Can a weaponless foe flank?

[Wednesday Boy]

Just like the title says, can a weaponless foe (with neither Improved Unarmed Strike or natural weapons) cause a flanking opportunity?

Flanking says: "When making a melee attack, you get a +2 flanking bonus if your opponent is threatened by a character or creature friendly to you on the opponent’s opposite border or opposite corner."

And Threatened Squares says: "If you’re unarmed, you don’t normally threaten any squares and thus can’t make attacks of opportunity."

Which makes me think such a character couldn't flank but I wasn't sure if the Threatened Squares excerpt was for all scenarios or just for Attacks of Opportunities. Thanks!

 

[mikebr99]

No.

You need to be considered "armed"... with an actual weapon, or IUA... or a weaponlike spell, etc.

Mike

 

[shilsen]

You're right. An ally who doesn't threaten can't help you flank.

 

[Wednesday Boy]

Awesome! Thanks guys!

 

[kigmatzomat]

That doesn't make sense. If a wizard casts a spell, an unarmed peasant can still punch him in the face to interrupt spell casting or just knock him out. If the wizard's holding a dagger he can stab the peasant first, since the unarmed peasant is attacking unarmed.

 

[Wednesday Boy]

That doesn't make sense. If a wizard casts a spell, an unarmed peasant can still punch him in the face to interrupt spell casting or just knock him out. If the wizard's holding a dagger he can stab the peasant first, since the unarmed peasant is attacking unarmed.

The rule about Threatened Squares ("If you’re unarmed, you don’t normally threaten any squares and thus can’t make attacks of opportunity.") indicates that wouldn't work because the unarmed peasant doesn't threaten the wizard. Do you have a rule excerpt that would say otherwise?

 

[Hypersmurf]

That doesn't make sense. If a wizard casts a spell, an unarmed peasant can still punch him in the face to interrupt spell casting or just knock him out.

Yes, but only if he has a readied action to do so. It's an attack action, not an attack of opportunity, since the unarmed peasant can't make an attack of opportunity.

If the wizard's holding a dagger he can stab the peasant first, since the unarmed peasant is attacking unarmed.

No, the wizard can't, because he's casting a spell:
"You only provoke attacks of opportunity when you begin casting a spell, even though you might continue casting for at least one full round. While casting a spell, you don't threaten any squares around you."

-Hyp.