Threatening while holding a bow

[Hypersmurf]

Snap

-Hyp.

 

[Zenon]

Snap

-Hyp.

Double-snap

 

[Pagan priest]

Re: ?

I'm not sure I understand the complication. Just because a character is holding a bow, why wouldnt they threaten an area? Can someone point me to the page that specifically states this? The person can still make an AOO (melee attack) by punching (unarmed) or whacking with the bow itself. Do the rules say otherwise?

Thanks,

Belbarrus

Unless you are a monk or have Improved Unarmed Strike, unarmed attacks do not threaten an area... yes that is in the rules. Since my PH is currently down in the car, here is the SRD version:
Improved Unarmed Strike [General]
Benefit: The character is considered to be armed even when unarmed-that is, armed opponents do not get attacks of opportunity when the character attacks them while unarmed. However, the character still gets an opportunity attack against any opponent who makes an unarmed attack on the character.
Special: A monk fighting unarmed automatically gains the benefit of this feat.

Now I can accept that in general, the IUS feat would not let you use a bow and still threaten an AoO, but I find the concept that a monk would lose AoO's ludicrous. Monks are specifically described as using their whole bodies to make unarmed strikes. They can kick while using a bow. Least any think this is mere armchair speculation, I have some training in Tae Quan Do and in archery. (At this point you should all be very impressed and humbled in awe.)

 

[Quasqueton]

Least any think this is mere armchair speculation, I have some training in Tae Quan Do and in archery.

Ironically, from my experience in archery and TKD, there is no way you can be using a bow/arrow and use unarmed attacks in the same 'round'. You are either doing one or the other. No archer can throw out a kick or punch while drawing, nocking, aiming, and recovering. The two actions are mutually exclusive in the same 'round'.

Quasqueton

 

[jhanzur]

Ironically, from my experience in archery and TKD, there is no way you can be using a bow/arrow and use unarmed attacks in the same 'round'. You are either doing one or the other. No archer can throw out a kick or punch while drawing, nocking, aiming, and recovering. The two actions are mutually exclusive in the same 'round'.

Quasqueton

What's more, using an unarmed strike or an arrow that hasn't been knocked as a weapon in melee would be adding a second weapon to combat (the bow is what is currently being used). Would this fall under two weapon fighting (even with one of them ranged)? And if it did, would a character want the penalties? I doubt at low levels they would have forgone those great archer feats (to use with that bow they have) to take up ambi, twf, etc. Also, DMs DO limit the number of free actions allowed, and those actions can only be done on the character's turn.

 

[AuraSeer]

Now I can accept that in general, the IUS feat would not let you use a bow and still threaten an AoO, but I find the concept that a monk would lose AoO's ludicrous. Monks are specifically described as using their whole bodies to make unarmed strikes. They can kick while using a bow. Least any think this is mere armchair speculation, I have some training in Tae Quan Do and in archery.

I defy you to fire an arrow accurately at a target, and simultaneously kick someone with sufficient force to do damage. Or even to do one within 6 seconds of the other, without losing your balance or dropping your guard. Go ahead, try it. I have; it's quite a lot more difficult than you might think.

(At this point you should all be very impressed and humbled in awe.)

Of course. We puny humans cower in awe of you, for we have never had martial training of any kind.

If you don't mind, I'll just do my cowering over here, near the shelves where I keep the longbow, crossbow, TKD belt, aikido gi, broadsword, daggers, throwing knives, fencing foils, and laser cannon. Yah, I bow before your prowess, O Great One.

 

[Hypersmurf]

I defy you to fire an arrow accurately at a target, and simultaneously kick someone with sufficient force to do damage. Or even to do one within 6 seconds of the other, without losing your balance or dropping your guard.

Of course, by the rules, there's nothing to stop someone punching one opponent, shooting a second (possibly drawing an AoO in the process), and then punching the first again, within the limits of their own full attack action, using iterative attacks.

They can take the free action to switch between using a ranged weapon and threatening with their gauntlets back and forth several times over the course of their own round.

It's only for attacks occurring outside their own initiative - AoOs or OotbI's Free Shot - that it causes a rules-mechanics debate.

-Hyp.

 

[andargor]

Of course. We puny humans cower in awe of you, for we have never had martial training of any kind.

If you don't mind, I'll just do my cowering over here, near the shelves where I keep the longbow, crossbow, TKD belt, aikido gi, broadsword, daggers, throwing knives, fencing foils, and laser cannon. Yah, I bow before your prowess, O Great One.

I'll just cower with my 2-day old pizza, remote control, bag of Ruffles, Diet Coke (don't ask), rabbit-eared slippers and 10-year old bathrobe.

I therefore bow to you in ultimate comfort.

Andargor

 

[jhanzur]

They can take the free action to switch between using a ranged weapon and threatening with their gauntlets back and forth several times over the course of their own round.
-Hyp.

I don't feel like looking it up, but is switching from a bow to a gauntlet a free action if you're not dropping the bow?

My DM would quickly disallow so many repeated free actions i think.

 

[Hypersmurf]

I don't feel like looking it up, but is switching from a bow to a gauntlet a free action if you're not dropping the bow?

My DM would quickly disallow so many repeated free actions i think.

Yes, it's a free action (which means it can only be done on your turn, not as part of an AoO)... but your DM can always set limits on the number of free actions that can be taken in one round.

-Hyp.