Total Defense and Flanking

[Hypersmurf]

In 3.5, a character cannot make attacks of opportunity while taking the Total Defense action.

Notice, it doesn't say "a character taking the Total Defense action does not threaten an area", just that they can't make AoOs.

So, do they still technically threaten an area? This becomes important if you're trying to provide a flanking bonus...

-Hyp.

 

[billd91]

In 3.5, a character cannot make attacks of opportunity while taking the Total Defense action.

Notice, it doesn't say "a character taking the Total Defense action does not threaten an area", just that they can't make AoOs.

So, do they still technically threaten an area? This becomes important if you're trying to provide a flanking bonus...

-Hyp.

I think you'd still count as threatening. Check the glossary in the PHB for threaten. It says you have to be able to make a melee attack into an area to threaten it, not make an AoO. Even though you are taking a Total Defense action, you still could attack some squares under normal circumstances and during other rounds.
And then since you still count as threatening, you'd still be able to flank.

 

[Deset Gled]

Check the glossary in the PHB for threaten. It says you have to be able to make a melee attack into an area to threaten it, not make an AoO. Even though you are taking a Total Defense action, you still could attack some squares under normal circumstances and during other rounds.

Since you bring it up..
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.

It could be argued that when you take the Total Defense action, you cannot make a melee attack (even if it is not your turn, as you can't take AoOs), and thus, don't threaten As you pointed out, you still could attack some squares under normal circumstances, but taking the Total Defense option is not not a normal circumstance. Admittedly, this is a bit of a stretch. Is there any wording in the PHB that might make things clearer? Also, are there any other times when threatening has an effect other than granting an AoO? I can't think of any, but it there are it may help analysis.

Personally, I think I would have to rule that you still threaten an area, primarily since it does not specify that you don't threaten, and the rules normally specify explicitly when you forfeit theatening.

 

[FrankTrollman]

You still threaten after you've used all of your attacks of opportunity for the round - so I think you still threaten while on total defense.

Allow me to say that forbidding people from taking attacks of opportunity while in full defense is a dumb idea. It makes people less defensive against many attack forms while on "full defensive" - that's just backwards.

-Frank