Aid Another

[Artoomis]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Aid Another

Or it means it shouldn't happen at all?

By strict rules, correct.

But I like to let characters do stuff if they want to - this looks like something that should be permissible under narrow circumstances.

 

[bloodymage]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Aid Another

I know what's in the PHB, but it's terribly ambiguous and total crap, which is why I didn't bother using it.

I agree. I'd say the same of the SRD. I'd say the same of the whole Aid Another concept. You "aid another" by hitting his SOB opponent! If your push sets up another's attack then the SOB doesn't get his Dex and that's "aid" enough. I threw the rule out completely when I first saw it. The less things I need to keep track of as a DM, the better, and that rule seemed particularly superfulous. Just my 2 coppers and IMHO.

 

[kreynolds]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Aid Another

If your push sets up another's attack then the SOB doesn't get his Dex and that's "aid" enough.

Your "push"? Huh?

 

[bloodymage]

If someone starts to run or draw a potion, I definately think I can push his butt off-balance (bull rush) or slam him against a wall.

Just responding to elements in the thread. It's my players that come up with the descriptions of their actions. If one says "I'm going to push the potion imbiber against the wall," it's my job to adjudicate it. It would certainly be possible. My adjudication may include "bull rush" or "grapple" or some adaptation of them. The point is that that the "pusher" is "aiding" the fighter next to him by depriving the "pushee" of his Dex bonus and possibly inflicting damage. More generally, the point is that you usually "aid another" by attacking. The result of your action may cause your opponent to incur damage and other penalties as adjudicated by the DM. The "Aid Another" rule is superfulous IMG.

 

[kreynolds]

Just responding to elements in the thread.

Gotcha.

The "Aid Another" rule is superfulous IMG.

But it shouldn't be. The Aid Another action is really handy when you have a terribly-high-AC-BBEG and you just can't hit him. In a party of four, a +6 bonus might just help. Throw in about 6 summoned monsters and you've got a +18 bonus to your biggest-baddest-mother-of-damage-dealing-fighters in the party, who now stands a chance at taking on the BBEG.

Granted, this may not happen often, but the usefulness of the action is still there.

 

[doktorstick]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Aid Another

Bull Rush includes a movement portion, so would never be allowed as an AoO.

Perfect! I overlooked the movement portion. Thanks for pointing that out.

/ds

 

[Macbrea]

The last time, we used Aid another in our campaign was against an animated statue. The statues were listed as made out of metal with a hardness of 10. Most of the party members couldn't ever break that hardness, so we decided to aid another the individual that had power attack. If we had not we would never really have survived the fight.


Clearly, sometimes people find that they cannot do any real damage or very little damage versus a ceature. And pushing it about won't do alot of help if the creature is much stronger then you. So, distracting it while your friend hits something vital may actually be worth tryng.