Clarification on 'Distracting Attack' and 'Aid Another' [Archive] - Wizards Community

Clarification on 'Distracting Attack' and 'Aid Another' [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Exhydra
04-21-08, 04:03 AM I was just wondering if the feat Distracting Attack could be used in conjunction with Aid Another (aiding attack). Does Aid Another in this fashion count as a melee attack and thus count towards activating the Distracting Attack feat (giving a total of +3 to the person being aided)?
MnemonicSV
04-21-08, 06:31 AM What is the source of this Distracting Attack feat? I'm not personally familiar with it, nor does it appear in the consolidated feats list. Is it 3rd party material? (At least I hope it's 3rd party for your sake, since posting it here would violate the board's code of conduct.)

The only "Distracting Attack" ability I'm familiar with is the Ranger's alternate ability of the same name (PHBII).

My apologies if this reply is not helpful, but I would just like to know where this material is coming from before voicing an opinion. :)
Exhydra
04-21-08, 06:41 AM What is the source of this Distracting Attack feat? I'm not personally familiar with it, nor does it appear in the consolidated feats list. Is it 3rd party material? (At least I hope it's 3rd party for your sake, since posting it here would violate the board's code of conduct.)

The only "Distracting Attack" ability I'm familiar with is the Ranger's alternate ability of the same name (PHBII).

My apologies if this reply is not helpful, but I would just like to know where this material is coming from before voicing an opinion. :)

"Distracting Attack" is on page 25 of the Miniatures Handbook. It seems to be one of those feats that have engaged some form of stealth and hides itself from people. When I mention the feat it always seems to be met with blank faces.
MnemonicSV
04-21-08, 07:18 AM I see. I am indeed one of those many "blank faces." Though, admittedly it would not be the first time that feats have been "hidden" in WOTC material (the Hidden Talent feat comes to mind, no pun intended).

The Miniatures Handbook is 3.0, IIRC. Assuming you're playing 3.5, there may be a slight warping in the crossover. 3.0 and 3.5 don't always mesh perfectly. It doesn't seem a real problem here though.

Anyway, on first glance I would say yes, they do stack. The aid another special attack is an "attack" action after all; Both the aid another attack action, and this feat grant untyped bonuses (which typically always stack). But rememeber, you would only grant that +3 total on the next attack your designated friend makes. Every other attack by your friend, as well as all attacks by all your other friends would only benefit from the +1.

Rules aside, conceivably it would work. Distracting Attack doesn't require you to necessarily hit your foe, just use an attack. The aid another special attack action sort of implies you are staying in melee with your foe (lunging and parrying perhaps) but just not hitting for damage. In the very least... it's not imbalanced.

I would say that this is a pretty weak feat choice though. You would get more "bang for your buck" by taking the Expert Tactician feat (CAd), even though it only kicks in on an attack of opportunity, and it's not a fighter bonus feat.
Exhydra
04-21-08, 07:53 AM The Miniatures Handbook is 3.0, IIRC. Assuming you're playing 3.5, there may be a slight warping in the crossover. 3.0 and 3.5 don't always mesh perfectly. It doesn't seem a real problem here though.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miniatures_Handbook

I had originally wondered the same thing, so I did some poking around. Assuming that Wikipedia is correct, the Miniatures Handbook is listed as a 3.5 supplemental. Although, it makes a very early appearance ... being published three months after the 3.5 source books became available.

Anyway, on first glance I would say yes, they do stack. The aid another special attack is an "attack" action after all; Both the aid another attack action, and this feat grant untyped bonuses (which typically always stack). But rememeber, you would only grant that +3 total on the next attack your designated friend makes. Every other attack by your friend, as well as all attacks by all your other friends would only benefit from the +1.

Rules aside, conceivably it would work. Distracting Attack doesn't require you to necessarily hit your foe, just use an attack. The aid another special attack action sort of implies you are staying in melee with your foe (lunging and parrying perhaps) but just not hitting for damage. In the very least... it's not imbalanced.

