Allows an Attack of Opportunity

[Quasqueton]

Should the text regarding AoOs say, this action "allows an attack of opportunity", instead of "provokes an attack of opportunity"?

"Provokes" reads like the opponent is just standing there, and your action makes him suddently take a poke at you.

"Allows" reads more like the opponent is wanting to poke you, and your action leaves an opening in your defense -- which is what an AoO is supposed to be.

This concept just came to me today. It struck me as an epiphany, but maybe it isn't really anything interesting to anyone else.

Quasqueton

 

[Li Shenron]

Should the text regarding AoOs say, this action "allows an attack of opportunity", instead of "provokes an attack of opportunity"?

"Provokes" reads like the opponent is just standing there, and your action makes him suddently take a poke at you.

"Allows" reads more like the opponent is wanting to poke you, and your action leaves an opening in your defense -- which is what an AoO is supposed to be.

This concept just came to me today. It struck me as an epiphany, but maybe it isn't really anything interesting to anyone else.

Quasqueton

It may sound more realistic to say "allows", but I think that "provokes" is a very effective word game-wise to make it clear to the players how AoOs work.

 

[Ranger REG]

Should the text regarding AoOs say, this action "allows an attack of opportunity", instead of "provokes an attack of opportunity"?

"Provokes" reads like the opponent is just standing there, and your action makes him suddently take a poke at you.

"Allows" reads more like the opponent is wanting to poke you, and your action leaves an opening in your defense -- which is what an AoO is supposed to be.

This concept just came to me today. It struck me as an epiphany, but maybe it isn't really anything interesting to anyone else.

The word as a verb is appropriate because the action is dependent upon the opponent's action.

 

[the Jester]

I think the reason for the terminology ('provokes' an AoO) is clarity. Imagine:

"Getting up from prone allows an AoO..." How many players would argue that that means that, as I rise from prone, I may make an AoO?

 

[Gort]

Yeah, you'd have to say "allows an enemy threatening you to make an AoO against you" or it might confuse a stupid person

 

[AGGEMAM]

"Getting up from prone allows an AoO..." How many players would argue that that means that, as I rise from prone, I may make an AoO?

Exactly. 'Allowing' something usually in D&D means that the character doing an action can do this, while 'provoking' means that other characters are allowed to do something.