Cleave on an AoO?

[green slime]

... but why is it a big deal otherwise to you, if I disallow AoOs during a Cleave? Because I dare to disregard the legendary "rules as written"?

Ah, well. Another "doubter" eh?

Off to the dungeon with you. Do not pass the towncrier, and don't collect 200gp on your way to the dungeon.

 

[Nail]

"Heretic!"

 

[GreatLemur]

You know, this whole debate is doing a great job of pointing out how completely ridiculous both Cleave and Attacks of Opportunity are. Even separately. Even in the best of circumstances. I love the tactical effect of AoO, but this really makes me want to get rid of it in favor of AC penaties for distracting actions.

 

[green slime]

You know, this whole debate is doing a great job of pointing out how completely ridiculous both Cleave and Attacks of Opportunity are. Even separately. Even in the best of circumstances. I love the tactical effect of AoO, but this really makes me want to get rid of it in favor of AC penaties for distracting actions.

Another one! Great Scott! They're multiplying!! Quick Run for the hills while I try to delay them a little!

 

[Nail]

"You're a true hero, green slime........" <grabs running shoes>

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

Wait, wait....

You're saying that the risk of taking an AoO is fun, and more people should do it...yet you hate the risk that cleaving off of an AoO presents?

No.

I am saying that the price is unacceptable under very certain circumstances that are not necessarily common but hardly rare IME. Otherwise it is fun. And the game would be more fun if we removed that corner case.

How often does a melee-centric PC of yours purposefully provoke an AoO when there is a reasonable mix of mooks and bigger fish on the battlemat? I probably do so every 3 or 4 such combats -- the trick is to choose carefully who gets that AoO, of course.

 

[Patlin]

We know that cleave and AOO can be silly under certain very specific situations. Invisible lemmings and bags of rat don't usually come up, though, and I can easilly imagine how one of your allies can screw up badly enough to cause you to take a hit.... I'm half way tempted to create a "Have you seen cleave on AOO break the game in acutal play" poll.

And as I recall the original bag of rats scenario involved whirlwhind attack and great cleave, which was fixed in 3.5 anyway.

 

[Patlin]

How often does a melee-centric PC of yours purposefully provoke an AoO when there is a reasonable mix of mooks and bigger fish on the battlemat?

I recall very succesfully provoking an AOO with movement immediately before making my grapple attack once.

 

[glass]

The best houserule I've seen is that, if you drop a foe with an AoO, Cleave grants you an extra AoO rather than an immediate extra attack.

This is what I do.


glass.

 

[Nail]

How often does a melee-centric PC of yours purposefully provoke an AoO when there is a reasonable mix of mooks and bigger fish on the battlemat?

Zero times.

But then again, I like using a comprehensive strategy while in combat, and I can imagine corner cases where provoking AoOs are beneficial over-all. YMMV.