Avoid AoOs - 5' step into target's square?

[Nail]

......later they go on to use the word "cube". (sigh)

 

[Infiniti2000]

As for the "5-ft step not equal to movement"......huh? Why not?

This is an important issue and has lots of consequences. I admit it's vaguely defined, but when I see "movement" I actually think of "moving your speed as a move action" and not just motion. You need to define if any/all of the following are "movement" if you do not restrict it to my definition:

1. 5-foot-step, which per the glossary: "A small position adjustment that does not count as an action."

2. Standing up from prone, or dropping to prone, etc.

3. Falling. This has very severe logical issues as it will mean that some creatures fall slower than others (which is fine if you design your world that way).

4. Turning in place (not so common, but think beholder or any flier).

5. Crawling.

6. Anything else I'm missing . . .?

IMO, if you do not use my definition, you have to count all of the above as "movement."

 

[Nail]

Falling is the only truely wacky one. Why would the rest be a problem?

For example: If you are helpless (and prone), a friend can occupy your square. When you cease being helpless......

 

[Infiniti2000]

Well, the term "movement" is used in other places. You should plan to have a consistent definition. Combine 1 and 2 from above. If standing up is movement, then you cannot stand up and take a 5ft-step, which I'm pretty sure everyone allows (if not please speak up).

That means standing up is not, in fact, movement, which means that movement cannot be defined by something as simple as "motion" or whatever.

PS. Please understand I am not trying to be tricky or offer up strawmen or anything, just thinking out loud and trying to point out the ambiguity in it.

 

[KarinsDad]

Remember, many Diminutive and Fine sized creatures have a Speed of 5 or less (e.g. a Bat or Toad). So, although they might have another movement rate like flying which is faster, they cannot take a 5 foot step since a creature with a Speed of 5 or less cannot take a 5 foot step.

Any creature with a speed of 5 feet or less can’t take a 5-foot step, since moving even 5 feet requires a move action for such a slow creature.

 

[Nail]

PS. Please understand I am not trying to be tricky or offer up strawmen or anything, just thinking out loud and trying to point out the ambiguity in it.

Got it.

In this case, the word "movement" might be short for "move action", which standing up from prone is.

In any case, I can't find any text that implies size Tiny creatures can't take 5-foot steps (aside from those that have very slow movement speeds, as KD points out).

 

[Infiniti2000]

In any case, I can't find any text that implies size Tiny creatures can't take 5-foot steps (aside from those that have very slow movement speeds, as KD points out).

I'm pretty sure there is no such restriction. I have seen many threads on it, going so far as to houserule that diminutive or fine creatures (maybe tiny) cannot take a 5ft-step, or that very big creatures can take what amounts to a 10ft (or bigger) step.

In this case, the word "movement" might be short for "move action", which standing up from prone is.

Very unlikely. In that case, I wouldn't even be able to draw my sword, take a 5ft-step and attack unless I had quick draw. I doubt anyone would argue that rule.

 

[Warmage-in-Onley]

Page 144 of the PHB restricts the 5 ft step to turns in which you don't perform any other movement - and goes on to give an example of an attack (standard action), 5 ft step, and then close a door (move action). So I'd have to believe that the restrictive "movement" here indicates a move action using a movement mode that has a listed speed to travel a distance (change tactical squares) rather than move actions in general.

 

[Hypersmurf]

In that case, I wouldn't even be able to draw my sword, take a 5ft-step and attack unless I had quick draw. I doubt anyone would argue that rule.

As long as your BAB was +1 or better, though, you could draw your sword while moving five feet as a move action, and then attack

-Hyp.

 

[Nail]

I doubt anyone would argue that rule.

(chuckle) Don't be too sure.

To re-phrase the original question: "Does a 5-ft step count as movement, when it is not a move action?"

I'd say the answer is yes:

Movement in Combat: Generally, you can move your speed in a round and still do something (take a move action and a standard action). If you do nothing but move (that is, if you use both of your actions in a round to move your speed), you can move double your speed. If you spend the entire round running, you can move quadruple your speed. If you do something that requires a full round you can only take a 5-foot step.

It's in the right context.....