Dwarven rogue/fighter tumbling AoO question

[Petrosian]

So, in 3.5...

when a dwarven rogue-fighter in full plate picks up an ally and makes his tumble check for moving past an enemy, we know the dwarf is now not subject to AoOs.

However, what about the teammate he is carrying while tumbling? Is he covered by the dwarf's tumble check, or does he provoke AoOs for moving, albeit not under his control, past the enemy?

 

[Tabarnak Smokeblower]

Hm.

I'd say, since the teammate is now part of the dwarf's equipment, he's not subject to AoO's. Why? Well, if the teammate did incur AoO's, then, when the dwarf tumbles by another monster, not carrying a teammate, but carrying instead his backpack, why shouldn't the backpack incur AoO's as well? (yes my reasoning is silly, and kinda goes against the AoO's in bull rushes)

TS

 

[IndyPendant]

Depends on how evilly realistic you want to be as a GM.

Does he have a weapon and/or shield? Better sheathe it as a move-equivalent action (or two) that (both) draw attacks of opportunity without Quickdraw. Then he must 'Pick up an item' as yet another move-equivalent action that provokes an attack of opportunity; his ally cannot help if he wants the benefit of tumbling, because he has to be considered an 'inanimate object'. *Now* he's ready to go; don't forget to apply negative modifiers to the dwarf's tumbling roll for the armour or the heavy encumbrance, whichever is worse. And don't try to tell me a dwarf can go through a tumbling routine holding 200+ pounds while holding it with one hand. Umm...no. Both hands occupied. At the end of it, assuming the dwarf succeeds--great! He's on the other side of the baddies--without shield or weapon ready. And, was the picked-up character large size? Hmm...how much damage did he take from being flailed around as the dwarf went through his tumbling routine, banging his head, arms, and legs into anything and everything? (He has to be an inanimate object to gain the benefit, remember; the dwarf won't be able to control flailing limbs while doing his routine...)

No passengers allowed on tumbling in my campaigns--at least, pre-epic levels, anyways...: )