Any more word on whether some or all ranged/area powers provoke OA?

[mpauna]

You might have missed the fact that any power with "close" does not provoke. I believe the powers you reference are in fact "X targets in a close burst Y".

Actually, all three powers are ranged powers and not close powers (like Inspiring Word).


OOOPS - Ninja-ed

 

[WalterKovacs]

There are other issues to, such as when a power provokes. For example in the case of the ranger's Nimble Strike, which of the following situations occur:

(a) you start adjacent to an enemy, and since you are using a ranged power, it provokes an OA, even though you shift away from the target before rolling for the attack
(b) you start adjacent to an enemy and shift away, before attacking, and avoid the opportunity attack
(c) you use the power to shift adjacent to an enemy that you weren't adjacent to initially (perhaps to flank) and you trigger an opportunity attack when you make the attack roll
(d) you use the power to shift adjacent to an enemy that you weren't adjacent to initially and do not trigger an opportunity attack when you make the attack roll because you weren't adjacent to the target when you began the ranged attack.

Then there is the sustaining a power question

 

[buzz]

The intent of Nimble Strike seems pretty clear: the shift is a freebie you get before the attack that, like shifting in general, does not provoke OA.

Well, until I hear word from WotC in the form of a FAQ or errata, I'm going to stick with what our group has been doing: Utility powers do not provoke OA. The warlord in the party will be too sucky otherwise.

 

[AngryPurpleCyclops]

There are other issues to, such as when a power provokes. For example in the case of the ranger's Nimble Strike, which of the following situations occur:

(a) you start adjacent to an enemy, and since you are using a ranged power, it provokes an OA, even though you shift away from the target before rolling for the attack
(b) you start adjacent to an enemy and shift away, before attacking, and avoid the opportunity attack
(c) you use the power to shift adjacent to an enemy that you weren't adjacent to initially (perhaps to flank) and you trigger an opportunity attack when you make the attack roll
(d) you use the power to shift adjacent to an enemy that you weren't adjacent to initially and do not trigger an opportunity attack when you make the attack roll because you weren't adjacent to the target when you began the ranged attack.

Then there is the sustaining a power question

seems pretty clear that the shift doesn't provoke an OA but the ranged attack does if you're next to something when you make it. this is an exception based rules system and allowing a shift before the ranged action takes place is designed to be an exception to the ranged attacks provoke but not so powerful that you can avoid OA from the location you wind up in after the shift.

Sustaining doesn't cause OA, but making another attack with a power that's ranged to begin with such as flaming sphere does provoke an attack.

The warlord utility question is more complex. I can see both sides of this and will be interested in seeing the ruling. clerics also have this issue. I think that they may well change/errata it but currently the rules clearly indicate you do generate OA with utility powers. Why else are some utilities that only help one person "burst" instead of ranged? The perception they "started to change some but didn't finish" is a very weak argument, you can't assume that things not working the way you want them to is a mistake.

I understand you warlord fans out there wanting it to be the other way but there's no reason for burst utilities that help one person if not for the differentiation from ranged. This implies VERY STRONGLY that you do in fact cause OA's if you use these powers. Lots of pc's have to shift to get off their powers, warlords are not exempt from this even if it makes it easier and more useful and thus makes the player happier, it's neither RAW nor RAI apparently.

 

[keterys]

As far as I can tell, and backed by the additional evidence of powers like Inspiring that are close, ranged and area powers provoke. Including utilities.

I do suspect there is some confusion in WotC on this issue, leading to the inconsistent text and evaluating a power like Nimble Strike.

That said, the inconsistent text does not overwrite the basic text, so by RAW they provoke if you have an adjacent enemy. End of story. You can make an argument that they don't provoke for Threatening Reach enemies at reach but... expect heavy table variation.

RAI? Hoo boy, be nice to hear from WotC.

As someone playing a Warlord and another character about to take Bastion of Health, which is ranged, I assure you that this doesn't somehow make the characters suck. It's just a tactical consideration.

 

[Pickles JG]

My favourite is Kord's Favour that requires causing a melee critical hit to trigger it.

I would allow these to be treated as close burst powers though I assume some are not meant to be.