Allowing Autohits from Another PC

[Kestrel]

If you are targeted by another PC's power, can you allow them to hit you automatically?

Specific example: Bolts of Bedevilment, Turathi Highborn Paragon power, allows you to target a creature and force them to make a basic attack at a +2 attack with +2d6 fire damage.

Since the target is listed as One Creature, could I target an ally with this power and he allow it to autohit?

 

[Larrin]

No, you still have to actually 'hit' them. It seems reasonable they could hit give you combat advantage (by closing their eyes to blind themselves or similar), but anything after that is house ruling.

Reason you still have to hit: in the middle of a battle, you're still going to have to take aim, focus your magic, and 'hit' the right part of the targets brain to make him do the attack. If you're using a bow and arrow, you don't automatically hit a target jut because it wants you to, same goes for magic.

Even with houserules i'd advise against making it an autohit. The minimum house-ruled voluntary defense should be 10, just to convey the idea that any attack has requires some measurement of aim and focus. i would draw the line alot higher than that.

 

[KarinsDad]

I don't think this is allowed because it would violate the Miss on a Roll of a One rule. There is always a 5% chance of a failure, hence, a 100% chance of success would violate that.

Also, you can target an ally with that power.

 

[Kestrel]

That makes sense...thanks!

 

[Turtlejay]

This was brought up not to long ago. It might only be a page or two back. I think as long as it is not getting abused, there is no real reason to permit targeting an ally, but it should not autohit. You should allow the ally to give the attack combat advantage, but as a jerk DM I would make that CA apply to all attacks for a round. You could even make yourself helpless if you wanted, but same schtick there.

Jay

 

[Nichwee]

I agree with no autohitting.
But I'd work out the person's defence as normal - twice stat mod. Basically you have a set of base equipment and training that applies throughout, but you are using your stats to get in the way, rather than the opposite. This means your defence will be (stuff - statmod), instead of (stuff + statmod).

I would allow them to grant CA, or even helpless, on top but these would be in effect for everyone until their next go. The statmod would be a 'that shot only' effect I'd allow to cover that they are trying to get hit so use their abilities to move into the way/accept what is happening rather than dodging/resisting.

 

[DracoSuave]

"I am going to set you on fire so I can teleport 20 feet instead of walking.'

'You can go screw yourself.'

'But we're friends!'

'Yeah. Exactly. Friends don't set friends on fire. Shoot the enemy with that fire instead. Jeez. That's what fire is -for-.'


Why are you wasting your damage on your allies when those powers can be used to damage your enemies?

 

[Kestrel]

Well, this particular power does not damage the target, it forces them to attack someone you choose with a basic attack at a bonus to hit and damage.

I can see using it on an ally when you can't reach the enemy and the enemy has no adjacent targets to attack.

 

[DracoSuave]

Well, this particular power does not damage the target, it forces them to attack someone you choose with a basic attack at a bonus to hit and damage.

I can see using it on an ally when you can't reach the enemy and the enemy has no adjacent targets to attack.

'Hey Paladin of Pelor.' 'Yo.' 'I'm going to use powers stolen from the Nine Hells, mindrape your body, set it on fire, and control you like a marionnette for a couple seconds just so you'll attack that guy over there.' 'WHAT!?!'


Yeah, I can see many reasons why a player wodldn't automaticly allow a partymember to attack them, even on an attack that doesn't deal damage. If they want to grant Combat Advantage to their ally's attempt to skinride them or attack them (because RAW they don't) then they should provide a damn good narrative reason other than 'I can't reach the enemy boohoo'.

I mean, yeah, the Warlock can just say 'For the lulz' and that's good enough, but the target better have a better reason than 'Cause I want to hit the enemy.'

Now, if they roleplayed practicing this maneuver out previously outside of combat, I might even say 'Circumstance Bonus'd!' if they showed me their characters not only thought it was a good idea but decided to train it as a tactic.

But without that justification, the default of 'I'm going to attack you with nasty evil power' is 'Screw that!'