The modern world is a dangerous place, and opportunities for battle abound for those not hampered by fear or good sense. Whether it\u2019s combating terrorists before they launch a deadly plot, assaulting a drug lord\u2019s hidden den, or confronting a cabal of evil cultists preparing to sacrifice innocent abductees, combat is inevitable in modern action-adventure stories. This chapter details the combat rules, starting with the basics before moving on to some of the more unusual situations heroes may face or combat strategies they can employ. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Combat Sequence<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Combat is played out in rounds, and in each round everybody acts in turn in a regular cycle. Generally, combat runs in the following way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Each combatant starts the battle flat-footed; that is, a character starts out not yet in a combat stance. Once a combatant acts, she or he is no longer flat-footed.<\/li>
The GM determines which characters are aware of their opponents at the start of the battle. If some but not all of the combatants are aware of their opponents, a surprise round happens before regular rounds begin. The combatants who are aware of the opponents can act in the surprise round, so they roll for initiative. In initiative order (highest to lowest), combatants who started the battle aware of their opponents each take one move or attack action. Combatants who were unaware don\u2019t get to act in the surprise round. If no one or everyone starts the battle aware, there is no surprise round.<\/li>
Combatants who have not yet rolled initiative do so. All combatants are now ready to begin their first regular round.<\/li>
Combatants act in initiative order.<\/li>
When everyone has had a turn, the combatant with the highest initiative acts again, and steps 4 and 5 repeat until combat ends.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
COMBAT STATISTICS<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Several fundamental statistics determine how well you do in combat. This section summarizes these statistics, and the following sections detail how to use them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Attack Roll<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
An attack roll represents your attempts to strike your opponent on your turn in a round. When you make an attack roll, you roll 1d20 and add your attack bonus. If your result equals or beats the target\u2019s Defense, you hit and deal damage. Lots of modifiers affect the attack roll, such as a +1 bonus if you have the Weapon Focus feat with the weapon you\u2019re using or a bonus for having a high Strength or Dexterity score. A natural 1 (the d20 comes up 1) on the attack roll is always a miss. A natural 20 (the d20 comes up 20) is always a hit. A natural 20 is also always a threat \u2014 a possible critical hit (see Critical Hits). If you are not proficient in the weapon you\u2019re attacking with (you don\u2019t have the appropriate Weapon Proficiency feat), you take a \u20134 penalty on the attack roll. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Attack Bonus<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Your attack bonus with a melee weapon is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Base attack bonus + Strength modifier + size modifier<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
With a ranged weapon, your attack bonus is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Base attack bonus + Dexterity modifier + range penalty + size modifier<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Strength Modifier<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Strength helps you swing a weapon harder and faster, so your Strength modifier applies to melee attack rolls. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Size Modifier<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Creature size categories are defined differently from the size categories for weapons and other objects. Since this size modifier applies to Defense against a melee weapon attack or a ranged weapon attack, two creatures of the same size strike each other normally, regardless of what size they actually are. Creature sizes are compatible with vehicle sizes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dexterity measures coordination and steadiness, so your Dexterity modifier applies when you attack with a ranged weapon. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Range Penalty<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
