Away from my books, have an AoO question

[Abraxas]

I'm away from my books with time to kill and I have a question about AoOs and a possible tactic.

Do provoked AoOs (such as those caused by a disarm/grapple attack) count against a character's one AoO vs an opponent per round?

If they do, doesn't that make the following fairly useful ... provoke a movement AoO and then make a Disarm/Grapple attack without provoking an AoO? Especially for characters with the mobility feat who have a higher AC while moving.

 

[gfunk]

Yes they do. However monsters/PCs can, of course, voluntarily not make an AoO.

The tactic that you mentioned is a good one and is used by our DM extensively. Typically, he likes to grapple us using big creatures. Sometimes he makes the minions attempt to grapple us just to provoke an AoO and if we take it, then "big bertha" tries to grapple us minus the AoO. Of course, we have become wise to this tactic, but it can still be formidable...

 

[Li Shenron]

Do provoked AoOs (such as those caused by a disarm/grapple attack) count against a character's one AoO vs an opponent per round?

I agree. But... aren't ALL AoOs provoked?

The tactic you mentioned seems perfectly licit. It may be useful (until you meet someone with Combat Reflexes), but it both for your party and you enemies!

 

[Crothian]

I agree. But... aren't ALL AoOs provoked?

The tactic you mentioned seems perfectly licit. It may be useful (until you meet someone with Combat Reflexes), but it both for your party and you enemies!

Even with combat relfexes you can only make one AoO against any one opponent.

 

[Abraxas]

Yes, all AoOs are provoked, I worded that poorly

Just looking at (one of) these options for my rogue/fighter and his +4 ghost-touched scythe...provoking an op shot on my terms and then disarming my opponent.

 

[kreynolds]

Even with combat relfexes you can only make one AoO against any one opponent.

Hmm. I thought it was one AoO per opponent per violation. Actually, I'm positive of it. I'll see if I can find the relevant rule. Give me a minute or two...

 

[kreynolds]

...OK. Combat Reflexes lets you make a number of AoOs equal to your Dex modifier. You are still limited to one AoO per violation.

Meaning, if you have a Dex of 15, you can make up to 3 AoOs per round. If some bloke moves 10 feet through your space, you can still only make one AoO for that violation. If he then casts a spell, you get to make another.

You are not limited to only one AoO per opponent per round, as that only applies when you do not have Combat Reflexes. At least, that's the way I'm reading it.

 

[Abraxas]

Actually, you are limited to one AoO per enemy per round.

The SRD says this about Combat Reflexes.

"Benefit: When foes leave themselves open, the character may make a number of additional attacks of opportunity equal to the character's Dexterity modifier. The character still may only make one attack of opportunity per enemy."

So, a 15 dex character can make up to 4 AoOs 1+3 (dex mod), but only one vs any one opponent. Since they don't give a time frame I assume this to mean per round. It doesn't say per opportunity.

Somewhere there has been a clarification on the official ruling - however, that ruling is disputed by former WoTC employees.

I think both points of view are on Artoomis' ambiguous rules page.

 

[kreynolds]

Actually, you are limited to one AoO per enemy per round...<snip>...Since they don't give a time frame I assume this to mean per round.

Well, see. you're making an assumption. So, actually, you may or may not be limited to one AoO per enemy per round. We interpret this rule differently, though I think I'm still right.

Somewhere there has been a clarification on the official ruling - however, that ruling is disputed by former WoTC employees.

Yeah, "Former" being the keyword there.

 

[Magus_Jerel]

Book canon - is one per opponent.

If a player indends on using this tactic - namely deliberately provoking an AoO before attempting a second action that also provokes an AoO I would call for a bluff check, opposed by sense motive. If you make the check, you know what your opponent is trying - and thus skip the first to take the second.