No AoO w/o Combat Reflexes?

[Hrothgar Rannúlfr]

I haven't personally used the rules, but they seem to specifically address your problem.

That they do, Gansk. I'm leaning more toward the Trailblazer solution concerning movement and AoO's, especially after Wulf's clarification.

 

[Hrothgar Rannúlfr]

We've made quite a few clarifications and changes since the first release (and we'll be updating the PDF with these changes soon).

Looking forward to it, Wulf! And, thanks for the clarification on Withdrawing.

Question concerning this part:

However, you must move in a straight line and you must move away from all enemies to the best of your ability.​

I'm not really getting this part about having to both (1) move in a straight line and (2) move away from all enemies...

If you have a moment, would you explain the logic on these Trailblazer requirements on Withdrawing?

Thanks!

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

If you have a moment, would you explain the logic on these Trailblazer requirements on Withdrawing?

Don't let your players (a) bob and weave and/or (b) use the Withdraw action to end up closer to the enemy than they started.

In other words, make sure they're actually withdrawing.

 

[Hrothgar Rannúlfr]

Don't let your players (a) bob and weave and/or (b) use the Withdraw action to end up closer to the enemy than they started.

In other words, make sure they're actually withdrawing.

Thanks, Wulf. Sorry for the delay in posting a reply. I was writing a reply, last night, when I encountered computer problems.

I believe I understand the reason that Trailblazer requires those making a withdraw to "move in a straight line and... move away from all enemies to the best of" their "ability." However, I'm not sure about the part about moving in a straight line. Sounds like it would make withrawals impossible in many situations (unless the part about to the best of their ability applies to both conditions of withdrawing).

I like the idea that leaving a threatened area rather than leaving a threatened square provokes an AoO because it should reduce AoO's and keep combat moving rather than slowing down to a game of chess. However, I'm not sure if I like what happens when characters are fighting opponents with reach. Espcially creatures with a lot of reach. And, there are other potential problems that are coming to mind, too, as I write this. Though, they might now be actual problems, if I had a better understanding of the rest of the related rules in the Trailblazer book.

Time to pull up the pdf and take another look at a few things...

Thanks, again, Wulf!

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

Time to pull up the pdf and take another look at a few things...

Cool. Here's the current wording in the (edited) PDF, based on some customer feedback:

Provoking an Attack of Opportunity
Two kinds of actions can provoke attacks of opportunity: moving out of a threatened area, and performing certain distracting actions within a threatened area.

Moving: Engaging with an opponent usually does not provoke an attack of opportunity; disengaging with an opponent usually does. Moving into an opponent’s threatened area engages you with that opponent; moving out of that opponent’s threatened area disengages you from that opponent (unless that opponent is still within your own threatened area). If any part of your movement takes you into an opponent’s threatened area, and you do not end your movement with that opponent in your own threatened area, you provoke an attack of opportunity.

Trailblazer encourages combatants to engage with the enemy and the rules for Attacks of Opportunity reflect that philosophy.

​

I definitely look forward to any commentary you might have to better reconcile the wording with our intent.

 

[Hrothgar Rannúlfr]

I definitely look forward to any commentary you might have to better reconcile the wording with our intent.

Thanks, Wulf. I'm going to digest this and try to post more, tomorrow. You're post has given me an idea...

 

[Hrothgar Rannúlfr]

Here's the current wording in the (edited) PDF, based on some customer feedback...I definitely look forward to any commentary you might have to better reconcile the wording with our intent.

Provoking an Attack of Opportunity
Two kinds of actions can provoke attacks of opportunity: moving out of a threatened area, and performing certain distracting actions within a threatened area.​

Hi, Wulf. I'm back. Didn't have an opportunity to reply, yesterday. My apologies.

I like this part. It's very clear.

Moving: Engaging with an opponent usually does not provoke an attack of opportunity; disengaging with an opponent usually does. Moving into an opponent’s threatened area engages you with that opponent; moving out of that opponent’s threatened area disengages you from that opponent (unless that opponent is still within your own threatened area). If any part of your movement takes you into an opponent’s threatened area, and you do not end your movement with that opponent in your own threatened area, you provoke an attack of opportunity.​

This part is also very good. When I read it the other night, I actually thought it was saying the opposite of what I now see it to say. And, it's practically ideal for me, I think.

As long as you end your movement while still threatening any opponents that threatened you before you moved, you don't provoke attacks of opportunity from movement. There are still some wrinkles that I can see coming up at the game table, but I think those can be easily resolved. You may want to clarify that moving through a threatend area when you aren't threatening that opponent provokes and AoO from that opponent (I'm thinking about reach weapons and big creatures, here).

Trailblazer encourages combatants to engage with the enemy and the rules for Attacks of Opportunity reflect that philosophy.

I think that is a good philosophy to have. The attacks of opportunity rules for movement in 3.5 often left my players afraid to move. With these rules in place, movement isn't discouraged, so long as as the PC's are engaging the enemy.

The only change that I think I'd make is that I'd allow someone the opportunity to attempt an attack of opportunity whenever a moving opponent disengages (ceases to threaten) them. I'd do this just so that the timing of the AoO isn't delayed until the mover has completed their movement.

Other than that, this looks very good. Get in there and engage the opponent! Move if you want, just keep your weapons trained on them!

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

I'll roll the words around a bit more and see if I can make it iron-clad.

 

[Hrothgar Rannúlfr]

Sounds good, Wulf.

I was able to re-read the Combat Reactions section in the Trailblazer PDF, last night, in the PDF. Gotta say that having those options to spend the action that would normally be used for an Attack of Opportunity looks to make things more interesting, too. I want to re-read that section, again, later this week. Looks like a valuable addition to the game!