Enlarged spiked chain

[Erywin]

Also when makng Melee attacks against those who are not adjacent to you, you determine cover as a ranged weapon. So good placement can bone you out of a few AoOs.

Could I get a page reference? This has come up in our games before and I would like to find a RAW ruling on it. Cheers.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Could I get a page reference? This has come up in our games before and I would like to find a RAW ruling on it. Cheers.

Under Combat Modifiers in the Combat chapter of your PHB... though you may need to check the errata, since originally it was printed with a 'ranged'/'melee' mixup on one line.

COVER
To determine whether your target has cover from your ranged attack, choose a corner of your square. If any line from this corner to any corner of the target’s square passes through a square or border that blocks line of effect or provides cover, or through a square occupied by a creature, the target has cover (+4 to AC).

When making a melee attack against an adjacent target, your target has cover if any line from your square to the target’s square goes through a wall (including a low wall). When making a melee attack against a target that isn’t adjacent to you (such as with a reach weapon), use the rules for determining cover from ranged attacks.

-Hyp.

 

[Erywin]

Thanks Hyp.

 

[Legildur]

And here is how to use cover to deny the enlarged combatant all AoOs in the above situation. Trolls might not be tactical enough to do so, but this is just to show how to use cover to avoid AoOs.

Which is why a level of Exotic Weapon Master (Complete Warrior) with the appropriate stunt, to allow AOOs even through (soft?) cover, is a good idea if you intend to try and make the most of it.

 

[Legildur]

Yes. Do note that once you get more than 10' reach, you have to use the 1, then 2, 1, then 2 method for counting diagonally across squares.

I was sure that reach weapons determined it differently. What you have quoted relates to movement. However, I can't find anything in the SRD to confirm my beliefs, so it will have to wait until I can get my hands on my PHB.

 

[Hypersmurf]

I was sure that reach weapons determined it differently.

A reach of ten feet lets you strike creatures two squares diagonally away, explicitly noted (somewhere) as an exception to the normal 1-2-1 rule for diagonals.

My understanding is that this is intended to represent the fact that someone approaching you from thirty feet away must pass through the threat range of a longspear (ten feet) at some point... but on a grid, from the right angle, they would go from 15 feet (unthreatened) to 5 feet (unthreatened) without entering a square which is considered 10 feet away.

I don't have the book in front of me (which is why I coloured the squares ambiguously above), so I can't remember how the exception is phrased, and whether it only applies for a reach of ten feet or not - if reach exceeds 10 feet, does this cease to be the case?

-Hyp.

 

[blargney the second]

Wow, so soft cover (ie other creatures) provides defense against AoOs. Have I ever been running that wrong!

 

[Hypersmurf]

Wow, so soft cover (ie other creatures) provides defense against AoOs. Have I ever been running that wrong!

Only if you aren't adjacent.

It's pretty tricky to manage to be adjacent with a creature in between, but if you manage it, he won't prevent an AoO...

-Hyp.

 

[BASHMAN]

If a cleric using a spiked chain (w/ its 10' reach), enlarged himself, by spell. Would the spiked chain have a 20' reach?

Yes. So be sure you have combat reflexes and a high dex to cash in on the AOO goodness you ar sure to reap in!

 

[Jhaelen]

if we are going so RAW it hurts, I think this still applies... Large or larger creatures using reach weapons can strike up to double their natural reach but can’t strike at their natural reach or less. So the pale orange is not threatened.

Hmm. Could someone explain to me why a Balor's whip has 20' reach then?