A puzzle regarding picking up weapons

[Steve Plambeck]

Originally Posted by Skarg

What if, yes, you can pick a weapon up off the ground for 3 MA, and yes, it becomes ready that turn... but you cannot attack that same turn, because the 3 MA option is only available when using option (a) MOVE?

But what differentiates a readied weapon you can attack with that turn from a readied weapon you cannot attack with that turn? Is it perhaps that the latter weapon may still be used with the Defend option that turn, even though you wouldn't allow it to make an attack?

That also prompts another thought: is a figure ever allowed to pick Defend on the same turn it readied the weapon? Of course that can't be legit, because that would be two actions in the same turn. Yet it's just not much use being able to pickup and ready a weapon in the same turn if one always has to wait for the next turn to use it. A weapon in hand is always ready for the next turn, regardless of how it got into that hand.

[Skarg]

Nothing "differentiates" ready weapons. Scooping up weapons during Movement would just only be available by taking/using the Move maneuver, which would be your action for the turn, allowing up to full MA and scooping up objects using MA or a DX roll (even into a Ready state), but not also allowing an attack, because that would require taking an Attack option.

[phiwum]

Originally Posted by Steve Plambeck

But what differentiates a readied weapon you can attack with that turn from a readied weapon you cannot attack with that turn? Is it perhaps that the latter weapon may still be used with the Defend option that turn, even though you wouldn't allow it to make an attack?

If you take Skarg's suggestion literally, only option (a) can be used to pick up a weapon using MA or a 3/DX roll. Defend is option (k).

[Shostak]

Originally Posted by Skarg

Nothing "differentiates" ready weapons. Scooping up weapons during Movement would just only be available by taking/using the Move maneuver, which would be your action for the turn, allowing up to full MA and scooping up objects using MA or a DX roll (even into a Ready state), but not also allowing an attack, because that would require taking an Attack option.

So, let's say you Move and pick up (and thus ready) a weapon and spend less than half MA doing so, and the Movement Phase ends with you being engaged. What is to stop you from making an attack that round during the Action Phase, in light of the change actions clause?

[TippetsTX]

Originally Posted by Shostak

So, let's say you Move and pick up (and thus ready) a weapon and spend less than half MA doing so, and the Movement Phase ends with you being engaged. What is to stop you from making an attack that round during the Action Phase, in light of the change actions clause?

This is one of the reasons I am considering a change from the MOVE + ACT turn sequence to a model where you can only do one or the other during your turn. Still early in the 'idea' phase though.

[hcobb]

Route A:

Move one hex to the dropped weapon hex.
Spend 3 MA to pick up the weapon.
Move one more hex and attack as per
ITL 104: "A weapon picked up either way is ready immediately."


Route B:
Use option (e) to draw a sword from your belt, step up two hexes, then don't attack.


Which do you choose?

[Shostak]

Originally Posted by TippetsTX

This is one of the reasons I am considering a change from the MOVE + ACT turn sequence to a model where you can only do one or the other during your turn. Still early in the 'idea' phase though.

Perhaps it would be cleaner to simply state that the only way a weapon may be used on the same turn it is readied is with Quick Draw?

But that still leaves us with the inconsistency of being able to move farther and ready a weapon than one can with the Ready New Weapon option.

[Shostak]

Another fix would be to reword the text on ITL 104 to read:

"... but a figure can never make an attack during movement. An action taken during movement is a figure's action for that turn; they do not get a second action in the action phase."

[phiwum]

I like Shostak's suggestion above.

[Shostak]

Thanks, Phiwum.

In addition to that, perhaps the way to preserve the Ready New Weapon option's integrity with regard to movement would be for the 3/DX roll to "scoop up" to apply instead of allowing someone to spend 3MA to pick up (and ready) an item. It would mean striking this text from ITL 104:

"You can spend 3 MA, get it automatically, and continue. Or you can try to grab it without slowing down;"

Should this then be extended to allowing someone to ready an item on their belt while moving freely by succeeding on a 3/DX roll (since, after all, that shouldn't be any harder than bending down to do it)? I think that still protects both Ready New Weapon and Quick Draw.