D&D 5E What would happen if we got rid of opportunity attacks

[tetrasodium]

Interesting. Thanks for that. I don't play PF but that's exactly what I'm talking about. I guess ultimately it will take play testing to see how it goes.

Pathfinder does AoOs similar to 3.5. Pf2 has a lot of difference as already described

 

[Oofta]

I don't think it would make much difference other than to negate certain builds and features. Just remember that it goes both ways - there will be no reason for the monsters to not swarm the wizard after they cast their first spell.

If I were considering it I'd run it by my group and then try it for a few combats. I don't think it changes much but try it out and let us know.

 

[DemoMonkey]

It would make grid based combat pretty much exactly the same as TOTM combat. Which would mean there would be very little point to going to the trouble of grid combat.

 

[tetrasodium]

It would make grid based combat pretty much exactly the same as TOTM combat. Which would mean there would be very little point to going to the trouble of grid combat.

The designers of 5e forgot this very important point when hey stripped out so much of what supports the gridmap

 

[FrogReaver]

Yes it would diminish the Rogue's cunning action and feats like mobile. Sentinel would be a must for tanks if it wasn't already so yeah there would be some balance changes. But it would also open up different tactics. Grappling would become more important. I really don't see too much of that at least in the games I've been involved in.

Rogue Cunning Action would be even better. You could freely bonus action dash with it to get out of nearly any enemies normal movement range.

I mean imagine wood elf rogue with a long bow freely moving with no fear of OA's up to 70ft a turn and shooting at any enemy their allies have engaged.

 

[FrogReaver]

The biggest issues I see is that no OA's incentivizes ranged combat and focus fire tactics even more. Whether that's an issue or not is up to you.

 

[Brotton Goodfellow]

I got rid of the grid all together and have switched to zone based combat where players and monsters can move freely around the combat space (a move action to move from one zone to another). When I made the switch I also threw out OA’s and honestly the only thing that has changed is combat flies by as no one is worried about positioning or counting squares to see where they’ll end up or if they can avoid opportunity attacks. No one wastes a turn disengaging either.

 

[aco175]

You could separate someone withdrawing from someone pushing through your space. Someone pulling back from you could trigger an attack at -5 or even at disadvantage (which I like better for a 5e feel). Someone moving past you triggers as normal. This gives the opportunity to move with less threat for those stuck in the trenches. The only problem I see as first blush is being able to pull back 5ft and then run around the other 5 squares of movement, which is less a withdraw and more a feint or such.

 

[Lanefan]

AD&D 1st (DMG): Free attack or "full attack routine" (all your attacks if you have multiple) on foes who exit melee with you with a bonus to the attack as if attacking a stunned opponent from rear. Also, obscure rule that if attacked by unarmed opponent, go first and if attack is "fended off," get a free attack.

I think this only applies if the opponent specifically turns its back and flees. A fighting or parrying withdrawal doesn't give any free swings. I also don't remember anything about getting a full attack sequence, just the one freebie.

And where did you find that rule about unarmed opponents?

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So far this is all talking about melee combat only. To me, where losing AoOs (or their equivalent) would be most noticeable is in how it'd make spellcasting in combat even easier than it already is (IMO it should be impossible).

 

[tetrasodium]

I think this only applies if the opponent specifically turns its back and flees. A fighting or parrying withdrawal doesn't give any free swings. I also don't remember anything about getting a full attack sequence, just the one freebie.

And where did you find that rule about unarmed opponents?

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So far this is all talking about melee combat only. To me, where losing AoOs (or their equivalent) would be most noticeable is in how it'd make spellcasting in combat even easier than it already is (IMO it should be impossible).

This is from 2e player options combat & tactics pg 7 8 & 13

Spoiler

I'm not going digging through 1e stuff but happen to know where it was in 2e well enough to trivially pull it. You only needed to face your mini away from an opponent who threatened you & you got your whole attack chain.