The range penalty for a ranged weapon depends on what weapon you\u2019re using and how far away the target is. All ranged weapons and thrown weapons have a range increment, such as 30 feet for a Glock 17 pistol or 10 feet for a thrown knife. Any attack from a distance of less than one range increment is not penalized for range, so a bullet from a Barrett Light Fifty sniper rifle (range increment 120 feet) can strike at enemies up to 119 feet away with no penalty. However, each full range increment causes a cumulative \u20132 penalty on the attack roll. A sniper firing a Barrett at a target 500 feet away takes a \u20138 range penalty (because 500 feet is at least four range increments but not five increments). A thrown weapon, such as a javelin, has a maximum range of five range increments. Ranged weapons that fire projectiles, such as pistols and crossbows, can shoot up to ten increments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Damage<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When you hit with a weapon, you deal damage according to the type of weapon. Effects that modify weapon damage also apply to unarmed strikes and the natural physical attack forms of creatures. Damage is deducted from the target\u2019s current hit points. If the opponent\u2019s hit points are reduced to 0 or less, he\u2019s in bad shape (see Injury and Death).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Minimum Weapon Damage<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
If penalties to damage bring the damage result below 1, a hit still deals 1 point of damage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Strength Bonus<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
When you hit with a melee weapon or thrown weapon, add your Strength modifier to the damage. Off-Hand Weapon:<\/strong> When you deal damage with a weapon in your off hand, add only half of your Strength bonus. Wielding a Weapon Two-Handed:<\/strong> When you deal damage with a weapon that you are wielding two-handed, add 1\u00bd times your Strength bonus. However, you don\u2019t get this higher Strength bonus when using a light weapon two-handed; in such a case, only your normal Strength bonus applies to the damage roll. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
COMBAT BASICS<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Here\u2019s a quick summary of combat and how it works. Refer to the rest of the chapter for more details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rounds<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Combat is divided into rounds. In every round, each combatant gets to do something. A round represents 6 seconds in the game world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Initiative<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Before the first round, each player makes an initiative check for his or her character. The GM makes initiative checks for the opponents. An initiative check is a Dexterity check (1d20 + Dexterity modifier). Characters act in order from highest initiative result to lowest, with the check applying to all rounds of the combat). A character is flat-footed until she takes her first action. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Actions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The four types of actions are attack actions, move actions, full-round actions, and free actions. Every round, on your turn, you may take an attack action and a move action (in either order), two move actions, or one full-round action. You may also perform one or more free actions along with any of these combinations. Attack Action:<\/strong> An attack action allows you to make one attack or do some similar action. Not all attack actions involve making attacks (some skill checks count as attack actions, for example). Move Action:<\/strong> A move action allows you to move or perform some similar action (such as stand up, if you\u2019ve been knocked prone). Not all move actions involve movement (drawing a weapon, for example, is a move action). If none of your actions in a round involve literal movement from one location to another, you can take a free 5-foot step. Full-Round Action:<\/strong> Some activities take more time than a single attack or move action. If you take a full-round action, it replaces both your move and your attack action for the round. Free Action:<\/strong> Some activities, such as saying a few words, don\u2019t take up even a fraction of an action. You can take these actions in addition to your other actions. The GM may limit the number of free actions a character can undertake in a single round. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Attacks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
You may attempt a melee, ranged, or unarmed attack as your attack action. Making a ranged attack provokes attacks of opportunity from enemies that threaten you (see below). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Attack Roll<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
To score a hit that deals damage on your attack roll, your result must equal or exceed the target\u2019s Defense. Melee Attack Roll:<\/strong> 1d20 + base attack bonus + Strength modifier + size modifier Ranged Attack Roll:<\/strong> 1d20 + base attack bonus + Dexterity modifier + range penalty + size modifier <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Damage<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
