Post/Author/DateTime	Post
jimmyjames 08-18-06, 01:13 PM	A player used this tactic to avoid an AoO and i wanted to get some feedback from the boards community .... player x is prone at the feet of an opponent.. normally "getting up" would provoke an AoO.. right? instead, the player has his character roll 5 feet away on the ground (one square directly away from his opponent) so that he is no longer in a "threatened" square, and then he gets to his feet. No AoO. player argued that a tumble roll was not needed since he wasnt trying to "move through" a threatened area, and that the rules allow for 5 foot of movement without prokoing an AoO. Clever? or did i miss something adjuicating this?
Salla 08-18-06, 01:18 PM	Crawling 5' is a full-round action that provokes an Attack of Opportunity, so he would still eat the AoO, so that doesn't work. He may not be moving 'through' a threatened area, but he is leaving a threatened square, which provokes. You could attempt an accelerated Tumble (DC 25) to crawl 5' without provoking an AoO (an 'action roll', if you will), however. This precise idea is addressed in the rules FAQ. :)
cwslyclgh 08-18-06, 01:50 PM	crawling 5 feet and a five foot step are not the same thing... he would take the AoO for leaving the threatened sqaure at the very least.
cwslyclgh 08-18-06, 01:51 PM	Crawling 5' is a full-round action that provokes an Attack of Opportunitycan you site a source for this please?
Peacimowen 08-18-06, 02:19 PM	PHB page 142 says clearly that crawling provokes AoOs from any attackers that threaten you during your crawl. (Which would also seem to imply that crawling INTO a threatend square would provoke as much as leaving one)
cwslyclgh 08-18-06, 02:31 PM	I have no doubt that crawling provokes, just like any other movement (I might extend it to provoking when entering a threatened sqaure as well, although the wording is somewhat ambigious, and that might be too strict), I was actualy looking for some sort of citing about crawling 5 feet being a full round action, since the same place as your quote states that it is a move action.
Peacimowen 08-18-06, 03:21 PM	I think that it was simply a mistake. It doesn't seem to be listed anywhere as a full-round action, only a move action. So as I see the rules (and the FAQ), the only way to avoid provoking an AoO when moving out of a threatened square while prone is to tumble. Personally I'd set a penalty for tumbling from a prone position, which would seem harder than doing so from a standing position. No actual rule mentions this, however, so it's up to the DM.
Rhuxley 08-18-06, 03:22 PM	from the SRD (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/combat/actionsInCombat.htm) Crawling You can crawl 5 feet as a move action. Crawling incurs attacks of opportunity from any attackers who threaten you at any point of your crawl. -- it should have been handled like this: (from the SRD - http://d20srd.org/srd/skills/tumble.htm) DC:15 Tumble at one-half speed as part of normal movement, provoking no attacks of opportunity while doing so.
Nom 08-18-06, 07:27 PM	Strictly by the rules, tumble won't protect you from crawl, since the crawl AoO is not merely for leaving a threatened square but for crawling itself (Running is similar). Allowing a 5 ft. tumbling crawl as a full round action (DC 15+) or move action (DC 25+) isn't a bad rule, though.
Damionte 08-18-06, 11:12 PM	It's not a full round action. It's a move action and you can only move 5'. Crawling does provoke when exiting and entering a square. To quote the original text. CRAWLING: You can crawl 5' as a move action. Crawling incures attacks ofopportunity from any attacker who threatens you at any point of your crawl. PHB Page 142 under Move Actions
rusc75 08-19-06, 03:49 AM	So crawling provokes two attacks of opportunity: one for crawling and one for leaving a threatened square? It seems that it can be read that way but I dont think it's the intention.
Peacimowen 08-19-06, 08:20 AM	So crawling provokes two attacks of opportunity: one for crawling and one for leaving a threatened square? It seems that it can be read that way but I dont think it's the intention. I suppose it could, but I don't think you can provoke two AoOs at once from the same source. Anyway, crawling does provoke AoOs both from the square you leave and the square you enter, providing those squares are threatened.
Damionte 08-20-06, 01:44 AM	No it doesn't provoke twice. You don't provoke for simply crawling unless you move. You'll provoke for moving into or out of a threatended square. Since the same action can not provoke twice even if your opponent had natural reach of 10 feet, and you crawled out of his 5 foot threat range and into his 10 foot threat range you'd only provoke once. Now if there were two people there. One whou could reach oyu in the first 5 foot sqaure and one that could reach you in the second you'll provoke from both. Which normally you would not do if you were not crawling.
