avoiding unforseen AoO's

[Lord Pendragon]

Yeah, that's pretty much the case I'm thinking of

But I've got another one for you: Can you tumle to avoid the attack of opportunity that comes from getting up from prone ?

That is to say, can you tumble while prone, because the AoO comes from standing up, and until you DO actually stand up you're prone, right ?

I can't think of a cite that deals with this, but I would rule: no. You cannot tumble while prone, and you cannot tumble while getting up. There is however, I believe, a thief-acrobat ability that lets you get up from prone without provoking, and there may be a high-level tumble check that lets you do it in the epic level handbook. But with just a standard tumble check, no.

 

[Cabral]

You can tumble at your normal speed. It just means -10 to the check.
So max your tumble ranks, put 5 ranks in Jump for the +2 bonus from synergy, take the Acrobatic feat (I think that's the +2 to tumble) and/or Skill Focus (Tumble), and put your highest stat into dex for that rather wicked tumble bonus. And if you're a (level 10+?) rogue, when you get the chance, choose tumble as one of the skills you can take 10 on.

That is to say, can you tumble while prone, because the AoO comes from standing up, and until you DO actually stand up you're prone, right ?

Check Oriental Adventures. I seem to recall something there about either expanded tumble use or a feat that allowed you to do that.