Attacks on Opportunity!!!??? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Attacks on Opportunity!!!??? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
TXCBoy36
01-31-06, 03:53 AM Can anyone help explain Attacks on Opportunity...please. I am presently playing a 3.5e game and everyone in the game seems to be unclear on what allows an AoO. I could use some advice on this rule.

For example: Lets say that you have a room full of Goblins and you approach them and enter the square next to the Goblin. Does that allow an AoO since you entered a threatened square, or does it only apply if you are in a threatened square and then leave that square????

I am unclear on how it all works....any suggestions or explanations of this ruling would be really appreciated!!!!

Thanxs!!
SamiPeikko
01-31-06, 04:25 AM Entering square does not give AoO, leaving it does.
This is why reach is good: if attacking opponent does not have reach and defender does, the defender gets AoO if attacker charges or moves reclesly in. This happens because defender with reach threatens squares beyond the adjacent ones, and attacker is leaving one of those squares to move next to the defender. AoO happens before the attacker can leave the square, so it does not matter if defender can't attack adjacent squares (using normal reach weapons).

There are several ways for the attacker to avoid that AoO:
1) stopping in the first threatened square, and moving next round using 5' step. 5' step never provokes AoO. Remember that you can not take 5' step if prone or if your moving speed is 5' or less.
2) Using Spring attack feat denies AoO from the target of your attack.
3) Having cover between you and the defender at the point where you leave the threatened square. Sometimes another character may provide that cover.
4) Make Tumble check (DC 15 against single opponent), trained only.
5) Use reach weapon yourself so you don't have to move next to the enemy.
(6) If you want to just leave, use Disengage fullround action. This means that the first square you are leaving does not count as threatened.)

Look up from the combat rules table of actions. This lists what actions typically provoke AoO:s if performed inside opponents threat range.

Remember that each combatant only has one AoO per round unless he has Combat Reflexes Feat. It is viable tactic to move heavily armored character (with Mobility feat) first
and provoke all AoO:s the enemies want to make, and then move easier targets past safely.

Also remember that spellcasters can cast spells defensively (requires Concentration chech to avoid losing the spell, but does not provoke AoO). This is actually good default, when casters are high enough level to always make their check even with roll of one.

AoO is sigle attack with highest attack bonus. My own question: if character getting AoO is using Two Weapon Fighting, does AoO suffer TWF penalties?
Nom
01-31-06, 05:33 AM AoOs from movement:

Only leaving a threatened square provokes an AoO, and not always then. The 5 ft. step, Spring Attack, Withdraw (which Sami mistakenly called Disengage) and Tumble all provide some ability to avoid normal movement-based AoOs. Similarly, cover and total concealment prevent AoOs.

AoOs in general:

Threatening - you threaten the squares into which you can make a normal melee attack (with your currently equipped melee weapon). You are assumed to be semi-actively or actively engaging any opponents in those squares, regardless of whether you actually made an attack roll against them.

If you are not currently wielding a lethal melee weapon and able to make attacks with it, you do not threaten. You do not threaten while flat-footed.

Certain activities cause an opponent to "drop their guard", potentially allowing a threatening character a free attack. This free attack is called an "attack of opportunity", and dropping your guard is called "provoking an AoO". Only characters that currently threaten the square in which you provoke an AoO may make an AoO.

Any given character can make only one AoO per round (exception: Combat Reflexes), which most people measure from the start of the actor's turn to the start of the actor's next turn. You can't make an AoO if the provoking character has cover or total concealment relative to you.

Most common ways to provoke an AoO:
- leaving a threatened square by normal movement
- casting a spell in a threatened square
- futzing with inventory (including drinking potions) in a threatened square
- initiating certain special attack moves, such as bull rush, disarm or grapple

In some cases, such as grapple or disarm, the AoO is only provoked against the target and not against third parties.

Even if you leave multiple threatened squares, any given opponent can only make one "leaving threatened square" AoO per round, even with Combat Reflexes.

(above text is reworking of PH pg 137)
Tyler Do'Urden
01-31-06, 05:52 AM Yeah, or you could, you know, read the combat chapter.

Or the SRD.