Soel Griffin 08-20-06, 08:05 AM	A player used this tactic to avoid an AoO and i wanted to get some feedback from the boards community .... player x is prone at the feet of an opponent.. normally "getting up" would provoke an AoO.. right? instead, the player has his character roll 5 feet away on the ground (one square directly away from his opponent) so that he is no longer in a "threatened" square, and then he gets to his feet. No AoO. player argued that a tumble roll was not needed since he wasnt trying to "move through" a threatened area, and that the rules allow for 5 foot of movement without prokoing an AoO. Clever? or did i miss something adjuicating this? Rolling and crawling are two different things. I don't see an issue with what the player has done, balance-wise. If it seems like too much of a "giveaway" for you, then go with what Salla suggested, and allow a Tumble DC 25 to avoid an AoO..
KmartKommando 08-20-06, 10:51 PM	One thing they need in the rules is the Tumble and/or Concentration DC for getting to your feet as a move action, a standard action, and a fullround action. Everytime I get tripped, all that gets pointed out is 'make a DC 35 Tumble check and you can stand up as a free action and not provoke an AoO.' And I always say, 'I can't make that, so I want to tumble to my feet as a move action, what's the DC for that?' And all I get is either deer-in-a-headlight stares, or 'you can't do that' :mad: Is standing up a movement? Or is it a distracting act? If it is movement, then Tumble DC 15 (as 2 move actions), DC 25 (+10 for full speed instead of half speed, 1 move action), DC 35 as a free action, as already written. If it is a distracting act, then DC 10 to DC 15 Concentration check to stand up as a move action without provoking an AoO. Violent Motion is about right, so I'd say DC 15. SRD under Concentration: In general, if an action wouldn’t normally provoke an attack of opportunity, you need not make a Concentration check to avoid being distracted. If the Concentration check succeeds, you may continue with the action as normal. If the check fails, the action automatically fails and is wasted.
Keenath 08-20-06, 11:13 PM	Rolling and crawling are two different things. Crawling is a mechanical action. Rolling is flavor text used with the 'crawl' mechanic. You still take AOOs for "rolling", because rolling is "moving five feet while prone", which is the definition of crawling. Crawling does indeed provoke two attacks of opportunity -- one for crawling in and of itself, and another for leaving a threatened square. However, as per the AOO rules, enemies are only entitled to one AOO per enemy per action, regardless of how many times that action provokes AOOs. If you had some magical ability that allowed you to never draw AOOs for moving out of a threatened square, the crawling would still cause you to take AOOs -- and you still take an AOO from the person whose threatened area you enter, unlike normal movement. I'd happily let a player avoid the AOO for crawling with a DC 25 tumble check.
Alric 08-21-06, 02:21 AM	Besides all of that, I thought you couldn't take a 5 foot step and a move action in the same turn. Standing up is a move action, so you can't stand up and take a 5 foot step in the same turn anyway.
Nom 08-21-06, 03:00 AM	No. You can't take a 5 ft. step and "move any distance" in the same turn. Standing up is a move action, but doesn't require you to move. Theoretically, you could take a regular move and never leave your space and still take a 5 ft. step, though it's hard to see the benefit in doing so.
Despana 08-21-06, 09:36 AM	One thing they need in the rules is the Tumble and/or Concentration DC for getting to your feet as a move action, a standard action, and a fullround action. Everytime I get tripped, all that gets pointed out is 'make a DC 35 Tumble check and you can stand up as a free action and not provoke an AoO.' And I always say, 'I can't make that, so I want to tumble to my feet as a move action, what's the DC for that?' And all I get is either deer-in-a-headlight stares, or 'you can't do that' :mad: They are both right and wrong. They are right in that you can't stand up as a move action and avoid the AoO using tumble. They are wrong in the fact that you can do it as a free action. The text in Complete Adventurer says you can stand as a free action with a DC 35 tumble check and still provoke an AoO.
KmartKommando 08-27-06, 12:47 PM	If it's not movement that causes the AoO when standing up, then it's a distracting action, which means a concentration check will let you stand up while avoiding the AoO. One way or the other, it's a legal use of a skill. This does however, make casters more likely to not be distracted, as they are trained for it.
Raven Dark 08-27-06, 01:20 PM	So, crawling out of a threatened square will move you 5 feet as a move action and provokes twice (if the attacker has Combat Reflexes). Is there anything that would prevent a prone person from tumbling away (as per the skill)? That would probably be the best option if it is allowed.
