Threaten in 2D or 3D?

[Plane Sailing]

I was just wondering about this issue, and wondered if anyone who has inwardly digested the rule books happens to remember where the answer is to this one:

Does it state anywhere whether you threaten in a 3D area around you, or is that taken as an implication from reach etc?

(gosh, I'm asking a RAW question! Will wonders never cease?)

Cheers

 

[Infiniti2000]

Although I see nothing that explicitly says you threaten up and diagonally up, neither is it explicit that you do not threaten in 3D. I think it's taken as a strong inference from the rules on "adjacent squares" and assumed to be in 3D when you are concerned with flying or swimming creatures.

 

[Egres]

I was just wondering about this issue, and wondered if anyone who has inwardly digested the rule books happens to remember where the answer is to this one:

Does it state anywhere whether you threaten in a 3D area around you, or is that taken as an implication from reach etc?

(gosh, I'm asking a RAW question! Will wonders never cease?)

Cheers

Well, if the reach wasn't 3d flying opponents would be almost invincible.

 

[Infiniti2000]

Well, if the reach wasn't 3d flying opponents would be almost invincible.

Only if the flying opponents had ranged weapons and the ground creatures didn't. If you don't threaten up then they don't threaten down.

It would also call into question the Higher Ground modifier.

 

[Crothian]

I do it 3d

 

[Sejs]

3d.

 

[Primitive Screwhead]

DMG Chap 2.. its not spelled out explicitly, but the lines:
"Use the movement rules to apply to any sort of movement, not just when traveling across a flat surface." {Moving in three dimensions}

and

"As a general rule, consider creatures to be as tall as their space, meaning that a creature can reach up a distance equal to its space plus its reach." {Big and little creatures in combat}

add up to 3D threat zones.

 

[Egres]

Only if the flying opponents had ranged weapons and the ground creatures didn't. If you don't threaten up then they don't threaten down.

Well, they could simply fly towards you vertically, allowing them to threat you on a 2d plane.

....

Dude, that's crazy.

Forget what I said.

 

[Shellman]

I don't recall where it was taken from, but one of the DM's I play with said he found a ruling in a publication that states you do not threaten the space directly above you or the space directly below you. We ignore it anyway.

Also I think it states in the PHB or MM that any creature of tiny size or smaller does not threaten any adjacent space, so they have to enter your space to threaten you.

 

[irdeggman]

From the SRD:

Threatened Squares: You threaten all squares into which you can make a melee attack, even when it is not your action. Generally, that means everything in all squares adjacent to your space (including diagonally). An enemy that takes certain actions while in a threatened square provokes an attack of opportunity from you. If you’re unarmed, you don’t normally threaten any squares and thus can’t make attacks of opportunity.

Melee Attacks: With a normal melee weapon, you can strike any opponent within 5 feet. (Opponents within 5 feet are considered adjacent to you.) Some melee weapons have reach, as indicated in their descriptions. With a typical reach weapon, you can strike opponents 10 feet away, but you can’t strike adjacent foes (those within 5 feet).

Now as I read this there is no limitation on whether or not the 5 ft is in 2D or 3D. Hence it should be read as within 5 ft since adjacent can be in any direction.

Now all of the illustrations are in 2D , but that IMO has more to do with taking pictures and using battlemaps than with trying to coer all situations.