Cover, attacks of opportunity, & big creatures: [Archive] - Wizards Community

Cover, attacks of opportunity, & big creatures: [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
mr.unknown
07-05-05, 03:42 AM page 151 of the PHB 3.5 states that you can't make an AoO against a foe with cover relative to you.

now let's look at the following situation:

you're a small or medium creature, you're standing behind a wall that comes up to your waist (giving your half cover). on the other side of that wall at a distance of 5 ft. away, there's a very big & very tall enemy (let's say... a titan). technically, since there's something in between you & the creature, you have cover relative to that creature correct? so does that mean you're free to move about behind that very low wall without risking AoOs?

now in real life physics, i would imagine that titan could easily reach over that very low wall & still smash you with ease if given the opportunity. & since he's looking directly down at you, from where he's standing, that cover doesn't really provide much, for he'll most likely make an attack that'll come from above you, that wall in front of you won't provide much cover against a blow originating from a position above you.

so my question is, are there some exceptions to this rule if there were huge size differences between creatures (if so, can someone give me a book reference), or is this just a loophole in the game?
Polaris
07-05-05, 04:48 AM mr.unknown,

Actually the solution is simple. In the situation you are describing, you don't have cover. One of the advantage of larger (and higher) size is that you get to use your most favorable square when determining if a target has cover or not.

Now consider the map and add the third dimension. Given we are talking about 5' squares, the human takes up just about one cube. However that Huge Giant standing on the other side of the wall takes up 27 cubes (3 squares by 3 squares by 3 squares for a huge creature). Those cubes on the second and third row up aren't blocked by the wall.

Ergo, the human has no cover.

-Polaris
Nom
07-05-05, 08:42 AM Let's clarify. By 5 ft. away do you mean "adjacent" or "5 ft. between" (which is 10 ft. away)?

In either case, I disagree with Polaris. By PH pg 151, you have cover and can use the low wall for protection. It will impede (if only a little) the larger creature's ability to attack you.

You could reasonably house-rule otherwise, but you should make sure that the DM and all players agree to this before the situation arises.
mr.unknown
07-05-05, 08:42 PM what i mean is 5 ft adjacent, not 5 ft in between. the medium/small creature is in a square that is right next to the titan. & lets say that the wall in question is exactly on the line which separates the two squares.
Colmarr
07-06-05, 03:54 AM Nom is correct per the RAW, but I would houserule the way Polaris suggests.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
mr.unknown 07-05-05, 03:42 AM	page 151 of the PHB 3.5 states that you can't make an AoO against a foe with cover relative to you. now let's look at the following situation: you're a small or medium creature, you're standing behind a wall that comes up to your waist (giving your half cover). on the other side of that wall at a distance of 5 ft. away, there's a very big & very tall enemy (let's say... a titan). technically, since there's something in between you & the creature, you have cover relative to that creature correct? so does that mean you're free to move about behind that very low wall without risking AoOs? now in real life physics, i would imagine that titan could easily reach over that very low wall & still smash you with ease if given the opportunity. & since he's looking directly down at you, from where he's standing, that cover doesn't really provide much, for he'll most likely make an attack that'll come from above you, that wall in front of you won't provide much cover against a blow originating from a position above you. so my question is, are there some exceptions to this rule if there were huge size differences between creatures (if so, can someone give me a book reference), or is this just a loophole in the game?
Polaris 07-05-05, 04:48 AM	mr.unknown, Actually the solution is simple. In the situation you are describing, you don't have cover. One of the advantage of larger (and higher) size is that you get to use your most favorable square when determining if a target has cover or not. Now consider the map and add the third dimension. Given we are talking about 5' squares, the human takes up just about one cube. However that Huge Giant standing on the other side of the wall takes up 27 cubes (3 squares by 3 squares by 3 squares for a huge creature). Those cubes on the second and third row up aren't blocked by the wall. Ergo, the human has no cover. -Polaris
Nom 07-05-05, 08:42 AM	Let's clarify. By 5 ft. away do you mean "adjacent" or "5 ft. between" (which is 10 ft. away)? In either case, I disagree with Polaris. By PH pg 151, you have cover and can use the low wall for protection. It will impede (if only a little) the larger creature's ability to attack you. You could reasonably house-rule otherwise, but you should make sure that the DM and all players agree to this before the situation arises.
mr.unknown 07-05-05, 08:42 PM	what i mean is 5 ft adjacent, not 5 ft in between. the medium/small creature is in a square that is right next to the titan. & lets say that the wall in question is exactly on the line which separates the two squares.
Colmarr 07-06-05, 03:54 AM	Nom is correct per the RAW, but I would houserule the way Polaris suggests.