I hate reach and attacks of opportunity (old thread)

[Pbartender]

 

[Zhaleskra]

I'm not a fan of the Reach rules either. Makes it too hard to get close enough to melee with something bigger than you.

On the other hand, I've been waiting for a chance to state my "Attacks of Opportunity Made Simple". That is, "When you take your attention off your current opponent, anyone who notices and cares can make a free attack on you for being an idiot."

 

[NewJeffCT]

I love reach - finally an advantage to being bigger than everybody else that was lacking in 1E and 2E. There should be consequences if you try to rush up & attack a 12 foot tall giant - and, that is, the giant gets a poke at you before you can get in your blow.

It's no different than a formation of pikemen wielding 18 foot long pikes going up against a formation of swordsmen wielding 3 foot long broadswords. The pikemen are going to be able to attack the swordsmen from 15-18 feet away before the swordsmen can get even close to the pikemen. And, if there are several ranks of pikemen, they will get in 3-4 attacks before the swordsmen can close. Just consider the 12 foot tall giant with a club to be like the pikeman wielding an 18 foot long pike.

Similarly, in boxing in real life, it is considered an advantage to have longer reach than your opponent, even if it is just a few inches longer. You can jab your opponent from the edge of your reach while he still cannot reach you.

 

[Peraion Graufalke]

I love reach - finally an advantage to being bigger than everybody else that was lacking in 1E and 2E. There should be consequences if you try to rush up & attack a 12 foot tall giant - and, that is, the giant gets a poke at you before you can get in your blow.

2E has rules for reach and attacks of opportunity in Combat & Tactics. /nitpick

 

[Plane Sailing]

I've renamed the thread to make it clear that it has been raised from the thread. I mean dead.

 

[D'karr]

I guess that all things can be made new again.

 

[AdmundfortGeographer]

You could implement a single Trailblazer AoO fix, that is, leaving a threatened area provokes AoOs, entering or moving around within doesn't. This simple change promotes PCs engaging with foes, not dancing around at a distance and still lets reach-weapon PCs get their poke in before the foe gets in theirs.

Additionally, here are some more Trailblazer options:
– Standing up no longer provokes AoOs.
– 5-foot steps never provoke AoOs, including when slowed or crawling.

 

[Silvercat Moonpaw]

– Standing up no longer provokes AoOs.

Then what penalty is being tripped?

 

[AdmundfortGeographer]

Then what penalty is being tripped?

The tripped target is still prone, suffer prone penalties.
The tripped target must still use up a move action to stand up to end being prone.

 

[Stoat]

Then what penalty is being tripped?

The tripped target is still prone, suffer prone penalties.
The tripped target must still use up a move action to stand up to end being prone.

And being prone is devastating for melee-focused characters in 3.X

1) -4 to melee attack rolls.

2) -4 to AC against opponents' melee attack rolls.

3) A crawling character moves 5 feet as a move action.

In short, your offense is gorked, your defense is gorked and you can't move.