(PHB2) Knight's Challenge - how effective?

[Henrix]

It requires line of sight,

I'm evidently not reading straight, sorry!

 

[moritheil]

Interesting. What happens if a Knight uses this ability, but then LoS is broken? Alternatively, what happens if a Knight is on the other side of a Wall of Force, but the party rogue is on the same side as the behir, and not threatening or attacking the behir? Does this mean that the behir cannot move closer to the rogue to attack him if doing so would not put him closer to the knight?

 

[MarkB]

Interesting. What happens if a Knight uses this ability, but then LoS is broken? Alternatively, what happens if a Knight is on the other side of a Wall of Force, but the party rogue is on the same side as the behir, and not threatening or attacking the behir? Does this mean that the behir cannot move closer to the rogue to attack him if doing so would not put him closer to the knight?

If the behir knows it can't get at the knight, it has no reason to approach him. It will attack him in preference to others, but if attack is not an option, it won't do nothing in preference to attacking others.

 

[moritheil]

If the behir knows it can't get at the knight, it has no reason to approach him.

Sure it does - the challenge!

It will attack him in preference to others, but if attack is not an option, it won't do nothing in preference to attacking others.

This is what I'm unclear on, having never played a knight - I read the ability as allowing A) Attack the knight, B) Attack others ONLY IF attacking the knight would provoke an AOO, and C) Do nothing.

Attacking the rogue in the situation I outlined does not constitute one of those three.

 

[MarkB]

This is what I'm unclear on, having never played a knight - I read the ability as allowing A) Attack the knight, B) Attack others ONLY IF attacking the knight would provoke an AOO, and C) Do nothing.

Attacking the rogue in the situation I outlined does not constitute one of those three.

It's a new class, so there's bound to be some interpretation until WotC find the time to explain exactly what they actually meant (assuming they know), but here's what the Test of Mettle does to a critter:

Creatures that fail this save are forced to attack you with their ranged or melee attacks in preference over other available targets.​

Its actions are only dictated by the test of mettle if the choice is between attacking the knight and attacking others. If the choice is between doing nothing and attacking others, the Test doesn't come into it.

 

[moritheil]

I agree that it's unclear. Here's the text I was looking at, posted by a previous reader, reposted with my emphasis:

An opponent compelled to act in this manner is not thrown into a mindless rage and does not have to move to attack you in melee if doing so would provke attacks of opportunity against him. In such a case, he can use ranged attacks gainst you or attack any opponents he threatens as normal. If anyone other than you attacks the target, the effect of the test of mettle ends for that specific target.

 

[starwed]

One point no one else has mentioned. It sounds like the Knight is deliberately using the ability so that his friends can attack the behir:

...the behir came out of its defensible position, we blocked its escape, and we trounced it.

That's definately against the Knight's code, or at least the spirit of it.