5-Foot Step: Difference between revisions

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'''Type of Action:''' [[Free Action]] (special; see below)
'''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.
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 that threaten your square.  A creature can take a 5-foot step before, during, or after their other actions in the round.  However, there are some conditions that 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.
There are four general ways in which a creature can become eligible to perform a 5-foot step:


:'''1)'''   A creature can take a 5-foot step in any round in which they don't perform any other kind of movement. Creatures cannot take more than one of these sorts of 5-foot step in a round, because they 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. NOTE: This mechanic does not stack with the Full Attack action below! That is, if a character uses a Full Attack, they are considered to be concentrating so utterly on combat they are effectively performing movement, and thus cannot also take a Five-Foot Step.
: <h4>Perform No Other Movement</h4>
: A creature can take a 5-foot step in any round in which they don't perform any other kind of movement. This means the creature cannot use any action, or perform any activity, which causes them to move from their starting location through their own volition, if they want to use this mechanic. Examples of this include (but are not limited to:
:* [[Walk]]ing
:* [[Run]]ning
:* performing a [[Charge]] action
:* performing a [[Spring Attack (Feat)|Spring Attack]]
:* casting a spell which moves the caster (e.g., [[Dimension Door (Sorcerer/Wizard Spell)|Dimension Door]])
:* standing up from [[Prone]]
:* performing any 5-foot steps by trading away attacks in a full-attack action (see below). Note that if you only attack during your full attack action, you may still take this 5-foot step, since you haven't otherwise moved.


:'''2)''' &emsp; A creature can declare a [[Full Attack Action]]. This means the creature is concentrating utterly on physical combat, and 'uses up' their Standard and Move actions for the round. Using 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 perform them. If a character can perform skill uses, spell casting, or any other activity in a swift, immediate, or free action, then they may do so in a round in which they declared a Full Attack. Thus, a Quickened Spell could be cast in the same round in which you make a Full Attack. Further note that Full Attacks are severable, meaning that players (and monsters!) can react to changing circumstances during battle. See the [[Full Attack Action]] description for details.
: Creatures cannot take more than one of these sorts of 5-foot steps in a round. This is the most common way for monsters to use a 5-foot step in combat, although players may also use this mechanic as well.  


: In exchange for using a Full Attack action, a character can make a number of attacks equal to the maximum number allocated by their favored class (plus any feats or abilities which may add to, or alter, that total).  As another option, they may take a number of 5-foot steps equal to the base number of attacks provided by their favored class.  Or, as a final option, they may do a combination of these things.  
: <h4>Trade Away Attacks From A Full Attack Action</h4>
: A creature can declare a [[Full Attack Action]] and perform a number of 5-foot steps up to the base number of attacks provided by their favored class. Of course, any attacks performed subtract from the number of attacks they can trade away for 5-foot steps.  The 5-foot steps can occur during any part of the full attack action, including before, after, or between attacks, assuming the character has enough attacks to perform each action.


:: 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 perform attacks starting with their highest to-hit numbers and working their way down to their worst to-hit numbers, while 5-foot steps 'use up' the worst to-hit numbers, working up to the highest to-hit numbers.  This is true even if the 5-foot steps are taken between attacks.
:: For example, a Fighter declares a Full Attack. Since fighter is their favored class, they may make up to four attacks during a full attack action. They can use all four of these attacks to attack targets they can reach (or within range, if using ranged attacks), or they can trade away one or more of these attacks to perform an equal number of 5-foot steps, to a maximum of four, moving up to 20 feet without provoking attacks of opportunity due to their utter combat focus.   


:'''3)''' &emsp; A creature may gain access to a 5-foot step by using a feat, class feature, monster ability, or any other legal source (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.
: In general, characters perform attacks starting with their highest to-hit numbers and working their way down to their worst to-hit numbers, while 5-foot steps 'use up' the worst to-hit numbers and work up to the highest to-hit numbers.  This is true even if the 5-foot steps are taken between attacks.


: <h4>Class Features, Abilities, Feats, Etc.</h4>
: A creature may gain access to a 5-foot step by using a feat, class feature, racial trait, monster ability, or any other legal source (subject to GM approval, of course). For example, some classes (e.g. [[Prowler]]) and races (e.g. [[Half-Orc]]) have special abilities that 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 may take a 5-foot step in the same round in which they moved any distance through their own actions (e.g. [[Walk]], [[Run]], [[Charge]], [[Spring Attack (Feat)]], casting a spell that moves them from their starting location, etc.). 
: <h4>Action Point</h4>
: If a creature has an [[Action Point]] that can be used to grant a move action, they may spend the action point to take a 5-foot step instead (using up the move action), even if they have previously moved this round, or have 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.