Yeah, that was kind of what I was thinking as well. I had brought it up at the table with my DM and with other players to get some input on it. But it really came down to the simple question of is Aid Another an attack. Eventually we came to an agreement that it was ... but I really wanted to bring the question to the forums to see what other people had to say about it.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Exhydra 04-21-08, 04:03 AM	I was just wondering if the feat Distracting Attack could be used in conjunction with Aid Another (aiding attack). Does Aid Another in this fashion count as a melee attack and thus count towards activating the Distracting Attack feat (giving a total of +3 to the person being aided)?
MnemonicSV 04-21-08, 06:31 AM	What is the source of this Distracting Attack feat? I'm not personally familiar with it, nor does it appear in the consolidated feats list. Is it 3rd party material? (At least I hope it's 3rd party for your sake, since posting it here would violate the board's code of conduct.) The only "Distracting Attack" ability I'm familiar with is the Ranger's alternate ability of the same name (PHBII). My apologies if this reply is not helpful, but I would just like to know where this material is coming from before voicing an opinion. :)
Exhydra 04-21-08, 06:41 AM	What is the source of this Distracting Attack feat? I'm not personally familiar with it, nor does it appear in the consolidated feats list. Is it 3rd party material? (At least I hope it's 3rd party for your sake, since posting it here would violate the board's code of conduct.) The only "Distracting Attack" ability I'm familiar with is the Ranger's alternate ability of the same name (PHBII). My apologies if this reply is not helpful, but I would just like to know where this material is coming from before voicing an opinion. :) "Distracting Attack" is on page 25 of the Miniatures Handbook. It seems to be one of those feats that have engaged some form of stealth and hides itself from people. When I mention the feat it always seems to be met with blank faces.
MnemonicSV 04-21-08, 07:18 AM	I see. I am indeed one of those many "blank faces." Though, admittedly it would not be the first time that feats have been "hidden" in WOTC material (the Hidden Talent feat comes to mind, no pun intended). The Miniatures Handbook is 3.0, IIRC. Assuming you're playing 3.5, there may be a slight warping in the crossover. 3.0 and 3.5 don't always mesh perfectly. It doesn't seem a real problem here though. Anyway, on first glance I would say yes, they do stack. The aid another special attack is an "attack" action after all; Both the aid another attack action, and this feat grant untyped bonuses (which typically always stack). But rememeber, you would only grant that +3 total on the next attack your designated friend makes. Every other attack by your friend, as well as all attacks by all your other friends would only benefit from the +1. Rules aside, conceivably it would work. Distracting Attack doesn't require you to necessarily hit your foe, just use an attack. The aid another special attack action sort of implies you are staying in melee with your foe (lunging and parrying perhaps) but just not hitting for damage. In the very least... it's not imbalanced. I would say that this is a pretty weak feat choice though. You would get more "bang for your buck" by taking the Expert Tactician feat (CAd), even though it only kicks in on an attack of opportunity, and it's not a fighter bonus feat.
Exhydra 04-21-08, 07:53 AM	The Miniatures Handbook is 3.0, IIRC. Assuming you're playing 3.5, there may be a slight warping in the crossover. 3.0 and 3.5 don't always mesh perfectly. It doesn't seem a real problem here though. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miniatures_Handbook I had originally wondered the same thing, so I did some poking around. Assuming that Wikipedia is correct, the Miniatures Handbook is listed as a 3.5 supplemental. Although, it makes a very early appearance ... being published three months after the 3.5 source books became available. Anyway, on first glance I would say yes, they do stack. The aid another special attack is an "attack" action after all; Both the aid another attack action, and this feat grant untyped bonuses (which typically always stack). But rememeber, you would only grant that +3 total on the next attack your designated friend makes. Every other attack by your friend, as well as all attacks by all your other friends would only benefit from the +1. Rules aside, conceivably it would work. Distracting Attack doesn't require you to necessarily hit your foe, just use an attack. The aid another special attack action sort of implies you are staying in melee with your foe (lunging and parrying perhaps) but just not hitting for damage. In the very least... it's not imbalanced. Yeah, that was kind of what I was thinking as well. I had brought it up at the table with my DM and with other players to get some input on it. But it really came down to the simple question of is Aid Another an attack. Eventually we came to an agreement that it was ... but I really wanted to bring the question to the forums to see what other people had to say about it.