Close Quarters Fighting and Reach

[Barendd Nobeard]

If an opponent with Reach (greater than your Reach, anyway) tries to grapple you, and you have the Close Quarters Fighting feat, do you still get the Attak of Opportunity against the opponent?

I have a character who gets grappled a lot, so I was going to take this feat. But since I'm always getting grappled by Krakens and Aboleths and other monsters with huge Reach, I want to make sure the feat is worth it.

I'd say yes, you always get the AoO. After all, the opponent has to reach into your square to start the grapple, and that's the part of its body you attack (claw, tentacle, whatever).

But I thought I'd get the input from the Rules crowd before I take the feat.

TIA for any input.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

You may only take an AoO against a creature that you threaten.

Therefore, if you are not threatening the creature with enormous reach, you don't get an AoO against him.

CQB wouldn't help you in this case - unless there's something special in the CQB text. Can you post it here?

EDIT: To Add:

The fact that he has to reach into your square to start a grapple is immaterial. Otherwise, any attack with a natural weapon (and likely with most manufactured weapons, as well!) would provoke an AoO. It doesn't, so the reaching part doesn't matter.

 

[Mekabar]

I'd say yes, you always get the AoO. After all, the opponent has to reach into your square to start the grapple, and that's the part of its body you attack (claw, tentacle, whatever).

You say it. You can't possibly be grappled without the opponent touching you. So sure you get the AoO.

 

[Barendd Nobeard]

CQB wouldn't help you in this case - unless there's something special in the CQB text. Can you post it here?

I don't have the text with me, but I can post it later. As I recall, the text says something like, "You get an AoO, even if the opponent has an ability which allows him normally to avoid provoking an AoO." Or something like that. I'll post the feat tonight when I get home.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

If that's all it says, then you wouldn't get to attack him, since you don't actually threaten the person trying to grab you.

 

[Mekabar]

Ok, by the RAW you don't get an AoO, because you have to threaten the provoking opponent to do so. Seems reasonable at first glance, too.
But IMO it is a no-brainer, that if a creature with natural reach tries to grapple or unarmed trip, you can still get an AoO vs. the attacking limb. If your DM does not concede this, you can as well rules-lawyer that the dead can move and attack...

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

O
But IMO it is a no-brainer, that if a creature with natural reach tries to grapple or unarmed trip, you can still get an AoO vs. the attacking limb. If your DM does not concede this, you can as well rules-lawyer that the dead can move and attack...

So why don't I get an AoO against your sword when it enters my square?

Why don't I get an AoO against every monk attack?

 

[Mekabar]

It's not the 'entering of the square' that provokes the AoO, it's the 'reckless' combat maneuver that does. Note that the AoO is still provoked in this case, even by the rules, but normally you couldn't make it, because you are not threatening your opponent.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

The problem is that appendages don't provoke AoOs. Ever. Creatures do. If appendages don't provoke AoOs for movement - the most basic of all AoOs - why do they provoke them for special combat maneuvers?

 

[Nail]

Note that the AoO is still provoked in this case, even by the rules, but normally you couldn't make it, because you are not threatening your opponent.

AoOs are only provoked by a creature who occupies a threatened area. Without reach, you don't threaten. Simple!