Spring Attack vs. Reach

[TracerBullet42]

So spring attack allows you to move/attack/move again without provoking an AoO. How does this work against creatures with reach? Can you still move through their threatened areas without provoking an AoO? Or do they get to clobber you one because of their extra reach?

And would ride-by-attack have the same issue? Thoughts?

Thanks!

 

[Wippit Guud]

"Moving in this way does not provoke an attack of opportunity from the defender you attack, though it might provoke attacks of opportunity from other creatures, if appropriate."

Doesn't say reach bypasses that.

 

[Christian]

Concur. Reach lets you take attacks of opportunity against an opponent moving through a larger number of squares; but the movement of a character using Spring Attack does not provoke AoO's from the target. It doesn't matter if he moves through one threatened square or ten ... Ditto for Ride-by Attack (and Fly-by Attack).

 

[Korak]

Concur. Reach lets you take attacks of opportunity against an opponent moving through a larger number of squares; but the movement of a character using Spring Attack does not provoke AoO's from the target. It doesn't matter if he moves through one threatened square or ten ... Ditto for Ride-by Attack (and Fly-by Attack).

Almost correct.

FLYBY ATTACK [GENERAL]
Prerequisite: Fly speed.
Benefit: When flying, the creature can take a move action (including a dive) and another standard action at any point during the move. The creature cannot take a second move action during a round when it makes a flyby attack.
Normal: Without this feat, the creature takes a standard action either before or after its move.

Flyby attack does not protect against AOOs. That is why it has such low pre-requisites. Also, note that spring attack does not specify that the movement must be land based. Flyers that want AOO protection must take the spring attack feat chain. Flyby attack just lets them move-cast-move, move-attack-move, move-breathe-move, or move-otherstandardaction-move, while still provoking AOOs in the normal manner.

 

[jgsugden]

Hmmm ... I never noticed that flyby attack allows standard actions instead of a single attack. That gives me a wealth of ideas on how to use a few monsters differently.