First Aid during combat

[Hjorimir]

One of my players wanted to apply some first aid to an ally in the thick of combat. Both of the players were being threatened by enemies, so my first ruling was that such an action would provoke an opportunity attack.

Now, in review, I don't see any rules - anywhere - that talk about the use of skills in combat. The opening section under Opportunity Attacks reads "Combatants constantly watch for their enemies to drop their guard. When you’re adjacent to an enemy, that enemy can’t move past you or use a ranged power or an area power without putting itself in danger by allowing you to take an opportunity attack against it."

While that certainly doesn't constitute what I'd call a rule, it seems the spirit of what provokes and Opportunity Attack is clear when somebody performs an action that force them to "drop their guard."

I am curious what others think about this situation. It seems that an opportunity attack and/or granting combat advantage might be in order, but let me know what you all think!

Thanks much.

 

[webrunner]

One of my players wanted to apply some first aid to an ally in the thick of combat. Both of the players were being threatened by enemies, so my first ruling was that such an action would provoke an opportunity attack.

Now, in review, I don't see any rules - anywhere - that talk about the use of skills in combat. The opening section under Opportunity Attacks reads "Combatants constantly watch for their enemies to drop their guard. When you’re adjacent to an enemy, that enemy can’t move past you or use a ranged power or an area power without putting itself in danger by allowing you to take an opportunity attack against it."

While that certainly doesn't constitute what I'd call a rule, it seems the spirit of what provokes and Opportunity Attack is clear when somebody performs an action that force them to "drop their guard."

I am curious what others think about this situation. It seems that an opportunity attack and/or granting combat advantage might be in order, but let me know what you all think!

Thanks much.

Virtually every skill use lists their kind of action- therefore, they are taken to be the rules for using it in combat. As written, first aid does not grant an opportunity attack. If you think it should, that's a different story.

 

[Surgoshan]

It's a DC 15 check that takes a standard action. It's a pretty hardcore action as it is. Now, if they wanted to devote their attention to it, you could say it's a DC10 standard action that provokes OA. That, I think, would be fair.

 

[Mengu]

By RAW, no opportunity attack. How to explain it?

Use Second Wind: Maybe you break off an arrow thats moving around and causing some pain. Maybe there is an armor plate bent out of shape causing pain, and you yank it out or adjust it. Maybe there is some lightning still dancing on the armor and causing pain, that you ground away. Seems you should be able to do these things without drawing an attack.

Stabilize the dying: You kneel low enough that you avoid opportunity attacks that may come your way.

Grant a Saving Throw: Maybe you pat the back of your burning ally with you cloak. Maybe you pour some water from your waterskin to washaway the acid. You could easily be defensive enough while taking these actions.

I would try not to think of first aid as pulling out a medkit and applying bandages.

 

[Deltran]

I would try not to think of first aid as pulling out a medkit and applying bandages.

2nd. Hit points are the most abstract they have ever been. Using Heal duirng combat should be treated with the same level of abstraction.