Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Sinister DM 02-14-08, 02:08 AM	Does that provoke an AoO from each attack or only once for the whole "package"? (assuming the opponent has Combat Reflexes)
tyrecian 02-14-08, 02:45 AM	each attack. The chart in the SRD doesn't distinguish between the actions, it simply states that attacking at range draws an AoO, therefore each one would.
Sinister DM 02-14-08, 02:48 AM	When I read the chart in my PHB, it says that Full Attack does not draw AoO, so I don't think the chart explains it too well.
tyrecian 02-14-08, 03:16 AM	full attack in melee, but at range the full attack is a series of ranged attacks, the "with bow" in the title. I take that to mean that a full attack sequence that uses a series of AoO drawing attacks is going to be subject to AoO. just as if a PC without Improved Unarmed Strike would still, while using a full attack option, draw AoO from an armed opponent with each of his (assume 20th level fighter in this scenario) 4 attacks if doing so with his fists. Also, its worth mentioning that you still get a full round of attacks while taking a 5' step, so you should only be worried if cornered or engaged with a reach enemy. As an archer, obviously this is an important situation to avoid, and sometimes you will just have to either take the AoOs (which can be nasty sometimes, like against a Hydra for instance) or figure a way out of combat... Cloak of the montebank, tumble skill, etc. Another option to to RLH (run like hell) away from this guy hitting you using the Total Defense Option You can defend yourself as a standard action. You get a +4 dodge bonus to your AC for 1 round. Your AC improves at the start of this action.
Sinister DM 02-14-08, 03:20 AM	full attack in melee, but at range the full attack is a series of ranged attacks, the "with bow" in the title. I take that to mean that a full attack sequence that uses a series of AoO drawing attacks is going to be subject to AoO. just as if a PC without Improved Unarmed Strike would still, while using a full attack option, draw AoO from an armed opponent with each of his (assume 20th level fighter in this scenario) 4 attacks if doing so with his fists. Logically you are right, but logic doesn't apply to all aspects of AoO, so I would still like a pointer to a FAQ or maybe a question to the Sage.
JamesMaissen 02-14-08, 03:08 PM	Does that provoke an AoO from each attack or only once for the whole "package"? (assuming the opponent has Combat Reflexes) Each ranged attack provokes separately. The exception is only for movement where characters are limited to taking one AOO for the entire movement. -James
jaelis 02-14-08, 03:44 PM	Actually, the rules don't clearly say, but everyone plays that all ranged attacks individually provoke.
RavenDrake 02-14-08, 04:38 PM	What do you mean "The rules don't say". They spell it out as clearly as they can without comming flat out and saying 'Hey, listen, ALL ranged attacks provoke, even as part of a full attack action.' Look at it this way. Say a Fighter 20 with four attacks was facing off against a marilith weilding six longswords. He can use all four of his iterative attacks to disarm. Without Improved Disarm, every single one of those disarm attempts would provoke attacks of opportunity. So what makes anyone think that every ranged attack in full attack wouldn't?
jaelis 02-14-08, 04:50 PM	What do you mean "The rules don't say". They spell it out as clearly as they can without comming flat out and saying 'Hey, listen, ALL ranged attacks provoke, even as part of a full attack action.' Where? Perhaps I missed it. For the disarm case, it is clear, the disarm rules say you provoke an AoO every time you do it. I didn't find a similar statement for ranged attacks. (Maybe it's in the PHB but not SRD?)
tyrecian 02-14-08, 05:39 PM	actually in the SRD the rules do say. There is a chart that shows AoO and what provokes them. it says that ranged attacks provoke AoO. Therefore, were one to extrapolate from that a round in which there were 1 or 4 ranged attacks doesnt alter the fact that each one would potentially provoke. the rules don't spell it out because that would be a redundancy and WoTC would be printing books with more anecdotes and confusion than actual rulings. However, i don't necessarily think its a terrible idea to offer only one AoO for an attack, much like moving, even if its a full round, but you are right that i have always played in such a way that any AoO drawing action draws them each time unless stated otherwise... as in the move option... :) sorry OP, i don't do links and the FAQ is like a maze to me, eventually mVincent will show up and save the day...
BugHunter 02-14-08, 08:08 PM	There would only be one AoO for a full round attack with a bow. You only get one attack for each triggering opportunity it is the same as moving out of several threaten squares.
