Question: Close Quarters Fighting

[Vyvyan Basterd]

A hypothetical situation:

A paladin is 80 feet away from a kraken when the creature attacks. The kraken has Improved Grab and starts a grapple when it hits the paladin.

The paladin has Close Quarters Fighting (Sword & Fist) which allows him an attack of opportunity against grapple even if the foe has Improved Grab.

Does the paladin receive his AoO? He is 80 feet from the kraken and obviously does not have such reach.

I made my decision at the time as DM, but how would you rule?

 

[Crothian]

The Paladin can use the AoO on the tenticle.

 

[Tony Vargas]

Since Close Quarters Fighting is really designed to work against monsters with improved grab, and since so darn many of them have reach, I'd be enclined to rule in the direction that keeps the feat viable, and let him have his AoO.

Now, I don't remember the stats of the 3E Kraken, but, if it's like some of the older versions, and the tentacle doing the grabbing has sepparate hps, obviously, the AoO is only going to be aplied against the tentacle.

However, I don't think this is official or anything. I also tend to rule that characters can strike the limbs of creatures using reach with natural weapons, either as an AoO or with a Ready action, which is definitely stretching the rules a bit.

 

[Vyvyan Basterd]

The 3E Kraken does not have separate hp totals for its tentacles.

 

[kreynolds]

I really don't think it's a big deal allowing the character to use Close Quarters Fighting if the creature has reach. In effect, the creature did have to reach forward to try and grapple the character. So, part of the creature is within melee range, and that's good enough for rock-n'-roll.

 

[Vyvyan Basterd]

Yeah, I think I agree. The concept seems reasonable.

I was in a foul mood that night and disallowed it. I guess I took my break too late.