In Pathfinder: Kingmaker, combat is broken down into 6 second intervals called rounds. During a single round, a character can make a limited number of actions.
An action's type tells you how long the action takes to perform (within the framework of the 6-second combat round). Character movement is also treated in terms of actions.
There are five types of actions:
- Standard Action
- Move Action
- Full Round Action
- Swift Action
- Free Action
In a normal round, you can either perform a standard action and a move action, two move actions, or a full-round action. You can also perform one swift action and one or more free actions.
In some situations (such as in a surprise round), you may be limited to taking only a single move action or standard action.
Free Action[]
Free actions consume a very small amount of time and effort. You can perform one or more free actions while taking another action normally.
Some combat options are free actions meant to be combined with an attack. Often, these are feats with specific limitations defined within the feat.
Swift Action[]
A swift action consumes a very small amount of time but represents a larger expenditure of effort and energy than a free action. You can perform only a single swift action per turn.
Several combat options are swift actions that modify one or more attacks you take after that swift action.
Spells can be cast as swift action by using the metamagic (quicken spell).
Move Action[]
A move action allows you to move up to your speed or perform an action that takes a similar amount of time.
As a move action, a character can move the distance allowed by their speed or drink a potion. A move action can also be used to change the character's active weapon set. During a surprise round, your characters cannot perform a move action.
You can take a move action in place of a standard action.
Standard Action[]
A standard action is used for most combat activities, such as attacks, activation of magical items or spellcasting. You can also spend a standard action as a move action.
Some combat options (such as using the Cleave feat) are standard actions that allow you to make an attack but don't count as the attack action. These options can't be combined with other standard actions or options that modify only attack actions.
An attack action is a type of standard action. Normally a standard action allows you to make a single attack. Some combat options can modify only this specific sort of action. When taking an attack action, you can apply all appropriate options that modify an attack action. You can apply these to any combat option that takes the place of a melee attack made using an attack action, though options that increase damage don't cause attacks to deal damage if they wouldn't otherwise do so. You can't combine options that modify attack actions with standard actions that aren't attack actions, such as Cleave.
Full Round Action[]
A full-round action consumes all your effort during a round. You can stil perform free actions and a swift action during the same round as a full-round action. You can also move 5 feet, but not more.
Some full-round actions can be taken as standard actions, but only in situations when you are limited to performing only a standard action during your round. The descriptions of specific actions detail which actions allow this option.
A few combat options are full-round actions or modify specific full-round actions. These options can't be combined with attack actions or other standard actions, but can be used with options that take the place of a melee attack.
A full-round action can be used to make a "full attack". The number of attacks that a character can make per round is based on their base attack bonus. If a character can make more than one attack per round, taking a full-round action allows them to make all of the attacks (a standard action only allows a single attack).
While most spells are cast as standard action, some spells, particularly most summoning spells, take a full-round action. Also, spontenaous casters (Bards, Inquisitors, Sorcerers, Eldritch Scion) need a full-round action if they have enhanced their spell with metamagic feats.