If you score a hit, roll damage and deduct it from the target\u2019s current hit points. Add your Strength modifier to damage from melee and thrown weapons. If you\u2019re using a melee weapon in your off hand, add half your Strength modifier (if it\u2019s a bonus). If you\u2019re wielding a melee weapon with both hands, add 1 1\u20442 times your Strength modifier to the damage (if it\u2019s a bonus). Most weapons deal lethal damage. Lethal damage reduces hit points. Some weapons and unarmed strikes deal nonlethal damage. Nonlethal damage doesn\u2019t affect hit points. Instead, if a single attack deals nonlethal damage that equals or exceeds the target\u2019s current Constitution score, the target must make a Fortitude save (DC 15). On a successful save, the target is dazed for 1 round. On a failed save, the target is knocked unconscious for 1d4+1 rounds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Defense<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
A character\u2019s Defense is the result you need to get on your attack roll to hit that character in combat. Defense:<\/strong> 10 + Dexterity modifier + class bonus + equipment bonus + size modifier <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hit Points<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Hit points represent how much damage a character can take before falling unconscious or dying. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Attack Options<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
When attacking, you have several options. Attack:<\/strong> You can make a single attack. Charge:<\/strong> You can charge an opponent, but doing so is a full-round action (it replaces both your attack action and your move action). When making a charge, you move in a straight line for up to twice your speed and then make one attack with a +2 bonus on the attack roll. You take a \u20132 penalty to your Defense until your turn the following round. Full Attack:<\/strong> Some characters can strike more than once each combat round, but doing so is a full-round action. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Saving Throws<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When you are subject to an unusual attack, you generally get a saving throw to negate or reduce its effect. To succeed at a saving throw, you need a result equal to or higher than the given DC. Fortitude Saving Throw:<\/strong> 1d20 + base Fort save bonus Constitution modifier Reflex Saving Throw:<\/strong> 1d20 + base Ref save bonus + Dexterity modifier Will Saving Throw:<\/strong> 1d20 + base Will save bonus + Wisdom modifier <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Movement<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Each character has a speed measured in feet (humans normally have a speed of 30 feet). You can move that distance as a move action. You can take a move action before or after taking an attack action. You can use your attack action as an extra move action, allowing you to move your speed again. Or you can run all-out, which takes your entire turn but lets you move four times your speed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Attacks of Opportunity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
During combat, you threaten all squares adjacent to yours, even when it\u2019s not your action. An enemy that takes certain actions while in a threatened square provokes an attack of opportunity from you. An attack of opportunity is a free melee attack that doesn\u2019t use up any of your actions. It is a single melee attack. You can make one attack of opportunity per round. Actions that provoke attacks of opportunity include moving (except as noted below) and attacking with a ranged weapon. You provoke an attack of opportunity in two ways \u2014 when you move out of a square that an enemy threatens, and when you take an action that distracts you from defending yourself while you\u2019re in a threatened square (such as using the Treat Injury skill on an injured ally). You provoke an attack of opportunity from an enemy when you move out of a threatened square, except:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If your entire move for the round is 5 feet (a 5-foot step), enemies don\u2019t get attacks of opportunity when you move.<\/li>
If you withdraw (a full-round action), enemies don\u2019t get attacks of opportunity when you move from your initial square. If you move into another threatened square, however, enemies get attacks of opportunity when you leave that square.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Death, Dying, and Healing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Your hit points represent how much damage you can take before being disabled, knocked unconscious, or killed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
1 or More Hit Points<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
No matter how many hit points you have lost, so long as they have not dropped to 0 or lower, you remain fully functional. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