Damionte 08-28-06, 12:29 AM	It does not provoke twice. You provoke for crawling rather you move into or out of a threatened square. You don't provoke against the same person twice for crawling out of thier threatened sqaure.
Raven Dark 08-28-06, 01:45 AM	It does not provoke twice. You provoke for crawling rather you move into or out of a threatened square. You don't provoke against the same person twice for crawling out of thier threatened sqaure. Why not? If the posts above quoted the rules text accurately, than crawling as an action in itself provokes, and leaving the enemies threatened square provokes again. The rule in the PH that says movement only provokes once was meant to keep people from getting two, three, or more attacks of opportunity when an enemy left two, three, or more threatened sqaures with a single move action. :rolleyes: Crawling in itself, still provokes. Let's make a debate of it. It'll be fun. :P Crawling: You can crawl 5 feet as a move action. Crawling incurs attacks of opportunity from any attackers who threaten you at any point of your crawl. 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. The rules seem pretty clear cut to me. Crawling provokes since it is a distracting action, and then again if you leave a threatened square. Let's hope your enemy doesn't have Combat Reflexes.
Jerks 08-28-06, 03:02 AM	Why not? If the posts above quoted the rules text accurately, than crawling as an action in itself provokes, and leaving the enemies threatened square provokes again. The rule in the PH that says movement only provokes once was meant to keep people from getting two, three, or more attacks of opportunity when an enemy left two, three, or more threatened sqaures with a single move action. :rolleyes: Crawling in itself, still provokes. Let's make a debate of it. It'll be fun. :P The rules seem pretty clear cut to me. Crawling provokes since it is a distracting action, and then again if you leave a threatened square. Let's hope your enemy doesn't have Combat Reflexes. Remember that a character CAN leave a threatened square and not provoke an attack of opportunity if they choose the withdrawal option. So even if you take the rather harsh view that a crawling opponent draws two attack of op (which I don't agree with) then such a character could crawl 5-ft away (drawing 1 attack of op) and then continue to withdraw to avoid the "movement" based attack of op. As always, reach weapons complicate this somewhat. As to the core of the subject, I don't believe crawling invokes two attacks of opportunity. I will admit that it COULD be read that way, but my interpretation is that the crawling provokes as a type of movement.
Raven Dark 08-28-06, 03:22 AM	As to the core of the subject, I don't believe crawling invokes two attacks of opportunity. You are right. It doesn't provoke two AoOs. It only provokes one. Its leaving the threatened square that gets the 2nd one. I don't know if you can take a withdraw action while crawling. But if the rules allow for that, then you can most definitely avoid the movement related AoO in most situations.
Raven Dark 08-28-06, 04:48 AM	As to the core of the subject, I don't believe crawling invokes two attacks of opportunity. You are right. It doesn't provoke two AoOs. It only provokes one. Its leaving the threatened square that gets the 2nd one. I don't know if you can take a withdraw action while crawling. But if the rules allow for that, then you can most definitely avoid the movement related AoO in most situations.
Nom 08-28-06, 08:51 AM	"You can't withdraw using a form of movement for which you do not have a listed speed" (PH pg 143). So no crawl-withdraw unless you have a listed crawl speed. The "one attempt" rule is "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" (PH pg 138). So I wouldn't allow the opponent to get two AoOs when you leave the square, but I think it would be technically legitimate to get one from moving out of the square and one for crawling into the next.
KmartKommando 08-28-06, 10:35 PM	All About Movement, Part 2: http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/rg/20040618a Stand Up from Prone: Use this action to get up when you're lying on the ground. This does not count as movement, but you're pretty darn close to defenseless when regaining your feet, so standing up provokes attacks of opportunity. Getting to your feet when seated on the ground is just as difficult as getting up from a prone position and also requires a move action that provokes attacks of opportunity. If you're kneeling on the ground, getting up takes some time, but it doesn't make you vulnerable, so you use a move action that doesn't provoke attacks of opportunity. Getting up from a chair is a free action that doesn't provoke attacks of opportunity if the chair is fairly high; otherwise it's just like getting up from a prone position. Concentration checks FTW!