RavenDrake 02-14-08, 09:04 PM	There would only be one AoO for a full round attack with a bow. You only get one attack for each triggering opportunity it is the same as moving out of several threaten squares. No, Movement has it's own rules for attacks of opportunity, it's why they seperated from Distracting Actions. It states, both in the text and in the table of combat actions that making a ranged attack provokes attacks of opportunity. There is NOTHING that I can find that states that performing more than one action that provokes attacks of opportunity together in a full attack action would prevent you from taking attacks of opportunity on each of them. Let's expand a bit. We have a character fighting barehanded, initially. As a full attack action he disarms a foe of a dagger, throws the dagger with his second attack, trips his foe with his third attack, and finally makes an uanrmed strike with his last attack... would that attack sequence, by your interpretation of the rules, only allow one attack of opportunity against him? If not, then what makes that attack sequence and how it provokes different than an attack sequence where a character makes, say, 4 ranged attacks, each of which normally provoke attacks of opportunity?
jaelis 02-14-08, 10:16 PM	The table you all are talking about specifically refers to standard actions. So it is clear that if you take a standard action to fire a ranged weapon, you provoke an AoO. I don't think there's any problem with extending that to a full round attack, even though the rules don't specifically address it. We can rely on common sense for that. But extending it to individual attacks within a full attack is simply an assumption, as far as I know. Given the example of movement, it's not impossible that you would only provoke one AoO for the whole sequence. Personally, I play that every attack provokes, and I'd recommend it as the community standard. But I don't think you can claim that the rules actually say it. Or maybe there is a clearer statement about it that I've overlooked. RavenDrake, you mentioned a text reference besides the table, what are you looking at? The closest I've found is in the discussion of unarmed strikes on pg 139, which really just says that when you shoot a bow you provoke an AoO from all adjacent enemies, not just the target you're shooting at.
BugHunter 02-15-08, 12:52 AM	No, Movement has it's own rules for attacks of opportunity, it's why they seperated from Distracting Actions. It states, both in the text and in the table of combat actions that making a ranged attack provokes attacks of opportunity. There is NOTHING that I can find that states that performing more than one action that provokes attacks of opportunity together in a full attack action would prevent you from taking attacks of opportunity on each of them. Let's expand a bit. We have a character fighting barehanded, initially. As a full attack action he disarms a foe of a dagger, throws the dagger with his second attack, trips his foe with his third attack, and finally makes an uanrmed strike with his last attack... would that attack sequence, by your interpretation of the rules, only allow one attack of opportunity against him? If not, then what makes that attack sequence and how it provokes different than an attack sequence where a character makes, say, 4 ranged attacks, each of which normally provoke attacks of opportunity? You only get to make one AoO per round unless you have combat reflexes as per PHB page 137. The example you decided to use would provoke four AoOs if you have combat reflexes since each one is a different provoking action. The OP's question is with doing a full attack with a bow. Four attacks with a bow is same provoking action.
RavenDrake 02-15-08, 01:33 AM	The table you all are talking about specifically refers to standard actions. So it is clear that if you take a standard action to fire a ranged weapon, you provoke an AoO. That entry may LIST ranged attacks as a standard action, but just like melee attacks, the full attack action allows you to make multiple ranged attacks at progressively lower attack bonus. Just as each unarmed strike in a melee iterative attack chain would provoke, or making a trip attampt with a whip in each hand with Two-weapon fighting, so also would each ranged attack provoke. Or don't you think that, for example, a full attack with unarmed strikes would provoke on each attack? I don't think there's any problem with extending that to a full round attack, even though the rules don't specifically address it. We can rely on common sense for that. But extending it to individual attacks within a full attack is simply an assumption, as far as I know. Given the example of movement, it's not impossible that you would only provoke one AoO for the whole sequence. Personally, I play that every attack provokes, and I'd recommend it as the community standard. But I don't think you can claim that the rules actually say it. Or maybe there is a clearer statement about it that I've overlooked. RavenDrake, you mentioned a text reference besides the table, what are you looking at? The closest I've found is in the discussion of unarmed strikes on pg 139, which really just says that when you shoot a bow you provoke an AoO from all adjacent enemies, not just the target you're shooting at. The attack of opportunity system goes out of it's way to explain the areas where there are exceptions to the rules(such as movement). There are no exceptions listed for ranged attacks, so it makes sense to me that each instance of a ranged attack, whether as part of a full attack action or not, would provoke, just as each instance of a trip, a disarm, a sunder, an unarmed strike, etc would. It repeatedly states in the text that ranged attacks provoke attacks of opportunity(page 135 twice, once under Attacks and once under Attacks of Opportunity, page 137 under Performing a Distracting Act, etc). It offers not one excpetion to the concept that a ranged