AoOs and Cleave/Great Cleave

[Trevalon Moonleirion]

In the middle of combat last session I got somewhat stumped by a rules question. I can't remember what I ruled at the time being, but I'm interested in knowing what the actual rules are.

A fighter with the Cleave feat gets an attack of opportunity against a foe moving through her threatened space. She kills him in one blow--would she be able to use Cleave to attack another enemy after her AoO?

I'd research more, but I'm in between classes at the library and don't have my PHB with me.

Thanks for any help you can give!!!

 

[mvincent]

A fighter with the Cleave feat gets an attack of opportunity against a foe moving through her threatened space. She kills him in one blow--would she be able to use Cleave to attack another enemy after her AoO?

Yup.

From the 3.5 FAQ:
"If an attack of opportunity drops a foe, can the attacker
then make a follow-up Cleave attack?
Yes. The Cleave feat doesn’t say anything about the attack
that triggers it having to be made on the attacker’s turn."

 

[werk]

It depends on who you ask, but there is nothing in the rules that prevents you from doing so.

 

[Trevalon Moonleirion]

This place rocks my world. Thank you!

 

[frankthedm]

Some DMs will disallow cleaving off an AoO because the person being cleaved into never drew the AoO. Most of that type let you use that "cleave" as a spare AoO should another AoO be drawn that round. Effectivly delaying that 'AoO cleave' until you have someone else that you were entitled to take an AoO on in the first place.

 

[Nifft]

I allow it.

The intention of the person who did provoke the AoO wasn't to cause injury to their nearby ally, but neither is it the intention of someone in melee to provide a -4 penalty to their archer ally. Intention has very little to do with outcome.

Cheers, -- N

 

[frankthedm]

I allow it.

The intention of the person who did provoke the AoO wasn't to cause injury to their nearby ally, but neither is it the intention of someone in melee to provide a -4 penalty to their archer ally. Intention has very little to do with outcome.

Cheers, -- N

One gets to take AoOs because the target let thier guard down. The person being cleaved into never dropped thier guard.

 

[irdeggman]

One gets to take AoOs because the target let thier guard down. The person being cleaved into never dropped thier guard.

True, but cleave is not based on the foe's actions but rather on those of the person making the attack. So anytime he can make an attack he gets to use his cleave (within restrictions of the feat). Sort of like weapon focus or specialization - neither has anything to do with the target only the attacker.

 

[billd91]

True, but cleave is not based on the foe's actions but rather on those of the person making the attack. So anytime he can make an attack he gets to use his cleave (within restrictions of the feat). Sort of like weapon focus or specialization - neither has anything to do with the target only the attacker.

The trouble with this analysis is the initial attack that allowed the cleave to possibly occur was absolutely dependent on something the target did (drop his guard). I don't think you should be able to exploit dropping someone who dropped their guard to attack someone who did not when you would not have been able to attack that person in the first place.
So I don't allow cleave off an AoO.

 

[RigaMortus2]

The trouble with this analysis is the initial attack that allowed the cleave to possibly occur was absolutely dependent on something the target did (drop his guard). I don't think you should be able to exploit dropping someone who dropped their guard to attack someone who did not when you would not have been able to attack that person in the first place.
So I don't allow cleave off an AoO.

How is this different than Cleaving during your turn? You drop a foe, you Cleave into another one. The target you are Cleaving into did nothing to provoke the Cleave, the initial target did (by not having the hit points to remain concious and dropping to the ground).

So you have no problem with "exploiting" someone who drops unconcious in order to attack someone else, so long as it's on your turn?