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Mar 4, 2010 -- 12:13PM, dragonwarlord wrote:

This may be a dumb question but I've not been able to find the answer. Can the DM ready actions? The PHB has an entry in the index for "ready an action" and the DMG does not and only has an entry for "ready".

Monsters take actions in combat using the same rules PCs do, except where they *specifically* have a rule that says otherwise.

So yes, monsters can Ready, just like they can Grab or Delay or Charge. 

Mar 4, 2010 -- 12:13PM, dragonwarlord wrote:

Also when stating what the trigger is, do you have to know the target or can you say any of the monsters I see that come adjacent to me I will do X or do you have to single out one and say if he does X I will do Y?

There are no hard rules about how specific or how general your terms need to be.  In general, as long as the PCs and the NPCs use the same set of restrictions, everything will be fine.

For example, some DMs allow "When I save versus this Immobilise, I Charge" as a valid trigger, some do not.  In the end, if PCs can ready for "when I make a save", monsters can do the same, which generally balances out fairly in the end.

Mar 21, 2010 -- 5:14AM, Face_Stab wrote:

Is there an official ruling on attacking the first creature to come into view?

For example, I'm a ranger in a long hallway. We know there are creatures around one of the corners (perhaps we know exactly which one), but my movement can't get me far enough to see someone. Can I ready an action to attack the first creature (good or bad) that comes into view? As far as common sense goes, I think it should work (especially with the understanding that I'll shoot whatever comes into view, giving the idea of an itchy trigger finger), but since I'd only play in a D&D Encounters game, I want to make sure that I have a legal ruling about it.

You can totally do that, and you also have the option of not firing when the target appears.

You'd be better off setting your condition to be "attack anyone who comes around the corner", which will trigger repeatedly.  If you decide not to shoot someone when they hit your trigger, your chance to shoot that monster for that trigger is lost, but you can shoot the next monster to match the trigger if you want to.

Mar 21, 2010 -- 11:52AM, Face_Stab wrote:

Aha, the subtlety of language.

So in that case, when the rules say I need to designate a target for my readied action, my target is just the triggering creature (who, at the time, is unknown)?

That is correct.

Mar 22, 2010 -- 10:17AM, MadMoly wrote:

Mar 4, 2010 -- 12:27PM, LordOfWeasels wrote:

For example, some DMs allow "When I save versus this Immobilise, I Charge" as a valid trigger, some do not.  In the end, if PCs can ready for "when I make a save", monsters can do the same, which generally balances out fairly in the end.

"When I make a save" would make you attempting to make an immediate action during (the end) of your own turn. You could do "when the next person makes an action" and hope that you had saved out (or the trigger is failed.)

Well, no.  If your DM allows that, you're making your immediate reaction "immediately after the end of my End Of Turn".  Which, in this case, is a reaction to the *event* "the end of my turn" as opposed to a specific action.

As has been said before, if you restrict it purely to "Actions" in the game mechanic sense, you're left with a bunch of nonsense cases that SHOULD be legal but aren't, or else you're left with people saying "Okay, I set up my Reaction to this Free Action that I'm going to do.  When I yell 'HOODY HOO', I will charge him!  I end my turn, I roll my save.... 16!  HOODY HOO!"

As far as allowing Ready triggers like "If I Save against this condition" - again, it's not a big deal as long as both NPCs and PCs work on the same rules.

If you set a trigger and the trigger comes up, and you choose not to take it your readied action is wasted. When setting trigger it is important to be clear.
You can set trigger - "first enemy that comes out of cover i shoot with my daily power". If the first enemy coming from behind cover is a known minion, and you choose not to fire - YOUR READIED ACTION IS GONE!
you can also set trigger - "first undead foe to come around the corner", or dragon etc if the boss is a different type to the rest. "first NON-undead/dragon" if you know the weaker types also works.

setting up a bunch of squares to cover from range is just as easy as it is for melee. Ranger "i target the first enemy i see with my twin shoot power" Barbarian "i charge the first creature who moves within 6 squares" Fighter "i attack the first enemy to come adjacent to me".
If your DM allows one, he effectively allows them all.

Our DM avoids our triggers so we write our trigger face down on paper and use it like a trap card in cardgames: if the trigger comes up, we show the DM and have our turn. (not needed if he didnt avoid triggers so much we forced)

Avoiding end-of-turn or save-ends conditions, is as simple as triggering off a free action ("HOODY HOO") on your next allies turn, or on noticing the next monster in init order doing ANYTHING, wastes your immediate action, only wastes your standard if trigger doesnt happen - you end turn, make save, pass or fail you get another chance to use your planned standard action (awesome for blinded condition) and possibly dont even change init order.