Jerks 08-29-06, 04:34 AM	All About Movement, Part 2: http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/rg/20040618a Stand Up from Prone: Use this action to get up when you're lying on the ground. This does not count as movement, but you're pretty darn close to defenseless when regaining your feet, so standing up provokes attacks of opportunity. Getting to your feet when seated on the ground is just as difficult as getting up from a prone position and also requires a move action that provokes attacks of opportunity. If you're kneeling on the ground, getting up takes some time, but it doesn't make you vulnerable, so you use a move action that doesn't provoke attacks of opportunity. Getting up from a chair is a free action that doesn't provoke attacks of opportunity if the chair is fairly high; otherwise it's just like getting up from a prone position. Concentration checks FTW! Concentration won't help you avoid these attacks of op. You can use Concentration to cast a spell, use a spell-like ability, or use a skill defensively, so as to avoid attacks of opportunity altogether. This doesn’t apply to other actions that might provoke attacks of opportunity. Neither normal movement, standing from prone or crawling meet this qualification and therefore Concentration checks are of no use.
Damionte 08-29-06, 03:02 PM	I do not believe they meant for crawling to provoke in and of itself. I believe that the mention of "provoke from any attackers who threaten you at any point of your crawl" is simply there to mean you take attacks rather you enter or exit a square. (It's a rule in dire need of clarification either by way or errata or FAQ.) I believe that if they meant for crawling to provoke in and of itself you would take an attack of opportunity simply for being prone. Which you do not. Gaining two attacks of opportunity for someone crawling out of a threatened square feels as if it's against the flavor of the poorly written and poorly discribed rule. In this case it should be the movement that provokes. Crawling shoul dprovoke rather you're oging into or exiting a threatened square. You should not provoke though simply for crawling. Only for moving while crawling.
Damionte 08-29-06, 03:13 PM	I double checked the FAQ. It's not much help but they do say that. "there's no reason why a prone tumbler could not artfully roll away from a foe."
Jerks 08-29-06, 04:45 PM	I say we consult the magic 8-ball on this one. Reply hazy, try again later Damnit!!
Damionte 08-29-06, 11:56 PM	If the baby dragon is dead. How did it get back to it's lair?
Jerks 08-30-06, 01:32 AM	Good point. That particular quote came from a game I ran a while back in which the players defeated a destructive immature dragon from despoiling a druid's grove. Flush with success, the party mage suggested that they backtrack the trail to the lair to loot whatever spoils the dragon had there. The cleric quickly pointed out the folly of this as the parents of said dragon would probably be unappreciative of the death of their young charge. It was a bold plan, but one wrought with difficult challenges ahead.
KmartKommando 09-01-06, 12:35 AM	Concentration won't help you avoid these attacks of op. Neither normal movement, standing from prone or crawling meet this qualification and therefore Concentration checks are of no use. Really? "I jump to my feet" *jump check* *concentration check* no AoO. hop up, DC10(ish).
Jerks 09-01-06, 04:00 AM	Really? "I jump to my feet" *jump check* *concentration check* no AoO. hop up, DC10(ish). Except of course, that that isn't covered by the rules. You can use Concentration to avoid attacks of opportunity that are incurred from the use of a skill. A Jump skill check is a non-action. It is part of a move action. Jump checks do not incur attacks of opportunity. It is possible that your movement during a Jump does, but the check itself does not. Therefore, since the use of the Jump skill does not incur AoOp, Concentration is of no use. In contrast, Disable Device requires an action, usually full-round, that does incur attack of opportunity. Therefore, you can use Concentration to protect yourself from attack of op while using this skill. Finally, there is no listed DC to "jump to your feet." and that is a completely inappropriate use of the skill. Any character can "jump" to their feet after being knocked down. It requires only a move action to do so, and AoOp are incurred. Even Tumble cannot avoid the AoOp. You can stand as a free action (DC 35, IIRC) but you still incur AoOp. It is possible through feats to stand without provoking, but not with skills alone [unless something exists in Epic, I know nothing of those rules].
