Stay back! The joy of OAs.

[hamishspence]

Interrupts movement

the rules say all opportunity attacks interrupt movement. Very clear.

 

[hamishspence]

combat superiority stops movement

That is to say, the combination of Stops movement and Interrupts movement means that when creature moving triggers OA and OA hits, creature stays right where it is.

Enters adjacent square is exactly the same as Leaves adjacent square in this context: just cos creature is trying to do it doesn't mean it succeeds. If the fighters OA hits home, creature stops in the square it is trying to move from.

 

[Big J Money]

I'm certain that's the way OAs work. Otherwise, you'd never be able to take an OA, because by the time your interpretation allows you to take a swing, the target is out of reach.

...

Your interpretation essentially invalidates one of the main components of OAs. It's incorrect.

Good point. Consider my interpretation modified.

And now I must now swing 180% to be logically consistent. If opp attacks must happen before the target leaves the adjacent square, then opp attacks made with Polearm Gamble must happen before the target enters the adjacent square. Otherwise, the mechanic of Interrupting for an Opportunity Action is inconsistent.

Edit: Even though I agreeing with this, there are still a lot of logical fallacies floating around in this thread. I think the situation is wrapped up.

 

[Regicide]

Remember, this is 4e, general rules are explicitly trumped by more specific rules.

Can you name any game or rules or anything where specific doesn't overrule general?

 

[Kordeth]

You must be adjacent to take an OA is a pretty general rule, I think. Reach weapons explicitly do not override that rule, for instance.

No it's not. It's a specific requirement of two types of action that provoke OAs: ranged/area attacks and moving out of an adjacent square. There is no general rule that a target must be adjacent to you for all OAs. Polearm Gamble gives you an additional act that triggers OAs, which does not require that you be adjacent.

 

[FadedC]

Having reviewed some of the counterarguments, I'm inclined to change sides and think the attack does in fact occur 2 squares away. Going over the rules I can't find any reason for thinking that an attack that occurs when an enemy leaves an adjacent square should occur before the move, and an attack that occurs when an enemy enters an adjacent square should happen after.

There also nothing in the rules suggesting that attacks of opportunity can only be made against adjacent foes (only that the default triggering condition is an adjacent foe leaving the square). They do require you to make a basic melee attack which normally only has a range of 1, but the polearm gets around that problem.

 

[hamishspence]

combat superiority

Monsters given the elite npc fighter template get Combat Superiority. Basic NPC fighters do not.

Would it be rather hard to handle a very big monster upgraded to Fighter? You'd end up relying on teleport or long-distance shift powers to get in close.

 

[Kordeth]

Monsters given the elite npc fighter template get Combat Superiority. Basic NPC fighters do not.

Would it be rather hard to handle a very big monster upgraded to Fighter? You'd end up relying on teleport or long-distance shift powers to get in close.

Unless the monster has threatening reach, it's no harder than closing in on a human fighter. If its threatening reach is 3 or more, it might even be easier, as you could move in, take the OA, and then use your standard action to charge.

 

[Mal Malenkirk]

I prefer the interpretation where the attack is provoked by entering. It is a 'gamble' after all; free attack in exchange for combat advantage.

In support of it : It's not movement that triggers the AoO with Polearm gamble. Read the text :

When a nonadjacent enemy enters a
square adjacent to you, you can make an opportunity
attack with a polearm against that enemy

No mention of movement. An Eladrin could teleport next to you and you'd ger an AoO! he was non-adjacent and now enters an adjacent square...

But if movement is not involved in granting the AoO, it bypass Combat Superiority.

From a fluff perspective, I'd describe it as a function of posture and fighting style. A guy with a glaive has his weapon pointed, coiled and ready to strike at all time. He immediately lunches an attack against a new enemy, at the risk of compromising his balance.

---

As an aside ; why does that sample PC in the the OP, which I supposed was meant to be a polearm specialist, use feats like Blade opportunist, Heavy Blade Opportunity and Weapon Focus (Heavy Blade)?

 

[Zaruthustran]

As an aside ; why does that sample PC in the the OP, which I supposed was meant to be a polearm specialist, use feats like Blade opportunist, Heavy Blade Opportunity and Weapon Focus (Heavy Blade)?

It's explained in that lengthy OP, and the title of the thread. He uses a glaive, which is a polearm that is a heavy blade. So when he takes his OA, instead of making a basic attack he makes an at-will attack. Which, in addition to being a better attack, allows him to mark with Warpriest's Challenge instead of Combat Challenge.