listed speed.

If a creature has an action point which can be used to grant a move action, it may spend the action point to take a 5-foot step (using up the move action), even if it has previously moved this round, or has already taken a 5-foot step. Using action points in this manner deliberately breaks the normal rules for 5-foot steps, since action points are meant to simulate truly heroic deeds.