Ending up in the same "square"

[kengar]

What are the rules for this? Under what circumstances could a PC and an opponent be considered to occupy the same 5' square and what penalties/modifiers might apply? I remember reading a few lines about moving through occupied spaces in the DMG, but nothing about ending up there.

 

[Caliban]

What are the rules for this?

Don't do it unless you are grappling.

Under what circumstances could a PC and an opponent be considered to occupy the same 5' square and what penalties/modifiers might apply?

By the rules, only when grappling, or if one character is much smaller than the other.

I remember reading a few lines about moving through occupied spaces in the DMG, but nothing about ending up there.

By the core rules you aren't supposed to do it except under certain circumstances.

As a house rule, I allow people to do it when it makes sense, but each one acts as cover against any attacks made by the other one (which gives you a chance of hitting the guy in your square as he get's in your way).

 

[0-hr]

The "Bullrush" rules suggest that If that space is occupied, the combatant falls prone in that space.

 

[MerakSpielman]

You can go through an occupied enemy square by Tumbling (DC25). I'm not sure if this is official, but we let characters move through friendly-occupied squares if the other character is not engaged in melee.

What if somebody drops to negative hp, and you're fighting in the spot they were standing, when somebody cures them? I guess you have to move.

 

[AuraSeer]

You can go through an occupied enemy square by Tumbling (DC25). I'm not sure if this is official, but we let characters move through friendly-occupied squares if the other character is not engaged in melee.

By the book, you can always move through the square of someone who lets you past. If that character is in melee, you probably take an AoO from his opponent, but you can still get through.

 

[Enkhidu]

From the way we read it, any time two opponents are in the same square they are automatically in a grapple situation. Any time two allies are in the same square, one of them is prone.

 

[kengar]

The situation where this became an issue was when the rogue -with his Boots of Striding & Springing leapt onto a rowboat (5*10) that held two kidnappers and the prone victim (tied & gagged). I told him if he wanted to end up in the boat, he had to bull-rush or grapple one of the occupants. He tried and failed a grapple. I said he can't stay in that square and falls out of the boat (because he failed to grab hold of the opponent). This caused a general uproar at the table so I finally relented, ad hoc ruling that he was in the same square but couldn't attack normally (Tiny weapons or unarmed only, a la grapples) and lost his DEX bonus to AC. MORE grumbling, but they dealt with it.

I still think -by the rules- he should have fallen out of the boat, but I was simply too tired at this point in the session to continue arguing.

 

[Enkhidu]

I still think -by the rules- he should have fallen out of the boat, but I was simply too tired at this point in the session to continue arguing.

By letter of the rules, you were right in your ruling. However, sometimes bending rules on the fly can help a game. Good call!

 

[Stalker0]

I ruled that you can move into an opponent's square, taking AOO from the move, even if its a 5 foot step. But from there you have to take some kind of combat action to stay there, I allow trip, grapple, or bullrush.

 

[Tiberius]

By the book, you can always move through the square of someone who lets you past. If that character is in melee, you probably take an AoO from his opponent, but you can still get through.

Wouldn't the person through whose space you are passing provide half cover, and thus prevent attacks of opportunity from the opponent?

-Tiberius