D&D 5E Clarification - Opportunity attacks

[skotothalamos]

There was in the playtest, it got changed a little.

The feat is now called Sentinel, and the important part is this.
Creatures within 5 feet of you provoke opportunity attacks from you even if they take the Disengage action before leaving your reach.

Something else to note since we are talking OA's and reach, reach weapons only increase your reach when you attack with them, so on your turn, not on your opponents turns. So enemies provoke when they leave an adjacent square and move away from you even if you have a polearm.

really? That makes Polearm Master's "make an oppo when an enemy enters your reach" ability less useful. I was assuming it gave you an attack when they came within 10 feet. (which would combo with Sentinel for wacky hijinks!)

 

[Paraxis]

really? That makes Polearm Master's "make an oppo when an enemy enters your reach" ability less useful. I was assuming it gave you an attack when they came within 10 feet. (which would combo with Sentinel for wacky hijinks!)

At Least that is how I read the reach entry under weapon properties.


Reach. This weapon adds 5 feet to your reach when you attack with it.

To me if they wanted to make that increase your reach all the time it would just say, "this weapon increases your reach by 5 feet." but the way they have it with "when you attack with it." that implies you have to be actively attacking with it to have the increased reach.

Attacking is attacking, wielding is wielding, just adding is just adding, they choose to use the word "attacking".

 

[Astrosicebear]

Thank you for the clarifications. They are 3.5 and PFRPG buffs and were digging the system but I sensed them looking for a deeper complexity. I think it all came about when they fought an Ogre and realized it didnt have a 10ft reach.

 

[Dragongrief]

Reach. This weapon adds 5 feet to your reach when you attack with it.

To me if they wanted to make that increase your reach all the time it would just say, "this weapon increases your reach by 5 feet." but the way they have it with "when you attack with it." that implies you have to be actively attacking with it to have the increased reach.

I think they put "when you attack with it" to avoid someone going "Cool, I have 10 foot reach! Deathtouch." If they don't add the line, then, by strict reading, you have 10 foot reach with everything.

Also, an Opportunity Attack is an attack. Otherwise they could have said "when you take the Attack action with it."

 

[Astrosicebear]

At Least that is how I read the reach entry under weapon properties.


Reach. This weapon adds 5 feet to your reach when you attack with it.

To me if they wanted to make that increase your reach all the time it would just say, "this weapon increases your reach by 5 feet." but the way they have it with "when you attack with it." that implies you have to be actively attacking with it to have the increased reach.

Attacking is attacking, wielding is wielding, just adding is just adding, they choose to use the word "attacking".

If that's the case, then wouldn't the wording on Polearm Master mean either 1) you'd need to ready attack actions all the time to use it, or 2) you'd always make the OA with disadvantage (attacking adjacent foes with a reach weapon)?

 

[Mouseferatu]

I think they put "when you attack with it" to avoid someone going "Cool, I have 10 foot reach! Deathtouch." If they don't add the line, then, by strict reading, you have 10 foot reach with everything.

Also, an Opportunity Attack is an attack. Otherwise they could have said "when you take the Attack action with it."

This. They've been pretty good about calling out "attack action" as oppose to just "attack" when that's what they mean. And indeed, if they had said "When you wield" or just not said anything, it could be read--ridiculous as it is by any "normal person" reading--to mean you can attack with reach in other ways than with the weapon itself.

 

[skotothalamos]

If that's the case, then wouldn't the wording on Polearm Master mean either 1) you'd need to ready attack actions all the time to use it, or 2) you'd always make the OA with disadvantage (attacking adjacent foes with a reach weapon)?

2 is only for Lances. Other reach weapons work fine at 5 feet. Presumably, you just choke up on the handle.

 

[Paraxis]

If that's the case, then wouldn't the wording on Polearm Master mean either 1) you'd need to ready attack actions all the time to use it, or 2) you'd always make the OA with disadvantage (attacking adjacent foes with a reach weapon)?

The polearm master feat says "when they enter your reach" so basicly when they become adjacent to you, no ready action required.

There is no rule that says you have disadvantage for attacking adjacent foes with reach weapons.

 

[variant]

At Least that is how I read the reach entry under weapon properties.


Reach. This weapon adds 5 feet to your reach when you attack with it.

To me if they wanted to make that increase your reach all the time it would just say, "this weapon increases your reach by 5 feet." but the way they have it with "when you attack with it." that implies you have to be actively attacking with it to have the increased reach.

Attacking is attacking, wielding is wielding, just adding is just adding, they choose to use the word "attacking".

An attack is an attack. Whether it's an opportunity attack, bonus attack, or a normal attack. If it meant only with a normal attack, it would say, "with an attack action". Mike Mearls also tweeted and agreed that your reach with opportunity attacks is also increased.

 

[Lalato]

So does this mean that an enemy creature would need to leave the entire 10 foot radius area in order for the AoO to trigger? Or do we treat reach like a ring and if a creature enters the ring, they're OK, but if they attempt to close in to be adjacent to you... they are then exiting the reach area and you get an AoO?