Cover & Opportunity Attacks

[Hypersmurf]

As a 3.5 aside, this is not true. Cover from an ally did not, in fact, prevent AoO. So, at least you're not missing that.

Well, actually...

... in 3.5, cover from an ally did prevent AoOs. (For example, you could close with an ogre through his threatened space by first moving in behind an ally adjacent to the ogre, and the soft cover would prevent the AoO.)

However, moving through an ally's space didn't provide cover, and thus didn't prevent AoOs.

-Hyp.

 

[Plane Sailing]

Huh. It turns out that we had just unwittingly imported the 'no OA if you have cover' rule from 3e.

Still, it works OK for us and gives more interesting tactical options, so we'll probably just continue on with it

Cheers

 

[corwyn77]

Just a quick clarification so people don't get confused: Total Concealment does, as you have to see your target to get an opportunity attack.

Can I get an exact reference for this as my DM is allowing OAs against my drow while in my cloud of darkness.

Under Invisible, it says you don't provoke from those who can't see you. It doesn't actually say that under total concealment. My DM interprets this as a special feature of invisibility. Doesn't make much sense to me but there you go.

So a specific clarification, errata, etc would be useful.

 

[tiornys]

Can I get an exact reference for this as my DM is allowing OAs against my drow while in my cloud of darkness.

Under Invisible, it says you don't provoke from those who can't see you. It doesn't actually say that under total concealment. My DM interprets this as a special feature of invisibility. Doesn't make much sense to me but there you go.

So a specific clarification, errata, etc would be useful.

I'm AFB so I can't direct you to an exact page. I can however tell you what to look for. In one of the entries describing Opportunity Attacks (I think the one titled exactly that), there's a section describing requirements for making the attack. One of the requirements is that you can see the target.

Ergo, if you can't see the target, you can't make an OA on them, even if you otherwise know exactly where they are.

t~

edit: PHB p. 290, Opportunity Attack, Able to Attack

 

[Tremorsense]

edit: PHB p. 290, Opportunity Attack, Able to Attack

Hey thanks for that. My rogue player will be happy if it ever comes up again.

 

[Ninja-to]

Well thank god I don't play 3.5 anymore then, as it seems I didn't even have that right...

At least I now know that in 4th edition no cover is granted by allies in terms of AoO. It's a bit of a big deal since the question comes up every combat they get into melee.

Hm now about those corners... I'm assuming cover around a corner gives the standard -2 in a melee situation, but doens't help vs AoO.

In fact, in 4th edition, cover and AoO have nothing to do with each other unless it's total cover or total concealment. Right?