Attack of Opportunity -- does it deserve to survive to v.4?

[Montague68]

What edition of the game is this rule found in? Because I know of a rule in 3.5 that says you do get an attack after a move of up to your move speed. For example if your speed is 30 feet you can move 30 feet and then attack. Not full attack, sure, but a single attack nonetheless.

I believe JRR is referencing the 1E Charge rule, but he's misinterpreting it.

In 1st Edition the only way to move and attack on the same round is to charge. At the end of your charge you needed to be within 10' of the target in order to attack.

 

[Taraxia]

I rarely use battlemats, and thus rarely use AoOs. Its not because of a hate of the mechanics, its because of a hate of battlemats. I play warhammer, and warcraft and other tactical games. I dont want it in my D&D. In my opinion D&D is more about story and roleplaying then drawing out a grid and playing warhammer with a different name.

in my games i use some of the AoO's, only for movement though. I do not force players to take feats to disarm, sunder or trip without suffering a AoO. I think the concept is good but they overdid it and took it from realistically portraying combat into limiting options, forcing players to either take a feat or simply bash away and hope for the best. I have been gaming long enough to know that anything that enhances options is good and anything that limits options is pure evil.... and AoO's too often fall into the latter category.

The problem is that this runs the risk of making disarm, sunder and trip way too good. Especially trip. People already like tripping a lot more than they really should for the sake of realism or interesting combats. Making it not cost a feat to be able to trip every time? Bleagh.

(Yes, I'm aware that trip wouldn't be such a great option without AoO rules for standing from a prone position. But I don't want trip to be *pointless*, either. I like options -- I just like options to cost something.)

(This, btw, is a reason to nerf the Spiked Chain. Stupid chain.)

 

[genshou]

AOOs should stay.

The idea of 4E should be discarded.

Yay! I like the Magic Man's idea!

 

[painandgreed]

My question to all those Anti-AoOers: What do YOU replace it with?

Already answered this, but replace an AoO with Dex penalty to the person making the action that would normally create an AoO till their next initiative.

 

[JRRNeiklot]

We ditched it. Reach trumps initiative, spellcasters in melee must make a concentration check to cast a spell. That's it.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Already answered this, but replace an AoO with Dex penalty to the person making the action that would normally create an AoO till their next initiative.

Of course that's cold comfort to the Arcanus, Master of the Occult facing down a raging charging orc barbarian with a monkey gripped Greataxe (3d6 x3) who whooshes by Sir Meat Shield to engage him, since Dex doesn't affect the foe's attack bonuses...whereas applying 1d8 19-20 x2 to said orc just might make a difference...

 

[painandgreed]

Of course that's cold comfort to the Arcanus, Master of the Occult facing down a raging charging orc barbarian with a monkey gripped Greataxe (3d6 x3) who whooshes by Sir Meat Shield to engage him, since Dex doesn't affect the foe's attack bonuses...whereas applying 1d8 19-20 x2 to said orc just might make a difference...

Well, I haven't play tested it. ;-) In such a situation, the orc would suffer Dex penalty which would lower his AC. If Sir Meat Shield has not already attacked, he may do so at that time, making that his new initiative. If he has already attacked, then he's facing too many opponents or isn't being a very good meat shield. In general, I'm against the creation of new actions that the AoO presents.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Well, I haven't play tested it. ;-) In such a situation, the orc would suffer Dex penalty which would lower his AC. If Sir Meat Shield has not already attacked, he may do so at that time, making that his new initiative. If he has already attacked, then he's facing too many opponents or isn't being a very good meat shield. In general, I'm against the creation of new actions that the AoO presents.

Well, assuming 3rd level PCs, Sir Meat Shield will probably have already used his lone attack with the single opponent he can fight (without AoOs). The most dangerous warrior on the side of goodness & niceness can't touch the Orc bearing down on Arcanis...

Leaving Arcanis as the person most likely to get the opportunity to make a strike on the big bad Orc while his guard is down (the -4 penalty)...

Meaning that his Web spell is unlikely to go off...

Ever.

 

[painandgreed]

Meaning that his Web spell is unlikely to go off...

Ever.

Yep. Sucks to be a wizard with too few meat shields while the one you have is more interested in personal glory than being a meat shield.

 

[Storm Raven]

Yep. Sucks to be a wizard with too few meat shields while the one you have is more interested in personal glory than being a meat shield.

So, you equate "making an attack in melee while standing in front of the wizard" with being "interested in personal glory".

In other words, you and I will never see eye to eye on the subject of AoOs, since your opinion concerning what meat shields do is so radically different than mine (and probably, the opinion of many other people).