AoO versus own group?

[Wonko the Sane]

Okay, how about this:

A PC cleric has just cast heal, and intends to deliver it to the sorely injured fighter on his next action. In the meantime, the PC wizard, also near death, runs past the cleric.

Now, should the cleric be allowed to deliver the touch spell on his hand as an AoO to the wizard as he moves through the cleric's threatened area?

I'm leaning towards yes, myself. Thoughts?

 

[Lord Pendragon]

Okay, how about this:

A PC cleric has just cast heal, and intends to deliver it to the sorely injured fighter on his next action. In the meantime, the PC wizard, also near death, runs past the cleric.

Now, should the cleric be allowed to deliver the touch spell on his hand as an AoO to the wizard as he moves through the cleric's threatened area?

I'm leaning towards yes, myself. Thoughts?

Absolutely not.

Heal
Conjuration (Healing)
Level: Clr 6, Drd 7, Healing 6
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Touch
Target: Creature touched
Duration: Instantaneous

You can't hold the charge on a Heal spell. So this doesn't work regardless.

Even if the spell allowed it, absolutely not. You aren't constantly striking out at your wizard friend as he runs by. You aren't threatening him. There is no AoO.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

Absolutely not.You can't hold the charge on a Heal spell.

Yes you can.

Holding the Charge: If you don’t discharge the spell in the round when you cast the spell, you can hold the discharge of the spell (hold the charge) indefinitely.

 

[kjenks]

My buddy and I have a good schtick. He has a level of Tactical Soldier. I have a low AC and a ton of HP. When he's next to a bad guy, I run past him and say, "Kick me!" He gives me a kick on his AoO, inflicting non-lethal damage, but because of his Sidestep feat, he gets to move five feet. This usually takes him into flanking position so I can use two more Power Attack on the bad guy.

It's only worked once so far, but it was fun.

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

Keep in mind that that a savvy (or dumb lucky) enemy can exploit the extra threatening zones to gain Flanking.

 

[Lord Pendragon]

Yes you can.

Huh. Rereading the entire section you cited, it doesn't say anything about the duration of the spell coming into play. I'd been under the impression that a spell with a duration, such as Chill Touch, could allow this kind of holding of the charge, but that an Instantaneous spell would not.

Seems I've been playing it wrong, though. Glad to know it.

Not that that changes my point about the non-existent AoO.

 

[Coredump]

Right. Also, the AoO mechanic is an abstraction. The PC isn't just taking a single swipe when appropriate. The PC gains an additional chance of scoring a hit, because he's assumed to be constantly attacking the enemies within range.

I don't see that anywhere in the rules. And it is pretty easy to demonstrate the opposite. A fighter can be busy fighting 2 enemies, but if a third one charges past, he gets an AoO against him. There is no 'constantly attacking' going on there.

Fighter can be fighting 3 enemies, and one trips and falls down. Fight goes on for more rounds....(only 6 seconds each) fighter is ignoring the one on the ground as not much of a threat, but still aware of his surroundings. When the enemy tries to stand up, the fighter takes the AoO.

AoO does not necessarily come from 'constantly attacking', it comes from being 'constantly aware' of you surroundings.

A PC cleric has just cast heal, and intends to deliver it to the sorely injured fighter on his next action. In the meantime, the PC wizard, also near death, runs past the cleric.

Now, should the cleric be allowed to deliver the touch spell on his hand as an AoO to the wizard as he moves through the cleric's threatened area?

Sure, why not. What is the difference to the cleric? Now, since the wizard was not aware of it, I would make the cleric roll to hit. (wizard is 'unaware' of the attack, thus no dex bonus)

The cleric is aware of his surroundings, and notices when someone runs past him, if he is a good guy, he lets him go, if he is a bad guy, he tries to hit him, if he is the near death wizard, he tries to touch him.

 

[Wrathamon]

why do I think an AoO cleave thread is about to start

 

[drunkmoogle]

why do I think an AoO cleave thread is about to start

Be careful, there. You might open up a bag of worms. Er... can of puppies. Er...

Nevermind.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

Huh. Rereading the entire section you cited, it doesn't say anything about the duration of the spell coming into play.

Yeah, all that's important is when the spell is discharged. Touch spells are discharged when you touch something.