Teleport + Prone + Acrobatics = ?

[AbdulAlhazred]

Well, looking in the printed RC indicates 2 things:

1) The requirement on Hop Down that you not be prone is not part of the printed text. Since there is no released errata for RC as of now the text in the DDI Compendium is simply incorrect if it varies from the RC. So Hop Down by RAW is perfectly legal in this situation, though it is only good for a 10' drop.

2) Reduce Falling Damage could also be applied. If the character is trained in Acrobatics they can invoke this. Again there is nothing in the text of this application of Acrobatics which would prevent it from working in this situation.

So, the RAW is pretty clear, you CAN use teleportation from prone to effectively stand up. You're going to need to make a DC15 check for Hop Down. For Reduce Falling Damage you're going to have to reduce it to 0 to end up standing.

Of course the DM is well within his or her rights to rule against the character on this. Certainly a hefty situational penalty to the check or an additional check with reduce damage variant seems appropriate...

 

[Mengu]

Well, looking in the printed RC indicates 2 things:

The last compiled rules update is dated 10/05/2010, which is after the release of RC, 09/21/2010. I'd be inclined to go with the update document (which agrees with the online compendium in this case) rather than the RC. However, I'm not sure which rules source trumps the other.

 

[AbdulAlhazred]

The last compiled rules update is dated 10/05/2010, which is after the release of RC, 09/21/2010. I'd be inclined to go with the update document (which agrees with the online compendium in this case) rather than the RC. However, I'm not sure which rules source trumps the other.

Hmmm, well, this is where it starts to get complicated. The RC has no errata. If the PHB1 has errata more recent than the RC which conflicts with the RC, then there is no definite answer. This kind of thing has come up before. As for what is a 'rules source' the definition always used to be whatever was specified by LFR/RPGA. I don't really keep up with that stuff, but they always used to define pretty much everything as a rules source, which means you're officially at sea when they differ.

Certainly a DM would be well within his rights to go with the 'not prone' interpretation. Of course the player can then simply invoke damage reduction instead and almost certainly accomplish the same thing, assuming they're trained in Acrobatics.

 

[Cormacolinde]

This has come up in my game, and I've allowed teleporting people to make an acrobatics check to stand up after the teleport. It doesn't happen very often, and I just think it's kinda cool.

 

[Kchaka]

Can I use Teleport to remove the Prone condition?

Yes.

"Does a Fall provoke attacks of opportunities if the Fall is intentional?"

No.

Falling does not provoke attacks of opportunity. It didn't in 3.5 and I haven't found anywhere it says it does now.

"Prone is a Condition removed by standing up"

Nope.

You are Prone when you're laying on the ground, be it intentionaly, due to a Trip, a fall where you've taken damage or whatever. "Standing up" is an action that provokes AoO to get you out of the prone condition, but it's not the only way, there are many feats, abilities and spells that can help you get up.

"That is total cheatery"

Yes it is.

Getting out of Prone with such a short teleport was not something it was designed for, normaly you'd need 2 move actions to get up from prone and them move, so you are killing two birds with one stone, but as far as RAW goes, it's doable. It's a legit crack in the rules.

No, can look up the exact wording the devs used when talking about it if you want. Source below, should be easy to find.

‘Ask Wizards: 07/12/2008′, D&D Insider.

Rule #2: You can’t stand up by teleporting.
According to the Rules… This is true.
Why It’s Confusing: If you’re knocked prone, you can use a teleportation power to move yourself to a nearby square. When you arrive at the destination square, you’ll find that you’re still prone. Some argue that if you can warp space and time to create your own mini wormhole and come out the other end, you should also be able to arrive in an upright position. But according to the pros, standing up from prone takes a move action and can’t be accomplished with teleportation alone.

First, this guy is not talking about teleporting up into the air, he's saying that, if you teleport to another square on the floor while you are prone, you can't shift your orientation to arrive standing up straight, you'll still arrive prone at the other square. Teleporting into the air is a completly different use teleport/falling mechanics, and it works.

I personaly don't like this teleport orientation rule because, if I'm falling at terminal speed I can't teleport upside down to be hurled up to let gravity work in reverse and neutralize my speed until, when i'm slow enough, I can teleport again to the ground and not take a massive damage from terminal speed. Either teleport has to stop this momentum or they have to allow you to shift your orientation at the destination.

Second, this guy is talking about 4E. I assumed we were talking about 3.5/Pathfinder, but I guess it still works the same way for them all.


As far as teleporting into the air to get out of Prone, by RAW you don't even need to roll acrobatics in order to not take damage from the fall. If you fall less then 10ft you don't take damage from the fall, and you only become prone if the fall does damage, so you can just teleport 5ft up and you'll magically drop standing up, without provoking any AoO. I know, it's totally weird when try to imagine the scene, but that's how it works in the book. The acrobatics check is good to at least make this loophole make sense.

If you think you need to use the acrobatic check rule to not take damage from the fall, I think this counts as intentional droping down 10ft since you are aware of what you're doing. The rules don't specificaly say if it's intentional or not for this peculiar situation, so you'll have to make a call with your friends, but even if it isn't that wasn't a problem in 3.5 and I think not in 4E, it only seems to be now on Pathfinder, for no apparent reason. You can still teleport up to 15ft in the air, which should be plenty of distance to use acrobatics, make the check, diminish the fall distance damage by 10ft, and you'd be still only taking damage for falling 5ft which is not enough to do you damage, and thus you don't fall prone.