Attacks of Opportunity & 'Melee Attack' [Archive] - Wizards Community

Attacks of Opportunity & 'Melee Attack' [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
phineas77
04-26-06, 03:20 PM I'm building a character with Combat Reflexes and I have a question on Attacks of Opportunity.

When an opponent provokes an attack of opportunity and you're allowed a 'melee attack', can you use this attack to perform a special attack such as a trip or disarm?

I think the rules allow it since AoO reads that a 'melee attack' is allowed and special attacks such as disarm and trip are 'melee attack actions' or something like that (I don't have the book in front of me).
Aven
04-26-06, 03:27 PM I don't know if there's an official ruling but when I'm DMing I allow them. It makes sense. The goblin tries to leave your threatened area so you kick out his shins and drop him to the ground.
Jovknee
04-26-06, 07:48 PM As far as I remember, yes you can use any type of melee type attack. However if you preform any type of attack that it in itself provokes an attack of oppertunity, they get an AoO on you as well before you can make your AoO.

So say you get an AoO on a cleric casting a spell in your AoO range. With your AoO you decide to attempt a disarm without the Improved disarm feat. The cleric first gets his AoO on you for attempting the disarm, and he attempts a trip attack. If he succeeds in doing the trip attack and you fall prone, you do not get your AoO as you can not attempt the disarm from your current position. Then the cleric casts his spell as normal.
phineas77
04-27-06, 08:46 AM That's pretty much how I interpreted it. Thanks.
Illion the Red
04-27-06, 09:54 AM Just remember that someone standing provokes an AoO, but you cannot use that AoO to make a trip attempt.

The AoO happens BEFORE the action that triggers it.

...just wanted to get that clarification out there...you may now return to your regularly scheduled thread.
phineas77
04-28-06, 05:15 PM Is that a printed rule?

I understand that the character is prone and the attack happens before the action of standing, but that doesn't make logical sense.

A target is attempting to stand, taking an action that provokes. Before the stand resolves (usually resulting in a standing target), the attacker attempts to trip the target in order to keep the target prone. I.e., just as the target hoists itself up, placing weight on a leg, said leg is tripped up again by the attacker.

Thoughts?

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
phineas77 04-26-06, 03:20 PM	I'm building a character with Combat Reflexes and I have a question on Attacks of Opportunity. When an opponent provokes an attack of opportunity and you're allowed a 'melee attack', can you use this attack to perform a special attack such as a trip or disarm? I think the rules allow it since AoO reads that a 'melee attack' is allowed and special attacks such as disarm and trip are 'melee attack actions' or something like that (I don't have the book in front of me).
Aven 04-26-06, 03:27 PM	I don't know if there's an official ruling but when I'm DMing I allow them. It makes sense. The goblin tries to leave your threatened area so you kick out his shins and drop him to the ground.
Jovknee 04-26-06, 07:48 PM	As far as I remember, yes you can use any type of melee type attack. However if you preform any type of attack that it in itself provokes an attack of oppertunity, they get an AoO on you as well before you can make your AoO. So say you get an AoO on a cleric casting a spell in your AoO range. With your AoO you decide to attempt a disarm without the Improved disarm feat. The cleric first gets his AoO on you for attempting the disarm, and he attempts a trip attack. If he succeeds in doing the trip attack and you fall prone, you do not get your AoO as you can not attempt the disarm from your current position. Then the cleric casts his spell as normal.
phineas77 04-27-06, 08:46 AM	That's pretty much how I interpreted it. Thanks.
Illion the Red 04-27-06, 09:54 AM	Just remember that someone standing provokes an AoO, but you cannot use that AoO to make a trip attempt. The AoO happens BEFORE the action that triggers it. ...just wanted to get that clarification out there...you may now return to your regularly scheduled thread.
phineas77 04-28-06, 05:15 PM	Is that a printed rule? I understand that the character is prone and the attack happens before the action of standing, but that doesn't make logical sense. A target is attempting to stand, taking an action that provokes. Before the stand resolves (usually resulting in a standing target), the attacker attempts to trip the target in order to keep the target prone. I.e., just as the target hoists itself up, placing weight on a leg, said leg is tripped up again by the attacker. Thoughts?