Wanting to provoke an AoO

[juliaromero]

Would you allow a character to willfully provoke an AoO as a free action without any penalty during combat (for example the fighter taking the hit on his turn so the wimp can move away from the monster without getting whacked, but have the fighter still take his full attack ... in essence just say "I provoked an AoO")?

 

[rowport]

If you mean, willfully *provoking* the AoO, then yes, but if you mean *automatically forcing* the AoO, then no. I see no reason why most opponents would choose to strike the heavily armored fighter in favor of the spellcaster given a choice between them (unless they have Combat Reflexes, of course). This tactic would probably work well against unintelligent undead or animals, etc., but not intelligent opponents.

 

[Primitive Screwhead]

Intentially Draw AoO

I would allow it..but I would give any AoO taken a circumstantial +2 to hit as the target is 'trying' to get hit. Its hard to tell when to switch out from the 'ha ha, you cant hit me' dance...

 

[Infiniti2000]

Before allowing it, you'd have to define what you feel an attack of opportunity really is. It seems like you want this tactic purely for the metagame reason and not for a good reason.

 

[JimAde]

Before allowing it, you'd have to define what you feel an attack of opportunity really is. It seems like you want this tactic purely for the metagame reason and not for a good reason.

I think it's justifiable. Trying to draw the opponent's attention so your friend can slip by him is reasonable. But I wouldn't allow it as a free action. You'd have to spend a move action, even if you didn't actually leave your square.

 

[BSF]

I see no reason why the fighter couldn't try to provoke an attack. But as Rowport says, it's no assurance that a smart enemy won't hold off and wait for a better opportunity.

I do like Primitive_Screwhead's suggestion of a circumstance bonus for the provoked. I might have to keep that in mind.

 

[Thanee]

Before allowing it, you'd have to define what you feel an attack of opportunity really is. It seems like you want this tactic purely for the metagame reason and not for a good reason.

Exactly, and therefore I would not allow it.

If you want to provoke, perform an action that does (the fighter could try a disarm with one attack, for example).

Bye
Thanee

 

[kjenks]

I've used this tactic to some success. Before he got the Improved Grapple feat, my character would run up to an opponent, move past the opponent (provoking an AoO), then grapple. If the opponent fell for the bait and took that first AoO, my character could grapple without worrying too much about the AoO in grapple step 1 (unless the opponent had Combat Reflexes). The step 1 AoO could prevent the grapple from succeeding. The AoO from movement is just an AoO.

It's a rope-a-dope maneuver and it only works if your opponent is dumb enough to fall for it. You've gotta be willing to take one on the chin, but that's not too terrible.

 

[Pyrex]

In our first 3.0 campaign one of my cleric's favorite tactics was to cast (eventually Empowered, and towards the end of the game Empowered Empowered) Fire Shield and run around the battlefield provoking AOO's from anything dumb enough to swing at me.

 

[Celebrim]

Ok, house rulings here....

Yes, you can. Anyone can drop thier gaurd momentarily and allow an opponent an opening to attack them.

However, if you are doing so for a devious reason, your opponent gets a Sense Motive check (DC 15) to discern your evil plan.

As a standard action (rather than a free action), you can provoke an attack of oppurtunity which you are actually in fact secretly prepared for and recieve a +2 circumstance bonus on your AC versus that attack. Again, your opponent gets a sense motive check in order to catch on to your devious ways. You may oppose his check with your bluff check.

If the character has fallen for this plan before, and suffered the consequences, he'll recieve a circumstance bonus on his Sense Motive check. Once bitten, twice shy.