Forked Thread: If I'm Dominated, and Have no Weapon, am I no threat?

[Rechan]

While this is forked from "Opportunity attacks/with no melee weaponry", a thought occurs to me.

Various monsters have domination powers, or other effects like "You, make a basic attack against one of your allies."

If a character does not have any melee weaponry, how do they make basic attacks against their allies in this manner? Could the monster force them to pick up a dagger?

Can they use a basic ranged attack (such as magic missile, eldrich blast)?

 

[James McMurray]

If you are dominated, the monster controls your actions. You are not limited to basic attacks, you're limited to only using at wills if you use a power. You can still grab someone, bull rush them into dangerous scenery, jump off a cliff, etc.

If you're limited to basic attacks by the monster power, you can still make unarmed attacks as improvised weapons. You won't be much of a threat. You can definitely use basic ranged attacks like MM and EB, unless the effect specifies melee only.

 

[Belac]

They can still use punches as improvised weapons. They won't be serious threats most of the time, though. One time when I used a beholder or something that had the effect, the fighter dropped his weapon after being dominated once or twice. Each round, he'd pick up his weapon, hit the beholder, and drop it again. Cheesy, but so is Dominate. There was a disadvantage since he couldn't do much damage if the beholder provoked his combat challenge attack, but it was worth it.

 

[nittanytbone]

The domination can also kill you pretty quickly. They can have you mechanically run (and thus grant CA) through a gauntlet of enemies who take OAs. Or dash yourself onto a trap. Or jump off a cliff. Or climb into a cage. All these things are quite dangerous to the group and may divert resources (actions, powers, etc) away from killing monsters and towards keeping you alive.

 

[James McMurray]

Domination dazes you, which already grants CA. But the running might add an extra OA or two. Or if the battlefield is laid out properly, they could have you charge past some enemies, take OAs, then cap it off with an attack on an ally. I'm looking forward to doing this to the barbarian in our epic game, whose at wills can sometimes be done after a charge, and which do a ton of damage.

They could have you lay down and make yourself helpless, then CdG you (or have their underlings do it).

I typically have them attack their allies, since that makes it a two-edged sword. But I've also had the PC remove and throw away their weapon belt as well.

 

[Rechan]

The domination can also kill you pretty quickly. They can have you mechanically run (and thus grant CA) through a gauntlet of enemies who take OAs.

Actually, this spawns a new question.

The monster that made me ask this is the Mad Wrath. It says "You, move and use a basic attack against an ally as a free action."

Though, this raises a new question given your comment and the Wraith's power. "Move as a free action". Does this count as a move, which causes OAs?

 

[Stormtalon]

Well, if you're Dominated by a Blade Banshee's lvl 20 Daily power you are most CERTAINLY a threat....

 

[James McMurray]

Though, this raises a new question given your comment and the Wraith's power. "Move as a free action". Does this count as a move, which causes OAs?

Yes. It's not forced movement or shifting, nor does it specify that it doesn't provoke, so it will. OAs are not triggered by "he took a move action." They're triggered when an enemy "leaves a square adjacent to you."

 

[Rechan]

Yes. It's not forced movement or shifting, nor does it specify that it doesn't provoke, so it will. OAs are not triggered by "he took a move action." They're triggered when an enemy "leaves a square adjacent to you."

Thaanks

Mad Wraths are great. Especially when coupled with normal wraths. THeir dazing aura = Combat advantage for normal wraiths.

 

[Grydan]

Thaanks

Mad Wraths are great. Especially when coupled with normal wraths. THeir dazing aura = Combat advantage for normal wraiths.

A Mad Wraith and a couple of hellhounds (with a little bit of help from a wizardy BBEG) wiped out our entire party last session. Mad Wraiths are MEAN.