D&D 5E Attacking on an ally's space before finishing your move?

[Maxperson]

I would insist that my character isn't "stopped" until their turn is done. There's absolutely no reason to think that an experienced adventurer needs to pause as they are walking in order to swing a sword.

Other than a severe loss of leverage since you can't set yourself for the attack while you are moving. I'd rule half damage due to the loss of force behind the blow.

 

[Umbran]

I would insist that my character isn't "stopped" until their turn is done.

Insist? What happened to, "The GM is the arbiter of rules"?

 

[Umbran]

Anything the PCs can do, the enemy can do. Can you imagine a PC trying to hold a choke point while every single opponent jumps into the same square to attack them?

One well-constructed use of this - I can quickly construct one on paper that will have a single PC taking full attacks from 14 enemies per round, repeating every round, and I'm not even trying - and the PCs will not want this option to happen.

 

[bedir than]

Other than a severe loss of leverage since you can't set yourself for the attack while you are moving. I'd rule half damage due to the loss of force behind the blow.

I'm sorry. What?!

As someone who has done both western and eastern martial arts my feet are always moving. As someone who has watched MMA and fencing, their feet are always moving.

 

[Maxperson]

I'm sorry. What?!

As someone who has done both western and eastern martial arts my feet are always moving. As someone who has watched MMA and fencing, their feet are always moving.

Not 30 feet in 6 seconds. Your feet are moving, but you are also setting yourself for your attacks, stopping your movement(if briefly) to do so, and you aren't standing on one of your friends while you do it.

 

[bedir than]

Not 30 feet in 6 seconds. Your feet are moving, but you are also setting yourself for your attacks, stopping your movement(if briefly) to do so, and you aren't standing on one of your friends while you do it.

Are you really suggesting that I have no idea what I did while I was doing it?

 

[Ancalagon]

I would insist that my character isn't "stopped" until their turn is done. There's absolutely no reason to think that an experienced adventurer needs to pause as they are walking in order to swing a sword.

I agree with you totally BUT

As someone who also has swordfighting experience, I must agree with you only in the narrow sense. Yes you can swing as sword on the move, absolutely...

But not from the spot where you friend is. Said friend is going to get in your way.

Edit: to answer the original post, I'm not 100% sure what the intent of the rule is, but based on my experience I would absolutely rule that you can't attack from the same space as an ally, unless some unusual circumstances make it possible. I'm speaking both from a verisimilitude place, but also from a "avoid potential abuse" space. Fights in narrow tunnels would be completely different!

 

[Shiroiken]

I've always been positive that this was RAI, but I've allowed it on occasion, under specific circumstances. Melee usually isn't viable, since despite the grid, creatures are constantly moving about between the spaces, preventing someone from getting between. Ranged attacks and spells can make a level of sense, and seldom provide any significant mechanical benefit, but I give disadvantage on the attack. If it provides a save instead of an attack, I might provide advantage on the saving throw.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

Actually i have not encountered a situation where someone actually tried it.

I can see situations, where it might be possible even without disadvantage.
Possibly if a halfling who can enter bigger creatures spaces with no penalty using a spear of some sort... I could see goblins fighting with giants or kobolds with dragons to enter the huge creature's space and attack.
But as a regular tactic for the rogue to get around the fighter... No thanks...
Maybe if I am in a really good mood, I could see the fighter using a reaction to step aside so that the rogue may attack.
With the reaction requirement there is a cost that you can't do it more than once per turn.
I also allow the fighter to duck as a reaction to clear a path for an arrow in a narrow space.

 

[Leatherhead]

If someone tried this, I would use the Squeezing rules. Meaning all of their attacks would be at disadvantage, their movement speed costs would be significantly ramped up, and all attacks would have Advantage against them (which is going to happen because such a dance triggers OAs). Additionally, the penalty would apply to the player who had their space squoze.

That should be more than enough to make it a non-viable tactic in all but the most desperate of situations. Especially when the alternative is using ranged or reach attacks at a paltry -2 penalty for cover.