Rules Question about Readied Attacks + AoOs

[hong]

Do you have a rule reference for that? I can't recall anything that says readied actions replace AoOs if the same act would trigger both.

Consider the rationales behind AoOs and readying. An AoO is essentially a spontaneous reaction, while otherwise engaged in combat, against a foe who does something silly. They drop their guard for a moment, and you whack them with a sword. By contrast, a readied action represents waiting carefully for a foe to do a specified action, or a specified event to take place. It seems clear that in either case you get your attack in, and two attacks would be doubling up.

There's also the following section in the FAQ [p.36]:

Is it possible to ready an action as follows: If the wizard casts a spell, I attack him; if he leaves, I follow. Or is that condition not specific enough?

It's actually over specific, because you're really specifying two different conditions and two different actions here. The ready action allows you to specify one partial action and the condition under which you will perform the action. You could simply ready an attack on the wizard whenever he casts a spell, and this would allow you to do any number of things, including attack, take a 5-foot step and attack, or even make a partial charge and attack. In such a case, you would not get an attack of opportunity on the wizard when he cast the spell, but you would force a Concentration check if you damage the wizard.

Note the last sentence.

 

[shilsen]

Thanks, hong. I'm not completely sure whether the phrase "In such a case" from the FAQ refers to all such readied actions or simply the last case, where you make a partial charge (WotC rules writing has made me completely suspicious of all their phraseology), but it seems to indicate what you say.

 

[Forrester]

Note the last sentence.

And I have to wonder about it. I can understand why he wouldn't get an AoO if he has to move to get there, but if the caster is just *standing* there, next to him . . .

I suppose one way of manipulating the system might be:

"If the wizard moves away, I attack him."

Suppose they're next to each other.

If the wiz casts a spell, AoO. If the wiz then decides to move away, the readied action gives another attack.

And if the wiz moves away to cast a spell, the readied action gives an attack. But *doesn't* force a concentration check.

In any case, thanks much . . . my original "plan" doesn't seem to work as well as I thought it did.