D&D 5E Dragging a fallen comrade to 'safety' isn't safe

[seebs]

Then I wouldn't count 'em as a unit unless they were both unfriendly.

What? I'm the DM. I don't have to run things exactly the same way in every situation.

That sounds like a really good way to make a game frustrating and unfun for the players. I'd rather just have a reasonably consistent rule that makes sense, and I don't think being dragged around provokes more attacks than just lying there unconscious.

 

[jayoungr]

That sounds like a really good way to make a game frustrating and unfun for the players. I'd rather just have a reasonably consistent rule that makes sense, and I don't think being dragged around provokes more attacks than just lying there unconscious.

Well, I don't see why an enemy bent on killing you should stop attacking just because you're unconscious and being dragged away, and I think my players would find that more frustrating and unfun than a little inconsistency. Fortunately, the game is big enough to accommodate both playstyles.

 

[Leatherhead]

Well, I don't see why an enemy bent on killing you should stop attacking just because you're unconscious and being dragged away, and I think my players would find that more frustrating and unfun than a little inconsistency. Fortunately, the game is big enough to accommodate both playstyles.

Do you understand the difference between an OA and the Attack Action? Serious question, because it seems like half the people in this thread are talking methodology and the other half are talking about rules interactions.

 

[Dausuul]

Even if the drag-ee is the attacker's mortal enemy, and the dragger is just the drag-ee's bodyguard attempting to protect him/her? Nope, it still doesn't make sense to me. The attacker should go for the mortal enemy, trying to finish him/her off.

So, if there is no dragger and the mortal enemy is just lying there, does the attacker get an opportunity attack out of turn?

 

[Plaguescarred]

The dragged creature shouldn't provoke an opportunity attack because she's not moving using her movement, action or reaction.


Opportunity Attack: You also don’t provoke an opportunity attack when you teleport or when someone or something moves you without using your movement, action, or reaction.

 

[jayoungr]

Do you understand the difference between an OA and the Attack Action? Serious question, because it seems like half the people in this thread are talking methodology and the other half are talking about rules interactions.

So, if there is no dragger and the mortal enemy is just lying there, does the attacker get an opportunity attack out of turn?

Yes, I understand the difference, and no I wouldn't grant a free attack if there were no dragger. But when the person dragging and the person being dragged are in the same square, and the attacker has the chance to make an extra attack, then I don't see any in-story reason why the unconscious person is somehow magically shielded while the dragger in the same square isn't.

 

[seebs]

Well, I don't see why an enemy bent on killing you should stop attacking just because you're unconscious and being dragged away, and I think my players would find that more frustrating and unfun than a little inconsistency. Fortunately, the game is big enough to accommodate both playstyles.

The question is why you start attacking the moment someone's dragged away, when you wouldn't if they were just lying there.

 

[Dausuul]

*double post*

 

[Dausuul]

Yes, I understand the difference, and no I wouldn't grant a free attack if there were no dragger. But when the person dragging and the person being dragged are in the same square, and the attacker has the chance to make an extra attack, then I don't see any in-story reason why the unconscious person is somehow magically shielded while the dragger in the same square isn't.

You're allowing them a magic shield until the dragger picks them up. Why can't they just keep that one?

 

[Plaguescarred]

A DM can always houserule that the dragged creature also provoke an opportunity attack if he prefer.