Or this:ATTACKS OF OPPORTUNITY
Sometimes a combatant in a melee lets her guard down. In this case, combatants near her can take advantage of her lapse in defense to attack her for free. These free attacks are called attacks of opportunity.
Threatened Squares: You threaten all squares into which you can make a melee attack, even when it is not your action. Generally, that means everything in all squares adjacent to your space (including diagonally). An enemy that takes certain actions while in a threatened square provokes an attack of opportunity from you. If you’re unarmed, you don’t normally threaten any squares and thus can’t make attacks of opportunity.
Reach Weapons: Most creatures of Medium or smaller size have a reach of only 5 feet. This means that they can make melee attacks only against creatures up to 5 feet (1 square) away. However, Small and Medium creatures wielding reach weapons threaten more squares than a typical creature. In addition, most creatures larger than Medium have a natural reach of 10 feet or more.
Provoking an Attack of Opportunity: Two kinds of actions can provoke attacks of opportunity: moving out of a threatened square and performing an action within a threatened square.
Moving: Moving out of a threatened square usually provokes an attack of opportunity from the threatening opponent. There are two common methods of avoiding such an attack—the 5-foot-step and the withdraw action (see below).
Performing a Distracting Act: Some actions, when performed in a threatened square, provoke attacks of opportunity as you divert your attention from the battle. Table: Actions in Combat notes many of the actions that provoke attacks of opportunity.
Remember that even actions that normally provoke attacks of opportunity may have exceptions to this rule.
Making an Attack of Opportunity: An attack of opportunity is a single melee attack, and you can only make one per round. You don’t have to make an attack of opportunity if you don’t want to.
An experienced character gets additional regular melee attacks (by using the full attack action), but at a lower attack bonus. You make your attack of opportunity, however, at your normal attack bonus—even if you’ve already attacked in the round.
An attack of opportunity “interrupts” the normal flow of actions in the round. If an attack of opportunity is provoked, immediately resolve the attack of opportunity, then continue with the next character’s turn (or complete the current turn, if the attack of opportunity was provoked in the midst of a character’s turn).
Combat Reflexes and Additional Attacks of Opportunity: 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.
mvincent
01-31-06, 04:40 PM Can anyone help explain Attacks on OpportunityNote: it's "Attacks of Opportunity"
Zherog
01-31-06, 05:14 PM If you are not currently wielding a lethal melee weapon and able to make attacks with it, you do not threaten.

I disagree, Nom. A sap threatens just fine, for example.
jaelis
01-31-06, 05:44 PM And an unarmed strike can deal lethal damage if you take a -4 penalty. It still doesn't threaten though.

Better might be
"If you are not currently wielding a melee weapon and able to make attacks with it, you do not threaten. (Note that you also cannot threaten with a few special melee weapons, like whips and unarmed strikes.) You do not threaten while flat-footed.
Zherog
01-31-06, 06:07 PM And an unarmed strike can deal lethal damage if you take a -4 penalty. It still doesn't threaten though.

