Attacking while Prone [Archive] - Wizards Community

Attacking while Prone [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Sorath
07-31-07, 08:57 PM I have a couple of questions involving a character being prone.

1. If a character is prone, do they still threaten squares for AoO's?
2. If a character is prone, can they perform a full attack (having multiple attacks due to BAB).
3. If a character is prone, do they provoke AoO's by making a full attack?

In our campaign, I am playing a tripping monk. My DM has decided that instead of trying to stand up after being tripped, it is better for him to stay prone and attack. I haven't been able to find anything other than the definition of prone that talks about the effects of being prone and what that condition entails.

Any help would be great.

Thanks.
CryoSilver
07-31-07, 09:01 PM 1: Yes

2: Yes*

3: No

*They take a -4 to hit, and cannot use ranged weapons.
Talon Stormwarden
07-31-07, 09:08 PM *They take a -4 to hit, and cannot use ranged weapons.

Except crossbows. I agree with your other answers. :)
Eightbitmage
07-31-07, 09:08 PM *They take a -4 to hit, and cannot use ranged weapons. **

** They also take a -4 to AC and can use Crossbows but no other ranged weapons ***

*** very minor nitpick, otherwise everything else was right.
Kouk
07-31-07, 09:22 PM ** They also take a -4 to AC and can use Crossbows but no other ranged weapons ***

*** very minor nitpick, otherwise everything else was right.

Actually, they have a -4 to melee AC, but they get a +4 to ranged AC.

All being Prone does is give you a -4 penalty to hit with melee weapons, and the inability to use normal bows and slings as ranged weapons.
CryoSilver
07-31-07, 09:24 PM Or thrown weapons.
Kouk
07-31-07, 11:39 PM Or thrown weapons.

Except Shuriken ...

I guess we will just all keep adding to this over time.
Dag
08-02-07, 01:59 PM A reccomended tactic while prone is to stick tindertwigs into an opponents boots and light them. Works even better on monks in sandles.
weasel0
08-02-07, 02:59 PM Is that a touch attack or a grapple attempt? Is it considered unarmed? Asking cause I really like that!!
Marcus Majarra
08-02-07, 06:35 PM I would consider that nothing short of a very good grapple check. It's not RAW, however.
Lilinthra
08-03-07, 08:31 AM Hmm, what if a spellcaster was prone and wanted to cast a ranged touch spell (or a warlock doing eldritch blast) I take it there would be no modifier to the attack roll for being prone?
Marcus Majarra
08-03-07, 10:29 AM I might be missing some hidden clause in the books, but unless otherwise stated, attacks with spells or spell-like abilities that require ranged attack rolls (touch or otherwise) are considered attacks with ranged weapon-like spells. As such, you cannot use them while prone (crossbow and shuriken are exceptions to the ban on ranged weapon attacks while prone).
eamon
08-03-07, 10:44 AM Hmm, what if a spellcaster was prone and wanted to cast a ranged touch spell (or a warlock doing eldritch blast) I take it there would be no modifier to the attack roll for being prone?

Sounds like a sane ruling to me ;-). If your visualization involves significant somatic components, you might introduce a penalty or a spell failure to represent the fact that when you're lying on the ground it's not easy to gesture as accurately. However, normally, I wouldn't bother with the complexity of such a ruling - only if you know in advance it's important.

Disclaimer: RAW doesn't say anything about ranged touch spells while prone, as far as I know. It disallows normal ranged weapons, but that's clearly because they're too unwieldy (which is why crossbows are allowed ;-) to fire - a limitation which doesn't apply to pointing fingers, so I'm inclined to consider that particular rule "not applicable".
Rebel581
08-03-07, 10:49 AM What if you're prone (on your stomach) and usng Spectral Hand to deliver a Shocking Grasp from a range.
runestar
08-03-07, 10:50 AM I might be missing some hidden clause in the books, but unless otherwise stated, attacks with spells or spell-like abilities that require ranged attack rolls (touch or otherwise) are considered attacks with ranged weapon-like spells. As such, you cannot use them while prone (crossbow and shuriken are exceptions to the ban on ranged weapon attacks while prone).

