When does Combat Agility's effect occur when it is triggered by movement?

[Wednesday Boy]

Hey ENWorld! I need a little help with Combat Agility. If Combat Agility is triggered by movement when does its Effect occur? Once the triggerer's full movement is complete or can it be done at any point in the movement?

I know Immediate Reactions can interrupt a creature's movement and although Combat Agility is not an Immediate Reaction, maybe it has a similar dynamic that I missed.

And I'm looking for just rules responses so if you'd like to share your opinions on how good or bad Combat Agility is, please start a new thread about that. Thanks all!

Combat Agility
Opportunity Action Melee weapon
Trigger: An enemy adjacent to you takes an action that provokes an opportunity attack
Effect: After the triggering enemy completes the action, you shift a number of squares equal to your Dexterity modifier. You must end the shift closer to the target than you were when you began the shift. Then make the following attack.

 

[OnlineDM]

This is an Opportunity Action, and Opportunity Actions normally interrupt the action that triggered them (such as a creature walking away from you or making a ranged/area attack next to you - your attack happens before they move away or make their attack).

However, Combat Agility specifically says that the enemy completes their action, and THEN you make your shift. So, if the action that provokes Combat Agility is just a ranged or area attack while they're standing next to you, you don't shift anywhere (because you can't get any closer to the target as the power requires). If the action is them moving away from you, they finish moving (complete the action, as the power says) and THEN you shift toward them.

 

[Ferghis]

Opportunity Actions usually occur before the action that triggers them. However, the text you quote states that the character using the power will shift AFTER the triggering action is completed. If it's movement that triggers the opportunity attach, the enemy will finish the movement, and then the character will shift and attack.

EDIT: when I say finish the movement, I mean that the enemy will do his or her ENTIRE move action, and then this power's shift and attack will trigger.

 

[Wednesday Boy]

Thanks a ton, both of you! That's just the type of cut and dry responses I was looking for!

(PS: Can anyone XP OnlineDM for me?)

 

[Zaran]

One should note that if a target moves further away than the Fighter can shift that the fighter still gets to make the attack.

 

[Wednesday Boy]

One should note that if a target moves further away than the Fighter can shift that the fighter still gets to make the attack.

As long as he's within the Fighter's melee weapon reach. Right?

 

[IanB]

As long as he's within the Fighter's melee weapon reach. Right?

Right, the fighter still has to abide by the range restrictions of the attack as defined in the power block.

 

[Zaran]

Right, the fighter still has to abide by the range restrictions of the attack as defined in the power block.

I do not think that is correct. Otherwise it makes the power useless. The fighter would have to resort to a regular Opportunity Attack. The power specifically says that you must end your move closer then you make an attack.

I believe it means that the fighter is striking as the enemy moves.

 

[Wednesday Boy]

I'm not sure what you're getting at but my interpretation is that because the range on Combat Agility is "Melee weapon" after the enemy moves and you shift, the enemy must be within "melee weapon" to make the "Hit: 1[W] + Strength modifier damage, and you knock the target prone." attack. i.e., if the enemy is one square away after your shift and you don't have a reach weapon you don't get to make the attack.

 

[OnlineDM]

I do not think that is correct. Otherwise it makes the power useless. The fighter would have to resort to a regular Opportunity Attack. The power specifically says that you must end your move closer then you make an attack.

I believe it means that the fighter is striking as the enemy moves.

The power isn't useless. If the enemy is moving too far for the fighter to keep up with a shift equal to his Dexterity modifier, then he can choose to just make a regular opportunity attack instead. If he's not as worried about getting the attack in and more worried about shifting after the bad guy, he can use Combat Agility even if he won't be able to make the attack at the end. If his Dexterity modifier is high enough (and the enemy is slow enough), he can choose to shift and then attack, thus keeping the enemy next to him. A weapon with reach helps here, too, of course.

I've never actually seen a Fighter choose Combat Agility over Combat Superiority, but if you build a high-Dexterity Fighter, I suppose you might want it.