Receiving a potion from an invisible comrade: AoO or No?

[reveal]

In our current campaign, one of the party members is a 4th level Pixie. He can become invisible/visible at will. He can stay invisible even while attacking.

Last session, others in the party were getting hurt. So he had a very good idea of going up to people, staying invisible, and giving them healing potions. In the DMG, it states that taking a potion provokes an AoO. I assume that this is because you have to take some of your focus off of the enemy to swig the potion.

Would the same hold true if you suddenly find yourself being given a potion in this manner?

 

[kreynolds]

Would the same hold true if you suddenly find yourself being given a potion in this manner?

Just like drinking a potion triggers an attack of opportunity, retrieving a stored item triggers an attack of opportunity. If you use a potion belt from Magic of Faerun, retrieving a potion is a free action instead of a move-equivalent action, but it doesn't explicitly prevent the attack of opportunity for retrieving it, but I could understand an argument that it would prevent it.

With that said, I guess you need to decide if being handed an object from an ally is a free action or a move-equivalent action. Personally, I'd say that I could retrieve a potion as a move-equivalent action, move up to my pal Fred with my move, and if he knows what I'm doing and works with me, then hand him the potion as a free action.

However, I think there would still be an AoO there.

 

[reveal]

Re: Re: Receiving a potion from an invisible comrade: AoO or No?

With that said, I guess you need to decide if being handed an object from an ally is a free action or a move-equivalent action. Personally, I'd say that I could retrieve a potion as a move-equivalent action, move up to my pal Fred with my move, and if he knows what I'm doing and works with me, then hand him the potion as a free action.

Well, what is happening now is the Pixie is flying up to a comrade and, on his next turn, giving the potion as a Full Round Action, just as if he had given it to an unconcious person. Basically so he doesn't choke the hurt PC. The Pixie is invisible the whole time, so I'm ruling he does not provoke an AoO as the enemy doesn't even know he's there. He's then physically pouring it down the throat if the hurt comrade. So the PC receiving the potion is not actually taking it and drinking it but, rather, receiving the potion down their throat. Does that provoke an AoO on the person swallowing the potion?

 

[Enceladus]

Here's my take.

The character recieving the potion was not performing an action therefore was not subject to an AoO. Unless you call swallowing an action I would say "free" action.

The character who was pouring the potion however was and was subject to an AoO. But don't forget, he could pour that potion anywhere around the recieving character he wanted so if he was a five foot square away (if he was smart) from any attacker there would be no way to get to him.

 

[kreynolds]

Re: Re: Re: Receiving a potion from an invisible comrade: AoO or No?

Does that provoke an AoO on the person swallowing the potion?

Oh, I'd say it most definately would, for both of them. Of course the pixie is invisible, so he doesn't have nearly as much to worry about.

 

[kreynolds]

Re: Here's my take.

But don't forget, he could pour that potion anywhere around the recieving character he wanted so if he was a five foot square away (if he was smart) from any attacker there would be no way to get to him.

I don't know about this. When you are attacking with a non-reach melee weapon, you can attack up to five feet away. I don't think I'd let someone administer medical assistance from five feet away, especially not if you're trying to pour a vial of liquid down someone's throat.

 

[Darklone]

Hmm... slurping an invisible potion from the "air" is not an easy task... So I'd give an AoO. And I would give an AoO for the pixie too, no matter invis or not... that's what a miss chance is for.

(Swinging my sword at my opponent might as well hit something in the air....)

 

[Enceladus]

Re: Re: Here's my take.

I don't know about this. When you are attacking with a non-reach melee weapon, you can attack up to five feet away. I don't think I'd let someone administer medical assistance from five feet away, especially not if you're trying to pour a vial of liquid down someone's throat.

I just have one problem with that.

XXP
ADP
XXP


A is the attacker, D is the defender, P is the possible places the pixie could be. Unless A has a 10 foot reach there is nothing he can do about it.

D is doing nothing but swallowing, he isn't holding the potion or doing any of the other necessary actions. Swallowing, just like shouting etc is a free action. If he's down and unconcious he has no free will either, so to say he incurs an AoO is kind of unfair. If we were operate under the same logic in allowing a AoO on him then we would have to do it for a cleric that walks up behind him and heals him.

 

[kreynolds]

Re: Re: Re: Here's my take.

Unless A has a 10 foot reach there is nothing he can do about it.

I didn't say he could. I said I wouldn't allow him to administer a potion to someone else from five feet away.

D is doing nothing but swallowing, he isn't holding the potion or doing any of the other necessary actions. Swallowing, just like shouting etc is a free action.

Perhaps, but tilting your head back to swallow a potion that someone else is pouring down your throat, meaning you are having to coordinate your efforts with someone else instead of just taking the potion yourself, seems like an awfully big distraction. I'd pop the heck out of you for it in combat (or I'd at least try).

If he's down and unconcious he has no free will either, so to say he incurs an AoO is kind of unfair.

I didn't say he would. I said the person administering the potion would.

If we were operate under the same logic in allowing a AoO on him then we would have to do it for a cleric that walks up behind him and heals him.

Well, the cleric would be casting a spell, and casting a spell can trigger an attack of opportunity. Besides, there's obviously a huge difference between coordinating your efforts with someone else so that they can pour a potion down your throat and letting a cleric touch you.

 

[reveal]

Thanx for all the suggestions!

I don't think the Pixie should provoke an AoO, simply because he is invisible and the enemy does not know he is there. Here's a house rule I am implementing. Comments?? PS: The Pixie's name is Toad.

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When a person is trying to pour a potion down your throat during the heat of battle, you're concentrating as hard as you can against your enemy when, suddenly, liquid is going down your throat. Even if you heard "Open Up!" in a familiar voice, you still are concentrating on the enemy, dodging, ducking and weaving.

With that said, from this point forward, I am making a new house rule for reception of a potion from Toad, in combat, while he is invisible:

1) Toad giving someone a potion is a Standard action.

2) If the PC receiving the potion wants to continue to dodge, duck and weave while Toad is trying to give them a potion, Toad will have to make a Dexterity check DC (15 + the spell level of the potion given) to successfully get the potion in to the PCs mouth. If Toad fails, the potion is not lost and Toad can try again on his next turn.

3) If the PC receiving the potion wants to stand still to receive the potion, this provokes an AoO. If hit, the PC will need to make a Concentration check, DC (15 + the amount of damage received) in order to still get the potion. If the PC does not make it, the potion is not lost and Toad can try again on his next turn.