Reach and AoO's: Cross, or Square?

[RodneyThompson]

OK, I'm in the middle of a game right now, and we'd like a ruling before the night's out (hopefully with diagrams or an official ruling). One of the players in my game, a Psionicist, has extended his reach to 2 meters. Now, does that mean that he threatens 2 squares in all directions, including diagonally, forming a 5x5 square? Or is it a cross shape, with 3 squares on the sides, but 5 squares deep on those sides? We're having a bit of an argument, and one of my players and I are butting heads over it.

 

[bardolph]

square-shaped

 

[EricNoah]

I've heard it both ways, some arguing that since you actually travel 15' feet when going two diagonal squares you don't get the corners, others saying you do, etc.

I think the easiest solution is to just pick one version of the rule and then be sure to stick with it for both monsters and PCs.

I find that allowing the corners makes the most sense for me.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

The distance to the farthest corner of the farthest square is 15 feet. 10 foot reach extends to about 33% of the corner square, and I'd argue that since it takes up almost half the square, AoO can happen there (kind of like spell effects).

You can cut the baby in half, and rule that actions taken in the corner square (like spell casting, drinking a potion, etc) don't provoke AoO (the wizard was hunkering at the back edge when he cast), but leaving the square does provoke an AoO (since you have to cross a 10-foot line to get to the next square).

I'd recommend all-or-none for simplicity, though. So long as it is consistent. Be careful about the "none" answer, though, or players will try to use the "I approach on a diagonal, so I don't provoke an AoO!" tactic, which is BS.

 

[Aaron L]

Imagine a circle of that diamater. That is how far his reach is. If his reach touches a square, then it is threatened. Just like those fireball templates.

 

[Graf]

Its a bad idea to treat the diagonal squares differently. Each 5' of reach is one even 'ring' around the combatant.

Your Psionist player can wack the stuffing out of anything within the first 9 squares around him (for having reach 10') and the next 16 squares as well (for having reach 15')

 

[Mahali]

Officially 2 diagonals away is 15' and you can't attack there with 10' of reach.

 

[Aluvial]

Officially 2 diagonals away is 15' and you can't attack there with 10' of reach.

I think you are wrong. Look at AoO with reach in the books...

 

[thegreatbuddha]

Go here. It illustrates the area threatened by an opponent with 10ft reach. it's near the bottom of the page.

 

[Caliban]

mahali is correct. A 5 foot square is ~ 7.4 feet from corner to corner, and two squares is approximately 15 feet.

According to the FAQ, you don't threaten the corners when you have a 10' reach. It's a cross shape.

However, if something tries to approach you from the corner it will still provoke an AoO, because at some point it has to pass through an area between 10' and 5' away.