Hmm...I would think that a ray spell functions similar to a crossbow attack, but otherwise, you do seem to be right in your reasoning.:(
Marcus Majarra
08-03-07, 11:05 AM Hmm...I would think that a ray spell functions similar to a crossbow attack, but otherwise, you do seem to be right in your reasoning.
Well, nothing in the rules states that firing a weapon-like spell is implicitly just pointing and shooting, so I can't start assuming that doing so would be as simple as firing a crossbow.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Sorath 07-31-07, 08:57 PM	I have a couple of questions involving a character being prone. 1. If a character is prone, do they still threaten squares for AoO's? 2. If a character is prone, can they perform a full attack (having multiple attacks due to BAB). 3. If a character is prone, do they provoke AoO's by making a full attack? In our campaign, I am playing a tripping monk. My DM has decided that instead of trying to stand up after being tripped, it is better for him to stay prone and attack. I haven't been able to find anything other than the definition of prone that talks about the effects of being prone and what that condition entails. Any help would be great. Thanks.
CryoSilver 07-31-07, 09:01 PM	1: Yes 2: Yes* 3: No *They take a -4 to hit, and cannot use ranged weapons.
Talon Stormwarden 07-31-07, 09:08 PM	*They take a -4 to hit, and cannot use ranged weapons. Except crossbows. I agree with your other answers. :)
Eightbitmage 07-31-07, 09:08 PM	They take a -4 to hit, and cannot use ranged weapons. * They also take a -4 to AC and can use Crossbows but no other ranged weapons * *** very minor nitpick, otherwise everything else was right.
Kouk 07-31-07, 09:22 PM	They also take a -4 to AC and can use Crossbows but no other ranged weapons * *** very minor nitpick, otherwise everything else was right. Actually, they have a -4 to melee AC, but they get a +4 to ranged AC. All being Prone does is give you a -4 penalty to hit with melee weapons, and the inability to use normal bows and slings as ranged weapons.
CryoSilver 07-31-07, 09:24 PM	Or thrown weapons.
Kouk 07-31-07, 11:39 PM	Or thrown weapons. Except Shuriken ... I guess we will just all keep adding to this over time.
Dag 08-02-07, 01:59 PM	A reccomended tactic while prone is to stick tindertwigs into an opponents boots and light them. Works even better on monks in sandles.
weasel0 08-02-07, 02:59 PM	Is that a touch attack or a grapple attempt? Is it considered unarmed? Asking cause I really like that!!
Marcus Majarra 08-02-07, 06:35 PM	I would consider that nothing short of a very good grapple check. It's not RAW, however.
Lilinthra 08-03-07, 08:31 AM	Hmm, what if a spellcaster was prone and wanted to cast a ranged touch spell (or a warlock doing eldritch blast) I take it there would be no modifier to the attack roll for being prone?
Marcus Majarra 08-03-07, 10:29 AM	I might be missing some hidden clause in the books, but unless otherwise stated, attacks with spells or spell-like abilities that require ranged attack rolls (touch or otherwise) are considered attacks with ranged weapon-like spells. As such, you cannot use them while prone (crossbow and shuriken are exceptions to the ban on ranged weapon attacks while prone).
eamon 08-03-07, 10:44 AM	Hmm, what if a spellcaster was prone and wanted to cast a ranged touch spell (or a warlock doing eldritch blast) I take it there would be no modifier to the attack roll for being prone? Sounds like a sane ruling to me ;-). If your visualization involves significant somatic components, you might introduce a penalty or a spell failure to represent the fact that when you're lying on the ground it's not easy to gesture as accurately. However, normally, I wouldn't bother with the complexity of such a ruling - only if you know in advance it's important. Disclaimer: RAW doesn't say anything about ranged touch spells while prone, as far as I know. It disallows normal ranged weapons, but that's clearly because they're too unwieldy (which is why crossbows are allowed ;-) to fire - a limitation which doesn't apply to pointing fingers, so I'm inclined to consider that particular rule "not applicable".
Rebel581 08-03-07, 10:49 AM	What if you're prone (on your stomach) and usng Spectral Hand to deliver a Shocking Grasp from a range.
runestar 08-03-07, 10:50 AM	I might be missing some hidden clause in the books, but unless otherwise stated, attacks with spells or spell-like abilities that require ranged attack rolls (touch or otherwise) are considered attacks with ranged weapon-like spells. As such, you cannot use them while prone (crossbow and shuriken are exceptions to the ban on ranged weapon attacks while prone). Hmm...I would think that a ray spell functions similar to a crossbow attack, but otherwise, you do seem to be right in your reasoning.:(
Marcus Majarra 08-03-07, 11:05 AM	Hmm...I would think that a ray spell functions similar to a crossbow attack, but otherwise, you do seem to be right in your reasoning. Well, nothing in the rules states that firing a weapon-like spell is implicitly just pointing and shooting, so I can't start assuming that doing so would be as simple as firing a crossbow.