AoOs and Slowed creatures (The Sage's Ruling)

[Hypersmurf]

It still does seem strange that a slowed character could take more AOO's than regular attacks if they had a high dex and Combat Reflexes.

A first level fighter can take more AoOs than regular attacks if he has a high Dex and Combat Reflexes.

How is that less weird than Slow?

-Hyp.

 

[Celtavian]

re

A first level fighter can take more AoOs than regular attacks if he has a high Dex and Combat Reflexes.

How is that less weird than Slow?

-Hyp.

I find it just as strange, honestly. Once again, it hasn't come up yet, and I'm hoping it doesn't. D&D has too many odd rules as it is that hurt the verisimilitude of the game.

 

[Ferox4]

There's a world of difference between the wording of the two. Stunned says the character "can't take actions ... and loses his dex bonus to AC", whereas slow merely says you are restricted from taking a full round's worth of actions. Since you are able to make an attack while slowed, you obviously threaten a square, and thus may make attacks of opportunity.

Whether or not you can when you are stunned is an entirely different matter, and far less clear, in my opinion.

-The Souljourner

Point well-made & taken.

Cheers

 

[billd91]

You can't take actions when it's not your turn, not even free actions. If an AoO was an action, you couldn't do it on somone elses turn.

They should have made a special category of actions called "reactions" that are specifically taken in response to an action or event, even when it's not your turn.

We have those types of responses in the core rules, but they aren't codified in a consistent manner.

I think you would need at least 2 different kinds of reactions then: AoO and other reactions that would include reactive skill rolls and saving throws, which you should still be able to make while stunned even if you couldn't take AoO.

Even though AoO isn't an action according to the brief exchange with the Sage, I don't think I'll be allowing characters prohibited from taking actions (whether stunned or whatever) to make them.

 

[RigaMortus]

Hmmm, interesting... So would the "ready action" be considered a reaction?

 

[James McMurray]

You wouldn't need two types of reactions. Just leave opposed checks, saving throws, concentration checks, etc. classified as non-actions.

Its a damned fine idea though, hopefully 4.0 will have something like it.