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gwydion9 wrote:

which takes precedence, the text above or the stuff in the text block? I'm assuming the stuff in the text block are the actual rules, and the text above it is descriptive.

Boxed text (for brevity) sometimes phrases rules that if taken strictly literally can be overly limiting compared to the main text. I could research some more examples if desired. Boxed text does not necessarily cover every rule and intent, and afaik it has not been stated that boxed text has primacy.

Recognizing the RAW text of "When you ready an action, you prepare to react to a creature’s action or an event" seems suitable for a FAQ.

gwydion9 wrote:

Then the text box goes on to say :

"Choose trigger: Choose the action that will trigger your readied action. When that action occurs, you can use your readied action."

It uses this phraseology throughout the text block. Triggering off "an event" is never mentioned (and it would then have to define what "an event" is somehow). So which takes precedence, the text above or the stuff in the text block? I'm assuming the stuff in the text block are the actual rules, and the text above it is descriptive.

If it's not, then this starts to cause other problems, for example, in the non-block text above "opportunity attack," it says that "moving past" someone provokes an attack of opportunity. Is this a rule? Because I (and, it seems, most of the forums) are operating under the assumption that it's the "moving provokes" in the text block that's actually defining the mechanics side of this.

I think you are being far too strict. Just because they didn't put "choose the action or event" in the choose trigger block doesn't mean you should ignore the previous information and common sense.

So we are supposed to ignore everything in the book unless it is in a tan box, if it's not in a tan box it's flavor text and should be ignored? I'll keep that in mind.

If you are so strict as to limit it entirely to creature's actions then players could never ready actions in response to environmental situations. That's why the book says "a creature's action or an event". Not to mention ignoring everything outside the tan boxes invalidates a good portion of the rules.

If you don't allow readied actions to be triggered by events then;

Players couldn't.....

ready an action to jump onto a swinging platform when it gets near.

ready an action to bull rush the enemy cultist into the magical tide when it rolls in.

ready an action to jump off the boat and onto the dock before it crashes into the rocks.

ready an action to catch someone if they fall.

ready an action to fire when the fog parts.

The non-boxed text is important and IS rules text. Take a look at Second Wind; "Unless otherwise noted in the statistics block of a monster or a nonplayer character, this action is available only to player characters". Are you telling me that's irrelevant flavor text we should ignore?

gwydion9 wrote:

It's more that plus the problem of how you then interpret what "an event" means. It seems as though if they had meant this, they would have gone on to define it with the other crunchy rules stuff.




I stopped reading right here. It's fine if you want to disagree, but if you want to be insulting, then *go away*, I have no interest in reading what you have to say. I've made every effort to provide substantive points and real discussion. I see you disagree and I'm willing to explore your point, but without the abuse.

I'm sorry, I'm not trying to be abusive or start a fight, I'm trying to point out that the text outside the box IS rules text.

You are specifically arguing that the text above the tan blocks is not rules text, and I am trying to point at that it is.

Second wind
"Unless otherwise noted in the statistics block of a monster or a nonplayer character, this action is available only to player characters"

Grab
"helpless allies are treated as objects"

gwydion9 wrote:

Actually, no, that's not exactly what I'm trying to say. If I had to state the argument, I'd say I think the boxed stuff *takes precedence* or is *more important*.

I guess we differ there in that I see "creature's action or an event" to be offering an exception or addition, rather than to be making a generalization that the box text will clear up.

Ie, why would they put "or an event" there if they were just going to immediately follow it with text that says only a creature's action can trigger it, ignore the phrase "or an event".

I could agree with you if the text above the block said "you prepare to react to something" or "you prepare to react to an event". Then when it uses action later on it could be locking down what that event or "something" could be.
But, the text says "you prepare to react to a creature's action or an event". In my opinion that is very clearly telling us that in addition to creature's actions, you can ready in response to events. (and then they just don't mention events afterward for brevity)

gwydion9 wrote:

Also, I *am* willing to note there's a debate in the FAQ itself. *points up*

I guess that will do.