Nazhkandrias
First Post
Take this not-so-out-there scenario: You are a goblin rogue, and your friend is a goblin sorcerer. Your sorcerer friend is next to a human fighter with Cleave and a greatsword, and so are you (nobody ever said goblins were bright). Your sorcerer casts a spell, and the fighter AoO's him, killing him instantly.
The fighter is attacking another enemy. You aren't anticipating an attack. Your guard is down, or at least down enough to get caught up in a bone-shattering blow from a greatsword. The backswing from the crushing blow (which results from the fighter giving great strength on every attack, and meeting less resistance than expected) hits you in the head, suprising you (as you didn't expect him to attack YOU, but your sorcerer friend).
So, your guard IS down if another opponent is being attacked, but only down by just enough to get hit with that massive blow. So yes, Cleave does indeed work with AoO's, both in rules and in practice.
Quick question: how on EARTH would you cleave with a weapon like a spear? How could you hit an opponent directly behind you with a thrusting weapon, especially a spear or rapier? Did the book say something against Cleaves with a piercing weapon? If piercing weapons can't Cleave, then what about the Spiked Chain? That has enough follow-through to knock down a dead opponent and whip around to another. Or a punching dagger; you could do a massive hook that tears through an opponent, whirling you around to hit another!
The fighter is attacking another enemy. You aren't anticipating an attack. Your guard is down, or at least down enough to get caught up in a bone-shattering blow from a greatsword. The backswing from the crushing blow (which results from the fighter giving great strength on every attack, and meeting less resistance than expected) hits you in the head, suprising you (as you didn't expect him to attack YOU, but your sorcerer friend).
So, your guard IS down if another opponent is being attacked, but only down by just enough to get hit with that massive blow. So yes, Cleave does indeed work with AoO's, both in rules and in practice.
Quick question: how on EARTH would you cleave with a weapon like a spear? How could you hit an opponent directly behind you with a thrusting weapon, especially a spear or rapier? Did the book say something against Cleaves with a piercing weapon? If piercing weapons can't Cleave, then what about the Spiked Chain? That has enough follow-through to knock down a dead opponent and whip around to another. Or a punching dagger; you could do a massive hook that tears through an opponent, whirling you around to hit another!
