Combat questions

[Voadam]

Can a monk perform an unarmed attack when both hands are wielding a weapon? Kicks, head butts, etc.

It is a free action to drop a weapon, but how about to go from a one handed grip to a two handed grip? For instance, a spellcaster with bastard sword proficiency wields a bastard sword in one hand and has the other open for spellcasting. If someone provokes an AoO from him, can he get in a two-handed swing for 1.5 str damage, then hold it one handed on his turn and cast a spell?

What happens when a spellcaster takes an AoO while casting a full round spell?

PH or srd references would be appreciated,

Thanks.

 

[the Jester]

Can a monk perform an unarmed attack when both hands are wielding a weapon? Kicks, head butts, etc.

It is a free action to drop a weapon, but how about to go from a one handed grip to a two handed grip? For instance, a spellcaster with bastard sword proficiency wields a bastard sword in one hand and has the other open for spellcasting. If someone provokes an AoO from him, can he get in a two-handed swing for 1.5 str damage, then hold it one handed on his turn and cast a spell?

What happens when a spellcaster takes an AoO while casting a full round spell?

PH or srd references would be appreciated,

Thanks.

Being on the road and all, I don't have my books here... however, I'll take a shot at this anyhow.

The monk's unarmed strike can be performed with any body part; I'm pretty sure this is specified in the monk section of the PH under classes.

As far as I know, the "switching grips" issue hasn't got an official answer, but I allow it as a free action. However, if you want to change a weapon from one hand to the other I would call it a MEA unless you took a feat for it (which I have in my campaign- but again, the details require me to be on the other coast).

A spellcaster who takes a hit during casting has to make a concentration check, DC based on the damage, or lose the spell. See the concentration skill description. But the spellcaster only triggers AoO when beginning the spell's casting; this is either from the Sage or in Tome and Blood (not sure which off hand).

 

[Mahali]

1. Unfortunately yes.

2. I always considered switching grips a nonaction but free actions make sense so you can limit them easier.

3. They make a Concentration check as per the skill description. 15+spell lvl+damage I think.

 

[Crothian]

1. Unfortunately yes.

Why is this unfortunate?

And I agree with all three of thier answers.

 

[dcollins]

Can a monk perform an unarmed attack when both hands are wielding a weapon? Kicks, head butts, etc.

Here's a snippet from the Official FAQ on this issue -- v.08132002, p. 6:

If a monk wields a one-handed weapon, can he use his
unarmed damage if he kicks or headbutts someone? Or
does the monk have to actually be unarmed to get this
damage? What if the monk is armed with a two-handed
weapon?

A monk wielding a one-handed weapon (other than a special
monk weapon, see previous answer) can use the rules for
fighting with two weapons and can use his unarmed strike as an
off-hand attack, with all the appropriate penalties (see page 39
in the Player’s Handbook). The unarmed strike is considered a
light weapon.

Although the Player’s Handbook only mentions using the
unarmed attack as an off-hand attack, there’s no reason why a
monk couldn’t make his unarmed attack his primary attack. In
this case, the monk still must use his (lower) armed attack rate.

If the monk wields a two-handed weapon, he can use a kick
or similar attack as an off-hand attack. This works just like an
off-hand attack made along with a one-handed weapon attack.

 

[Voadam]

My number 3 question perhaps was less clear than it should have been.

A spellcaster casting a full round spell is next to someone who provokes an AoO, can the spellcaster make an AoO and continue with his spell or does that interrupt the spellcasting and if so would he lose the spell.

 

[Voadam]

Re: Re: Combat questions

Here's a snippet from the Official FAQ on this issue -- v.08132002, p. 6:

If the monk wields a two-handed weapon, he can use a kick
or similar attack as an off-hand attack. This works just like an
off-hand attack made along with a one-handed weapon attack.

Wow, I was thinking of holding a reach weapon two-handed for AoO threats and then kicking people up close, I hadn't even thought about two-weapon fighting with a greatsword or axe and combining it with monk kicks in a full attack.

 

[Stalker0]

Re: Re: Re: Combat questions

Wow, I was thinking of holding a reach weapon two-handed for AoO threats and then kicking people up close, I hadn't even thought about two-weapon fighting with a greatsword or axe and combining it with monk kicks in a full attack.

If you do the reach weapon, kick thing, you are fighting with two weapon penalties. And if you use a greatsword with your monk kicks, you can only use your iterative attacks based on your normal BAB, not your unarmed BAB.

 

[Voadam]

Stalker,

in the reach and kick, if one is used for full attacks and the other is only used for AoO then the character is never using two weapons (the polearm and the kick) at the same time. When he makes the AoO he is striking with only one weapon, the two weapon fighting penalties do not stick for a full round like power attack and expertise do. Two weapon penalties only apply when striking with two weapons in the same action.

 

[Voadam]

additional question

Another spellcasting question

Say a spellcaster with improved unarmed is casting a normal casting time spell. Somebody next to the spellcaster without improved unarmed tries to punch him or grapple him with a readied action. Either option provokes an AoO from the caster. Can the spellcaster use his AoO and still cast his spell (assuming he makes his concentration skill check if the readied action hits him and does damage).