Charging and AoO? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Charging and AoO? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
thadrine
03-15-07, 12:12 AM I heard this, somewhere, and can not find it in a book so can you help me. When a character moves adjacent to an enemy he wants to attack that has at least a ten foot reach you provoke an AoO, right, ok got that? Now, what if the same character is charging that opponent? A judge at a Con told me that if you charge you do not provoke that AoO. Where is he getting this from?
PenderGrass
03-15-07, 12:26 AM The only move actions that don't automatically provoke an AoO are the dreaded 5-Foot Step and Withdraw moves.

:dragon:
****
StoneStokes
03-15-07, 01:11 AM I heard this, somewhere, and can not find it in a book so can you help me. When a character moves adjacent to an enemy he wants to attack that has at least a ten foot reach you provoke an AoO, right, ok got that? Now, what if the same character is charging that opponent? A judge at a Con told me that if you charge you do not provoke that AoO. Where is he getting this from?
Sometimes you do, sometimes you don't.

Remember that AoO's happen when you leave a threatened square. If a defender has more reach than the attacker, then the defender will get an attack of opportunity when charged (at the time when the attacker leaves the threatened square).

This means that if a Medium size creature with a sword is charging another Medium size creature with a longspear, then the defender will get an AoO.
mvincent
03-15-07, 12:44 PM A judge at a Con told me that if you charge you do not provoke that AoO. Where is he getting this from?It's a common enough mistake. The Full-Round Actions (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/combat/actionsInCombat.htm#fullRoundActions) table lists "No" in the AoO column. However, this merely means that the charge does not provoke by itself. Moving associated with the charge still provokes, as indicated by the following footnote on that table:
"Regardless of the action, if you move out of a threatened square, you usually provoke an attack of opportunity. This column indicates whether the action itself, not moving, provokes an attack of opportunity."
thadrine
07-03-07, 12:19 AM It has reared it's ugly head once again!!

Is this right?

If the chart says no on the AoO part, Why does it say NO? Are we all sure on this ruling?
Nom
07-03-07, 12:37 AM Yes, we're sure. See footnote 1. Read it. Read it again. Read it a few more times if necessary.

Read it until you understand why the error on the chart is not in "Cleave Charge" but in "Move". Strictly, the AoO entry for "Move" should read "No".

Movement does not inherently provoke an AoO. Leaving a threatened square while moving does.
weasel0
07-03-07, 01:36 AM *Ahem....* "Cleave" = "Charge" ? :D
Kouk
07-03-07, 02:54 AM Look at the picture on the top of page 138. On the right side, it shows how Charging interacts with AoOs from creatures with reach.

When someone says "Charging does not provoke an AoO" they are mostly correct. It might be simpler to think of it as "it doesn't provoke AoOs from creatures with the same or less reach than the charger".

The movement from the charge provokes, but in your head it may seem like the movement is actually a part of the charge. Charge just means you are dropping 2 AC for 2 to-hit, and must move in a straight line to your target. How you get to your target may or may not provoke AoOs.
Inigo Carmine
07-03-07, 08:45 AM There are two ways to provoke an AoO:

1) Performing an AoO provoking move while in a threatened square (ie casting a spell).

2) Moving out of a threatenend square (without using something like a 5-ft step that explicitly does not provoke).

Charging in and of itself does not provoke an AoO (by method #1) , but as the footnote explains, it does not give you immunity to method #2 either either.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
thadrine 03-15-07, 12:12 AM	I heard this, somewhere, and can not find it in a book so can you help me. When a character moves adjacent to an enemy he wants to attack that has at least a ten foot reach you provoke an AoO, right, ok got that? Now, what if the same character is charging that opponent? A judge at a Con told me that if you charge you do not provoke that AoO. Where is he getting this from?
PenderGrass 03-15-07, 12:26 AM	The only move actions that don't automatically provoke an AoO are the dreaded 5-Foot Step and Withdraw moves. :dragon: ****
StoneStokes 03-15-07, 01:11 AM	I heard this, somewhere, and can not find it in a book so can you help me. When a character moves adjacent to an enemy he wants to attack that has at least a ten foot reach you provoke an AoO, right, ok got that? Now, what if the same character is charging that opponent? A judge at a Con told me that if you charge you do not provoke that AoO. Where is he getting this from? Sometimes you do, sometimes you don't. Remember that AoO's happen when you leave a threatened square. If a defender has more reach than the attacker, then the defender will get an attack of opportunity when charged (at the time when the attacker leaves the threatened square). This means that if a Medium size creature with a sword is charging another Medium size creature with a longspear, then the defender will get an AoO.
mvincent 03-15-07, 12:44 PM	A judge at a Con told me that if you charge you do not provoke that AoO. Where is he getting this from?It's a common enough mistake. The Full-Round Actions (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/combat/actionsInCombat.htm#fullRoundActions) table lists "No" in the AoO column. However, this merely means that the charge does not provoke by itself. Moving associated with the charge still provokes, as indicated by the following footnote on that table: "Regardless of the action, if you move out of a threatened square, you usually provoke an attack of opportunity. This column indicates whether the action itself, not moving, provokes an attack of opportunity."
thadrine 07-03-07, 12:19 AM	It has reared it's ugly head once again!! Is this right? If the chart says no on the AoO part, Why does it say NO? Are we all sure on this ruling?
Nom 07-03-07, 12:37 AM	Yes, we're sure. See footnote 1. Read it. Read it again. Read it a few more times if necessary. Read it until you understand why the error on the chart is not in "Cleave Charge" but in "Move". Strictly, the AoO entry for "Move" should read "No". Movement does not inherently provoke an AoO. Leaving a threatened square while moving does.
weasel0 07-03-07, 01:36 AM	Ahem.... "Cleave" = "Charge" ? :D
Kouk 07-03-07, 02:54 AM	Look at the picture on the top of page 138. On the right side, it shows how Charging interacts with AoOs from creatures with reach. When someone says "Charging does not provoke an AoO" they are mostly correct. It might be simpler to think of it as "it doesn't provoke AoOs from creatures with the same or less reach than the charger". The movement from the charge provokes, but in your head it may seem like the movement is actually a part of the charge. Charge just means you are dropping 2 AC for 2 to-hit, and must move in a straight line to your target. How you get to your target may or may not provoke AoOs.
Inigo Carmine 07-03-07, 08:45 AM	There are two ways to provoke an AoO: 1) Performing an AoO provoking move while in a threatened square (ie casting a spell). 2) Moving out of a threatenend square (without using something like a 5-ft step that explicitly does not provoke). Charging in and of itself does not provoke an AoO (by method #1) , but as the footnote explains, it does not give you immunity to method #2 either either.