an atk of opportunity Q. [Archive] - Wizards Community

an atk of opportunity Q. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
xTimx
12-22-06, 10:06 PM my characters seem to think that when your battleing a character for example, if an ally is in front of the enemy and your in behind of the enemy, and the enemy turns to towards you (and opens his back towards your ally) the ally get an atk of opportunity or the enemy is flat footed. please help me understand this.
Salla
12-22-06, 10:14 PM There is no facing in D&D. You are considered to be looking in all directions at once, thus there is no 'turning your back' on someone. If you have an ally on the opposite side of a foe, you are flanking him and recieve a +2 to hit. That's it.
spiderboy4
12-22-06, 10:17 PM the answer is no.

During combat, You are moving around your five foot area trying to watch all aspects of the battle. It is harder to focus on multiple opponents than it is a single one. This is why the flankers recieve an attack bonus.

Everything is happening at once, and no one person is just going to stand still and not watch his back.
xTimx
12-22-06, 10:58 PM alright...thats great to know....thank you :) this clears up everything now :)
Tyler Do'Urden
12-23-06, 02:40 AM This is all covered in the Combat chapter of the PHB. You might try perusing it once in a while; there's all sorts of weirdass questions that are already answered within that text.
TheRealOrion
12-23-06, 03:17 AM Just to cover this fully, the only bonus they get from that positioning is Flanking (+2 attack, potential Sneak Attack).

I've noticed that there's a tendancy to start thinking that everything sets off an attack of opportunity, and that way lies madness. Eventually, people start to think that attacking provokes attacks of opportunity. It's something you really need to nip in the bud. If there's ever a dispute about it from a player, tell them they have to find text that clearly states why an AO is called for. Otherwise, shut the heck up.
draconic_swine
12-23-06, 11:41 AM Just to cover this fully, the only bonus they get from that positioning is Flanking (+2 attack, denied Dex bonus), which means that they can also Sneak Attack.

Being flanked doesn't deny you your Dexterity bonus. A rogue can sneak attack you while you're flanked, but never do you lose your Dexterity bonus.
TheRealOrion
12-23-06, 03:24 PM Being flanked doesn't deny you your Dexterity bonus. A rogue can sneak attack you while you're flanked, but never do you lose your Dexterity bonus.
Thank you! No matter how many times I read that rule and am reminded of it, my brain keeps flipping back to 'no dex' because of the sneak attack.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
xTimx 12-22-06, 10:06 PM	my characters seem to think that when your battleing a character for example, if an ally is in front of the enemy and your in behind of the enemy, and the enemy turns to towards you (and opens his back towards your ally) the ally get an atk of opportunity or the enemy is flat footed. please help me understand this.
Salla 12-22-06, 10:14 PM	There is no facing in D&D. You are considered to be looking in all directions at once, thus there is no 'turning your back' on someone. If you have an ally on the opposite side of a foe, you are flanking him and recieve a +2 to hit. That's it.
spiderboy4 12-22-06, 10:17 PM	the answer is no. During combat, You are moving around your five foot area trying to watch all aspects of the battle. It is harder to focus on multiple opponents than it is a single one. This is why the flankers recieve an attack bonus. Everything is happening at once, and no one person is just going to stand still and not watch his back.
xTimx 12-22-06, 10:58 PM	alright...thats great to know....thank you :) this clears up everything now :)
Tyler Do'Urden 12-23-06, 02:40 AM	This is all covered in the Combat chapter of the PHB. You might try perusing it once in a while; there's all sorts of weirdass questions that are already answered within that text.
TheRealOrion 12-23-06, 03:17 AM	Just to cover this fully, the only bonus they get from that positioning is Flanking (+2 attack, potential Sneak Attack). I've noticed that there's a tendancy to start thinking that everything sets off an attack of opportunity, and that way lies madness. Eventually, people start to think that attacking provokes attacks of opportunity. It's something you really need to nip in the bud. If there's ever a dispute about it from a player, tell them they have to find text that clearly states why an AO is called for. Otherwise, shut the heck up.
draconic_swine 12-23-06, 11:41 AM	Just to cover this fully, the only bonus they get from that positioning is Flanking (+2 attack, denied Dex bonus), which means that they can also Sneak Attack. Being flanked doesn't deny you your Dexterity bonus. A rogue can sneak attack you while you're flanked, but never do you lose your Dexterity bonus.
TheRealOrion 12-23-06, 03:24 PM	Being flanked doesn't deny you your Dexterity bonus. A rogue can sneak attack you while you're flanked, but never do you lose your Dexterity bonus. Thank you! No matter how many times I read that rule and am reminded of it, my brain keeps flipping back to 'no dex' because of the sneak attack.