0 Hit Points<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If your hit points drop to 0, you are disabled. You can only take a single move action or attack action, and you take 1 point of damage after completing an action. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u20131 to \u20139 Hit Points<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If your hit points drop to from \u20131 to \u20139 hit points, you\u2019re unconscious and dying. Each round, make a Fortitude save (DC 20). If you fail, you lose 1 hit point, and you must make the Fortitude save again the next round. If you succeed, you become stable. While stable, you\u2019re still unconscious. Each hour thereafter you make a Fortitude save (DC 20) to regain consciousness; if the save fails, you remain unconscious. You can stop a dying character\u2019s loss of hit points with a successful Treat Injury check (DC 15). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201310 Hit Points<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If your hit points fall to \u201310 or lower, you\u2019re dead. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Healing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The Treat Injury skill and the proper tool (first aid kit, medical kit, or surgery kit) can help characters become stable and restore hit points. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Attack of Opportunity 1<\/sup><\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Move your speed<\/td>
Yes<\/td><\/tr>
Use a piece of equipment<\/td>
No<\/td><\/tr>
Climb (one-quarter your speed)<\/td>
No<\/td><\/tr>
Climb, accelerated (one-half your speed)<\/td>
No<\/td><\/tr>
Crawl<\/td>
No<\/td><\/tr>
Draw a weapon 3<\/td>
No<\/td><\/tr>
Holster a weapon<\/td>
Yes<\/td><\/tr>
Move a heavy object<\/td>
Yes<\/td><\/tr>
Open a door<\/td>
No<\/td><\/tr>
Pick up an object<\/td>
Yes<\/td><\/tr>
Reload a firearm with a box magazine or speed loader<\/td>
Yes<\/td><\/tr>
Retrieve a stored object<\/td>
Yes<\/td><\/tr>
Stand up from prone, sitting, or kneeling<\/td>
No<\/td><\/tr>
Start\/complete full-round action<\/td>
Varies<\/td><\/tr>
Swim<\/td>
No<\/td><\/tr>
Use a skill that takes a move action<\/td>
Usually<\/td><\/tr>
<\/td>
<\/td><\/tr>
Full-Round Actions<\/strong><\/td>
Attack of Opportunity 1<\/sup><\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Bull rush (charge)<\/td>
No<\/td><\/tr>
Charge<\/td>
No<\/td><\/tr>
Coup de grace<\/td>
Yes<\/td><\/tr>
Full attack<\/td>
No<\/td><\/tr>
Overrun (charge)<\/td>
No<\/td><\/tr>
Run<\/td>
Yes<\/td><\/tr>
Withdraw<\/td>
No<\/td><\/tr>
Extinguish flames<\/td>
No<\/td><\/tr>
Use a skill that takes a full round<\/td>
Usually<\/td><\/tr>
Reload a firearm with an internal magazine<\/td>
Yes<\/td><\/tr>
<\/td>
<\/td><\/tr>
Free Actions<\/strong><\/td>
Attack of Opportunity 1<\/sup><\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Drop an object<\/td>
No<\/td><\/tr>
Drop to prone, sitting, or kneeling<\/td>
No<\/td><\/tr>
Speak<\/td>
No<\/td><\/tr>
<\/td>
<\/td><\/tr>
Action Type Varies<\/strong><\/td>
Attack of Opportunity 1<\/sup><\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Disarm 4<\/sup><\/td>
Yes<\/td><\/tr>
Grapple 4<\/sup><\/td>
Yes<\/td><\/tr>
Load a weapon<\/td>
Yes<\/td><\/tr>
Trip an opponent 4<\/sup><\/td>
No<\/td><\/tr>
Use a feat 5<\/sup><\/td>
Varies<\/td><\/tr>
<\/td>
<\/td><\/tr>
No Action<\/strong><\/td>
Attack of Opportunity 1<\/sup><\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Delay<\/td>
No<\/td><\/tr>
5-foot step<\/td>
No<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>1<\/sup> Regardless of the action, if you move out of a threatened square, you usually provoke an attack of opportunity. This column indicates whether the action itself, not moving, provokes an attack of opportunity. 2<\/sup> If the object is being held, carried, or worn by a creature, yes. If not, no. 3<\/sup> If you have a base attack bonus of +1 or higher, you can combine this action with a regular move. If you have the Two-Weapon Fighting feat, you can draw two light or one-handed weapons in the time it would normally take you to draw one. 4<\/sup> These attack forms substitute for a melee attack, not an action. As melee attacks, they can be used once in an attack or charge action, one or more times in a full attack action, or even as an attack of opportunity. 5<\/sup> The description of a feat defines its effect.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Free Action<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Free actions consume a very small amount of time and effort, and over the span of the round, their impact is so minor that they are considered free. You can perform one or more free actions while taking another action normally. However, the GM puts reasonable limits on what you can really do for free. For instance, dropping an object, dropping to a prone position, speaking a sentence or two, and ceasing to concentrate on a magic spell (if magic is available in your campaign) are all free actions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Attack Actions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Most common attack actions are described below. More specialized attack actions are mentioned in Table 5\u20132: Actions in Combat, and covered in Special Attacks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Melee Attacks<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
