Tumbling while Prone...

[Mallus]

...can you do it? Specifically, can you use Tumble to roll away from an attacker after being Tripped to beat the AoO from standing?

Thanks.

 

[Magic Slim]

The rules, as they are presented, do not give the option, when prone, of taking other movement actions (I don't mean move-equivalent actions) than getting up.

It would seem logical that it is possible to move while "prone" (crouching). IMO, movement should be reduced by half (as if the character was in a terrain that hampered his movement). Therefore, you should be able to tumble 1/4 your speed while prone/crouching. Perhaps it would be wise to also impose a penalty on the DC check for tumbling.

You could also decide that it is possible to Tumble to get up, ie that a Tumble check can be made when standing up from prone, so not to incur AoO's. It would be logical, since one could say that the reason you incur AoO's while standing up from prone is that you move within the threatened space (vertically).

Slim

 

[jgsugden]

Under the official rules: No, you may not uise a tumble check to move in a prone position.

If begin the round in a prone position, you have a few choices under the current rules:

1.) Stand up as a mvoe equivalent action that provokes an AoO,

2.) Crawl 5' as a move equivalent action that provokes an AoO, or

3.) Use the epic rules to make a DC35 tumble check to stand as a free action. Note: There is a trend in 3.5 to not provoke AoOs on free actions, though this is only a trend and note a firm rule (the PHB pg 144 says, "Free actions rarely incur attacks of opportunity.") Standing as a free action is never listed as not provoking an AoO, but it seems to follow from the text that it should not provoke an AoO. It would need to be a house rule at this point, but it seems like a house rule with good support.

 

[Xarls Taunzund]

Under the official rules: No, you may not uise a tumble check to move in a prone position.

If begin the round in a prone position, you have a few choices under the current rules:

1.) Stand up as a mvoe equivalent action that provokes an AoO,

2.) Crawl 5' as a move equivalent action that provokes an AoO, or

3.) Use the epic rules to make a DC35 tumble check to stand as a free action. Note: There is a trend in 3.5 to not provoke AoOs on free actions, though this is only a trend and note a firm rule (the PHB pg 144 says, "Free actions rarely incur attacks of opportunity.") Standing as a free action is never listed as not provoking an AoO, but it seems to follow from the text that it should not provoke an AoO. It would need to be a house rule at this point, but it seems like a house rule with good support.

The rule for the DC 35 tumble check to stand up from prone as a free action is also listed in Oriental Adventures.

 

[Keith]

So, could you take a double move to crawl away and stand, out of reach of an opponent with 5’ reach? Seems like it. No attack, of course.
Boy, that is one slow crawl speed! I think anyone with balance, or escape artist, or no armor on, etc. should be able to do better than drag themselves such a short distance.

 

[Magic Slim]

So, could you take a double move to crawl away and stand, out of reach of an opponent with 5’ reach? Seems like it. No attack, of course.
Boy, that is one slow crawl speed! I think anyone with balance, or escape artist, or no armor on, etc. should be able to do better than drag themselves such a short distance.

Crawling away provokes AoO's it seems, unless you're talking about Tumble-Crawling, which I'm not sure is allowed per the rules.

Of course, this would mean that when you are prone, you're basically screwed. Your best option would probably be to try and disarm or trip your threatening opponents

Slim

 

[Darklone]

You could (as seen in many movies) simply start to grapple your opponent. You may be prone, but that would only inhibit your touch attack.

 

[Silver Griffon]

Crawling away provokes AoO's it seems, unless you're talking about Tumble-Crawling, which I'm not sure is allowed per the rules.

I don't think anything in the rules prohibits "tumble-crawling" specifically, but you should remember that tumbling to avoid an AoO is at one-half your speed in 3.5. I would interpret that to mean that it would require a full-round action (two move actions instead of one) to tumble 5 feet while prone and not suffer any AoO. Then you would still have to stand up next round, by which time your opponent has probably taken a 5 foot step towards you...

"Was that Bob who just rolled by? And what's that thing chasing him?"