Forked Thread: Commanding allies

[Khime]

Forked from: Collected Core Handbook Errata

Do you think the rules for forced movement require revision?

Currently, sliding does not provoke AoOs, and it apparently disregards terrain. So in theory, a PC could use a power like command to order another PC to slide a certain distance, which among other things, could allow him to escape immobilizing effects such as being grabbed, and he can still move away to safety (since being slided does not provoke AoOs).

Those limitations were clearly instituted to prevent monsters from being at the mercy of players (such as pushing an enemy past multiple PCs having it provoke AoOs from all of them), but the flip side is that it then becomes some sort of "get out of jail free" card because it allows you to bypass just about every sort of restriction on movement.

Thoughts?

I saw this over in the Errata thread, and wanted to see if there was a consensus about this. Per the DM's Guide...

Legitimate Targets
When a power has an effect that occurs upon hitting a target—or reducing a target to 0 hit points—the power functions only when the target in question is a meaningful threat. Characters can gain no benefit from carrying a sack of rats in hopes of healing their allies by hitting the rats.

That seems to indicate to me that you can't actually attack your allies with Attack powers (like Command, which has an effect that occurs upon hitting a target), as they will not function.

Am I reading too much into this paragraph?

 

[Dalzig]

I would say the "Rats-in-a-bag" rule doesn't apply in this case.

 

[Larrin]

An ally IS a meaningful threat. He can deal out just as much pain as you can (in his own special way), and should he turn on you, you will be threatened. Bag of Rats doesn't apply to things that can kill a full grown troll.

 

[Khime]

Hmm. I had told a player he couldn't use Radiant Pulse on an ally (or himself), basically setting up an encounter-long PBAOE centered on the original target with just a minor sustain, basec on the 'credible threat' clause.

My reasoning was that you and your allies aren't a threat until/unless they're actually attacking you, at which point they're enemies. I'll have to rethink that stance.

Would you be considered a credible threat to youself? Can you use attack powers on yourself, then, if the target is "one creature"? Interesting.

 

[amysrevenge]

Conversely, I reckon that the "sack of rats" clause *does* apply in this case.

 

[Dalzig]

Conversely, I reckon that the "sack of rats" clause *does* apply in this case.

That begs the question of why it says "Creature" then. If it was meant to only affect non-allies, they would have put "Enemy" instead.