Using a readied action to absorb an attack?

[Stalker0]

Can a character use a readied action to move in front of a friend and take the blow from a monster?

I know you normally can not fight in the same square as an ally, but they can let you by. Could you move run past the square, but say you want to take the hit?

Also, if that doesn't work, let's say I choose to bull rush my friend out of the way. I move in a way to provoke an AOO from the enemy then bull rush my friend. If my friend wanted to, can he just choose to fail the bullrush and get hit out of the way?

 

[Nim]

I think I'd let someone ready an action to provide an ally next to them cover versus an incoming attack. Doesn't seem unbalanced.

Re: the bullrush, this might not have the result you wanted. The victim moved by the bullrush provokes attacks of opportunity if any of that movement is in a threatened area, just as they would moving normally. You might BOTH end up being hit.

 

[Stalker0]

Agreed, the plan would be to attack the AOO from the monster when I move in for the bullrush. Assuming no combat reflexes my friend wouldn't take any AOo's. But with that I'd be looking at 2 attacks on me.

 

[wedgeski]

What exactly are you thinking would be the trigger action? 'When my friend would otherwise take a hit' or 'When my friend is attacked'?

In the former, I doubt I'd allow it, but in the latter case, I'm sure we could come to some sort of arrangement re: bull rushing etc.

 

[irdeggman]

What exactly are you thinking would be the trigger action? 'When my friend would otherwise take a hit' or 'When my friend is attacked'?

In the former, I doubt I'd allow it, but in the latter case, I'm sure we could come to some sort of arrangement re: bull rushing etc.

But could you ready an action in reponse to an AoO?

Doesn't seem right to me though. An AoO is a "free" action that is in response to a different action and takes "no time" which is why it disrupts (or potentially disrupts) the action that it was in response to.

Also IIRC you can only ready a standard, move or free action - not combinations. You can take a 5ft step as part of the readied action (provided you don't/haven't taken any other movement that round). So you can't move into the square then perform a bull rush. The act of performing a bull rush involves moving into the square and generates an AoO at that time - note that since it provokes an AoO the action can be disrupted (e.g., by the AoO killing your character).

Also if the ally is moved then his movment provokes an AoO:

Bull Rush Results: If you beat the defender’s Strength check result, you push him back 5 feet. If you wish to move with the defender, you can push him back an additional 5 feet for each 5 points by which your check result is greater than the defender’s check result. You can’t, however, exceed your normal movement limit. (Note: The defender provokes attacks of opportunity if he is moved. So do you, if you move with him. The two of you do not provoke attacks of opportunity from each other, however.)

The foe has the "option" of taking an AoO or not. If he has Combat Reflexes then he could take an AoO on the character performing the bull rush and then another on the ally being moved out of the threatened square by the bull rush and still another on the character performing the bull rush if he is continuing his movement out of the threatened square.

 

[wedgeski]

But could you ready an action in reponse to an AoO?

Nothing in the RAW to say you can't, AFAIK, but it comes back to my previous question over exactly what the trigger action will be.

Also IIRC you can only ready a standard, move or free action - not combinations. You can take a 5ft step as part of the readied action (provided you don't/haven't taken any other movement that round). So you can't move into the square then perform a bull rush. The act of performing a bull rush involves moving into the square and generates an AoO at that time - note that since it provokes an AoO the action can be disrupted (e.g., by the AoO killing your character).

Any reason why the allowed 5-foot step can't be the 'move into the same square as your opponent'? It would necessarily restrict the proposed maneuver to allies standing right next to you, but that seems in keeping with the idea of 'bodyguarding' your buddy.

The biggest problem here is the Bull Rush against your ally. Technically, the Bull Rush RAW specifies 'opponents' and 'defenders'. If you allow it against allies it could also be abused to provide a 'free' 5-foot step outside of the target's initiative. Still, as I said, I like the idea enough to come up with some kind of compromise.

 

[irdeggman]

Your best bet to help your ally is:

AID ANOTHER
In melee combat, you can help a friend attack or defend by distracting or interfering with an opponent. If you’re in position to make a melee attack on an opponent that is engaging a friend in melee combat, you can attempt to aid your friend as a standard action. You make an attack roll against AC 10. If you succeed, your friend gains either a +2 bonus on his next attack roll against that opponent or a +2 bonus to AC against that opponent’s next attack (your choice), as long as that attack comes before the beginning of your next turn. Multiple characters can aid the same friend, and similar bonuses stack.

You can also use this standard action to help a friend in other ways, such as when he is affected by a spell, or to assist another character’s skill check.

Note that you make an attack roll against AC 10 and then provide your ally with a +2 bonus to AC until your next turn. Since it is a standard action it could be readied - although I don't know why you'd want to - just go on your initiative and provide the bonus to AC.

The readied action would be something along the lines - "If my ally is threatened I'll atempt to aid another to provide a bonus to AC." You could make a 5ft step to provide this action also.


Not only can't you attack from teh same square you can't even occupy the same square:

Ending Your Movement: You can’t end your movement in the same square as another creature unless it is helpless.

