How do you handle multiple disarms?

[Stalker0]

Here's a situation that's come up with duels that I could use some advice on.

Say two people are dueling, neighter with improved disarm.

The first one attempts a disarm, provoking an AOO. As his AOO, the opponent decides to also attempt a disarm, which again provokes an AOO.

This situation can get very complicated, with disarms and counterdisarms, and then the situation is someone is disarmed.

 

[clark411]

I not sure if the rules allow that kinda thing, but even if they do, it's resolved pretty rapidly due to the fact that each PC can only perform one AoO per target per round.

 

[Stalker0]

Yes, the ph specifically says that you can use a disarm attack as an AOO. And in this situation, each is only taking a single AOO, but it is still very complicated.

 

[Vaxalon]

I don't understand how it's complicated.

Character A begins to disarm

Character B claims a disarm as his AoO

Character B's disarm is resolved

If character A is not disarmed, his disarm is resolved.

 

[hong]

I don't understand how it's complicated.

Character A begins to disarm

Character B claims a disarm as his AoO

Character B's disarm is resolved

If character A is not disarmed, his disarm is resolved.

It's complicated because character B's disarm attempt itself provokes an AoO, unless he has the Improved Disarm feat. Thus A could get an AoO on B, and he could in fact use that AoO to make a disarm attempt. Which kinda leaves up in the air what happens to his original disarm attempt, if his disarm-as-AoO succeeds.

But as mentioned, the amount of silliness is capped by the rule that you can only make one AoO per target per round.

 

[the Jester]

I had a situation very much like this come up in a game a few weeks ago: one pc tried to disarm another (there was mind control involved in there somewhere), who took his aoo and tried to make a trip attack; and the aoo from that, the first pc took as another disarm.

So the disarm aoo for the trip fails, the counterdisarm fails, the trip fails, the countertrip fails, and the original disarm succeeds. A lot of action in a single round, but everyone loved it. It made for a very exciting moment of combat.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

I believe it is not clear in the wording, but the easiest way to solve it: If an action allows an AOO, this attack cannot provide an AOO itself. If I remeber correctly, a Disarm Attempt does two "negative" things for the attacker: Provokes AOO AND allows the opponent to return the disarm if you fail. So, for the AOO, you can`t attemt a disarm unless you have the Improved Disarm Feat, but if the opponent fails disarming you, you can return the disarm, but this does not prove an AOO.