Attacks of Opportunity/misc. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Attacks of Opportunity/misc. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Nueien
11-17-05, 05:46 PM i need help from anyone whos willing to use an example to explain to me

1. attacks of opportunity
2. generating threat
3. double moves

1- im confused how a character begins and when they should begin an attack of opportunity
2- if a rogue shoots at an orc from 50 ft. away how does the orc get an attack of opportunity?
3- if double moves only take a partial turn why would anyone make a normal move?

thank you in advance
pres_man
11-17-05, 06:02 PM 1. You can only take attacks of opportunity if someone is within melee range, you have a melee weapon readied (and its not some unusual weapon like a whip), and they do an action that provokes an attack of opportunity (such as standing up, firing a ranged weapon, etc.).

2. The orc does not get to take an attack of opportunity, unless he somehow has a 50' with some kind of melee weapon. Perhaps said orc was used by some trolls for a tug of war contest and his arms are now 50' long, Otherwise, no way he take the AoO.

3. Double move takes a full round action. Though in some cases it can be combined with other actions, such as charge. Typically though, if you double move, you're done for the round.
00_Whupass
11-17-05, 06:17 PM i need help from anyone whos willing to use an example to explain to me

1. attacks of opportunity
2. generating threatThese two are really interconnected and would be best addressed as one issue. Attacks of Opportunity(AoO) occur whenever someone does an action that provokes an AoO while in a threatend area, an armed character (one with a melee weapon, natural weapon, or the Improved Unarmed attack feat) threatens an area equal to his or her reach (5ft for medium creatures, 10ft for large, etc.) Characters weilding "reach weapons" have thier normal reach doubled, but (with the exception of the spiked chain) reach weapons only threaten the squares at the extent of the weapons reach and not those nearer, effectively creating a doughnut (A ring of threatend squares with an unthreatend "hole" in the square adjecent to the character). A character can take only one attack of opportunity per round, unless they have the combat reflexes feat, in which case they may make a number of AoO equal to his Dex modifier+1 (But never more than one attack per provocation).
3. double movesIn any given turn a character may take either a standard action and a move action, or a full round action. A character may use his standard action to take a second move action. A character can exchange his standard action for a second move action to do anything that can be done as a normal move action. Some examples of move actions include: moving your speed, drinking a potion, retreiving an item from you pack, drawing a weapon, and reloading a light crossbow or sling. For example you're character could drink a potion, a move action, and then rather than take a standard action, move his movement speed, a second move action.
1- im confused how a character begins and when they should begin an attack of opportunity If an opponent does an action that provokes an AoO in a square my character threatens, I can choose to make an attack of opportunity provided I am still able (If I haven't already made an AoO this round or have combat reflexes) this AoO interupts the opponents action and is resloved before his action.
2- if a rogue shoots at an orc from 50 ft. away how does the orc get an attack of opportunity?In this scenario the orc would not get an attack of opportunity, he does not threaten the rogue. Remember you need both a provoking action and a threat, for an AoO to occur.
3- if double moves only take a partial turn why would anyone make a normal move? If a character makes a two move actions his turn is over as he has made his move action, and traded his standard action for a second move action. Examples of scenarios when a character would make a normal move include, moving into position to make an attack (the movement is a move action, leaving him a standard action to attack).

I hope this clears things up.
Nueien
11-17-05, 06:30 PM 1. You can only take attacks of opportunity if someone is within melee range, you have a melee weapon readied (and its not some unusual weapon like a whip), and they do an action that provokes an attack of opportunity (such as standing up, firing a ranged weapon, etc.).

2. The orc does not get to take an attack of opportunity, unless he somehow has a 50' with some kind of melee weapon. Perhaps said orc was used by some trolls for a tug of war contest and his arms are now 50' long, Otherwise, no way he take the AoO.

3. Double move takes a full round action. Though in some cases it can be combined with other actions, such as charge. Typically though, if you double move, you're done for the round.

thanks you guys have cleared everything up except for the part i bolded and one other thing.. how do you ready a wep. and is it a partial action full action or free action? if you make an AoO against a moving character and it hits does it stop his original move and moving abilities for that round?

thanks again
00_Whupass
11-17-05, 06:31 PM If your holding the weapon its ready, no action is required to do this.
pres_man
11-17-05, 07:30 PM how do you ready a wep.
Actually the answer to that question is complicated, much more so than it should be. It should be as easy to understand as 00_Whupass suggests, but unfortunately what it means to "wield" something is a bit unclear and thus up for debate. To have a weapon readied it means that the weapon is ready to be used to attack with. Thus if you draw a sword and are intent on using it, it is readied.

