What are some offensive ways to deny an opponent his ability to threaten squares?

[magnusmalkus]

Blinding them, I think, is one...
Grappling with is another, I think...

I coulda swore that netting/entangling an opponent denied them the ability to threaten squares... but it doesn't seem to. I think it's funny to conceive how a netted victim could swing a spiked chain 10' out from under it, or how a mace is going to swing and hit effectively from under a barbed net... Sure, I can conceive piercing weapons might threaten from under a net, but slashing/bashing weapons?

Attacking invisibly does, sorta... but i'm looking for OFFENSIVE tactics, not defensive ones...

Any ideas?

 

[Quartz]

Use a weapon with greater reach so the opponent has to withdraw.

 

[magnusmalkus]

Good idea in theory but...

Use a weapon with greater reach so the opponent has to withdraw.

Are there any medium sized melee weapons with a 15' reach? Or something else that can beat the range of a medium sized opponent who can use a large sized spiked chain?

 

[MarkB]

Nobody's mentioned disarming yet. He can't threaten you with his spiked chain if you're the one holding it.

 

[Greenfield]

A whip has a 15 foot reach, but its a weird weapon. Treated more like a ranged attack than a melee weapon, and does pretty much zero damage to anything you'd actually want to use it against.

An opponent who is Stunned, dazed or Blinded gets no attack of opportunity. Note that Blinded still threatens, for purposes of providing flank bonuses. At least I think so.

Total concealment, such as some fog effects provide. Any kind of concealment stops Sneak Attack, if that factors into the discussion at all. (Hilarious that a Rogue is less dangerous in a dark alley than in the open.)

Entangling effects deny the target their Dex bonus, and so makes them vulnerable to Sneak Attack, but they still threaten and can make AoE.

Sunder or Disarm their weapons removes most AoE ability. That is, an unarmed opponent doesn't threaten.

Those are the ones that come to mind right off hand.

Oh, I almost forgot: Kill them. Dead (or unconscious) opponents don't threaten.

 

[Vegepygmy]

Note that Blinded still threatens, for purposes of providing flank bonuses. At least I think so.

It does not (unless you don't need to see in order to pinpoint your foe). You cannot take an attack of opportunity against an opponent you can't "see," therefore you do not threaten that foe. If you can't "see" anyone (because you're Blinded), you don't threaten anyone.

 

[magnusmalkus]

All great suggestions. I've got plenty to work with there. Thanks bunches, folks.

 

[Quartz]

Interestingly, the SRD says that reach weapons - including Spiked Chain - cannot attack adjacent squares, and a Large creature wielding a Large weapon cannot threaten squares within 10 feet.

So in this case all you have to do is close with the opponent.

 

[magnusmalkus]

Unfortunately, spiked chains in particular are allowed to break this rule.

[h=5]Chain, Spiked[/h]A spiked chain has reach, so you can strike opponents 10 feet away with it. In addition, unlike most other weapons with reach, it can be used against an adjacent foe.

 

[Mark CMG]

I don't recall is someone who is prone can still make an AoO. If not, tripping them might work.