Does moving a spell effect provoke opportunity attacks?

[Menexenus]

Hi all. My group played 3.5 for a long time and only recently decided to try 4E. So we're all kind of new to the whole thing. So please forgive my ignorance. I'm sure this is a really stupid question, but here goes anyway:

If a wizard has an ongoing spell effect (one that is sustained by a minor action) and uses a move action to move the effect, does that provoke opportunity attacks? I know that casting a spell while threatened would provoke, but I didn't think that moving an already existing spell effect would. What do you guys say? Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[OnlineDM]

You are correct. You only provoke an opportunity attack for moving out of a threatened square without shifting or making a ranged or area attack from a threatened square. Moving a conjuration or zone is none of these, so it doesn't provoke.

 

[Dice4Hire]

I agree.

 

[the Jester]

You are mostly right.

Moving a zone or whatever won't in itself provoke; but if you get to make a ranged or area attack by virtue of moving it... it will.

 

[ppaladin123]

So the Warlord's power "Knight's Move," does not provoke? I was under the impression that any "move" action provokes.

 

[Destil]

So the Warlord's power "Knight's Move," does not provoke? I was under the impression that any "move" action provokes.

Knight's Move provokes when used, because it's a ranged power (the Ranged 10 part). If the warlord is adjacent to an opponent (or within the reach of an opponent with threatening reach) they get an AoO.

In addition, because it says 'move' (not shift or slide) the target of the power also provokes if they leave a threatened square during the move.

Note that because creatures only get one opportunity action per turn and both actions happen during the same turn (the warlord's) if the warlord used the power and both he and the target were next to the same creature that creature would only get to make one AoO.

 

[Dr_Ruminahui]

Well, it does give the PC a move action - so if the PC uses that move action to shift, it wouldn't provoke. Though, if the PC just walked away, then it would.

 

[hvg3akaek]

You only provoke an opportunity attack for ...making a ranged or area attack from a threatened square.

Actually, the rule is:

Ranged and Area Powers Provoke: If an enemy adjacent to you uses a ranged power or an area power, you can make an opportunity attack against that enemy.

That is, it's not the attack that provokes, but using a ranged or area power. Ranged utility powers (that are not attacks) still provoke.

Now - as to what "using" is, that is a much more fuzzy topic. Sustaining a ranged power, especially when the power does something further, definitely could be argued to still be using it, and thus would provoke an OA.

 

[OnlineDM]

[MENTION=71190]hvg3akaek[/MENTION]: True, a ranged or area utility power or class feature or whatever (non-attack) will also provoke. However, I firmly disagree with the interpretation that sustaining such a power counts as "using" it for the purpose of deciding whether it provokes an opportunity attack. I agree that the rules are slightly fuzzy here, but I've never seen sustaining provoke an opportunity attack at any of the tables where I've played. I see where you're coming from, but I disagree with that interpretation.

 

[Dr_Ruminahui]

I'm with OnlineDM on this - if sustaining is "using" a power, then you can never sustain a daily or encounter power, as one can only "use" such a power once per day/encounter.