D&D 3E/3.5 [3.5E] Help w/Trip, Power Attack and AoO's

[Mallus]

How do these three things work together? I just started playing an acrobatic warrior [FTR1/ROG1] who like to trip opponents at range w/his guisarme. I thinking I need to take Power Attack, but...

1) If I declare that I'm using Power Attack on my action, then I take the -2 to hit even if my first attack is a trip attempt, right? [The Power Attack is for the follow-through if my opponent goes down, obviously]

2) Since Power Attack adds to melee damage, I don't get any bonus on the opposed roll, right? [I just "eat" -2 for that attack]

3) Then if the Trip succeeds I get the Power Attack as normal.

4) What if opponents move through my threatened area before my action [I'll have Combat Reflexes next level]. I get AoO's on them, but do I get to declare the use of Power Attack at all [seeing as it isn't my action, its an interupt]?

5) How about if opponents provoke AoO's in a round where I have used PA? Would all the subsequent AoO's be Power Attacks?

6) Finally, lets say a group of grunts is dumb enough to close w/me, and I just wait for them to cross me threatened zone [I don't want to approach them and attack seeing as then they could 5-ft. step in and beat the AoO]. I can't declare a PA if IO don't actually make a melee attack, right? So if I wait to draw AoO's from a group of closing attackers, I can't PA at all?

 

[rlphay]

Power Attack is simple. You declare on your turn during your action how much that you are going to Power Attack. Then for ALL attacks made until your next turn you will suffer the minus on all of your attack rolls and apply that to damage. It does not matter if the attack is a Trip, normal melee attack, or an AoO. The power attack will last until just before yout next turn.

You also have to declare that you are taking the Power Attack on your turn during your action. So if you want to wait for a group of monsters to charge you, then just declare on your turn that you are going to use a Power attack and assign the modifier, this can not change until your next turn. Then just do a ready action to attack them when they charge in.You will then get one attack for the first one that is 10 feet away and the AoO when he engages you for running through your threaten zone.

 

[Tabarnak Smokeblower]

1) Not sure about Power-Attack-Trip combo, but IMO, if you want to cause more damage with your follow-through attack, you have to take the penalty with your Melee Touch attack. The penalty would not apply to the tripping check.

btw, your Fig1/Rog1 can't take a -2 Power Attack penalty, since his BAB is only +1...

2) Yes. The penalty applies only to your melee touch attack.

3) That would seem logical

4) When it's your turn to attack, you have to decide if you'll use Power Attack or not. If you do, then all your attacks until its your turn on the next round will be Power attacks. Not sure if it's possible to make AoO's while flat-footed, but if it were the case with you, you would make your AoO's at your regular BAB and damage.

5) Yes

6) Unless you declared that you were using Power Attack earlier in the round, no, you can't "switch on" Power Attack mode at will.

Hope this helps (and that I haven't said anything stupid)

TS

 

[rlphay]

Not sure if it's possible to make AoO's while flat-footed

If you have the feat Combat Reflexes then you can. This is the only way that I know of being able to take the AoO while Flat Footed.

 

[Mallus]

btw, your Fig1/Rog1 can't take a -2 Power Attack penalty, since his BAB is only +1...

Right, my bad [example].

 

[Mallus]

Then just do a ready action to attack them when they charge in.

That makes sense. Thanks as well.