Unless you have Improved Unarmed Strike. ;)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
TXCBoy36 01-31-06, 03:53 AM	Can anyone help explain Attacks on Opportunity...please. I am presently playing a 3.5e game and everyone in the game seems to be unclear on what allows an AoO. I could use some advice on this rule. For example: Lets say that you have a room full of Goblins and you approach them and enter the square next to the Goblin. Does that allow an AoO since you entered a threatened square, or does it only apply if you are in a threatened square and then leave that square???? I am unclear on how it all works....any suggestions or explanations of this ruling would be really appreciated!!!! Thanxs!!
SamiPeikko 01-31-06, 04:25 AM	Entering square does not give AoO, leaving it does. This is why reach is good: if attacking opponent does not have reach and defender does, the defender gets AoO if attacker charges or moves reclesly in. This happens because defender with reach threatens squares beyond the adjacent ones, and attacker is leaving one of those squares to move next to the defender. AoO happens before the attacker can leave the square, so it does not matter if defender can't attack adjacent squares (using normal reach weapons). There are several ways for the attacker to avoid that AoO: 1) stopping in the first threatened square, and moving next round using 5' step. 5' step never provokes AoO. Remember that you can not take 5' step if prone or if your moving speed is 5' or less. 2) Using Spring attack feat denies AoO from the target of your attack. 3) Having cover between you and the defender at the point where you leave the threatened square. Sometimes another character may provide that cover. 4) Make Tumble check (DC 15 against single opponent), trained only. 5) Use reach weapon yourself so you don't have to move next to the enemy. (6) If you want to just leave, use Disengage fullround action. This means that the first square you are leaving does not count as threatened.) Look up from the combat rules table of actions. This lists what actions typically provoke AoO:s if performed inside opponents threat range. Remember that each combatant only has one AoO per round unless he has Combat Reflexes Feat. It is viable tactic to move heavily armored character (with Mobility feat) first and provoke all AoO:s the enemies want to make, and then move easier targets past safely. Also remember that spellcasters can cast spells defensively (requires Concentration chech to avoid losing the spell, but does not provoke AoO). This is actually good default, when casters are high enough level to always make their check even with roll of one. AoO is sigle attack with highest attack bonus. My own question: if character getting AoO is using Two Weapon Fighting, does AoO suffer TWF penalties?
Nom 01-31-06, 05:33 AM	AoOs from movement: Only leaving a threatened square provokes an AoO, and not always then. The 5 ft. step, Spring Attack, Withdraw (which Sami mistakenly called Disengage) and Tumble all provide some ability to avoid normal movement-based AoOs. Similarly, cover and total concealment prevent AoOs. AoOs in general: Threatening - you threaten the squares into which you can make a normal melee attack (with your currently equipped melee weapon). You are assumed to be semi-actively or actively engaging any opponents in those squares, regardless of whether you actually made an attack roll against them. If you are not currently wielding a lethal melee weapon and able to make attacks with it, you do not threaten. You do not threaten while flat-footed. Certain activities cause an opponent to "drop their guard", potentially allowing a threatening character a free attack. This free attack is called an "attack of opportunity", and dropping your guard is called "provoking an AoO". Only characters that currently threaten the square in which you provoke an AoO may make an AoO. Any given character can make only one AoO per round (exception: Combat Reflexes), which most people measure from the start of the actor's turn to the start of the actor's next turn. You can't make an AoO if the provoking character has cover or total concealment relative to you. Most common ways to provoke an AoO: - leaving a threatened square by normal movement - casting a spell in a threatened square - futzing with inventory (including drinking potions) in a threatened square - initiating certain special attack moves, such as bull rush, disarm or grapple In some cases, such as grapple or disarm, the AoO is only provoked against the target and not against third parties. Even if you leave multiple threatened squares, any given opponent can only make one "leaving threatened square" AoO per round, even with Combat Reflexes. (above text is reworking of PH pg 137)
Tyler Do'Urden 01-31-06, 05:52 AM	Yeah, or you could, you know, read the combat chapter. Or the SRD. Or this:ATTACKS OF OPPORTUNITY Sometimes a combatant in a melee lets her guard down. In this case, combatants near her can take advantage of her lapse in defense to attack her for free. These free attacks are called attacks of opportunity. Threatened Squares: You threaten all squares into which you can make a melee attack, even when it is not your action. Generally, that means everything in all squares adjacent to your space (including diagonally). An enemy that takes certain actions while in a threatened square provokes an attack of opportunity from you. If you’re unarmed, you don’t normally threaten any squares and thus can’t make attacks of opportunity. Reach Weapons: Most creatures of Medium or smaller size have a reach of only 5 feet. This means that they can make melee attacks only against creatures up to 5 feet (1 square) away. However, Small and Medium creatures wielding reach weapons threaten more squares than a typical creature. In addition, most creatures larger than Medium have a natural reach of 10 feet or more. Provoking an Attack of Opportunity: Two kinds of actions can provoke attacks of opportunity: moving out of a threatened square and performing an action within a threatened square. Moving: Moving out of a threatened square usually provokes an attack of opportunity from the threatening opponent. There are two common methods of avoiding such an attack—the 5-foot-step and the withdraw action (see below). Performing a Distracting Act: Some actions, when performed in a threatened square, provoke attacks of opportunity as you divert your attention from the battle. Table: Actions in Combat notes many of the actions that provoke attacks of opportunity. Remember that even actions that normally provoke attacks of opportunity may have exceptions to this rule. Making an Attack of Opportunity: An attack of opportunity is a single melee attack, and you can only make one per round. You don’t have to make an attack of opportunity if you don’t want to. An experienced character gets additional regular melee attacks (by using the full attack action), but at a lower attack bonus. You make your attack of opportunity, however, at your normal attack bonus—even if you’ve already attacked in the round. An attack of opportunity “interrupts” the normal flow of actions in the round. If an attack of opportunity is provoked, immediately resolve the attack of opportunity, then continue with the next character’s turn (or complete the current turn, if the attack of opportunity was provoked in the midst of a character’s turn). Combat Reflexes and Additional Attacks of Opportunity: 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.
mvincent 01-31-06, 04:40 PM	Can anyone help explain Attacks on OpportunityNote: it's "Attacks of Opportunity"
Zherog 01-31-06, 05:14 PM	If you are not currently wielding a lethal melee weapon and able to make attacks with it, you do not threaten. I disagree, Nom. A sap threatens just fine, for example.
jaelis 01-31-06, 05:44 PM	And an unarmed strike can deal lethal damage if you take a -4 penalty. It still doesn't threaten though. Better might be "If you are not currently wielding a melee weapon and able to make attacks with it, you do not threaten. (Note that you also cannot threaten with a few special melee weapons, like whips and unarmed strikes.) You do not threaten while flat-footed.
Zherog 01-31-06, 06:07 PM	And an unarmed strike can deal lethal damage if you take a -4 penalty. It still doesn't threaten though. Unless you have Improved Unarmed Strike. ;)