Post/Author/DateTime	Post
DMStue 10-19-06, 08:01 AM	We have a knight in our game and he has Bulwark of Defense. The threatened squares around him count as difficult terrain for opponents starting their turn in these squares. I have a couple of questions :- What if a character wants to leave the square, as it counts as moving 2 squares, will that count as moving through a threatened area and provoke Aoo? If the knight is enlarged and therefore has reach, what will the effect on Aoo be? TIA DMStue
DMStue 10-20-06, 02:21 AM	Anyone got any clues?
Kaligrad 10-20-06, 02:29 AM	All difficult terrain costs is movement. He doesn't have to leave the area twice, after all. Since attacks aren't individual strikes (technically), the knigit shouldn't get extra opportunities just because his opponent is moving slow. If the knight has reach, he'd only get one AoO on a retreating foe anyway, and certainly not 4. After an opponent has had and AoO on him for moving in any one creature's threatened space, that opponent can move freely for the rest of the same move action.
Cifer 10-20-06, 08:56 AM	What if a character wants to leave the square, as it counts as moving 2 squares, will that count as moving through a threatened area and provoke Aoo? That's the point. It's impossible to bypass the knight by five-feeting or withdrawing and tumbling is at least difficult, especially when the knight wears a polearm/armorspikes combo. Anyway, any action can only draw one AoO.
Kradlo 10-20-06, 10:32 AM	The primary purpose of the Bulwark of Defense ability is to negate the 5-foot step. A 5-foot step does not provoke an attack of opportunity. You can't take a 5-foot step in difficult terrain; you have to use normal movement, which will provoke an AoO. If your Knight is Large, and thus has a 10' reach with a normal weapon, he threatens all squares within 10 feet of him (2 squares). Anyone leaving a threatened square will provoke an AoO, that action will only provoke one AoO, no matter how many squares he leaves in that move.
lears_fool 10-20-06, 11:31 AM	The primary purpose of the Bulwark of Defense ability is to negate the 5-foot step. A 5-foot step does not provoke an attack of opportunity. You can't take a 5-foot step in difficult terrain; you have to use normal movement, which will provoke an AoO. If your Knight is Large, and thus has a 10' reach with a normal weapon, he threatens all squares within 10 feet of him (2 squares). Anyone leaving a threatened square will provoke an AoO, that action will only provoke one AoO, no matter how many squares he leaves in that move. What he said :) One important note as well. . the knight's threatened area is treated like difficult terrain, which means that the knight's not the only one who gains a benefit. If someone moves when threatened by a knight and a knight's ally, they BOTH Get AOOs. Knights work well with other reach fighters and summoners and are good at protecting 'squishies' because of this.
ashcat_lt 10-20-06, 12:07 PM	First, I thought you only paid extra movement cost when moving into a difficult square. You could still take a 5' step out. It would seem to limit movement around the knight more than away from him. Second, I don't have the book. Does it actually say "threatened area" or does it say adjacent? Adjacent doesn't change with reach, but it would with size.
lears_fool 10-20-06, 12:24 PM	First, I thought you only paid extra movement cost when moving into a difficult square. You could still take a 5' step out. It would seem to limit movement around the knight more than away from him. From the SRD. . 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. so basically, the ability eliminates the idea of taking a 5' step at ALL in the area in question. Which means you must use a move action to move at all (threatening AOOs) Second, I don't have the book. Does it actually say "threatened area" or does it say adjacent? Adjacent doesn't change with reach, but it would with size. The knight's ability states 'threatened area', which would vary based on reach and armament
Cifer 10-20-06, 02:47 PM	If your Knight is Large, and thus has a 10' reach with a normal weapon, he threatens all squares within 10 feet of him (2 squares). Anyone leaving a threatened square will provoke an AoO, that action will only provoke one AoO, no matter how many squares he leaves in that move. And a large knight with a reach weapon and armor spikes (alternatively a spiked chain) is basically a huge road block, especially since he can five-foot backwards and get a new AoO every single turn...