Attack of Opportunity [Archive] - Wizards Community

Attack of Opportunity [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Thokk_teh_Newb
10-30-06, 12:46 AM I should really know these things....can someone please explain, in full, attacks of opportunity created by spellcasting? i had a debate about this with one of my players earlier tonight. healing spells friendly targets.....one big mash of confusion...thnx much ^_^
Dragonsblood
10-30-06, 01:16 AM Have you read page 137 in the PHB? What don't you understand from that? Writing EVERYTHING about AOO is a lot to ask for. Telling us exactly what the problem is would help.
Thokk_teh_Newb
10-30-06, 01:48 AM i have read the PHB i was debating with a player whether or not a spell, cast on a friendly target, while 20ft away from enemies, provokes an attack of opportunity.
Shaggy_Shaggs
10-30-06, 02:06 AM i have read the PHB i was debating with a player whether or not a spell, cast on a friendly target, while 20ft away from enemies, provokes an attack of opportunity.Not unless one or more of those enemies has at least 20' melee reach. You don't provoke attacks of opportunity from enemies that aren't in range to hit you with a melee attack immediately without moving. I suppose, theoretically, any allies adjacent to the caster could make attacks of opportunity on him, but I don't know why they'd want to.
Thokk_teh_Newb
10-30-06, 02:23 AM thank you! one of my players wanted to make attack of opportunity from 20 ft away with a greatsword and he has that feat thingy that allows 2 attacks of opportunity - TOO BROKEN
MortalPlague
10-30-06, 02:36 AM thank you! one of my players wanted to make attack of opportunity from 20 ft away with a greatsword and he has that feat thingy that allows 2 attacks of opportunity - TOO BROKEN

Combat reflexes? I don't consider that broken at all. It's powerful when it comes up, but it doesn't come up too often.

Attacks of opportunity at 20 feet seem a little broken, mind you. :P
Heahengel
10-30-06, 02:40 AM I guess he has combat reflexes? That just allows him to make two AOOs/round (if he has 14-15 dex). He can still only use one for each provoking action. Also, you can only provoke an AOO when you are in someone's threat range (usually 5 feet) when performing a provoking action (casting a spell without casting defensively), or when you move out of their threat range (there may be another way or two, but I can't think of them). Also, even if someone provokes an attack from you, you don';t have to take it (so if a cleric heals a party member, the healee doesn't have to take an AOO against the cleric :) ). So yeah, no AOO in that situation.
Kaligrad
10-30-06, 03:42 AM A character with a ranged weapon can ready a standard action to fire at someone casting a spell. Read about ready actions at the end of the combat section under "Initiative actions."
Dragonsblood
10-30-06, 04:39 AM A character with a ranged weapon can ready a standard action to fire at someone casting a spell. Read about ready actions at the end of the combat section under "Initiative actions."

Right, but that's not an AOO.

i have read the PHB i was debating with a player whether or not a spell, cast on a friendly target, while 20ft away from enemies, provokes an attack of opportunity.

You really should reread those sections in the PHB...that's a pretty basic question that should've been easy to find on yourown.
Nom
10-30-06, 05:51 AM Key concept: Threatening. You threaten someone if you could make a lethal melee attack on them with your currently wielded weapon. If you have to change weapons or move then you don't threaten. If you're flat-footed or otherwise unable to act (stunned, dazed, unconscious) then you don't threaten. In addition, to be eligible for an AoO your target must not have cover or total concealment relative to you.

If all those conditions are satisfied, then you might get an AoO if the target lets his guard down. This simulates the fact that you are assumed to be at least partially engaging all targets in range, not just twiddling your thumbs waiting for your turn to come up. Normally, you'll only get a couple of good attempts, but if your opponent decides to stop actively fighting you might find an unexpected opening. That opening is an AoO.

Casting spells is one thing that causes you to stop actively fighting. If you are within melee range (and visible and have no cover) of an active opponent at the point at which you begin casting the spell then casting a spell provokes an AoO from that opponent. Some spells take more than just your action to cast or require you to keep concentrating; these don't provoke additional AoOs after you've started, but you're severely limited in what actions you can take.

One important caveat is "touch" range spells. When casting a touch spell, your standard action is divided into two parts, casting and touching. Casting provokes an AoO as normal. Touching does not. It's explicitly legal (see PH pg 140-142) to insert a regular move between the cast and the touch, allowing you to cast out of range and then move into range to touch.

