Lg opponent, threatened squares, charge, and AoA

[redkobold]

The example on page 138 of the PHB seems to indicate that a medium creature (Tordek) charging a large creature (troll) would provoke an attack of opportunity from the troll before he reaches the troll and resolves that attack. Is this correct?

If so, how can a medium creature engage in combat with a large creature without provoking an AoA? The 5' step does not provoke an AoA but it is not enough to close with the large creature. It seems that moving into, then out of that 10' threatened square before entering the 5' square where you attack from will always provoke the AoA.

So if all of this is the case, the large creature will always get a first attack in melee except when he is caught flat footed. Even with two opponents closing in to flank the large creature, one will have to bite the bullet and take the first attack from the large opponent, regardless of whether the large opponent lost initiative.

 

[Haffrung Helleyes]

Large

Yes, it's good to be Large!

Ken

 

[Shin Okada]

Tumble skill and Spring Attack are there to negate AoA.

If a character does not have such skill or feat, it is not a bad idea to raise his AC by fighting defensively for the first turn. Mobility feat is also useful as it give you +4 AC against AoA.

My PC cleric with travel domain sometimes use Dimension Door spell to teleport into an adjacent square from a big opponent.

 

[Saeviomagy]

The example on page 138 of the PHB seems to indicate that a medium creature (Tordek) charging a large creature (troll) would provoke an attack of opportunity from the troll before he reaches the troll and resolves that attack. Is this correct?

Yup.

If so, how can a medium creature engage in combat with a large creature without provoking an AoA? The 5' step does not provoke an AoA but it is not enough to close with the large creature. It seems that moving into, then out of that 10' threatened square before entering the 5' square where you attack from will always provoke the AoA.

Use a reach weapon like a longspear.
5' step in while taking the full-defense option for +2 ac. Next round do the same again.
Charge in while using a tower shield for cover
Tumble in
Wait for it to charge you, then 5' and attack
Wait for it to take an AoO against someone else, then charge in - unless it has combat reflexes, no more AoOs.

In short, there's plenty of ways.

 

[Darkness]

Aww. The 'Lg' in the title made me think this would be some strange kind of alignment debate. How very disappointing.

 

[kjenks]

The example on page 138 of the PHB seems to indicate that a medium creature (Tordek) charging a large creature (troll) would provoke an attack of opportunity from the troll before he reaches the troll and resolves that attack. Is this correct?

Yes, that's right, unless Tordek uses a reach weapon.

If so, how can a medium creature engage in combat with a large creature without provoking an AoA?

Let the troll come to you, Mr. Tordek. After it moves, it will only get one attack instead of a claw/claw/bite/rend.

 

[Hypersmurf]

If a character does not have such skill or feat, it is not a bad idea to raise his AC by fighting defensively for the first turn.

There's a problem - you can't do that before you move, and still get an attack that round on the troll.

Fighting Defensively as a Standard Action: You can choose to fight defensively when attacking. If you do so, you take a –4 penalty on all attacks in a round to gain a +2 dodge bonus to AC for the same round.

Fighting Defensively is part of your attack action.

-Hyp.

 

[Shin Okada]

There's a problem - you can't do that before you move, and still get an attack that round on the troll.

Fighting Defensively as a Standard Action: You can choose to fight defensively when attacking. If you do so, you take a –4 penalty on all attacks in a round to gain a +2 dodge bonus to AC for the same round.

Fighting Defensively is part of your attack action.

-Hyp.

Oh. Another effect of 3.5e rule change. So now mobility is rather an important feat for heavy-armored fighter types.

 

[Liquidsabre]

Yea, ever see a bunch of regular humans try to fight something big and nasty? They use longspears or bows. Only idiot heroes (Mad Mardigan comes to mind lol) would attack a large creature with a sword!

 

[Hypersmurf]

Oh. Another effect of 3.5e rule change.

Yeah. In 3E, it was 'when taking the attack action'... and the attack action allowed a move or MEA and an attack. So the movement was part of the attack action, and you could start Fighting Defensively before approaching the troll.

-Hyp.