With a normal melee weapon, you can strike any enemy within 5 feet. (Enemies within 5 feet are considered adjacent to you.) A character capable of making more than one melee attack per round must use the full attack action (see Full-Round Actions, below) in order to make more than one attack. Fighting Defensively:<\/strong> You can choose to fight defensively while making a melee attack. If you do so, you take a \u20134 penalty on your attack in a round to gain a +2 dodge bonus to Defense in the same round. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unarmed Attacks<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Striking for damage with punches, kicks, and head butts is much like attacking with a melee weapon, except that an unarmed attack deals nonlethal damage. Unarmed strikes count as light melee weapons (for purposes of two-weapon attack penalties and so on). The following exceptions to normal melee rules apply to unarmed attacks. Attacks of Opportunity:<\/strong> Making an unarmed attack against an armed opponent provokes an attack of opportunity from the character you attack. The attack of opportunity comes before your attack. An unarmed attack does not provoke attacks of opportunity from other foes, nor does it provoke an attack of opportunity from an unarmed foe. \u201cArmed\u201d Unarmed Attacks:<\/strong> Sometimes a character or creature attacks unarmed but the attack still counts as armed. A creature with claws, fangs, and similar natural physical weapons, for example, counts as armed. Being armed counts for both offense and defense \u2014 not only does a creature not provoke an attack of opportunity when attacking an armed foe, but you provoke an attack of opportunity from that creature if you make an unarmed attack against it. The Combat Martial Arts feat makes a character\u2019s unarmed attacks count as armed. Unarmed Strike Damage:<\/strong> An unarmed strike from a Medium-size character deals 1d3 points (plus your Strength modifier, as normal) of nonlethal damage. You can specify that your unarmed strike will deal lethal damage before you make your attack roll, but you take a \u20134 penalty on your attack roll because you have to strike a particularly vulnerable spot to deal lethal damage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ranged Attacks<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
With a ranged weapon, you can shoot or throw at any target that is within the ranged weapon\u2019s maximum range and in line of sight. A target is in line of sight if there are no solid obstructions between you and the target. The maximum range for a thrown weapon is five range increments. For weapons that fire projectiles, it is ten range increments. A character capable of making more than one ranged attack per round must use the full attack action (see Full-Round Actions, below) in order to make more than one attack. Shooting or Throwing into a Melee:<\/strong> If you shoot or throw a ranged weapon at a target that is engaged in melee with an ally, you take a \u20134 penalty on your attack roll because you have to aim carefully to avoid hitting your ally. Two characters are engaged in melee if they are enemies and they are adjacent to one another. (An unconscious or otherwise immobilized character is not considered engaged unless he is actually being attacked.) If your target is so big that part of it is 10 feet or farther from the nearest ally, you can avoid the \u20134 penalty, even if it\u2019s engaged in melee with an ally. Because of the weapon\u2019s unwieldy shape and size, an attacker using a longarm takes a \u20134 penalty on attacks against adjacent opponents. (It\u2019s not easy to bring a rifle to bear on someone who is only 5 feet away from you.) Fighting Defensively:<\/strong> You can choose to fight defensively while making a ranged attack. If you do so, you take a \u20134 penalty on your attack in a round to gain a +2 dodge bonus to Defense in the same round. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Total Defense<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Instead of attacking, you can use your attack action simply to defend yourself. This is called a total defense action. You don\u2019t get to attack or perform any other activity, but you get a +4 dodge bonus to your Defense for 1 round. Your Defense improves at the start of this action, so it helps you against any attacks of opportunity you are subject to while performing your move action. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Speeding up Combat<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
You can use a couple of tricks to make combat run faster. Attack and Damage:<\/strong> Roll your attack die and damage die (or dice) at the same time. If you miss, you can ignore the damage, but if you hit, your friends don\u2019t have to wait for you to make a second roll for damage. Multiple Attacks:<\/strong> Use dice of different colors so you can make your attack rolls all at once instead of one at a time. Designate which attack is which color before you roll. Roll Ahead of Time:<\/strong> Once you know whom you are attacking and how, make your attack rolls before it is your turn so you have the results ready when your turn comes around. (Get your GM\u2019s okay before you roll ahead of time. Some GMs like to watch the players\u2019 attack rolls.) Dice as Counters:<\/strong> Use dice to keep track of how many rounds a short-duration effect has been active. Each round, turn the die to the next number until the effect ends. Prep Initiative:<\/strong> Have your GM roll the characters\u2019 and creatures\u2019 initiative checks ahead of time and prepare the order of battle. That way when a battle starts, you can skip the initiative checks and get right to the action. Miniatures:<\/strong> Use miniatures to show the relative positions of the combatants. It\u2019s a lot faster to place a miniature where you want your character to be than to explain (and remember) where your character is relative to everyone else. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Move Actions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
