Does a PC in Total Defense get an AoO vs someone who charges them?
- Thread starter blargney
- Start date
Hypersmurf
Moderatarrrrh...
As I understand it, a Sage reply stated that Total Defence does not preclude AoOs.
Someone cannot charge from 5' away - you must move at least 10 feet in a straight line before the attack to qualify for a charge.
If they charge you from ten feet away, they do not provoke an AoO unless you have greater than 5' reach and they charge through one of your threatened spaces. Moving into a threatened square does not provoke; moving out of one does.
-Hyp.
Someone cannot charge from 5' away - you must move at least 10 feet in a straight line before the attack to qualify for a charge.
If they charge you from ten feet away, they do not provoke an AoO unless you have greater than 5' reach and they charge through one of your threatened spaces. Moving into a threatened square does not provoke; moving out of one does.
-Hyp.
Last edited:
Maitre Du Donjon
First Post
Another situation for the same question.
Say we have Bob the fighter. On his turn, he decides to fight defensively. He gets a +2 bonus to AC and a -4 penalty to his attack rolls until he acts again. So if Jim the Evil Archer is within reach and shoots an arrow at Bob, Bob would get an AoO vs. Jim at a -4 penalty to attack yes?
Say Bob the fighter, on his next round, is almost dead, can't really move, and has to wait for his cleric buddy to come to him to heal. Bob decides to get into Total Defense mode. He gets a +4 bonus to his AC. Jim the Evil Archer is still within reach (his real name is actually Jim Slugbrain) and shoots and arrow at Bob, would Bob still get an AoO? With or without penalty? If its with a penalty, how much?
Maitre D
Say we have Bob the fighter. On his turn, he decides to fight defensively. He gets a +2 bonus to AC and a -4 penalty to his attack rolls until he acts again. So if Jim the Evil Archer is within reach and shoots an arrow at Bob, Bob would get an AoO vs. Jim at a -4 penalty to attack yes?
Say Bob the fighter, on his next round, is almost dead, can't really move, and has to wait for his cleric buddy to come to him to heal. Bob decides to get into Total Defense mode. He gets a +4 bonus to his AC. Jim the Evil Archer is still within reach (his real name is actually Jim Slugbrain) and shoots and arrow at Bob, would Bob still get an AoO? With or without penalty? If its with a penalty, how much?
Maitre D
Hypersmurf
Moderatarrrrh...
Wihtout going to the FAQ to actually check, I believe an official position was taken that Total Defence does not prevent AoOs, and since no penalty is listed, no penalty applies. I think the Sage also said he'd use the same -4 in his campaign as Fighting Defensively, but that it was a House Rule.
-Hyp.
-Hyp.
Hypersmurf
Moderatarrrrh...
Power Attack definitely affects AoOs.
Attacking with two weapons is debated.
I don't know what "So... but well." means...
-Hyp.
Attacking with two weapons is debated.
I don't know what "So... but well." means...
-Hyp.
Rel
Liquid Awesome
Hypersmurf said:
I'm not disagreeing with the rules validity of this approach, Hyp. I don't have my books with me and I'm in no position to dispute how official it is. I'll take your word for it because you are rarely wrong about such things.
But I have to say that I have a few problems with that approach from a balance standpoint. I've seen several character builds that are designed around getting most of their attacks from AoO's at low levels. The Spiked Chain/Combat Reflexes idea, just for one.
To allow such a character to move toward the enemy, go Total Defense for a +4 (+6 with 5 ranks of Tumble) AC bonus and then take several AoO's at full attack bonus when the bad guys move up to attack, seems a bit overly powerful.
You know that I'm a fan of your "wild swings" explanation of AoO's and I guess that my feeling is that while in Total Defense mode, you are too focused on dodging or parrying within your own 5' square to make any such wild swings that might lead to an AoO.
I suppose this further begs the issue about whether you Threaten while in Total Defense. Again, I'd probably say no, though it does tend to impinge on my current character's (Halfling Rogue) ability to have a comerade move into Flanking and Total Defense to keep out of danger.
There doesn't seem to be a published rule reason you can't take AoOs while you do a full deffensive. Logically, this would equate to actively watching for blows and deflecting/dodging them. Given I have a different explanation of AoOs (reaction to an opening) I don't mind the concept.
Look at the most powerful example of what you could do: spiked chain wielder, full defensive, combat reflexes. That is 2 feats just to get a chance to hit and a good AC boost. It fails to provide hits if your opponent makes tumble DC15, has reach, can use another opponent for cover and avoid the AoO, or doesn't approach you. Archers have no problem lobbing arrows at you (from 15 or more feet). You have good AC, but reduced damage potential. Seems fair.
Look at the most powerful example of what you could do: spiked chain wielder, full defensive, combat reflexes. That is 2 feats just to get a chance to hit and a good AC boost. It fails to provide hits if your opponent makes tumble DC15, has reach, can use another opponent for cover and avoid the AoO, or doesn't approach you. Archers have no problem lobbing arrows at you (from 15 or more feet). You have good AC, but reduced damage potential. Seems fair.
Sir Whiskers
First Post
Total Defense
"You can simply defend yourself and move during a round as a standard action. You don't attack or perform any other activity other than moving your speed..." (PH, page 127)
Attacks of Opportunity
"You threaten the area into which you can make a melee attack, even when it is not your action." (PH, page 122)
You can make an attack of opportunity if you are able to make a melee attack into the threatened square - the important words being "into which you can make a melee attack". This can be interpreted two ways:
1) If you are physically able to make a melee attack, even if you choose not to, or...
2) If you are physically able to make a melee attack, AND you have not selected an action which prevents attacking.
I tend to go with the second option. Otherwise, what happens when a spellcaster casts a full-round spell, but has a weapon in hand when an opponent prompts an AoO? Would you rule that he still gets the AoO, even though he has chosen an action which normally forbids attacking until his next action? In both examples (total defense and full-round spell), the character has chosen an action that limits his options until his next action. This also neatly avoids the whole issue of what modifier to apply to the AoO, since Total Defense does not specify one, though Fighting Defensively does (-4 penalty).
"You can simply defend yourself and move during a round as a standard action. You don't attack or perform any other activity other than moving your speed..." (PH, page 127)
Attacks of Opportunity
"You threaten the area into which you can make a melee attack, even when it is not your action." (PH, page 122)
You can make an attack of opportunity if you are able to make a melee attack into the threatened square - the important words being "into which you can make a melee attack". This can be interpreted two ways:
1) If you are physically able to make a melee attack, even if you choose not to, or...
2) If you are physically able to make a melee attack, AND you have not selected an action which prevents attacking.
I tend to go with the second option. Otherwise, what happens when a spellcaster casts a full-round spell, but has a weapon in hand when an opponent prompts an AoO? Would you rule that he still gets the AoO, even though he has chosen an action which normally forbids attacking until his next action? In both examples (total defense and full-round spell), the character has chosen an action that limits his options until his next action. This also neatly avoids the whole issue of what modifier to apply to the AoO, since Total Defense does not specify one, though Fighting Defensively does (-4 penalty).
