I haven't been able to find rules on deliberately being hit by attacks, either taking a hit from an ally for some tactical benefit such as splash damage, or taking a hit from an enemy for some retaliatory effect. So far I've ruled that at a bare minimum you've surely got to be able deliberately grant combat advantage to anyone you want to, but should I go further and just say that if you want to get hit by an attack, you get hit?
Hitting a willing target
- Thread starter NMcCoy
- Start date
ForbidenMaster
Explorer
There is no explicit rule letting a character deliberate take a hit, but I would let a character let themselves be hit in any situation. I would probably let themselves assume the condition of unconsciousness, but with the ability to remain standing. In other words, the character would take a -5 to all defenses, grant combat advantage, and would be able to be the target of a coup de grace. The only other restriction to the action would be that no beneficial (as determined by the DM) power or effect could be triggered by the attack, or any resulting damage as per the credible threat rules.
ps. Sorry for the complete edit
ps. Sorry for the complete edit
Last edited:
Why?
ForbidenMaster
Explorer
I figure that all of the effects that would be triggered by a hit or damage are supposed to be a deterrent or a reaction against a credible threat, and that if a character is choosing to completely letdown all of their defenses then the character is choosing to treat the attack as a non credible threat, no matter damage it may cause.
Also because it would be compleatly broken.
This might be justifiable for something like divine powers, but how exactly would this make any sense for martial characters. The character is able to respond to the attack if it happens in the heat of combat and he's not expecting it, but if he knows it's coming and is prepared for it he can't manage to pull it off?
This isn't 3.5 land of cheese after all, what exactly is going to be completely broken?
DracoSuave
First Post
Bag of Rats rule.
ForbidenMaster
Explorer
That makes no sense. If a character is only prepared for an attack if he lowers his defenses, how could the character ever lower his defenses in preparation for an attack he doesnt know about? Unless he just walks around not caring at all and is constantly at a -5 defences + combat advantage, + able to be the target of a coup de grace.
Characters, whatever the power source, who lowers their defenses to a target whom they deem a non creatable threat cannot at the same time be preparing themselves to react/deter that same non credible threat as a credible threat. You need a credible threat to use any power that needs a hit or damage as per the DMG, and I think that if one were to make a house rule in which they allow one to lower their defenses, ie deem a pending attack against themselves a non credible threat, they cannot then go ahead and deem the attack a credible threat for purposes of tirggering a power or effect.
Just like (I hope) you wouldnt allow a target to cut themselves to trigger a power or effect, you shouldnt allow a character to do everything in their power to get hit or take damage in order to trigger an effect or power.
More simply, to quote DracoSuave: the Bag of Rats rule.
4e has a rule to cover this. This is not what the OP is talking about. Now while hits from allies might not be able to grant effects, there's no reason you couldn't purposefully take a hit from an enemy to trigger something.
vic20
Fool
Here's a recent thread on this topic: Trying to get hit
Danceofmasks
First Post
Or just stand in a terrain hazard.
Heck, a campire will do to trigger hellish rebuke.
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