attack provokes an attack of opportunity. The text never comes out and explictly states that every action within a full attack action has a chance to provoke, because it shouldn't have to. What it does is give a concise list of those actions that DO provoke attacks of opportunity and expect the players to make the logical conclusion that, since it does not offer exception, every time you do something that provokes you suffer the attack of opportunity whether provoked as a standard action, an immediate action, a full-round action, or even a non-action like an Attack of Opportunity. You only get to make one AoO per round unless you have combat reflexes as per PHB page 137. Well, yes, I was operating on the assumption that we were talking about a defender with combat Reflexes, because otherwise the point is completely moot. If he's only got one attack of opportunity, then it dosen't matter. The example you decided to use would provoke four AoOs if you have combat reflexes since each one is a different provoking action. The OP's question is with doing a full attack with a bow. Four attacks with a bow is same provoking action. That makes no sense though. In your mind I can make four different attacks that provoke attacks of opportunity, and provoke as normal, but if I make the same attack four times I only provoke once? That's ridiculous, to state that just because you group actions of the same kind that provoke together they suddenly change the nature of how they provoke? What most people seem to be missing is the nature of the Full Attack. The Full Attack is full-round action that allows you to make multiple attack actions. Normally an attack action takes a standard action(as listed in table 8-2 Actions in combat, page 141). When you have a Full Attack, however, you can make multiple attacks from iterative attacks, two-weapon fighting, haste, etc. Each and every one of those attacks provokes or not as normal for it's type. Because if they DIDN'T, then they would have expressed SOMEWHERE in the rules an exception ASIDE from the rules on how movement provokes.
Sinister DM 02-15-08, 02:48 AM	Thank you all for your replies. I guess our 11th lvl Ranger has to find some good cover to avoid AoOs ;)
mplindustries 02-15-08, 04:09 AM	Thank you all for your replies. I guess our 11th lvl Ranger has to find some good cover to avoid AoOs ;) Or take a 5' step away. Or tumble away if you need to go further. Or, just eat the single AoO from moving instead of eating 4+ AoOs.
JamesMaissen 02-15-08, 06:30 AM	You only get to make one AoO per round unless you have combat reflexes as per PHB page 137. The example you decided to use would provoke four AoOs if you have combat reflexes since each one is a different provoking action. The OP's question is with doing a full attack with a bow. Four attacks with a bow is same provoking action. A small point here.. each provokes an AOO even if you don't have combat reflexes. You can only TAKE one of them without combat reflexes. But you could decide WHICH one to take. A bad guy tries to unarmed trip your PC with his first attack which provokes. You (without combat reflexes) elect not to take the attack. He then tries to grapple with his second attack which also provokes. You now decide to make your PC's AOO to attempt to foil the grapple. The bad guy tries to grapple you again with his third attack which also provokes, but your PC has already made his AOO for the round so cannot elect to take another. In this example the bad guy made a full attack action, but each of the three attacks were attacks that (baring feats) provoked AOOs. For each attack the defender could elect to make an AOO (while he had them available) and with combat reflexes (and sufficient DEX score) the defender could have made all of them. Now consider a bad guy that elects to walk past your PC (assume a medium creature with only 5' reach). He exits, in succession, 3 squares your PC threatens. When he leaves the first square he provokes (assuming it's not a 'withdraw') an AOO. Assume you decide not to take it. Then he leaves the second square (to your PC's 'side') which also provokes. Assume here you decide to take your PC's AOO. Now, surviving that the bad guy leaves the third square ('behind' your PC) which also provokes. However even if your PC had Combat Reflexes you could not take this AOO as you've already made one against him for his movement. He provoked 3 AOOs, but by the restrictions on AOOs your PC could only take one of them. -James
mplindustries 02-15-08, 07:19 AM	Now consider a bad guy that elects to walk past your PC (assume a medium creature with only 5' reach). He exits, in succession, 3 squares your PC threatens. When he leaves the first square he provokes (assuming it's not a 'withdraw') an AOO. Assume you decide not to take it. Then he leaves the second square (to your PC's 'side') which also provokes. Assume here you decide to take your PC's AOO. Now, surviving that the bad guy leaves the third square ('behind' your PC) which also provokes. However even if your PC had Combat Reflexes you could not take this AOO as you've already made one against him for his movement. He provoked 3 AOOs, but by the restrictions on AOOs your PC could only take one of them. -James This was already covered, actually, but just to reiterate, you only provoke once per action. Moving is considered a single action, no matter how far you actually move, so he'd only provoke from the first square. Now, that said, the rest of your point is completely correct. You provoke for each action. During a Full-Attack, you take multiple attack actions and as a result provoke from each one. This is why tumble is very nearly required for a good ranged build, though you could bite the bullet and take a few levels in the truly horrific Order of the Bow Initiate. Honestly, though, if you're an archer, you should have multishot, so just back away and shoot, even if you can't tumble. One AoO is better than your full attack's worth.
