Overrun

[Pickaxe]

A couple of questions regarding overrun:

1) I'm confused as to how it works. The combat rules say that an overrun is a standard action that is part of your move. Does that mean that it counts as your one standard action for the round, or can you overrun and do another standard action (e.g., attack) in the same round?

2) Does anyone else think that Improved Overrun just doesn't get as much as other Improved Special Attack feats? For instance, Improved Trip avoids the AoO, gives you the +4 bonus, and gives you a free attack. I'm surprised that Improved Overrun does not allow you to not provoke the AoO.

--Axe

 

[ZSutherland]

1. Similar to a charge attack, an overrun is both a move and a standard action that occur in conjuction, but since it may not involve the standard action (if the target chooses to avoid it) it isn't classified as a full-round action. Effectively, you make the move action, they take the AoO, if they avoid, you have just used a move action and may use your standard action as normal. If they don't you use the standard action resolving the opposition.

2. Well, it may not look like much as a feat, but their inability to avoid your attempt, is not as bad as it looks. The overrun action doesn't involve even a melee touch attack, just an opposed ability check, which means that even a low-level but high strength character could potentially knock an opponent with a very good AC, even touch AC from deflection, dodge, and size bonuses, w/o much fuss.

 

[Pickaxe]

1. Similar to a charge attack, an overrun is both a move and a standard action that occur in conjuction, but since it may not involve the standard action (if the target chooses to avoid it) it isn't classified as a full-round action. Effectively, you make the move action, they take the AoO, if they avoid, you have just used a move action and may use your standard action as normal. If they don't you use the standard action resolving the opposition.

2. Well, it may not look like much as a feat, but their inability to avoid your attempt, is not as bad as it looks. The overrun action doesn't involve even a melee touch attack, just an opposed ability check, which means that even a low-level but high strength character could potentially knock an opponent with a very good AC, even touch AC from deflection, dodge, and size bonuses, w/o much fuss.

Good point about the touch attack. I was thinking that overrun was outclassed by trip, because you can knock someone down and attack in the same round with Improved Trip. But overrun does seem pretty useful, especially for someone with high Strength and Intelligence less than 13 (and good AC to avoid the AoO); you can knock someone down and move into a flanking position, getting an AoO if they try to get up.

--Axe