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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Jackinthegreen" data-source="post: 6294914" data-attributes="member: 6678119">The combat modifiers section of the PHB and SRD has information on <a href="http://www.d20srd.org/srd/combat/combatModifiers.htm#helplessDefenders" target="_blank">helpless defenders</a>.  In the PHB it starts on page 153.  Helpless defenders are specifically at the attacker's mercy in some way such as being unconscious, paralyzed, sleeping, etc.  Of note is the defender not only doesn't get its Dex bonus to AC, it's actually treated as having a Dex of 0 and thus gets -5 on AC since its Dex mod is -5.That being said, a creature provoking an AoO is very different from a helpless one as well as a flat-footed one or one denied its normal Dex bonus to AC.  One that provokes an AoO is only letting its guard down enough to let something else get a quick attack in.  It's definitely not at the attacker's mercy any more than an untrained thug throwing a punch is (and the rules do say that a regular unarmed strike without Improved Unarmed Strike provokes an AoO).  A tumbling character can avoid provoking an AoO because it's moving in such a way that getting a quick hit in won't work, assuming the check is made.Along those lines, that section about helpless defenders includes the rules for Coup de Grace.  A CDG is an automatic hit and automatic critical hit (it literally says "You automatically hit and score a critical hit.") because the attacker has plenty of time to "line up the shot" so to speak.</blockquote>

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