Don't let the sword hit you on the way out!

[nijineko]

seems like if someone is entering a threatened space, they are likely aware of that fact and are more on guard, thus less likely to provoke. moving past someone to get at another foe is much more likely to give an unintended opening in the defenses. try tumble instead.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

picture two combatants, swords out, facing each other, moving around each other, looking for that right moment to strike.

The question is how to do this mechanically.

It's called an attack roll.

You should also look into the rules on Feinting in combat, and the Improved Feint feat (which requires the Combat Expertise feat as a prereq).

 

[Summer-Knight925]

there are "base defense bonus' stuff in unearthed arcana, that could be a good way to gauge the defender, like he rolls a d20 and if his defense is less than the attacker's attack then he is considered flat-footed

something like that

but that would make hitting some monsters to easy (will-o'-wisps anyone?)

unless you had magic armor bonuses (+1, +2, +3, +4 & +5) added to the roll (like a sword) as well as a shield bonus

the idea is that rarely you would catch an foe off-guard during combat, unless he is less trained than you, i think that is fairly realistic and not to complex

I am adding this to my homebrew

 

[Herremann the Wise]

Interesting ideas Water Bob and something worth questioning. A couple of questions:
- Is charging more likely to offer opportunity or is simply moving into a threatened square?
- Is an attack of opportunity really that useful considering the minimal damage it does? Should it do more (expanded crit range perhaps or a myriad of other adjustments)?
- Rather than offer an attack of opportunity when an opponent enters a threatened square, is it more interesting to offer an opportunity of defense: an attack roll that is performed to cancel a charging/moving attacker's initial strike (as an opposed attack roll), dealing with the defender's AC as normal if this defense is not successful?
- Do we need to have two styles of movement: regular "movement" and "shifting"? Movement offers opportunity while shifting does not.

As a point of interest, in our very first session of 3e (Sunless Citadel), we accidentally played it that moving into a threatened square (compared to taking a 5' step) provoked opportunity. While we coorected this the next session, our initial concept is that yes it would provoke opportunity.

Best Regards
Herremann the Wise

 

[Water Bob]

Is charging more likely to offer opportunity or is simply moving into a threatened square?

Hm... Dunno.

- Is an attack of opportunity really that useful considering the minimal damage it does?

Why do you say it does minimal damage? Doesn't it to the same damage as any other hit?

- Rather than offer an attack of opportunity when an opponent enters a threatened square, is it more interesting to offer an opportunity of defense:

Very interesting thought. I like the way you think.

 

[thywolf]

you can 5 foot step into and out of a threatened square with out provoking AoO in 3.5 as for running away you can declare a full withdraw, or a partial withdraw to leave a the threaten area to get twice you movement speed away (or just your normal movement with partial).


@ Eric

For laying down and mounting a horse. Lay down, then stand up. Obvious.

Mounting a horse, I don't know about you but I can figure out a way to jump on a horse without having to give it full attention

Same with opening and closing a door, easy to do with one hang or not giving it much attention, while picking up an item kinda acquire you to look at it alittle longer and pick it up.

Escapinga grapple: Your either being held by the one who would get the AoO or the struggle between you and the one holding you would make it really hard to take a clear hit on you and not their buddy


5 foot steps

a 5 foot step is something easy to do (maybe not irl.. but everything is 5 foot increments in DnD) its a simple step

if your limited to a 5 foot movement, you gotta struggle to take that 5 feet their for it no longer the simple movement.

for something more real terms to explain it: Take a step, easy to do. Then go take a step in knee deep mud, you hadda struggle with it more then simpley stepping


Now unarmed strike: It allows you to make a melee attack without Provoking an AoO, and get them verses someone who attacks you unarmed with out it. Meaning you know how to fight with your fists, your not some random punk who thinks he can fight with them any more. It doesn't help with grappling because that is not striking :3 that is grappling. Thus improved grapple means your trained to grapple

 

[PureGoldx58]

where?

I am fairly certain it was in the book Complete Warrior, hold the line maybe. Something to do with Hold, I am on the wrong computer to double check this.

 

[AdmundfortGeographer]

The veil has been lifted from mine eyes, lo, after all these years.