Tiny Creatures and Tumble

[Vegepygmy]

Something occurred to me during tonight's game, and I'd like to know what others think.

My wizard has ranks in Tumble, which means that his familiar (a rat) does, too. It's a DC 15 Tumble check to move through an opponent's threatened area without provoking an AoO, and a DC 25 Tumble check to move through an opponent's occupied space without provoking an AoO. So far, so good.

But a Tiny creature (like my wizard's familiar) can move through an opponent's occupied space without making any Tumble check at all (though it provokes an AoO). So shouldn't it be just a DC 15 Tumble check for such a creature to move through an occupied space without provoking an AoO?

Sure, you can just say that the RAW don't call out any exception for Tiny creatures and therefore the same rules apply to them as to larger creatures, but doesn't it seem reasonable that Tiny and smaller creatures (or creatures at least three sizes smaller than their opponents) be able to Tumble as easily through an opponent's occupied space as they can around it?

C'mon, back me up! I'm tired of seeing my pet rat eat an AoO every time he goes in to deliver a touch spell for me!

 

[Darklone]

Yupp, DC 15.

Everything else doesn't make sense.

 

[takasi]

Sorry, the RAW don't call out any exception.

Seriously though, ruling it that way would make reduce person a must have for halfling rogues right?

Tiny creatures can move into a square because they HAVE TO, they don't have the reach to attack from adjacent squares right? Other creatures don't, and if they could move into an opponent's square you would be able to force creatures into a squeeze, which would change the dynamics of the game.

How much is the DC on the tumble check for a tiny creature to move through an adjacent square? DC 15?

Smaller creatures already have better AC and Dex to avoid getting hit and to increase their tumble checks, I don't see why the DC should be any easier.

 

[Infiniti2000]

Yupp, DC 15.

Everything else doesn't make sense.

I strongly disagree. Anything other than DC 25 doesn't make sense. It should be much harder to move through someone's square without provoking an AoO than to move around their square. Whether or not you can move through their square to begin with is irrelevant.

C'mon, back me up!

Get the rat a collar of tumbling that grants +N competence on tumbling (assuming the DM allows custom items and doesn't overly charge for this one). Or, summon some other rats to try to soak up those attacks of opportunity.

 

[Goldmoon]

I'm just having a really hard time picturing a tumbling rat.

 

[Darklone]

Too lazy to check guys, but wasn't there a rule about how much more smaller a creature has to be to be allowed to enter the space of a bigger one (don't forget your familiars)?

Check it out... in that case, squeezing wouldn't apply and I see no reason why tumbling should be harder.

Ok, it's not explicitely spelled out by the rules, but I'd go for the RAI.

 

[Vanye]

I'm just having a really hard time picturing a tumbling rat.

Have you ever owned them? Tumbling is the least of their skills. Jumping and Climb are maxed out as well.