kalmarjan 09-02-06, 03:45 AM	A player used this tactic to avoid an AoO and i wanted to get some feedback from the boards community .... player x is prone at the feet of an opponent.. normally "getting up" would provoke an AoO.. right? instead, the player has his character roll 5 feet away on the ground (one square directly away from his opponent) so that he is no longer in a "threatened" square, and then he gets to his feet. No AoO. player argued that a tumble roll was not needed since he wasnt trying to "move through" a threatened area, and that the rules allow for 5 foot of movement without prokoing an AoO. Clever? or did i miss something adjuicating this? Wishful thinking. Here is my attempt at why: Take 5-Foot Step You can move 5 feet in any round when you don’t perform any other kind of movement. Taking this 5-foot step never provokes an attack of opportunity. You can’t take more than one 5-foot step in a round, and you can’t take a 5-foot step in the same round when you move any distance. You can take a 5-foot step before, during, or after your other actions in the round. You can only take a 5-foot step if your movement isn’t hampered by difficult terrain or darkness. Any creature with a speed of 5 feet or less can’t take a 5-foot step, since moving even 5 feet requires a move action for such a slow creature. You may not take a 5-foot step using a form of movement for which you do not have a listed speed. This is about how a movement of 5 feet could take one round: Minimum Movement Despite penalties to movement, you can take a full-round action to move 5 feet (1 square) in any direction, even diagonally. (This rule doesn’t allow you to move through impassable terrain or to move when all movement is prohibited.) Such movement provokes attacks of opportunity as normal (despite the distance covered, this move isn’t a 5-foot step). From Rules of the Game All About Movement Part 1: Movement While Prone When you're lying on the ground, you can move; however, you must crawl to do so. You crawl 5 feet as a move action that provokes an attack of opportunity. Standing Up from prone from Rules of the Game All About Movement Part 2: Stand Up from Prone: Use this action to get up when you're lying on the ground. This does not count as movement, but you're pretty darn close to defenseless when regaining your feet, so standing up provokes attacks of opportunity. Getting to your feet when seated on the ground is just as difficult as getting up from a prone position and also requires a move action that provokes attacks of opportunity. If you're kneeling on the ground, getting up takes some time, but it doesn't make you vulnerable, so you use a move action that doesn't provoke attacks of opportunity. Getting up from a chair is a free action that doesn't provoke attacks of opportunity if the chair is fairly high; otherwise it's just like getting up from a prone position. Tumbling from Rules of the Game All About Movement Part 3: Tumbling While Crawling: Though the rules don't say so, there's no reason you can't can tumble 5 feet as a move action when prone. The check DC is 20. Finally, prone condition with Rules of the Game All About Movement Part 7: Prone: When you're prone, you're lying on the ground. As noted in Part One, you can crawl 5 feet while prone as a move action, or you can use a move action to stand up (either of these provokes an attack of opportunity from foes that threaten you). You also can tumble 5 feet without provoking an attack of opportunity (see Part One). What does all this mean? Your friend has put themselves in a stupid position. Sure, dropping to prone is a free action, but now they have their AC worse by 4. Then, they can only crawl 5 feet as a full round action, or spend a tumble skill to "roll" out of the way. (And yes, that would be a tumble skill). This would be a move action. Otherwise, they provoke an AoO, and they are getting hit more. Is this a clever way to avoid an AoO? Hardly. It is merely a misinterpretation of the rules. Sandeman
KmartKommando 09-02-06, 11:08 AM	Except of course, that that isn't covered by the rules. You can use Concentration to avoid attacks of opportunity that are incurred from the use of a skill. A Jump skill check is a non-action. It is part of a move action. Jump checks do not incur attacks of opportunity. It is possible that your movement during a Jump does, but the check itself does not. Therefore, since the use of the Jump skill does not incur AoOp, Concentration is of no use. In contrast, Disable Device requires an action, usually full-round, that does incur attack of opportunity. Therefore, you can use Concentration to protect yourself from attack of op while using this skill. Finally, there is no listed DC to "jump to your feet." and that is a completely inappropriate use of the skill. Any character can "jump" to their feet after being knocked down. It requires only a move action to do so, and AoOp are incurred. Even Tumble cannot avoid the AoOp. You can stand as a free action (DC 35, IIRC) but you still incur AoOp. It is possible through feats to stand without provoking, but not with skills alone [unless something exists in Epic, I know nothing of those rules]. As someone who actually can kip up, it is quite similar to a hop up jump check. It is also similar to a tumble check, much like hop up has both a jump DC and a tumble DC, 5 points higher. The rules quite clearly state that using a skill that provokes an AoO can be avoided with a concentration check. Just because it sometimes doesn't provoke, doesn't mean you can't use the distracting act clause in the concentration skill options. Getting to your feet doesn't count as movement, so it must be a distracting action. How you get to your feet matters, because if you just stand up, you provoke, if you tumble up, you provoke, but you can negate the AoO, if you jump up, you provoke, but can negate the AoO. Lots of things don't have DCs listed. The SRD isn't this magical all-inclusive list of things you can do, and anything else is off limits, it's a set of guidelines. You're cutting out one of the broad uses of concentration.
