Knockback and AoOs

[kreynolds]

By participating in this thread, Mal has helped me understand that if you are moved in a bull-rush, it provokes an attack of opportunity from everyone but the bull-rusher. The bull-rusher also suffers AoOs if he moves with you...but anyway.

What about a weapon with the Knockback enhancement? Here is the description from the PHB:

Knockback: A weapon enhanced by this property has the ability to drive its targets back. On a successful hit, the target of the attack must succeed at a Fortitude save (DC 19) or be knocked back 10 feet. (If the target can't move back 10 feet, it instead falls to the ground.) If the first save fails, the target must succeed at another Fortitude save (DC 19) or be stunned for 1 round.

Caster Level: 11th; Prerequisites: Craft Magic Arms and Armor, repulsion; Market Price: +3 bonus.

So, if you get knocked back 10-feet, do you provoke AoOs from everyone whose threatened area you get knocked back through?

 

[hong]

So, if you get knocked back 10-feet, do you provoke AoOs from everyone whose threatened area you get knocked back through?

Why wouldn't you? Movement is movement.

 

[IceBear]

Agree with hong

BTW - I posted on the old thread with an explanation as to why I was getting short with you. My bad, that rule quote actually hadn't been posted in the thread before Mal posted it.

IceBear

 

[kreynolds]

Wow. Knockback just got really cool!

 

[Archer]

AoO's apply to improved shield bash which knocks opponents back 5' so it would logically follow that if someone is knocked back 10' they will still trigger AoO.

 

[kreynolds]

AoO's apply to improved shield bash which knocks opponents back 5' so it would logically follow that if someone is knocked back 10' they will still trigger AoO.

I missed that thread so this is the first time I'm hearing about the shield bashing situation. Thanks for the heads up though.

 

[Archer]

I don't know if I made it clear, but the basher/rusher/knockbacker doesn't get the AoO, everyone else does.

I guess the idea is that you are already making an attack or are too busy with the action of moving someone to make an extra attack.

Opportunist uses a similar mechanic. The person causing the opportuny lets the opportunist get an attack but gets no additional benefit for himself. Now if two or three people with knockback weapons had combat reflexes they could ping pong the poor soul around until they ran out of attacks.

 

[Mal Malenkirk]

I concur that the easiest way to handle this situation is to treat knockdown as a specialised form of bullrush; You wouldn't get an AoO for knocking back your opponent but anyone else in position to do so could.

Good team work can work wonder here.

Go team Go!

In the same line of idea, there is a level1 spell that provokes a bullrush effect; Forcewave from MoF. It's pretty efficient because that way it is the wizard that provokes the movement thus freeing the warrior types to take their AoO.

 

[Dr. Zoom]

I also agree with Archer and Mal. With some planning and a little luck, you could set up some devastating attacks with this weapon.

 

[kreynolds]

I don't know if I made it clear, but the basher/rusher/knockbacker doesn't get the AoO, everyone else does.

You're not the only that has made this point, believe me. It's perfectly clear though, especially now that I've reread the entry in the PHB, pointed out by Mal. Frustrating that it's in there but not in the SRD.

And yes, Dr. You can set up some real nasty attacks with this. None of my players use them but I have a character in one of my player's games that has a knockback weapon. Man is my DM gonna freak out!