No More 5-Foot Stepping

[Mark Chance]

I'm thinking about house-ruling at the start of my next campaign this change:

Take 5-Foot Step
There is no longer any such thing as a 5-foot step. Moving just 5 feet may still provoke an attack of opportunity subject to normal rules.

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

Moving
Moving out of a threatened square usually provokes an attack of opportunity from the threatening opponent. There is one common method of avoiding such an attack—the withdraw action.

Performing a Distracting Act
Some actions, when performed in a threatened square, provoke attacks of opportunity as you divert your attention from the battle. Actions in Combat notes many of the actions that provoke attacks of opportunity.

Remember that even actions that normally provoke attacks of opportunity may have exceptions to this rule.​

Thoughts? Pros? Cons?

 

[RangerWickett]

I think one of my beefs with AoOs is that in the middle of a melee with four people, if a fifth person runs by, my PC can lash out with his sword without in turn dropping his guard against the four people he's already fighting.

I suggest possibly creating a new option. When you're in combat, each round you decide whether or not to be opportunistic. If you are, you take a -2 penalty to AC because you're keeping your options open, but the benefit is that you're able to take AoOs. If you're not opportunistic, you can only take an AoO whenever someone does something directly against you, like tripping, disarming, or bull rushing -- but not casting a spell or running by you.

 

[smootrk]

Odd, 5 foot step never bothered me as much as all the random Attacks of Opportunity. I think minor movements as a part of the character's actions during a round is OK, but just my own personal opinion.

 

[the Jester]

Hmmm, are you trying to address a perceived problem with this? Why make the change?

I've never had issues with the 5' step, but I'm interested to know what provoked this change for you.

 

[Baby Samurai]

A nice replacement for the 5 ft. Step is what Star Wars: Saga Edition has done – Withdraw as a move action at half of your speed, the square you start in is not considered threatened, and you must end your withdrawal in a non-threatened square.

 

[Mark Chance]

Hmmm, are you trying to address a perceived problem with this? Why make the change?

Well, I'm not sure there'll be any change. I'm merely brainstorming at this point. I do have a mild dislike for the stop-and-go metagaming that 5-foot steps introduce. IOW, "I'll move to just within the ogre's reach, and then next round take a 5-foot step." Also, I'm mildly unfond of the common tactic of taking a 5-foot step away from an enemy before casting, firing a bow, et cetera. It just seems too artificial, too much like chess, perhaps.

I do like RangerWickett's suggestion above, moreso than my original post idea. Is that from a specific published ruleset?

 

[Wish]

If you do this, large monsters and spiked chains become significantly more dangerous. Traditional reach weapons and bows become essentially useless. Combat, after engagement, will become even more static than it already is, since nobody will be able to move even a little bit and still take a full attack. Rogues will be horribly hosed, since opportunities for flanking will become very slim. Combat Reflexes becomes the "must have" feat.

One little change can have far-reaching effects. Make sure you're prepared for them.

 

[Vrecknidj]

There are a few other options for you as well.

1) Rule that taking a 5-foot step requries having a BAB of +1. (This only does so much for you, I know.)

2) Rule that taking a 5-foot step requires having a BAB of +6. (This introduces a whole new set of issues, but makes playing certain classes a real challenge.)

3) Take out the 5-foot step as you wanted, but add it back in as a feat. (Perhaps with no prerequisite, perhaps with a prerequisite of BAB +1 or Dex 11.)

4) Make the 5-foot step a class feature for certain classes (the rogue comes to mind as an obvious choice).

5) Make the 5-foot step require a Concentration check. Maybe DC 10 + 5 per number of individuals that threaten your square (or 15 + 2 per threat).

Dave

 

[RangerWickett]

I do like RangerWickett's suggestion above, moreso than my original post idea. Is that from a specific published ruleset?

Nope. Just made it up yesterday.

 

[JiffyPopTart]

How about you rule that the 5' step becomes a move action.

So you can either move 30' (or whatever) and suffer AoO and other things, or you can move just 5' and be safe, but its a move action which limits what you can do for the rest of the round....although still doesn't do away with the bowyers and spellcasters stepping back 5' and casting or shooting....so how about this.

Combat Readjustment: As a full-round action you can move up to your speed without taking AoOs as a result of movement. You may move through friendly spaces as normal but must end the turn in an open space.

DS