Hey Big Brains Check this thread out! AKA Whirlwind with a 5' step?

[Psifon]

I assume that this question has been asked, but I can't find it in the archives.

According to page 124 of the PHB, you can take a 5'step in the middle of a full attack action. Whirlwind Attack is a full attack action. Can I therefore assume that you can whrilwind and, after hitting everyone around you, take a 5'step and keep swinging?

why or why not.

[ March 07, 2002, 03:34 PM: Message edited by: Psifon ]

 

[Crothian]

No, a whirlwind attack has to be done all at once. It's not like when you have 3 seperate attacks and figure each one seperately.

 

[EOL]

Whirlwind specifically says, "one melee attack" at "each opponent within 5 feet." Since it's one attack you can't move in the middle of an attack. Plus the everyone within 5 feet seems to presuppose that you're not going to be moving.

 

[CRGreathouse]

You can Whirlwind and then take a 5-foot step, but you can't continue the Whirlwind after the 5-foot step.

 

[Psifon]

The book does not explicitly state that you cannot take a 5' step in the middle of a whirlwind. On the other hand it DOES explicitly state that you can take a 5' step in the middle of a full-round action.

I'd be inclined to think that you CAN take the 5' step mid whirlwind, becuase it is not explicitly stated as an exeption to the rule on page 124.

 

[Number47]

Whatever the rulebook actually says, what they mean is, "you can take a 5-foot step in the middle of an iterative attack". That makes sense. Taking it in the middle of a single full-round action is senseless.

If you really want to make more out of your whirlwind, use a spiked chain. You still only get to whirlwind on those within 5 feet, but you can cleave up to 10 feet away.

 

[Rashak Mani]

With Haste you could use the partial action to get yourself into position in the middle of the foe and then Whirlwind them all ... we have never had a SINGLE character with this feat ! Any ever seen a whirlwind attack done ?

 

[Virago]

I'd allow it. The rules certainly to mean that you can take a 5 foot step in the middle of any old full round action (besides what, Refocus?).

However I think the "opponents within 5'" are determined immediately when you take the action and cannot change. They do not "reset" just because you moved 5 feet in the middle of the action. Here is the only situation I can think of where it might be useful to

Numbers are PC allies, letters are monsters, the @ is the hero, _ is empty floor.


_12
ABC
_@_


Here, I would allow the hero to do the following things:

* Start whirlwind attack. A, B, and C are the targets.
* Attack A (better do this first)
* Attack B with flanking bonus.
* Move 5' to the east/right, now flanking C with 2.
* Attack C with flanking bonus.

I think this conforms to the rules and makes sense.

 

[zorlag]

zorlag

I'd allow it as well. Rule is quite clear on the PHB. You can take 5-ft step before, during or after full attack. Whirlwind attack is multiple attacks against opponents within 5-ft of you.

Z.

 

[kreynolds]

I'd like to point out that you can't move in the middle of a great cleave either. The only exception to this, is the Frenzied Berserker from MotW. If you have Supreme Cleave, that will let you take a 5-foot step between attacks when using the cleave or great cleave feat.

Seeing as how there isn't a feat or special ability that allows movement in the middle of a whirlwind, I wouldn't allow it.