With the exception of specific movement-related skills, most move actions don\u2019t require a check. In some cases (such as shouldering open a stuck door), ability checks might be required. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Movement<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
The simplest move action is moving your character\u2019s speed. If you take this kind of move action during your turn, you cannot also take a 5-foot step. Many nonstandard modes of movement are also covered under this category, including climbing and swimming (up to one-quarter your speed), crawling (up to 5 feet), and entering a vehicle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manipulating Objects<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
In most cases, moving or manipulating an object is a move action. This includes drawing or holstering a weapon, retrieving or putting away a stored object, picking up an object, moving a heavy object, and opening a door. If you have a base attack bonus of +1 or higher, you can draw a weapon as part of your normal movement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Standing Up<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Standing up from a prone position requires a move action. It provokes an attack of opportunity from opponents who threaten you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Start\/Complete Full-Round Action<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
The \u201cstart\/complete full-round action\u201d move action lets you start undertaking a full-round action (such as those listed on Table 5\u20132: Actions in Combat) at the end of your turn, or complete a full-round action by using a move action at the beginning of your turn in the round following the round when you started the full-round action. If you start a full-round action at the end of your turn, the next action you take must be to complete the full-round action \u2014 you can\u2019t take another type of action before finishing what you started. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Full-Round Actions<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
A full-round action requires an entire round to complete. If it doesn\u2019t involve moving any distance, you can combine it with a 5-foot step. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Charge<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Charging is a special full-round action that allows you to move more than your speed and attack during the action. However, there are tight restrictions on how and when you can charge. Movement during a Charge:<\/strong> You must move before your attack, not after. You must move at least 10 feet and may move up to twice your speed. All movement must be in a straight line, with no backing up allowed. You must stop as soon as you are within striking range of your target (you can\u2019t run past him and attack from another direction). You can\u2019t take a 5-foot step during the same round as a full charge. During the surprise round (or any other time you are limited to taking no more than a single attack action on your turn) you can still use the charge action, but you are only allowed to move up to your speed (instead of up to twice your speed). Attacking after a Charge:<\/strong> After moving, you may make a single melee attack. Since you can use the momentum of the charge in your favor, you get a +2 bonus on the attack roll. Since a charge is impossible without a bit of recklessness, you also take a \u20132 penalty to your Defense for 1 round (until the beginning of your turn in the following round). Even if you have extra attacks, such as from having a high enough base attack bonus or from using multiple weapons, you only get to make one attack after a charge. Instead of attacking your target, you can attempt to push him back (to push him away from a door, for example, or knock him off the edge of a bridge). See Bull Rush. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Full Attack<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
