Attacks of Opportunity [Archive] - Wizards Community

Attacks of Opportunity [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
smoker
12-03-05, 02:10 AM Curious. How do you manage this rule without minatures?

smoker
Slyde Shadowdart
12-03-05, 02:32 AM When the player asks "Can I take an AO?" I tell them yes or no. It works just fine unless the group has trust issues.

If your group isn't comfortable with not being able to see things physically happening, your best bet is to just use the grid.
Seeker95
12-03-05, 03:21 PM How do you manage this rule without minatures?Use pennies. :D
smoker
12-03-05, 06:35 PM Can this rule be played without visual aids?

smoker
Seeker95
12-03-05, 11:29 PM Can this rule be played without visual aids? Not really. It would be similar to playing tennis without a net. It can be done, but it takes a lot of latitude on the part of both players and judge.
Illithid Tentacles
12-03-05, 11:36 PM You don't really need a mat, you can just use whatever's handy -coins, dice, Skittles, soda cans for really big stuff like Purple Worms, etc.- and arrange them on the table in the proper way. For example.

DM: The hobgoblin (as represented by the red M&M) chages past Barry (the dime) and strikes at Steve (the green d6). Barry, you can make an AoO on it, do you?
Tenzhi
12-04-05, 12:15 AM Curious. How do you manage this rule without minatures?

By throwing it out the window. Defenestration solves most problems.
Yuushiden
12-04-05, 03:13 PM Can this rule be played without visual aids?

smoker

The DM could easily make the ruling...if you have "marching orders" - i.e. who is in front, in middle, in back (the basics).
Then when combat hits, you decide where each person is in relation to each other (i.e. next to someone, or not - real basic if no mat/grid).
If a monster comes and charges a character, the DM can rule if the creature passes by one of the other chars (AO possible).
If an enemy is in melee, and does an action that provokes an AO, then the DM can easily rule who is in melee range, and who can possilbly get an AO.

As long as you are "stating" where your char is, it's easy to do without miniatures, and when in doubt, let the DM decide.
DigitalMage
12-05-05, 05:27 AM It all comes down to the description, for example:

GM: A large shadowy figure steps out from a side tunnel into the passageway you are in, blocking your path to the lever to stop the trap your friends are getting slowly curshed by. As it steps into the light you see the figure to be an ogre.
Player: I don't have time for a big fight, I am going to try to run past him and get to the lever.
GM: As I said, the ogre is standing in the centre of the passage, and even though teh passage is quite wide to run past the ogre you will have pass within striking distance - he will get an Attack of Opportunity.
Player: I can't afford to be pummeled by him, can I make a Tumble check to avoid the AoO?
GM: Sure, make your roll...

Miniatures (or any other physical representations) aren't required at all for D&D as long as the GM can describe the scene well enough that all players can picture it in their minds.

Miniatures do however help to show exactly where things are however, but I find they do tend to pull the player out of character as they begin to view the fight from a birds eye position (i.e. a player watching the battle on the battle mat) rather than through tehir character's eyes.
amethal
12-05-05, 08:56 AM For the really low tech solution, pencil marks on a piece of paper work fine.

If you are going to throw out attacks of opportunity, as has been suggested, in my opinion you need a "gentleman's agreement" between players and DM that nobody is going to weave their way past the meatshields in order to attack the "protected" spellcasters behind them.
Inigo Carmine
12-05-05, 12:06 PM non-movement related AoOs are easy to adjudicate without a visual example.

IE: if you try disarming someone and you don't have the improved disarm feat, you're going to provoke an AoO.

movement related ones are more tricky; some trickier than others. Reach ones are easy enough to adjudicate as well. If someone has greater reach than you, you're going to provoke an AoO getting into range with them unless you use spring attack, tumble, or take some other precaution.

The "moving past" someone ones will be the tricky ones. You just have to know where people are at and the distances between them. It's just as hard to do them as it is to do area effect spells.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
smoker 12-03-05, 02:10 AM	Curious. How do you manage this rule without minatures? smoker
Slyde Shadowdart 12-03-05, 02:32 AM	When the player asks "Can I take an AO?" I tell them yes or no. It works just fine unless the group has trust issues. If your group isn't comfortable with not being able to see things physically happening, your best bet is to just use the grid.
Seeker95 12-03-05, 03:21 PM	How do you manage this rule without minatures?Use pennies. :D
smoker 12-03-05, 06:35 PM	Can this rule be played without visual aids? smoker
Seeker95 12-03-05, 11:29 PM	Can this rule be played without visual aids? Not really. It would be similar to playing tennis without a net. It can be done, but it takes a lot of latitude on the part of both players and judge.
Illithid Tentacles 12-03-05, 11:36 PM	You don't really need a mat, you can just use whatever's handy -coins, dice, Skittles, soda cans for really big stuff like Purple Worms, etc.- and arrange them on the table in the proper way. For example. DM: The hobgoblin (as represented by the red M&M) chages past Barry (the dime) and strikes at Steve (the green d6). Barry, you can make an AoO on it, do you?
Tenzhi 12-04-05, 12:15 AM	Curious. How do you manage this rule without minatures? By throwing it out the window. Defenestration solves most problems.
Yuushiden 12-04-05, 03:13 PM	Can this rule be played without visual aids? smoker The DM could easily make the ruling...if you have "marching orders" - i.e. who is in front, in middle, in back (the basics). Then when combat hits, you decide where each person is in relation to each other (i.e. next to someone, or not - real basic if no mat/grid). If a monster comes and charges a character, the DM can rule if the creature passes by one of the other chars (AO possible). If an enemy is in melee, and does an action that provokes an AO, then the DM can easily rule who is in melee range, and who can possilbly get an AO. As long as you are "stating" where your char is, it's easy to do without miniatures, and when in doubt, let the DM decide.
DigitalMage 12-05-05, 05:27 AM	It all comes down to the description, for example: GM: A large shadowy figure steps out from a side tunnel into the passageway you are in, blocking your path to the lever to stop the trap your friends are getting slowly curshed by. As it steps into the light you see the figure to be an ogre. Player: I don't have time for a big fight, I am going to try to run past him and get to the lever. GM: As I said, the ogre is standing in the centre of the passage, and even though teh passage is quite wide to run past the ogre you will have pass within striking distance - he will get an Attack of Opportunity. Player: I can't afford to be pummeled by him, can I make a Tumble check to avoid the AoO? GM: Sure, make your roll... Miniatures (or any other physical representations) aren't required at all for D&D as long as the GM can describe the scene well enough that all players can picture it in their minds. Miniatures do however help to show exactly where things are however, but I find they do tend to pull the player out of character as they begin to view the fight from a birds eye position (i.e. a player watching the battle on the battle mat) rather than through tehir character's eyes.
amethal 12-05-05, 08:56 AM	For the really low tech solution, pencil marks on a piece of paper work fine. If you are going to throw out attacks of opportunity, as has been suggested, in my opinion you need a "gentleman's agreement" between players and DM that nobody is going to weave their way past the meatshields in order to attack the "protected" spellcasters behind them.
Inigo Carmine 12-05-05, 12:06 PM	non-movement related AoOs are easy to adjudicate without a visual example. IE: if you try disarming someone and you don't have the improved disarm feat, you're going to provoke an AoO. movement related ones are more tricky; some trickier than others. Reach ones are easy enough to adjudicate as well. If someone has greater reach than you, you're going to provoke an AoO getting into range with them unless you use spring attack, tumble, or take some other precaution. The "moving past" someone ones will be the tricky ones. You just have to know where people are at and the distances between them. It's just as hard to do them as it is to do area effect spells.