The readying of the weapon is no action within itself. But merely holding a weapon does not mean it is "wielded" or "readied" necessarily. For example holding a two-handed weapon in one hand while you are walking does not mean it is being wielded or readied to be used. There is a difference between merely holding a weapon and having the weapon readied.

This is an issue when say, having armor spikes and holding a weapon in your hands. Are your armor spikes readied? Does this mean they are being "wielded"? Does that mean that you are going to take the two-weapon fighting penalties, or is that just for getting an additional attack during your normal action? Can you "turn" your armor spikes "on and off", decide whether you are "wielding"/"readying" them on a per turn basis?

Really how complicated the issue is, is entirely up to your DM. But for the most part if you have a weapon in hand and are prepared to use it, then it is readied.
ashcat_lt
11-17-05, 07:43 PM In general, a successful AoO does not stop movement unless the attack itself kills, stuns, or otherwise stops the moving creature. I think there are feats and/or special abilities that will change that situation.

There are some things that provoke AoO's that can be interupted if the opportunity attack is successful. Grappling and spellcasting are examples of these.
Nueien
11-17-05, 09:19 PM well im trying to understand grappling and attacking weps./objects will i need them if i want to start a basic learning game with all new players? (including myself)
Nom
11-17-05, 10:05 PM I'll note that the AoO rules (PH pg 137) don't use the term "readied". They simply say that "you threaten all squares into which you can make a melee attack", without further clarification (except that you can't threaten unarmed). The flavour text explains that an AoO is a special opening created by letting your guard down in melee, from which it becomes obvious that AoOs (and threatening) must apply to melee weapons that you are in some way actively fighting with, even if not currently making an attack roll.

Thus, the simple ruling is that if you have a lethal melee weapon that is ready to make an attack then you are threatening. You don't threaten if you are flat-footed, unarmed, using a projectile weapon, or otherwise not in a position to attack without shifting weapons or moving.
jaxpur
11-17-05, 11:38 PM well im trying to understand grappling and attacking weps./objects will i need them if i want to start a basic learning game with all new players? (including myself)