Jerks 09-02-06, 12:35 PM	I don't mean to say that you can't game beyond the SRD, but what you are proposing is in direct contrast to how skills, movement and attacks of opportunity are outlined in rules. The Jump skill check never provokes attacks of opportunity. Movement during the course of a jump might, but the SKILL CHECK is not distracting and does not provoke. I don't think I'm reducing the utility of Concentration in anyway by pointing that out. I've done a kip up or two in my day as well. I hate to bring real-world examples into a game discussion but I'm about 99% sure that trying to perform a kip up while threatened is very hazardous to your health.
Damionte 09-02-06, 01:56 PM	Agreed with Jerks. The skills in question don't provoke AoOp with thier use. The movements you're doing while doing the checks provoke. The skills in question won't let you avoid the AoOp for these actions. Personally I would houserule tumble to avoid the attack of opportunity for standing though. It's a DC 35 to stand as a free action while still taking the AoOp. (Complete Adventurer Pg:103) I say use the same DC to avoid the AoOp while still taking a move action to stand up.
Merestil Haye 09-02-06, 07:36 PM	The rules quite clearly state that using a skill that provokes an AoO can be avoided with a concentration check.They say no such thing. The SRD on Concentration, first paragraph.You must make a Concentration check whenever you might potentially be distracted (by taking damage, by harsh weather, and so on) while engaged in some action that requires your full attention. Such actions include casting a spell, concentrating on an active spell, directing a spell, using a spell-like ability, or using a skill that would provoke an attack of opportunity. In general, if an action wouldn’t normally provoke an attack of opportunity, you need not make a Concentration check to avoid being distracted.Please note, in particular, that last sentence. Standing up from prone is what provokes an attack of opportunity, not a Jump skill check, not a Tumble skill check - the change of orientation with respect to the floor. Since it is not a skill use that causes the AoO, you may not try to make a Concentration skill check to avoid the AoO. As for a Jump check; you may not jump when prone. Full stop. The Jump skill is to clear obstacles or reach high ledges. I'm simply not going to let you jump because you don't start with your legs under you. And please don't start with "But the rules don't say that..." When the designers wrote the rulebooks, they assumed a certain amount of common sense among players (Skip W says so in one of his Rules of the GAme articles, but I can't recall which one right now.) The rules don't have to say such things.
Nom 09-02-06, 10:50 PM	Merestil forgot the more important point. The Concentration check prevents you from being distracted. It doesn't negate the AoO. Defensive casting negates the AoO (unconditionally), but you need to pass a Conc. check to keep from distracting yourself. "In general, if an action wouldn’t normally provoke an attack of opportunity, you need not make a Concentration check to avoid being distracted." Note that this does not say "If an action normally provokes an AoO, you can make a Concentration check to avoid it". It simply says that if the skill or activity wouldn't provoke an AoO then it is normally not subject to Concentration checks. Example: Drawing a sword doesn't provoke an AoO, therefore if you are damaged or distracted while drawing your sword you complete the action anyway (no Conc. check). Casting a spell provokes an AoO, so if you are damaged or distracted while casting the spell you might need to make a Concentration check to avoid it. Defensive casting is obviously a special case, where you explicitly trade the AoO for the need to make a Conc. check.
KmartKommando 09-03-06, 05:40 PM	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. Performing a Distracting Act: Some actions, when performed in a threatened square, provoke attacks of opportunity as you divert your attention from the battle. You must make a Concentration check whenever you might potentially be distracted All out of the SRD. You must make a Concentration check whenever you might potentially be distracted (by taking damage, by harsh weather, and so on) while engaged in some action that requires your full attention. Such actions include casting a spell, concentrating on an active spell, directing a spell, using a spell-like ability, or using a skill that would provoke an attack of opportunity. Notice it doesn't say "Such actions include but are not limited to casting..blah blah blah" It is not an exhaustive, all-inclusive list.
Nom 09-03-06, 08:19 PM	It is not an exhaustive, all-inclusive list.Nobody said it was. The point is that Concentration lets you complete an action that might potentially be disrupted due to taking damage or other inclement conditions. It seems fairly obvious to me that the "defensive action" rules in Concentration apply only to things for which you already need to make concentration checks. Not provoking an AoO becomes a self-imposed distracting condition that forces you to make a Concentration check to complete the activity. In contrast, you never need to make a Concentration check to stand up. The AoO from standing up is not provoked because you need to concentrate on standing up, but because it inherently makes it hard for you to defend yourself (just as when you're reloading a crossbow). If you're injured while standing up, you still stand up (unless the injury actually incapacitates you). Since you aren't Concentrating, you can't be distracted, and you can't choose to voluntarily distract yourself to protect yourself from the AoO.