Reach weapon and AOO

[Edrik]

I'm putting together my first 3.5ed character (and I've only made two in 3rd edition). Right now, I'm leaning toward a scout/barbarian wielding a long spear (the party is lacking a stealthy type, and melee presence - they've got a bard, druid, cleric and wizard).

So here's my question....

If I take the dodge, mobility, and spring attack feats... with the character's speed, I think he could be pretty effective with his his single attack. He'd spring forward, take his attack at reach, and spring away. But my question is... if something then moves to attack him, would he get an AOO as they moved from 10' to 5' since they would be moving out of a square he threatened?

An example... he begins 20' away. Spring forward to 10' and takes his single attack, tehn springs back to 20'. If something attempted to close with him, they would have to go through his threatened range: going from 20' to 5'. So would he get an AOO as they moved from 10' to 5'?

If that's the case, I'll probably add combat reflexes when he gets another feat.

 

[MichaelH]

Yes, that's the case with a reach weapon.

 

[Nonlethal Force]

You always get your AoO when they leave a threatened square.

So, if you are 20 feet away and they need to close to five ... they could close to 10 feet unhindered. But in going from 10 feet to 5 feet you'd get your AoO before they make their melee attack.

Thing to remember about many reach weapons besides the spiked chain (and only a small handful of others) is that once they close to 5 feet, you can't attack them until you move back. That movement - unless you take a feat to counter it - will provoke an AoO from them because you are leaving a threatened square. That is one reason why I like spiked chains. But a spiked chain weilding scout isn't exactly a "reasonable choice." Hard to be quiet with the old spiked chain, eh?

 

[Edrik]

Thing to remember about many reach weapons besides the spiked chain (and only a small handful of others) is that once they close to 5 feet, you can't attack them until you move back. That movement - unless you take a feat to counter it - will provoke an AoO from them because you are leaving a threatened square. That is one reason why I like spiked chains. But a spiked chain weilding scout isn't exactly a "reasonable choice." Hard to be quiet with the old spiked chain, eh?

Hmmm... what if he wore a spiked guantlet? Would he be able to hold on to the spear in his off hand and use the spiked guantlet?

Or for that matter, could he hold on to the spear with his off hand, and wield any weapon in his primary hand?

And sheesh... reading through all of these feats and classes (not to mention prestige classes)... Wow! Getting overload trying to narrow the options!

 

[Hypersmurf]

That movement - unless you take a feat to counter it - will provoke an AoO from them because you are leaving a threatened square.

He's already got Spring Attack

-Hyp.

 

[Edrik]

Follow-up question... if somebody makes it past the AOO at 10' to attack... they basically have a free shot at disarming, sundering, etc (ie: no AOO to worry about). Is that right?

Since they would be 5' away, the spear wouldn't really threaten them, and the character would have already used their AOO when the enemy closed.

If that's right... would combat reflexes and a spiked gauntlet take care of it (not that a spiked gunatlet makes for a really intimidating attack )

 

[melkorspawn]

Offhand, I'd say that you would have to drop the spear (free action) to then make an attack with a non-reach melee, either your gauntlet, or you could burn a move action on drawing a different weapon, probably another two hander if you follow any two handed feat path with your longspear: Halberd, maybe, if you wanted to stick with polearms. I'd probably pick a greatsword or falchion, though, cause they weigh less.

Alternatively (This requires a bit of house ruling), you could pick up the Monkey Grip feat to allow you to hold the longspear in one hand, and you could hold a one hander or a light weapon in the other and ostensibly TWF attack both a 5' away enemy and a 10' away one. (Somebody check me on that... it feels like it might be wrong.)

 

[Edrik]

Offhand, I'd say that you would have to drop the spear (free action) to then make an attack with a non-reach melee, either your gauntlet

I was hoping the character could hold the spear in his off-hand, and make the attack with the spiked guantlet with his primary hand... but don't really know if that's possible.

or you could burn a move action on drawing a different weapon, probably another two hander if you follow any two handed feat path with your longspear

Hmmm... don't think I've seen two-hander feats. Could you point me to what source books they'd be in and a fwe of their names? Right now the feats I'm thinking about would be" dodge, mobility, spring attack, combat reflexes, deft opportunist, weapon focus (longspear). That would take him through 10th level which is probably about as far as we'll go. If he gets another feat or two, maybe dive for cover (be handy with evasion), improved initiative, or power attack. But that's all still pretty up in the air... I still have a lot of reading and thinking ahead of me. Suggestions are welcome!

 

[glass]

I was hoping the character could hold the spear in his off-hand, and make the attack with the spiked guantlet with his primary hand... but don't really know if that's possible.

It's possible to let go of the spear with one hand and attack with the gauntlet while holding the spear with the other. However, you can't attack or threaten with both in the same round unless you take TWF penalties.


glass.

 

[Zephyrus]

I once played a fighter that weilded a Glaive. Human Fighter with a solid str and dex with Combat Reflexes. Expecially at low levels This proved to be devistating as a batch of dire rats would charge and get killed one after another, move onto the next room. the DM after two three rooms of this said we cleared the house of the dire rat infestation. That was also back when someone had designed a prestige class called the Longblade which now can be emulated with some select feets. Their's a Dragon Magazine out their a couple of issues old I belive that has several feats for Polearm users. I would strongly recommend if your going for a scout to take Tumble even if its a Cross Class skill and then tumble to avoid AoO and get your skirmish damage in.