JamesMaissen 02-15-08, 09:17 AM	This was already covered, actually, but just to reiterate, you only provoke once per action. Moving is considered a single action, no matter how far you actually move, so he'd only provoke from the first square. I disagree here and believe that you are wrong. You provoke from leaving threatened squares. It doesn't matter when in the movement that occurs. You're not saying that I can walk past someone without provoking at all just because I don't start adjacent to them do you? Or that leaving a square threatened by multiple opponents only provokes from some of them? -James
jaelis 02-15-08, 10:00 AM	During a Full-Attack, you take multiple attack actions and as a result provoke from each one. Can you find a statement that simply performing a ranged attack provokes an AoO? All I see is that performing a ranged attack as a standard action provokes an AoO. To put it another way, is a full attack really one action or several actions? The rules generally present it as one action.
mplindustries 02-15-08, 03:26 PM	I disagree here and believe that you are wrong. You provoke from leaving threatened squares. It doesn't matter when in the movement that occurs. You're not saying that I can walk past someone without provoking at all just because I don't start adjacent to them do you? Or that leaving a square threatened by multiple opponents only provokes from some of them? -James No, you only provoke from the first square you leave that is threatened by any particular opponent. You could certainly provoke at any point during your movement, but only once each per enemy. Here is the proof (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/combat/attacksOfOpportunity.htm), and I am pretty sure I'm not the first to post this: " If you have the Combat Reflexes feat you can add your Dexterity modifier to the number of attacks of opportunity you can make in a round. This feat does not let you make more than one attack for a given opportunity, but if the same opponent provokes two attacks of opportunity from you, you could make two separate attacks of opportunity (since each one represents a different opportunity). Moving out of more than one square threatened by the same opponent in the same round doesn’t count as more than one opportunity for that opponent. All these attacks are at your full normal attack bonus." (emphasis mine) As to the question of proof that a full-round attack provokes each time, I can not provide a quote, because it'd be too much, as you need context, but I can give a link and advice on how to find it. Here (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/combat/actionsInCombat.htm): Now pay careful attention to the heading "Attack." It encompasses many subsections, including melee, unarmed, and ranged. Now look at the chart. It clearly says: "Attack(ranged)" provokes an attack of opportunity. Now, look further down. Under the heading "Multiple Attacks." It says, "a character who can make more than one attack per round must use the full attack action in order to get more than one attack." To me, this suggests that each of those attack actions happen more than once during a full attack, but that normally they require a standard action. This is an exception. I am not saying that you get multiple standard actions during a full attack or anything else crazy like that. Now the only thing supporting a full attack with a ranged weapon not provoking is that the chart next to full attack says it does not provoke, however, because earlier it says that a full attack gives multiple attack actions, a ranged attack action provokes, and the fact that text always trumps charts, I'd say thats as good as you're going to get as far as provoke for each shot. If thats not good enough for you, then follow the chart exactly and any full attack, no matter what you do during it, doesn't provoke. Somehow.
kalstrand 02-15-08, 05:29 PM	Just a nit pick but a Full Attack doesn't give multiple Attack Actions. It allows multiple attacks. Nowhere in the Full Attack description say it gives multiple Attack Actions because an Attack Action is always a Standard Action and a full attack doesn't give any extra actions. I will agree that each use of a ranged attack allows an AoO. A ranged attack wheter from a Standard Action, a Warlock's Eldritch Blast, or a Wizards ranged attack spell provokes. If you can find a way to use more than one of those in a round each time you use it provokes. So if you can shoot a bow more than once in a round each time you shoot it provokes. The only execption to this rule is movement because movement specifically spells out the exception.
