Can a character take free action out of her turn?

Question

Free actions^D20PFSRD in Pathfinder take almost no time. But can they be performed outside of one's turn or in response to some trigger?

Scenario 1: Can a Barbarian enter rage in response to taking damage outside of her turn? Likewise, can anyone drop prone in response to being attacked from distance?

Scenario 2: Can a Barbarian enter rage in response to taking damage during her turn (for example, as a result of an attack of opportunity)?

Answer 1

No.

Under the free actions section in the SRD, check out the rules for speaking.

Speak

In general, speaking is a free action that you can perform even when it isn't your turn. [emphasis mine]

There's also the sentence under the free actions section of Actions in Combat:

You can perform one or more free actions while taking another action normally.

These two phrases imply that normal free actions are only taken on your turn, unless the particular action states otherwise.

So for your scenarios,

1. No and no. These are both "normal" free actions (i.e. they don't say you can perform them when it isn't your turn).
2. Yes, but it needn't be in response to the attack. She can enter the rage at any time during her turn since it is a free action.

Answer 2

Both dnd-3.5e and pathfinder lack a formal definition of what a turn is. However, its meaning could be inferred from other rules.

If we all agree that in a round, every combatant takes a turn and in your turn you take actions, then I'd infer a possible answer using the following hints (bold and italic emphasis is mine):

Free Actions:

Free actions don't take any time at all, though there may be limits to the number of free actions you can perform in a turn.
[...]

Speak

In general, speaking is a free action that you can perform even when it isn't your turn. Speaking more than a few sentences is generally beyond the limit of a free action.

Swift Actions:

[...] You can perform one swift action per turn without affecting your ability to perform other actions. In that regard, a swift action is like a free action. You can, however, perform only one single swift action per turn, regardless of what other actions you take. You can take a swift action anytime you would normally be allowed to take a free action. [...]

The latter sentence strengthens in me the idea that free actions (like swift ones) can be usually be taken in one's own turn. I know that this is not a strong implication (the sentence really vehicles the concept in the other way around), but it gives me a hint.

Immediate Actions:

[...] However, unlike a swift action, an immediate action can be performed at any time—even if it's not your turn. [...]

So a special definition has been forged for actions that can be taken outside your own turn. Is it necessary in order to introduce the hard limit of 1 per round? Or does it sit there also because not even free actions can be taken on other turns (besides speaking a few words)?

Now I opt for the latter, then:

Scenario 1: No, unless rule-0 overridden or by exhuming the Instant Rage feat, a Barbarian cannot enter rage outside of her turn. Likewise, a character cannot actively drop prone outside of her turn.

Scenario 2: When the attack of opportunity is resolved, we are in the Barbarian's turn. Leveraging the definition of free actions (free actions don't take any time at all) I'd say that the Barbarian can enter rage in response to the damage taken by the attack of opportunity and still keep swinging her sword. This is enough, in my opinion, to supersede the dying condition immediate effect (character immediately falls unconscious and can take no actions).

Answer 3

Adding a bit more information to the discussion. WotC clarified this in an old blog post about 3.5:

You cannot use a free action during another creature's turn. Speaking is an exception; you can speak during another creature's turn (see page 144 in the Player's Handbook). Remember, however, that you're limited to just a few sentences.

Also:

As noted in Part One, a free action is something you do during your turn that takes hardly any time at all.

Pathfinder has the same rule, they seem to just be relying on this clarification. See @Erik Burigo's answer for the full details.

Edit:

Also not relevant to the question, but relevant to current discussion:

Many people believe that a free action never provokes an attack of opportunity, but that is not a feature of free actions.

If you take a free action that provokes, you're going to eat an opportunity attack.

Answer 4

I think the problem here is that the terms "Your Turn" and "Your Action" are being confused. A round is the time from the first action(by anyone pc or npc) to the final action. During this time in combat you are assumed to be parrying and thrusting and blocking wiht your shield(assuming you are in melee combat). The attack of opportunity is the perfect example of how this works. You do not get an extra attack your opponent leaves an unexpected opening providing for an extra strike that can do damage. During your Action is when your opportunity to attack and do damage is. A free action just means it does not take that opportunity. Generally combat actions go in order of initative. During that time you state what you are doing this is the turn that is referenced. You can state all of the free actions you intend to do, including things you did before that did not have real effect.

You can ready your spell components, cast your spell, then fall to the ground. These do not all happen similtenously. But since it doesnt matter its just simpler to state them all one time. This does not prevent you from ducking or looking out. If there is a need for a free action to happen outside of normal actions there is nothing in the rules preventing it. The rules just say you can state them all at one time rather than having to plan out your whole turn. 1st edition tried to provide for the ability to plan a turn out. All it did really was complicate things. So when 3e came out the times were removed and the actions were instituted.

The idea is that you will not interupt the GM's dialog with others saying i am getting my spell components out, now i begin moving my hands tracing arcane symbols, I begin muttering incomprehesible words... Just to make sure you can cast a spell in a round. There is nothing saying you can not take a free action. Just that you do not need to say things that have no other consequence than that they were done. If it matters when something happens, like ducking or glancing behind to see a thief when alerted, then it can be done.

However there may be a time where a character is watching for the mage to take out a spell component as a signal or before he takes an action. In this case the free action matters. It does not cost the mage his action but it sets off others actions. The rules are simply there to allow for a quicker flow of gameplay. If no one cares when youpull your components it just happens. But if it matters that is another story.

That said lets address the specific questions:

Scenario 1:

Can a Barbarian enter rage in response to taking damage outside of her turn?

It is a free action but that does not mean it does not take time. So by rule I would say any attacks that go off on the same init would happen before the rage could go off.

Likewise, can anyone drop prone in response to being attacked from distance?

I would allow it after all attacks from the same init happen. This assumes surprise. If this is not a surprise attack and the character has plenty of opportunity then certianly.

Scenerio 2:

Scenario 2: Can a Barbarian enter rage in response to taking damage during her turn (for example, as a result of an attack of opportunity)?

Absolutely. Again this does not take 0 time so I would allow it to take effect at the next init stop.

Answer 5

No. Free Actions are actions taken by the player during their turn.

However, there is such a thing as a Reaction Action, which is essentially a Free Action as a reaction to an attack or ability. For example:

Scenario 1: The Barbarian might have an ability that the GM sees fit to be a reaction, such as becoming infuriated (Rage) due to taking too much damage.

Scenario 2: Let's say that someone get's hit by a boulder, and they fall prone due to the impact. As they are falling prone, they could receive a Reaction Action (dependant on the GM), and ctahc himself/herself and might be able to do something else.

Summary: Some skills and ability's can be used as a Reaction which is a free action during the players Non-turn.