Disarm question

[Genesist]

I have a question about disarming.

So let's say I am using a spiked chain wielder with improved trip and disarm. I trip them, and then with my free attack disarm them. Standing up is a move action, but what kinda of action is picking up their weapon after having been disarmed?

Also do I get a bonus to disarm for them being prone?

 

[Sekhmet]

Prone
The character is on the ground. An attacker who is prone has a -4 penalty on melee attack rolls and cannot use a ranged weapon (except for a crossbow). A defender who is prone gains a +4 bonus to Armor Class against ranged attacks, but takes a -4 penalty to AC against melee attacks.

Standing up is a move-equivalent action that provokes an attack of opportunity.

No bonus to disarm explicitly.

Also, from the SRD as well (though not worded in such a way as to allow copying/pasting), picking up an item/weapon that has been cast aside is a move action that provokes an attack of opportunity.

 

[Genesist]

So it sounds like it would take two turns of move actions for one to stand and pick up a weapon? My DM is going to be running a vampire campaign (we are fighting vampires) in which we will encounter "low numbers of stronger foes", so I'm thinking that disarm may actually be quite useful on a regular basis, we are level 7.

 

[Sekhmet]

Disarm's not bad.

 

[Genesist]

Am I correct that after tripping and disarming it would take three turns before they could move towards me for an attack? The first standing, the second grabbing weapon. And third attacking, assuming I haven't tripped them again?

 

[Sekhmet]

Without any feats or special abilities, it would take one turn to stand (in which he could draw another weapon and attack you), and then one turn to grab his disarmed weapon and attack you with it.

 

[Genesist]

But I am out of range. I am playing a ranger 1/figher 2/barb 1/sorc 1/dragon disciple 2, so I will always be enlarged. So combat would optimally go something like:

They provoke aoo: Trip->aoo
My turn: full attack
They stand-> Disarm (I back up 5 feet as free action)
They move towards me -> trip etc.

This way they can't easily attack with second weapon.

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

You get a +4 bonus on attacks against prone enemies, and a prone enemy takes a -4 penalty on attack rolls. Disarm is an opposed attack roll, so being prone actually nets you a +8 bonus and is pretty sweet. And they would need separate move actions to stand up and grab their weapon. Both would provoke AoOs.

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

You can take two move actions in one turn. A creature could pick up its weapon and stand on the same round, but wouldn't be able to do much else other than 5 ft step, swift action, and so forth.

 

[Sekhmet]

If you're always enlarged, it would go something like this.

Sekhmet Charge -> Sekhmet makes a Single Attack
Genesist's turn: Trip, Attack
Sekhmet stands (AoO): Genesist Disarms: Sekhmet either picks up his weapon or performs another action

You don't get to make a 5 Foot Step when it is not your turn.
Genesist's turn comes again, you're still next to Sekhmet, and I threaten you.

Disregarding the Charge action -

Sekhmet moves into your threatened square - you Trip on the AoO.
Sekhmet stands, makes a Five Foot Step to threaten you.
Genesist Full Attacks.
Sekhmet Full Attacks.

With this being said, choosing to Disarm during your attack action (You have two attacks, so Attack, Disarm or Disarm, Attack), you would always come out ahead.
Assume I also have two attacks.

You Attack, then Disarm.
I pick my weapon up, and can only make a standard action (because I've already used a move action to pick up my weapon), which means I only get one attack AND I still take a second attack each round from you (because of the AoO).