mplindustries 02-15-08, 11:30 PM	Just a nit pick but a Full Attack doesn't give multiple Attack Actions. It allows multiple attacks. Nowhere in the Full Attack description say it gives multiple Attack Actions because an Attack Action is always a Standard Action and a full attack doesn't give any extra actions. As I said, I clearly did not intend to say you get extra actions. However, I do want to say that you are correct about not saying specifically "attack action." I just realized the phrase "attack action" does not occur in the 3.5 srd. I don't know why, but I guess it was only a 3.0 phrase? I did just recently play D20 Modern, so it must have been in my head. Well, I guess the only way to really get the ruling then is to look at abilities that let you avoid or get bonuses to the AoO you provoke. Things like Defensive Archery and the Order of the Bow Initiate's Close Combat Shot (or whatever its called) talk about ranged attacks, not "Standard action ranged attacks." I am still so shocked that there are no "attack actions" anymore. Weird.
Tectorman 02-16-08, 01:15 AM	Huh? I was always under the impression that it was like movement (i.e., it's a single real action comprised on multiple attack-equivalent actions) and thus provokes once. @RavenDrake: What about this? I take a move action and walk through a Large (tall) creatures threatened area and I'm moving through several of his threatened squares. Me: I'm walking here. Giant: I get an Attack of Opportunity (rolls and misses). Ah well. Me: Um, I'm still walking here. Aren't you going to AoO me again? Giant: No, no, you're good. To me, that makes as much sense (moving out of several threatened squares in the course of one action and only provoking one AoO) as firing a couple of arrows in the course of one action and only provoking one AoO. So, apparently, the text should have to come out and explain this since it's so easy to equate the movement rules (which are written) with the multiple ranged attack rules (which some of us thought were implied).
groveborn 02-16-08, 02:46 AM	Full-Round Action: A full-round action consumes all your effort during a round. The only movement you can take during a full-round action is a 5-foot step before, during, or after the action. You can also perform free actions (see below). Some full-round actions do not allow you to take a 5-foot step. Some full-round actions can be taken as standard actions, but only in situations when you are limited to performing only a standard action during your round. The descriptions of specific actions, below, detail which actions allow this option. A full attack action is one action, comprised of other things. One action. You will provoke only one attack of opportunity during a full ranged attack. You would thusly provoke from the first, and only the first. For those who would say that each individual attack would provoke, then consider that there is a conflict in the tables. It states that ranged attacks provoke, while full attacks do not. Since the full attack doesn't provoke, then one could argue that none of the ranged attacks within the full attack could provoke.
RavenDrake 02-16-08, 04:11 AM	Huh? I was always under the impression that it was like movement (i.e., it's a single real action comprised on multiple attack-equivalent actions) and thus provokes once. @RavenDrake: What about this? I take a move action and walk through a Large (tall) creatures threatened area and I'm moving through several of his threatened squares. Me: I'm walking here. Giant: I get an Attack of Opportunity (rolls and misses). Ah well. Me: Um, I'm still walking here. Aren't you going to AoO me again? Giant: No, no, you're good. To me, that makes as much sense (moving out of several threatened squares in the course of one action and only provoking one AoO) as firing a couple of arrows in the course of one actio(jn and only provoking one AoO. So, apparently, the text should have to come out and explain this since it's so easy to equate the movement rules (which are written) with the multiple ranged attack rules (which some of us thought were implied). Uh.. it does. It does exactly that. It explains, very clearly and concisely how movement interacts with attacks of opportunity. It offers no such modifications for ranged attacks, so I would have to conclude that they intended none. Thus, there is no need for interpretation; they state that a ranged attack provokes attacks of opportunity, therefore every ranged attack provokes regardless of the nature of the action under which it was taken, just like making the ranged touch attack as part of a spell provokes. Also, @graveborn: The table indicates whether or not the action itself would provoke an attack of opportunity, not that attacks of opportunity can't be provoked while undertaking that action. Also, a Full attack action is a single action composed of multiple attacks. Each ranged attack provokes as normal. Unless, of course, you can find anything that states that they don't.
groveborn 02-16-08, 02:23 PM	You make a good point. I had grouped attacks a type of action, but it seems they're more options than actions. Gotcha. I rescind my vote :).
