Giantbane feat from CW?

[Legildur]

<sigh> I didn't realise how many rules holes there were in Complete Warrior until I looked closely....

The Giantbane [tactical] feat from Complete Warrior (p111) enables 3 tactical maneuvers: Duck Underneath; Death from Below; and Climb Aboard.

1. Does Duck Underneath (free action) provoke AOOs as normal from the opponent ducked under or from other opponents that threaten relevant squares you move through?

2. Is the resulting movement from Duck Underneath made at normal speed, or at the half speed associated with the Tumble skill (unless using accelerated tumbling)?

3. Is the attack from Death from Below a bonus attack? Or simply the attack you would have normally been entitled to [move plus standard action], but with the flat-footed and +4 attack bonus?

 

[Orm]

1. Does Duck Underneath (free action) provoke AOOs as normal from the opponent ducked under or from other opponents that threaten relevant squares you move through?

I don´t think so. That´s what the tumble check is for.

2. Is the resulting movement from Duck Underneath made at normal speed, or at the half speed associated with the Tumble skill (unless using accelerated tumbling)?

It says "immediately" in the description.

3. Is the attack from Death from Below a bonus attack? Or simply the attack you would have normally been entitled to [move plus standard action], but with the flat-footed and +4 attack bonus?

I suppose it´s a bonus attack. "...make an immediate attack..."

Orm

 

[howandwhy99]

Duck Underneath and Death from Below are contingent on each other. To even initiate them you need to stand right next to a large or larger foe and take the Full Round Action: Total Defense.

- If the creature attacks at you during the turn you use Total Defense AND the attack misses, you make an free action "duck underneath" attempt (Tumble DC:15) to move to the other side of the creature. Not exactly a great feat in itself.

- If you successfully perform a "duck underneath", you gain an immediate action, this time an attack from which the creature loses it's dexterity bonus. "Death from Below" is a feat great for Rogues in other words.

- Neither action counts against your action total. They are stackable (free & immediate), but require a Full Round Action to use. You would act normally on your next turn from your potentially new position. You could even use the manuever again hoping the creature attempts to hit you again. (so this won't work for long on anyone smart)

 

[Staffan]

Duck Underneath and Death from Below are contingent on each other. To even initiate them you need to stand right next to a large or larger foe and take the Full Round Action: Total Defense.

It's a standard action, not a full-round action. So you do get a move as well.

The big disadvantage of Duck Underneath/Death from Below is that it relies on the big guy attacking *you*. If he doesn't, you wasted your action. The feat Goad from Complete Adventurer seems like a good thing to combo with Giantbane - it lets you use a move action to force someone to attack you (if it attacks anyone - it could still cast a spell or something instead) unless they succeed in a Will save (10+half your level+ChaBonus).