10' reach and an action that typically triggers an AoO [Archive] - Wizards Community

10' reach and an action that typically triggers an AoO [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Goat Face
05-18-07, 01:11 AM Lets say I have a fighter who is using a spiked chain against a foe that is standing 10' away and is weilding a "non-reach" weapon.

Now lets say that my fighter decides to make a disarm attempt (without the benefit of the Improved Disarm feat) against this foe...Typically, this action (disarm) would trigger an AoO against the fighter. However, seeing as how the fighter is outside the foes threatened area, would he be safe from this AoO?

:confused:

I guess what im trying to ask is...

Can AoO's be made against opponents who are not in threatend areas?
Neutronium_Dragon
05-18-07, 01:13 AM You must threaten an opponent to make an AoO against it. As such, the spiked chain wielder is safe.
runestar
05-18-07, 01:18 AM Yep, Neutronium_Dragon is correct, much as it does not really make much sense. For example, why couldn't you grab the chain and disarm him? But that is how the rules operate.:P
Goat Face
05-18-07, 01:18 AM Excellent! :D

Thanks, Neutronium_Dragon.

This is as I suspected, but i couldnt find the specific rule.
tui
05-18-07, 12:19 PM Can AoO's be made against opponents who are not in threatend areas?
I agree with what others have said, although it's worth mentioning that the FAQ has this to say about the situation:
Strictly speaking, if you don’t threaten an enemy, you can’t
make attacks of opportunity against that enemy. Thus, if an
ogre tried to sunder your elf’s longsword from 10 feet away,
you wouldn’t get an attack of opportunity against the ogre
(since an elf wielding a longsword doesn’t threaten an enemy
10 feet away). This is true even if the ogre is reaching out with
his hand, such as when trying to grapple you.

Even the Close-Quarters Fighting feat doesn’t help, since
that feat applies only when the attack of opportunity against a
grappling foe normally would be denied by “a feat or special
ability that would normally bypass the attack” and lists
Improved Grapple and improved grab as examples.

If, as DM, this bothers your sensibilities and you and your
players are willing to bend the letter of the rules a bit, consider
the following house rule that the Sage has used in his games in
the past: If a foe would provoke an attack of opportunity with
any action that brings him (or something he holds) into contact
with you or your space, you may make an attack of opportunity
against the foe (or the object he holds, if that’s what’s
contacting you). This means that an ogre trying to initiate a
grapple would provoke an attack of opportunity that you could
make against the ogre (since his hand and arm are clearly
coming within your reach to grab you), while the same ogre
trying to sunder your weapon with his greatclub would provoke
an attack of opportunity that you could make only against the
greatclub (that is, with a disarm or sunder attempt).

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Goat Face 05-18-07, 01:11 AM	Lets say I have a fighter who is using a spiked chain against a foe that is standing 10' away and is weilding a "non-reach" weapon. Now lets say that my fighter decides to make a disarm attempt (without the benefit of the Improved Disarm feat) against this foe...Typically, this action (disarm) would trigger an AoO against the fighter. However, seeing as how the fighter is outside the foes threatened area, would he be safe from this AoO? :confused: I guess what im trying to ask is... Can AoO's be made against opponents who are not in threatend areas?
Neutronium_Dragon 05-18-07, 01:13 AM	You must threaten an opponent to make an AoO against it. As such, the spiked chain wielder is safe.
runestar 05-18-07, 01:18 AM	Yep, Neutronium_Dragon is correct, much as it does not really make much sense. For example, why couldn't you grab the chain and disarm him? But that is how the rules operate.:P
Goat Face 05-18-07, 01:18 AM	Excellent! :D Thanks, Neutronium_Dragon. This is as I suspected, but i couldnt find the specific rule.
tui 05-18-07, 12:19 PM	Can AoO's be made against opponents who are not in threatend areas? I agree with what others have said, although it's worth mentioning that the FAQ has this to say about the situation: Strictly speaking, if you don’t threaten an enemy, you can’t make attacks of opportunity against that enemy. Thus, if an ogre tried to sunder your elf’s longsword from 10 feet away, you wouldn’t get an attack of opportunity against the ogre (since an elf wielding a longsword doesn’t threaten an enemy 10 feet away). This is true even if the ogre is reaching out with his hand, such as when trying to grapple you. Even the Close-Quarters Fighting feat doesn’t help, since that feat applies only when the attack of opportunity against a grappling foe normally would be denied by “a feat or special ability that would normally bypass the attack” and lists Improved Grapple and improved grab as examples. If, as DM, this bothers your sensibilities and you and your players are willing to bend the letter of the rules a bit, consider the following house rule that the Sage has used in his games in the past: If a foe would provoke an attack of opportunity with any action that brings him (or something he holds) into contact with you or your space, you may make an attack of opportunity against the foe (or the object he holds, if that’s what’s contacting you). This means that an ogre trying to initiate a grapple would provoke an attack of opportunity that you could make against the ogre (since his hand and arm are clearly coming within your reach to grab you), while the same ogre trying to sunder your weapon with his greatclub would provoke an attack of opportunity that you could make only against the greatclub (that is, with a disarm or sunder attempt).