Easy Prone Combat Questions

[Plane Sailing]

I think a better way of avoiding an AoO while standing up might be to press Bluff into service. You can use Bluff to create a momentary distraction in order to allow a hide in the rules. I'd be happy allowing a Bluff check to create a momentary distraction in order to allow you to get up safely:

PC: Look! A three headed monkey!
Giant: Where?!? < glances round >
PC: < stands up >
Giant: Doh!

 

[Hypersmurf]

I think a better way of avoiding an AoO while standing up might be to press Bluff into service. You can use Bluff to create a momentary distraction in order to allow a hide in the rules. I'd be happy allowing a Bluff check to create a momentary distraction in order to allow you to get up safely:

PC: Look! A three headed monkey!
Giant: Where?!? < glances round >
PC: < stands up >
Giant: Doh!

This is where the old Quicker Than The Eye feat would be useful - it let you take an action without being observed. Since in 3.5, total concealment prevents AoOs, if you're not observed, you wouldn't get hit.

Of course, in 3E, total concealment didn't explicitly prevent AoOs, but then, standing didn't provoke in 3E...

-Hyp.

 

[billd91]

What I meant is, that crawling is a pointless action, standing up is always the better choice, except in extremely weird situations maybe.

Bye
Thanee

Crawling may not be a good idea when you are under threat of AoO, but if you're prone and your opponents are at a distance, you keep your prone bonus to AC vs ranged attack if you crawl. You'd lose that by standing up. So not always pointless and not that weird a situation.

 

[ThirdWizard]

Crawling may not be a good idea when you are under threat of AoO, but if you're prone and your opponents are at a distance, you keep your prone bonus to AC vs ranged attack if you crawl. You'd lose that by standing up. So not always pointless and not that weird a situation.

If people are readying actions to attack you it might be a good idea.

Otherwise, you can stand as a move action, move with your standard, and then drop prone as a free action.

 

[pogre]

Thanks for the replies.

I appreciate folks' grasp of the rules around here!

 

[frankthedm]

what was the tumble bonus of the person who was trying to argue this?

 

[Saeviomagy]

Personally - I'd let a high DC tumble check allow a stand from prone.

Because frankly - it seems stupid that there is absolutely no way to avoid the AOO that comes from standing up, when in just about every other situation there is a way to do so.

Standing up while remaining combat-savvy doesn't seem as hard as, say, casting a spell while doing so. Yet casting a spell in combat is a pretty simple roll.

I put it in the same basket as all the other "the D&D designers hate physical skills", along with the DC 40 to walk a tightrope, and the existence of a ring of jumping that costs 2,500 gp and only gives you a +5...

 

[pogre]

Personally - I'd let a high DC tumble check allow a stand from prone.

Because frankly - it seems stupid that there is absolutely no way to avoid the AOO that comes from standing up, when in just about every other situation there is a way to do so.

Standing up while remaining combat-savvy doesn't seem as hard as, say, casting a spell while doing so. Yet casting a spell in combat is a pretty simple roll.

I put it in the same basket as all the other "the D&D designers hate physical skills", along with the DC 40 to walk a tightrope, and the existence of a ring of jumping that costs 2,500 gp and only gives you a +5...

I hear ya', but the thing is - the reason I think it is so tough is to make the trip schtick more effective.

 

[pogre]

what was the tumble bonus of the person who was trying to argue this?

I think +15 or so. Oddly enough he was not arguing, we were both earnestly seeking the answer. Thankfully I have no rules lawyers in my group.

 

[Nyarlathotep]

In our game this weekend, the party was attacked by some Dire Wolves (who can Trip & did so rather successfully). After being dragged to the ground several times, one of the fighters decided to fight (full attack) while prone (with the -4 penalty). The rogue tumbled through the wolf's space to flank the wolf with the fighter and gain the benefit of his sneak attack.

I allowed it but it just seems wrong to me that a prone character threatens the spaces around him.

So my question is: Does a prone character threaten the area around him?