AoO question, when?

[thegreatbuddha]

I know how AoOs work, but I cannot recall whether they occur before, simultaneously, or after the action that provokes them. For example, if an opponent takes a 5' step into one of my threatened squares (I know that's not how it works, but it aids the visualization of my example) and the AoO drops him, is his body in the square he moved from, or does it fall in the square he moved into? Please include a page number if you can so i can look it up directly when I get home. I really need this to save a character tomorrow night. TIA

 

[Crothian]

It really depends on the situation. For instance if one provokes an AoO by leaving a square that attack happens in that square or else the opponet might not be able to reach him. However, if it's from moving through the a threatened zone, it comes from moving into the squares.

 

[0-hr]

If you cast a spell, the AoO can interrupt the spell. From that, I would guess that AoO's go right before the act that provokes them (much like a readied action). I don't see anything really clear one way or the other in the PHB though.

 

[dcollins]

From a previous response by the Sage on the topic (emailed to me on August 28, 2002):

Skip,

In the case of a normal attack-of-opportunity from movement (leaving a threatened space), where exactly is the mover when the attack takes place -- in the threatened space he's trying to leave, or in the next space that he's trying to enter?

In the space the character is trying to leave.
Any AoO is resolved before the act that triggers it is resolved.

 

[thegreatbuddha]

Thanks for that bit of advice. I'm using a Glaive-Wielding Paladin with Combat reflexes and Movement Check (From Kingdoms of Kalamar Player's Guide). With that info, I can now AoO someone for moving at me and stop them before they move (Thanks to Movement check), and if they try to get out of it by 5' stepping, I can attack normally and 5' step away each round. Reach + Multiple AoOs + Movement Check = Fun for me, headaches for my DM

 

[dcollins]

Movement Check (From Kingdoms of Kalamar Player's Guide)...

Sounds very similar to the feat "Large and in Charge" for large creatures from Sword & Fist p. 61: which in fact was what spawned my question to the Sage. (The description in the feat is just a bit scrambled compared to Skip's ruling.)

 

[Spatzimaus]

And in fact, both of those Feats are similar to "Stand Still" in the PsiHB. Fort save DC 10+damage to move.

I also have a Glaive-wielding Psychic Warrior with Combat Reflexes who does that. Plant yourself somewhere fun, and start freezing people. It's even more fun if you use the WotC web enhancements, one of the additions was a new power for psychic warriors: Reach. Adds 5'.

 

[thegreatbuddha]

I was originally gonna do Combat Reflexes + Stand Still, but I really wanted to play a paladin and couldn't think of a decent background for a PsyWar. Depending on the level and duration of Reach, I may have to have my character commit ritual suicide next session and roll up a new PsyWar. Thanks for the info everybody.

BTW, a quick update on said campaign: I haven't gotten to test the effectiveness of Movement Check & Combat Reflexes b/c the last session was pure RP. I think I rolled one Spot check the whole night, and that was just to see if my character could discern a pattern in the stab wounds on a mutilated corpse we found (There'sa demonic serial killer loose in the streets of Zoa now, and we're all 2-4th level. Joy!!).

our DM hinted at a confrontation with the villian next week, so hopefully I'll be able to bypass the bugger's DR with my high crit mult. and stop him dead in his tracks.