If you get more than one attack per action because your base attack bonus is high enough, because you fight with two weapons, because you\u2019re using a double weapon, or for some special reason (such as the Heroic Surge feat), you must use the full attack action to get your additional attacks. You do not need to specify the targets of your attacks ahead of time. You can see how the earlier attacks turn out before assigning the later ones. Full attack is a full-round action. Because of this, the only movement you can take during a full attack is a 5-foot step. You may take the step before, after, or between your attacks. If you get multiple attacks based on your base attack bonus, you must make the attacks in order from highest bonus to lowest. If you are using two weapons, you can strike with either weapon first. If you are using a double weapon, you can strike with either part of the weapon first. Committing to a Full Attack Action:<\/strong> You don\u2019t have to commit to a full attack until after your first attack. You can then decide whether to make your remaining attacks or to take a move action. Of course, if you\u2019ve already taken a 5-foot step, you can\u2019t use your move action to move any distance, but you could still draw or put away a weapon, for instance (see Move Actions, above). Fighting Defensively:<\/strong> You can choose to fight defensively when taking a full attack action. If you do so, you take a \u20134 penalty on all attacks in a round to gain a +2 dodge bonus to Defense in the same round. Attacking with Two Weapons:<\/strong> If you wield a second weapon in your off hand, you can get one extra attack per round with that weapon. Fighting in this way is very difficult, however\u2014you take a \u20136 penalty on your regular attack or attacks with your primary hand and a \u201310 penalty on the attack with your off hand. You can reduce these stiff penalties in two ways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If your off-hand weapon is light, such as a machete, the penalties are reduced by 2 each. (An unarmed strike is always considered light.)<\/li>
The Two-Weapon Fighting feat lessens the primary hand penalty by 2, and the off-hand penalty by 6.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
Table 5\u20133: Two-Weapon Fighting Penalties summarizes the interaction of all these factors. Double Weapons:<\/strong> You can use a double weapon to make an extra attack as if you were fighting with two weapons. The penalties apply as if the off-hand weapon were light.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can run all out as a full-round action. When you run, you can move up to four times your speed in a straight line. (You do not get a 5-foot step.) You lose any Dexterity bonus to Defense since you can\u2019t avoid attacks. However, you get a +2 bonus to your Defense against ranged attacks while running. You can run for a number of rounds equal to your Constitution score, but after that you must succeed at a Constitution check (DC 10) to continue running. You must check again each round in which you continue to run, and the DC of this check increases by 1 for each check you make. When you fail this check, you must stop running. A character who has run to his limit must rest for 1 minute (10 rounds) before running again. During a rest period, a character can move normally, but can\u2019t run. A run represents a speed of about 14 miles per hour for an unencumbered human. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Withdraw<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Withdrawing from melee combat is a full-round action. When you withdraw, you can move up to twice your speed. (You don\u2019t also get a 5-foot step.) The square you start from is not considered threatened for purposes of withdrawing, and therefore enemies do not get attacks of opportunity against you when you move from that square. If while withdrawing, you move through another threatened square (other than the one you started in) without stopping, enemies get attacks of opportunity as normal. Some forms of movement (such as climbing and swimming) require skill checks from most creatures. You may not withdraw using a form of movement for which you must make a skill check. For example, if you must make a Climb check in order to climb (unlike some creatures, which have standard climb speeds), you can\u2019t use climbing to withdraw from combat. Similarly, a creature can\u2019t withdraw via swimming unless it has a listed swim speed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Miscellaneous Actions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Some actions don\u2019t fit neatly into the above categories. Some of the options described below are actions that take the place of or are variations on the actions described earlier. For actions not covered in any of this material, the GM lets you know how long such an action takes to perform and whether doing so provokes attacks of opportunity from threatening enemies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Use Feat, Skill, or Talent<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Certain feats, such as Whirlwind Attack, let you take special actions in combat. Other feats are not actions in themselves, but they give you a bonus when attempting something you can already do, such as Improved Disarm. Some feats aren\u2019t meant to be used within the framework of combat. The individual feat descriptions tell you what you need to know about them. Most uses of skills or talents in a combat situation are attack actions, but some might be move actions or full-round actions. When appropriate, the description of a talent or a skill provides the time required to use it (see Classes<\/a> and Chapter Two: Skills<\/a>). <\/p>\n\n\n\n