kalstrand 02-16-08, 02:23 PM	As I said, I clearly did not intend to say you get extra actions. However, I do want to say that you are correct about not saying specifically "attack action." I just realized the phrase "attack action" does not occur in the 3.5 srd. I don't know why, but I guess it was only a 3.0 phrase? I did just recently play D20 Modern, so it must have been in my head. Well, I guess the only way to really get the ruling then is to look at abilities that let you avoid or get bonuses to the AoO you provoke. Things like Defensive Archery and the Order of the Bow Initiate's Close Combat Shot (or whatever its called) talk about ranged attacks, not "Standard action ranged attacks." I am still so shocked that there are no "attack actions" anymore. Weird. The Attack Action is describe on page 139 of the PHB. You can find it about half-way down the page. In all caps and large blue font is a section titled Standard Actions. If you read the introductory paragraph describing standard actions you will then see the first standard action described which is the Attack Action and its heading is in blue font as well. If you want the real rules look in the books. The SRD is not complete. When you start reading the section on full attack you will find that it never uses Attack Action. It uses the word attack or attacks, which are different that the Attack Action in the rules.
jaelis 02-16-08, 04:42 PM	Each ranged attack provokes as normal. Unless, of course, you can find anything that states that they don't. I guess the point is that I haven't actually seen anything to say that a "ranged attack" does provoke in the first place. (I don't think we want to assume that all actions provoke AoOs unless stated otherwise.) I know that taking a standard action to make a ranged attack provokes, and I believe it is clear that taking a full action to make one or more ranged attacks does provoke. But I don't see a convincing argument that each and every ranged attack will provoke. MPL's point about secondary rules is reasonable, but to counter it, I could point to a lot of secondary rules that say spellcasting provokes when they clearly mean to say that spellcasting as a standard (or longer) action provokes. Since as we know, casting a swfit-action spell doesn't provoke.
Nathreet 02-16-08, 05:26 PM	Rules do say that ranged attacks provoke AoO's. It doesn't specify that multiple attacks do or don't provoke multiple AoO's. But each attack is a separate attack action and a ranged attack provokes an AoO, so I'd say multiple attacks should trigger multiple AoO's. But even if a full attack provoked multiple AoO's, opponents only get 1 AoO per round unless they have a feat, etc or multiple attacks. In the case of a character with multiple attacks he gets the usually penalties (typically -5 to 2nd attack, etc.). RLH (withdraw, full round action, double move) does not provoke an AoO from the guy you're running from. Full defense is a standard action and would just slow you down anyway.
jaelis 02-16-08, 05:29 PM	Rules do say that ranged attacks provoke AoO's. Where? (To be honest, I think they do somewhere. I just haven't been able to to find it.)
Nathreet 02-16-08, 06:20 PM	AoO table, under standard actions. You have to look elsewhere to see that an attack action is a separate type of action. So if you have multiple attacks you can do anything that takes an attack action multiple times per round (multiple trips, multiple sunders, mix and match, etc.). I think it'd be pretty convoluted to say that only the standard action surrounding the attack action causes the AoO, not the attack action itself. So then what, the full round version doesn't cause an AoO at all?
jaelis 02-16-08, 08:36 PM	AoO table, under standard actions. Yes, I know about that, so I'm certain that if you make a ranged attack as a standard action, you provoke. You have to look elsewhere to see that an attack action is a separate type of action. Well, the question is, where is that elsewhere? "Attack actions" are never defined. So if you have multiple attacks you can do anything that takes an attack action multiple times per round (multiple trips, multiple sunders, mix and match, etc.). I think it'd be pretty convoluted to say that only the standard action surrounding the attack action causes the AoO, not the attack action itself. So then what, the full round version doesn't cause an AoO at all? I think it's easy to argue that a full attack version of the action should provoke if the std action version does. But given the example of movement in particular, it's not so obvious that each individual attack in a full attack should provoke. Trips, sunders, grapple attempts and disarms all specifically say that they provoke an AoO each time you perform them, without regard for what kind of action it is. Ranged attacks don't ever say that. But I guess you could argue by analogy... maybe that's the best answer. Actually, that works for me... we know that individual ranged attacks provoke, no matter when you do them, because all the other attack forms that provoke explicitly work that way. But I'll stand by my statement that the rules never clearly say it.
kalstrand 02-17-08, 10:43 PM	Attack Action is defined on p.139 of the PHB. On p.139 in the left hand column about half way down the page you see in all caps and large blue font a section titled Standard Actions. Following that is a paragraph describing a Standard Action. Below that paragraph in blue font is a section titled Attack. There is where the description of the Attack Action starts. It continues through the rest of p.139 onto p.140 and ends just before another piece of blue fonted text titled Cast a Spell. Page 137 of the PHB under the section Provoking an Attack of Opportunity are a couple subsections. In the subsection titled Performing a Distracting Act: Casting a spell and attacking with a ranged weapon, for example are distracting actions.