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It might also be worth mentioning some of the "oddities" which arise in the course of using readied actions.

For example it is quite possible for characters to benefit multiple times from buffs or debuffs which are generally intended to function only once. A simple example

A C M are a set of three combatants where C is a cleric M is a monster and A is another PC. A readies a melee attack against M, triggered on C attacking M. C uses Righteous Brand on M, assigning the buff to A. A now interrupts C and makes an attack on M using the buff. Note that A's place in the turn order does not change. Next turn A can attack M again and still benefits from the buff since C's next turn has not yet ended.

This is actually a mild example. With the proper setup C can perpetuate the buff indefinitely at the cost of sacrificing its actions. This can also be generalized to other situations.

Readying can also be used to exploit the once per turn limit on immediate interrupts or once per enemy turn limit on opportunity actions.

For example a group of orcs may want to get past a fighter. Normally they would each move in their turn and the fighter would OA each one, stopping any that are hit. However if orcs A and B ready their move action and key it off of orc C then they will all technically be moving in orc C's turn and the fighter can only issue an OA against one of them. The other two orcs proceed past the fighter unimpeeded.

Similarly a CC can be avoided entirely by a monster simply by triggering its action off some action taken by the fighter, who cannot utilize an immediate interrupt in his own turn.

It is interesting to note that each of these examples utilizes triggering off an ally. The same tricks CAN be pulled triggering off enemy actions, but they will generally be less reliable and in some cases not possible. This may be one of the reasons why RAW appears to restrict readied actions to triggering off enemy actions only. It doesn't prevent exploitation, but it certainly does make it a riskier proposition.

It may be worth noting these issues with readying in a thorough FAQ, even though they really don't have answers (all being well within RAW).

MektonZero wrote:

RAW A moves in the initiative order to just before C, per the rule on page 291; which still allows this trick. As a DM I'd rule that A moves to just after C since it wasn't an interrupt, it was a reaction as A didn't go before C (if he did the brand wouldn't be in place for the first attack).



You can't really avoid ending your turn.



This I don't see as a problem; it's part of what readied actions are there for.



And if the fighter doesn't trigger the event the monster stands around doing absolutely nothing for the entire round. Then again you're the DM, you don't need rules tricks to screw your players.

Oh, I wasn't saying any of these things are PROBLEMS, they are just oddities of the readying system.

There are ways to pretty much perpetually delay the end of your turn though. It is a little tricky and involves having multiple enemies in the turn order, but you actually CAN do it. You can delay for up to as many turns as there are enemies in the turn order. It certainly wasn't an intentional part of the rules, but it GENERALLY isn't a huge problem since the best you can do is sacrifice any chance to use actions in order to extend a turn end effect, or avoid one. So far I haven't seen where anyone has managed to even house rule it away anyway without doing violence to the whole concept of readying.

I'm not sure where it is now, but there is a fairly recent thread someplace around here that explains the whole perpetual delay tactic. After looking at it I have to consider it conforms with RAW, but 99% of players would never even realize it can happen, on purpose. It is actually possible to do by accident though!

PyroMancer2k wrote:

So readying an action out of combat to get in the first attack is like setting up an ambush. But doesn't mean the players will get a surprise round. The monsters should get a perception check to see if they notice the players begin the assault. If the monsters fail perception check then players get surprise but if they succeed the players with the readied action simply get to go first with no surprise round. Which since init is actually more of a loop isn't not really that ground breaking any more then improved Init feat would be 'broken'. Since odds are players won't be able to pull off that kind of setup all the time or even on a potentially regular basis.

Except they will be able to do it every single time they come to a door, or a dozen other places. The surprise mechanism and initiative are THERE to determine who gets the jump on who. Characters are already immune to surprise in a 'door opening' situation. If the PCs surprise the monsters, then they can use their surprise actions to ready an attack. If they don't get surprise then quick reactions matter and the monsters may well come out of it pretty well.

There are other sorts of problems. Suppose the party opens a door, why would not the monsters have their bows all aimed at the door with actions readied? These things cut both ways.

The existing surprise mechanics provide a perfectly good way to use Ready WITHIN a combat situation to deal with setting up an ambush or a surprise attack. There just is not a need to give players another option that will generally just slow the game down by elaborating the door opening procedure even more than it is already. It won't add anything to the game IMHO.

It also starts to open up a whole other can of worms regarding other similar actions. Why wouldn't characters use their encounter long buff powers before entering combat for instance?

PyroMancer2k wrote:

What happens if multiple people are readied off the same action?

The general consensus (from prior threads) is to handle these in order of original initiative.

readying an action out of combat to get in the first attack is like setting up an ambush

As a general rule, I allow anyone that could've/would've readied an action before combat (were it allowed) to get an action on the surprise round.

A "group" of potential targets is not an intended target which is why I think "Attack first enemy I see" is not a valid ready action.

Not everyone would agree with that interpretation. Also, removing the ability to cover an area during combat (i.e. ready to "attack the first enemy I see coming around the corner") wouldn't seem to add fun or realism.