BBEG Grappling A Door [Archive] - Wizards Community

BBEG Grappling A Door [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Spencemeister
01-25-05, 03:05 AM So I'm the rogue in our party of four. We came up against this sentient undead fallen warrior who kicked our butts. So we ran away. Unfortunately, we got stuck trying to keep this door shut with opposing strength checks against the BBEG.

So Gedrin, the psionic, suggests that the next time he pulls the door halfway open, that I should grab his sword that he has sheathed while he's pulling on the door. Instead, I locked the door with my masterwork thieves' tools and busted them off so the ugly black skeleton can't unlock it anymore.

Here's my question: Had I grabbed at the guy's sword, would it have provoked an attack of opportunity, or would I have been safe because he's holding onto the door?

Thanks in advance,

Spencemeister
ClementWillowbreaker
01-25-05, 09:47 AM Well, if you were able to reach his square through the gap of the door, you would have at least cover, if not improved. Both of which prevent him from taking an AoO against you.

Second, you would have to determine if the undead warrior threatened any squares. Pushing on a door sounds like it would occupy its hands, so if it had Improved Unarmed Strike, was weilding armor spikes, or any natural weapons not on its arms, he would threaten around, hypothetically.

But then again, shoving against a door with all your might would also seem like the kind of situation where you would be flat-footed, which also prevents AoOs unless the undead dude also had Combat Reflexes.

So, like any spot ruling on a questionable situation, the key for the DM is to find mitigating factors that do exist, that rule out the question, so he doens't actually have to address it :)
Purkake
01-25-05, 11:14 AM But grabbing a item other than weapon/shield has some hefty panalties and requires a disarm check, so it wouldn't have been such a good idea anyway.
Spencemeister
01-25-05, 07:12 PM Hmmm. I don't think that a disarm check applies if the opponent is busy trying to pull open a door and his sword is sheathed. Would it?

We're trying to pull it shut and he's trying to pull it open. If he's pulling with all his might, it doesn't seem to me that we would need to disarm him.

I still think it was a bad idea though, because the sword might have been cursed and all sorts of evil stuff. This was one really bad guy.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Spencemeister 01-25-05, 03:05 AM	So I'm the rogue in our party of four. We came up against this sentient undead fallen warrior who kicked our butts. So we ran away. Unfortunately, we got stuck trying to keep this door shut with opposing strength checks against the BBEG. So Gedrin, the psionic, suggests that the next time he pulls the door halfway open, that I should grab his sword that he has sheathed while he's pulling on the door. Instead, I locked the door with my masterwork thieves' tools and busted them off so the ugly black skeleton can't unlock it anymore. Here's my question: Had I grabbed at the guy's sword, would it have provoked an attack of opportunity, or would I have been safe because he's holding onto the door? Thanks in advance, Spencemeister
ClementWillowbreaker 01-25-05, 09:47 AM	Well, if you were able to reach his square through the gap of the door, you would have at least cover, if not improved. Both of which prevent him from taking an AoO against you. Second, you would have to determine if the undead warrior threatened any squares. Pushing on a door sounds like it would occupy its hands, so if it had Improved Unarmed Strike, was weilding armor spikes, or any natural weapons not on its arms, he would threaten around, hypothetically. But then again, shoving against a door with all your might would also seem like the kind of situation where you would be flat-footed, which also prevents AoOs unless the undead dude also had Combat Reflexes. So, like any spot ruling on a questionable situation, the key for the DM is to find mitigating factors that do exist, that rule out the question, so he doens't actually have to address it :)
Purkake 01-25-05, 11:14 AM	But grabbing a item other than weapon/shield has some hefty panalties and requires a disarm check, so it wouldn't have been such a good idea anyway.
Spencemeister 01-25-05, 07:12 PM	Hmmm. I don't think that a disarm check applies if the opponent is busy trying to pull open a door and his sword is sheathed. Would it? We're trying to pull it shut and he's trying to pull it open. If he's pulling with all his might, it doesn't seem to me that we would need to disarm him. I still think it was a bad idea though, because the sword might have been cursed and all sorts of evil stuff. This was one really bad guy.