I would say you don't necessarily need to include grappling (and certainly not sundering/disarming/tripping) if you are just learning the game. Attacks of opportunity, on the other hand, are important to understand and include.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Nueien 11-17-05, 05:46 PM	i need help from anyone whos willing to use an example to explain to me 1. attacks of opportunity 2. generating threat 3. double moves 1- im confused how a character begins and when they should begin an attack of opportunity 2- if a rogue shoots at an orc from 50 ft. away how does the orc get an attack of opportunity? 3- if double moves only take a partial turn why would anyone make a normal move? thank you in advance
pres_man 11-17-05, 06:02 PM	1. You can only take attacks of opportunity if someone is within melee range, you have a melee weapon readied (and its not some unusual weapon like a whip), and they do an action that provokes an attack of opportunity (such as standing up, firing a ranged weapon, etc.). 2. The orc does not get to take an attack of opportunity, unless he somehow has a 50' with some kind of melee weapon. Perhaps said orc was used by some trolls for a tug of war contest and his arms are now 50' long, Otherwise, no way he take the AoO. 3. Double move takes a full round action. Though in some cases it can be combined with other actions, such as charge. Typically though, if you double move, you're done for the round.
00_Whupass 11-17-05, 06:17 PM	i need help from anyone whos willing to use an example to explain to me 1. attacks of opportunity 2. generating threatThese two are really interconnected and would be best addressed as one issue. Attacks of Opportunity(AoO) occur whenever someone does an action that provokes an AoO while in a threatend area, an armed character (one with a melee weapon, natural weapon, or the Improved Unarmed attack feat) threatens an area equal to his or her reach (5ft for medium creatures, 10ft for large, etc.) Characters weilding "reach weapons" have thier normal reach doubled, but (with the exception of the spiked chain) reach weapons only threaten the squares at the extent of the weapons reach and not those nearer, effectively creating a doughnut (A ring of threatend squares with an unthreatend "hole" in the square adjecent to the character). A character can take only one attack of opportunity per round, unless they have the combat reflexes feat, in which case they may make a number of AoO equal to his Dex modifier+1 (But never more than one attack per provocation). 3. double movesIn any given turn a character may take either a standard action and a move action, or a full round action. A character may use his standard action to take a second move action. A character can exchange his standard action for a second move action to do anything that can be done as a normal move action. Some examples of move actions include: moving your speed, drinking a potion, retreiving an item from you pack, drawing a weapon, and reloading a light crossbow or sling. For example you're character could drink a potion, a move action, and then rather than take a standard action, move his movement speed, a second move action. 1- im confused how a character begins and when they should begin an attack of opportunity If an opponent does an action that provokes an AoO in a square my character threatens, I can choose to make an attack of opportunity provided I am still able (If I haven't already made an AoO this round or have combat reflexes) this AoO interupts the opponents action and is resloved before his action. 2- if a rogue shoots at an orc from 50 ft. away how does the orc get an attack of opportunity?In this scenario the orc would not get an attack of opportunity, he does not threaten the rogue. Remember you need both a provoking action and a threat, for an AoO to occur. 3- if double moves only take a partial turn why would anyone make a normal move? If a character makes a two move actions his turn is over as he has made his move action, and traded his standard action for a second move action. Examples of scenarios when a character would make a normal move include, moving into position to make an attack (the movement is a move action, leaving him a standard action to attack). I hope this clears things up.
Nueien 11-17-05, 06:30 PM	1. You can only take attacks of opportunity if someone is within melee range, you have a melee weapon readied (and its not some unusual weapon like a whip), and they do an action that provokes an attack of opportunity (such as standing up, firing a ranged weapon, etc.). 2. The orc does not get to take an attack of opportunity, unless he somehow has a 50' with some kind of melee weapon. Perhaps said orc was used by some trolls for a tug of war contest and his arms are now 50' long, Otherwise, no way he take the AoO. 3. Double move takes a full round action. Though in some cases it can be combined with other actions, such as charge. Typically though, if you double move, you're done for the round. thanks you guys have cleared everything up except for the part i bolded and one other thing.. how do you ready a wep. and is it a partial action full action or free action? if you make an AoO against a moving character and it hits does it stop his original move and moving abilities for that round? thanks again
00_Whupass 11-17-05, 06:31 PM	If your holding the weapon its ready, no action is required to do this.
pres_man 11-17-05, 07:30 PM	how do you ready a wep. Actually the answer to that question is complicated, much more so than it should be. It should be as easy to understand as 00_Whupass suggests, but unfortunately what it means to "wield" something is a bit unclear and thus up for debate. To have a weapon readied it means that the weapon is ready to be used to attack with. Thus if you draw a sword and are intent on using it, it is readied. The readying of the weapon is no action within itself. But merely holding a weapon does not mean it is "wielded" or "readied" necessarily. For example holding a two-handed weapon in one hand while you are walking does not mean it is being wielded or readied to be used. There is a difference between merely holding a weapon and having the weapon readied. This is an issue when say, having armor spikes and holding a weapon in your hands. Are your armor spikes readied? Does this mean they are being "wielded"? Does that mean that you are going to take the two-weapon fighting penalties, or is that just for getting an additional attack during your normal action? Can you "turn" your armor spikes "on and off", decide whether you are "wielding"/"readying" them on a per turn basis? Really how complicated the issue is, is entirely up to your DM. But for the most part if you have a weapon in hand and are prepared to use it, then it is readied.
ashcat_lt 11-17-05, 07:43 PM	In general, a successful AoO does not stop movement unless the attack itself kills, stuns, or otherwise stops the moving creature. I think there are feats and/or special abilities that will change that situation. There are some things that provoke AoO's that can be interupted if the opportunity attack is successful. Grappling and spellcasting are examples of these.
Nueien 11-17-05, 09:19 PM	well im trying to understand grappling and attacking weps./objects will i need them if i want to start a basic learning game with all new players? (including myself)
Nom 11-17-05, 10:05 PM	I'll note that the AoO rules (PH pg 137) don't use the term "readied". They simply say that "you threaten all squares into which you can make a melee attack", without further clarification (except that you can't threaten unarmed). The flavour text explains that an AoO is a special opening created by letting your guard down in melee, from which it becomes obvious that AoOs (and threatening) must apply to melee weapons that you are in some way actively fighting with, even if not currently making an attack roll. Thus, the simple ruling is that if you have a lethal melee weapon that is ready to make an attack then you are threatening. You don't threaten if you are flat-footed, unarmed, using a projectile weapon, or otherwise not in a position to attack without shifting weapons or moving.
jaxpur 11-17-05, 11:38 PM	well im trying to understand grappling and attacking weps./objects will i need them if i want to start a basic learning game with all new players? (including myself) I would say you don't necessarily need to include grappling (and certainly not sundering/disarming/tripping) if you are just learning the game. Attacks of opportunity, on the other hand, are important to understand and include.