Other potentially useful info:

Move 5 Feet through Difficult Terrain
In some situations, your movement may be so hampered that you don’t have sufficient speed even to move 5 feet (a single square). In such a case, you may spend a full-round action to move 5 feet (1 square) in any direction, even diagonally. Even though this looks like a 5-foot step, it’s not, and thus it provokes attacks of opportunity normally.

Take 5-Foot Step
You can move 5 feet in any round when you don’t perform any other kind of movement. Taking this 5-foot step never provokes an attack of opportunity. You can’t take more than one 5-foot step in a round, and you can’t take a 5-foot step in the same round when you move any distance.
You can take a 5-foot step before, during, or after your other actions in the round.
You can only take a 5-foot-step if your movement isn’t hampered by difficult terrain or darkness. Any creature with a speed of 5 feet or less can’t take a 5-foot step, since moving even 5 feet requires a move action for such a slow creature.
You may not take a 5-foot step using a form of movement for which you do not have a listed speed.

Moving through a Square
Friend: You can move through a square occupied by a friendly character, unless you are charging. When you move through a square occupied by a friendly character, that character doesn’t provide you with cover.

Soft Cover: Creatures, even your enemies, can provide you with cover against ranged attacks, giving you a +4 bonus to AC. However, such soft cover provides no bonus on Reflex saves, nor does soft cover allow you to make a Hide check.


COVER
To determine whether your target has cover from your ranged attack, choose a corner of your square. If any line from this corner to any corner of the target’s square passes through a square or border that blocks line of effect or provides cover, or through a square occupied by a creature, the target has cover (+4 to AC).
When making a melee attack against an adjacent target, your target has cover if any line from your square to the target’s square goes through a wall (including a low wall). When making a melee attack against a target that isn’t adjacent to you (such as with a reach weapon), use the rules for determining cover from ranged attacks.
Low Obstacles and Cover: A low obstacle (such as a wall no higher than half your height) provides cover, but only to creatures within 30 feet (6 squares) of it. The attacker can ignore the cover if he’s closer to the obstacle than his target.
Cover and Attacks of Opportunity: You can’t execute an attack of opportunity against an opponent with cover relative to you.
Cover and Reflex Saves: Cover grants you a +2 bonus on Reflex saves against attacks that originate or burst out from a point on the other side of the cover from you. Note that spread effects can extend around corners and thus negate this cover bonus.
Cover and Hide Checks: You can use cover to make a Hide check. Without cover, you usually need concealment (see below) to make a Hide check.
Soft Cover: Creatures, even your enemies, can provide you with cover against ranged attacks, giving you a +4 bonus to AC. However, such soft cover provides no bonus on Reflex saves, nor does soft cover allow you to make a Hide check.
Big Creatures and Cover: Any creature with a space larger than 5 feet (1 square) determines cover against melee attacks slightly differently than smaller creatures do. Such a creature can choose any square that it occupies to determine if an opponent has cover against its melee attacks. Similarly, when making a melee attack against such a creature, you can pick any of the squares it occupies to determine if it has cover against you.
Total Cover: If you don’t have line of effect to your target he is considered to have total cover from you. You can’t make an attack against a target that has total cover.
Varying Degrees of Cover: In some cases, cover may provide a greater bonus to AC and Reflex saves. In such situations the normal cover bonuses to AC and Reflex saves can be doubled (to +8 and +4, respectively). A creature with this improved cover effectively gains improved evasion against any attack to which the Reflex save bonus applies. Furthermore, improved cover provides a +10 bonus on Hide checks.

Note that even if you had a house rule to allow you to step into the square and protect your ally - you'd only provide soft cover - which only works against ranged attacks, not melee ones. You'd need to further house-rule to provide any other type of cover.

 

[ForceUser]

Can a character use a readied action to move in front of a friend and take the blow from a monster?

I know you normally can not fight in the same square as an ally, but they can let you by. Could you move run past the square, but say you want to take the hit?

Also, if that doesn't work, let's say I choose to bull rush my friend out of the way. I move in a way to provoke an AOO from the enemy then bull rush my friend. If my friend wanted to, can he just choose to fail the bullrush and get hit out of the way?

There's no rule for this, but I would allow it. I'd even allow you to move into the square occupied by the ally you're protecting if there was no room to move in front of him (you'd take AC penalties for squeezing, though). I would also allow the bull rush. Both of these actions make sense.

 

[dcollins]

Can a character use a readied action to move in front of a friend and take the blow from a monster?

Once upon a time I thought I would allow this. However, the "Devoted Defender" prestige class (Sword & Fist, etc.) has as its primary benefit the special ability to do this, once per round. Therefore I have to conclude you can't do this unless you're a Devoted Defender with that special ability.

 

[Artoomis]

...Note that even if you had a house rule to allow you to step into the square and protect your ally - you'd only provide soft cover - which only works against ranged attacks, not melee ones. You'd need to further house-rule to provide any other type of cover.

Re-read page 151, PHB. Soft cover provides a +4 to AC, but no other cover bonuses (reflex saves, etc.) Works for melee attacks, but not ranged attacks.