Dthamilaye said:
Great flyby attack feat (General) from Savage Species:
Using this feat is a full-round action. When flying, you can move up to your fly speed in a straight line and attack a number of opponents equal to your Dexterity bonus. All targets must be within your reach along the line of your movement. Make one attack roll, add the appropriate modifiers, and compare the result to the AC of each opponent you are attacking. If any hits are successful, make one damage roll and add the appropriate modifiers. Each successful hit does the full damage to that creature; do not divide the result of the damage roll among the targets. Targets of your attack do not get attacks of opportunity against you, but other opponents that would be entitled to attacks of opportunity may make them.
So, is Great cleave applicable and how would you arrange the True Strike and cleave hits? No true strike to cleaved opponents, but still use true strike on the targets further back on the flyby run?
Someone's an idiot who didn't realise that the wording and mechanics for this feat are looney. For starters, true strike works on all the attacks - because it applies to a single attack roll. Next up - I've no idea how this works with cleave/great cleave, because it doesn't say WHEN the attack roll is made, or when the movement is performed, or when AoO's take effect, or anything.
Do you start by saying "I'm making a GFBA", then rolling the attack roll, then moving along the flight path, choosing targets, and resolving AoO's and GFBA attacks as you go?
If so - you can cherry pick targets for the AC and damage you've rolled. Rolled low? Hit the goons. Rolled high? Hit the BBEG. You can also avoid AoO's by killing a target before you move past him. If this is the case, cleave/great cleave work as normal, with targets being selected from those within reach at different points along the path.
If you start by saying "I'm making a GFBA", then moving and selecting targets, THEN resolving them all with an attack roll and damage, then you'll be using cleave and great cleave attacks on targets within reach at the END of the move. Also if AoO's take you down before you get to the end of the move, you get NO attacks.
If you make the GFBA, pick path and targets, then roll, then resolve damage, then move, all cleaves apply to targets in reach of your starting locale, AoO's can't stop you making the action, but you can't cherry pick.
If you start by saying "I'm making a GFBA", then choosing a path and targets, rolling the attack, THEN actually moving and applying damage, cleaves apply to targets in reach at each point of the move and AoO's which kill you stop you damaging remaining targets, and you can't cherry pick for damage and AC. I'd use this last order - although it's a bit complicated, it seems to be the only one which addresses all the problem issues and resolves in a sane manner.
. I printed your post for later reading and thinking.