If your touch misses or you choose not to touch, then you "hold the charge". You can keep trying to touch a target until you succeed, cast a different spell or use your hands for something else. You can attempt to touch as an attack and count as armed, allowing you to attempt to touch someone as an AoO or using multiple attacks.
MarkB
10-30-06, 07:00 AM <Nevermind>

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Thokk_teh_Newb 10-30-06, 12:46 AM	I should really know these things....can someone please explain, in full, attacks of opportunity created by spellcasting? i had a debate about this with one of my players earlier tonight. healing spells friendly targets.....one big mash of confusion...thnx much ^_^
Dragonsblood 10-30-06, 01:16 AM	Have you read page 137 in the PHB? What don't you understand from that? Writing EVERYTHING about AOO is a lot to ask for. Telling us exactly what the problem is would help.
Thokk_teh_Newb 10-30-06, 01:48 AM	i have read the PHB i was debating with a player whether or not a spell, cast on a friendly target, while 20ft away from enemies, provokes an attack of opportunity.
Shaggy_Shaggs 10-30-06, 02:06 AM	i have read the PHB i was debating with a player whether or not a spell, cast on a friendly target, while 20ft away from enemies, provokes an attack of opportunity.Not unless one or more of those enemies has at least 20' melee reach. You don't provoke attacks of opportunity from enemies that aren't in range to hit you with a melee attack immediately without moving. I suppose, theoretically, any allies adjacent to the caster could make attacks of opportunity on him, but I don't know why they'd want to.
Thokk_teh_Newb 10-30-06, 02:23 AM	thank you! one of my players wanted to make attack of opportunity from 20 ft away with a greatsword and he has that feat thingy that allows 2 attacks of opportunity - TOO BROKEN
MortalPlague 10-30-06, 02:36 AM	thank you! one of my players wanted to make attack of opportunity from 20 ft away with a greatsword and he has that feat thingy that allows 2 attacks of opportunity - TOO BROKEN Combat reflexes? I don't consider that broken at all. It's powerful when it comes up, but it doesn't come up too often. Attacks of opportunity at 20 feet seem a little broken, mind you. :P
Heahengel 10-30-06, 02:40 AM	I guess he has combat reflexes? That just allows him to make two AOOs/round (if he has 14-15 dex). He can still only use one for each provoking action. Also, you can only provoke an AOO when you are in someone's threat range (usually 5 feet) when performing a provoking action (casting a spell without casting defensively), or when you move out of their threat range (there may be another way or two, but I can't think of them). Also, even if someone provokes an attack from you, you don';t have to take it (so if a cleric heals a party member, the healee doesn't have to take an AOO against the cleric :) ). So yeah, no AOO in that situation.
Kaligrad 10-30-06, 03:42 AM	A character with a ranged weapon can ready a standard action to fire at someone casting a spell. Read about ready actions at the end of the combat section under "Initiative actions."
Dragonsblood 10-30-06, 04:39 AM	A character with a ranged weapon can ready a standard action to fire at someone casting a spell. Read about ready actions at the end of the combat section under "Initiative actions." Right, but that's not an AOO. i have read the PHB i was debating with a player whether or not a spell, cast on a friendly target, while 20ft away from enemies, provokes an attack of opportunity. You really should reread those sections in the PHB...that's a pretty basic question that should've been easy to find on yourown.
Nom 10-30-06, 05:51 AM	Key concept: Threatening. You threaten someone if you could make a lethal melee attack on them with your currently wielded weapon. If you have to change weapons or move then you don't threaten. If you're flat-footed or otherwise unable to act (stunned, dazed, unconscious) then you don't threaten. In addition, to be eligible for an AoO your target must not have cover or total concealment relative to you. If all those conditions are satisfied, then you might get an AoO if the target lets his guard down. This simulates the fact that you are assumed to be at least partially engaging all targets in range, not just twiddling your thumbs waiting for your turn to come up. Normally, you'll only get a couple of good attempts, but if your opponent decides to stop actively fighting you might find an unexpected opening. That opening is an AoO. Casting spells is one thing that causes you to stop actively fighting. If you are within melee range (and visible and have no cover) of an active opponent at the point at which you begin casting the spell then casting a spell provokes an AoO from that opponent. Some spells take more than just your action to cast or require you to keep concentrating; these don't provoke additional AoOs after you've started, but you're severely limited in what actions you can take. One important caveat is "touch" range spells. When casting a touch spell, your standard action is divided into two parts, casting and touching. Casting provokes an AoO as normal. Touching does not. It's explicitly legal (see PH pg 140-142) to insert a regular move between the cast and the touch, allowing you to cast out of range and then move into range to touch. If your touch misses or you choose not to touch, then you "hold the charge". You can keep trying to touch a target until you succeed, cast a different spell or use your hands for something else. You can attempt to touch as an attack and count as armed, allowing you to attempt to touch someone as an AoO or using multiple attacks.
MarkB 10-30-06, 07:00 AM	<Nevermind>