Standing up from [[Prone]] is also considered movement, thus preventing the use of a 5-foot step.
<h4>Other Considerations</h4>
 
* A creature can't take a 5-foot step if the space they are attempting to move in to is considered difficult terrain, unless they possess a movement type that allows them to ignore that type of difficult terrain, and that also allows the use of 5-foot steps (e.g. [[Hover]]).
A creature can take a 5-foot step before, during, or after their other actions in the round.
* A creature can't take a 5-foot step if they are attempting to move into a space that is concealed, either partially or totally (typically due to dim light or darkness, but sometimes fog, or other conditions may cause this), unless they have some means of seeing normally in those conditions (e.g. [[Darkvision]]).
 
* Any creature with a move speed of 5 feet or less cannot ever take a 5-foot step, since moving even 5 feet requires a move action for such a slow creature.
A creature can only take a 5-foot-step if their 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 they do not have a listed speed.
 
No creature may take a 5-foot step using a form of movement for which they do not have a listed speed.
 
If a creature has an [[Action Point]] which can be used to grant a move action, they may spend the action point to take a 5-foot step (using up the move action), even if they have previously moved this round, or have 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.

Revision as of 18:22, 25 June 2019

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 that threaten your square. A creature can take a 5-foot step before, during, or after their other actions in the round. However, there are some conditions that must be met in order to take a 5-foot step on your turn.

There are four general ways in which a creature can become eligible to perform a 5-foot step:

Perform No Other Movement

A creature can take a 5-foot step in any round in which they don't perform any other kind of movement. This means the creature cannot use any action, or perform any activity, which causes them to move from their starting location through their own volition, if they want to use this mechanic. Examples of this include (but are not limited to:
  • Walking
  • Running
  • performing a Charge action
  • performing a Spring Attack
  • casting a spell which moves the caster (e.g., Dimension Door)
  • standing up from Prone
  • performing any 5-foot steps by trading away attacks in a full-attack action (see below). Note that if you only attack during your full attack action, you may still take this 5-foot step, since you haven't otherwise moved.
Creatures cannot take more than one of these sorts of 5-foot steps in a round. This is the most common way for monsters to use a 5-foot step in combat, although players may also use this mechanic as well.

Trade Away Attacks From A Full Attack Action

A creature can declare a Full Attack Action and perform a number of 5-foot steps up to the base number of attacks provided by their favored class. Of course, any attacks performed subtract from the number of attacks they can trade away for 5-foot steps. The 5-foot steps can occur during any part of the full attack action, including before, after, or between attacks, assuming the character has enough attacks to perform each action.
For example, a Fighter declares a Full Attack. Since fighter is their favored class, they may make up to four attacks during a full attack action. They can use all four of these attacks to attack targets they can reach (or within range, if using ranged attacks), or they can trade away one or more of these attacks to perform an equal number of 5-foot steps, to a maximum of four, moving up to 20 feet without provoking attacks of opportunity due to their utter combat focus.
In general, characters perform attacks starting with their highest to-hit numbers and working their way down to their worst to-hit numbers, while 5-foot steps 'use up' the worst to-hit numbers and work up to the highest to-hit numbers. This is true even if the 5-foot steps are taken between attacks.

Class Features, Abilities, Feats, Etc.

A creature may gain access to a 5-foot step by using a feat, class feature, racial trait, monster ability, or any other legal source (subject to GM approval, of course). For example, some classes (e.g. Prowler) and races (e.g. Half-Orc) have special abilities that 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.

Action Point

If a creature has an Action Point that can be used to grant a move action, they may spend the action point to take a 5-foot step instead (using up the move action), even if they have previously moved this round, or have 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.

Other Considerations

  • A creature can't take a 5-foot step if the space they are attempting to move in to is considered difficult terrain, unless they possess a movement type that allows them to ignore that type of difficult terrain, and that also allows the use of 5-foot steps (e.g. Hover).
  • A creature can't take a 5-foot step if they are attempting to move into a space that is concealed, either partially or totally (typically due to dim light or darkness, but sometimes fog, or other conditions may cause this), unless they have some means of seeing normally in those conditions (e.g. Darkvision).
  • Any creature with a move speed of 5 feet or less cannot ever 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 they do not have a listed speed.
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