5-foot Step and Terrain?

[Ogrork the Mighty]

I'm unclear on this. If there is hindering terrain (i.e. broken terrain that doubles the cost of movement), can a 5-foot step still be taken?

If moving 1 square in broken terrain costs 10 feet of movement, is it still considered a 5-foot step for purposes of only moving 1 square (and thus not provoking AoO)?

The rules seem hazy on this. I realize the terrain costs twice as much, but is it still considered a 5-foot step since the distance moved is only 5 feet?

I think not, but some of my players disagree. What if you're in quicksand that costs x4 movement; is it still only a 5-foot step for purposes of AoO since that is the only distance being moved (although it costs 20 feet to move it)?

 

[Ottergame]

I'm unclear on this. If there is hindering terrain (i.e. broken terrain that doubles the cost of movement), can a 5-foot step still be taken?

If moving 1 square in broken terrain costs 10 feet of movement, is it still considered a 5-foot step for purposes of only moving 1 square (and thus not provoking AoO)?

The rules seem hazy on this. I realize the terrain costs twice as much, but is it still considered a 5-foot step since the distance moved is only 5 feet?

I think not, but some of my players disagree. What if you're in quicksand that costs x4 movement; is it still only a 5-foot step for purposes of AoO since that is the only distance being moved (although it costs 20 feet to move it)?

No. You'd have to spend a move action to moveo ver the terrain.

 

[Parlan]

The rules seem hazy on this. I realize the terrain costs twice as much, but is it still considered a 5-foot step since the distance moved is only 5 feet?

I think not, but some of my players disagree. What if you're in quicksand that costs x4 movement; is it still only a 5-foot step for purposes of AoO since that is the only distance being moved (although it costs 20 feet to move it)?

You are correct, your players are not.

PHB p 144

"you can only take a 5-foot-step if your movement isn't hindered by difficult terrain (see page 148) or darkness."

Hmm didn't know about the darkness thing. There are some other limitations as well...

Perhaps your players are confusing this with the minimum movement rules on p. 149?