Aura attacks and marks (divine challenge)

[gnfnrf]

When a marked monster makes an aura attack against a creature (not the one which marked it) in its aura at the beginning of that creatures turn, but the marking creature is in the aura, does the marks penalty come into play? Do any riders on the mark, such as Divine Challenge, trigger?

Argument for: The aura is the range of the power, and the aura includes the marking person, so the attack includes the marker.

Argument against: The attack is against only the acting creature, so the attack does not include the marker.

Which makes more sense?

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gnfnrf

 

[Infiniti2000]

This question was asked a little while ago, so if you have search capabilities you might find it. The first key point to realize though is that some auras are not really "attacks," but simply deal damage (no attack roll and no damage roll). But, let's say the Aura actually requires an attack roll. To answer your final question, the argument against makes more sense because it avoids the silliness of everyone in the party desiring to take some measly damage to kill the monster with the paladin's divine challenge. Whenever PCs start looking to fall on a sword as a tactically sound maneuver, there's something seriously wrong.

That's the answer that makes sense. By RAW, it would also be correct, but only if the person who marked the monster were also subject to the attack (as an aura, I'd treat it as a single attack). Unfortunately, some auras activate on the enemy's turn, which might make it more like multiple attacks.

 

[FireLance]

To answer your final question, the argument against makes more sense because it avoids the silliness of everyone in the party desiring to take some measly damage to kill the monster with the paladin's divine challenge. Whenever PCs start looking to fall on a sword as a tactically sound maneuver, there's something seriously wrong.

Is it any different from moving past an opponent to provoke AOs? In any case, an opponent only takes damage from divine challenge once per round, so the party doesn't get any extra benefit if two or more characters are attacked by the aura.

 

[Infiniti2000]

In any case, an opponent only takes damage from divine challenge once per round, so the party doesn't get any extra benefit if two or more characters are attacked by the aura.

Good point. Maybe I'm thinking of the case of, say, a Kruthik that deals auto damage, but only 2 points. Divine Challenge should be a lot more so the trade off is worth it, tactically speaking. It still doesn't make "sense" from a personal perspective, though, unless you're masochistic. We're talking about knives, teeth, and claws here, not simply numbers.

 

[Black Knight Irios]

Good point. Maybe I'm thinking of the case of, say, a Kruthik that deals auto damage, but only 2 points. Divine Challenge should be a lot more so the trade off is worth it, tactically speaking. It still doesn't make "sense" from a personal perspective, though, unless you're masochistic. We're talking about knives, teeth, and claws here, not simply numbers.

The Kruthik's aura does not target therefore it will never trigger DC.