Using Acrobatics to Evade the AoOs of several opponents

[Volkspanzer]

In the PRD, the DC for Acrobatics against more than one opponent increases the DC by 2. However, does the base DC remain the same as the first opponent, or do you use the CMD of each opponent that you pass by + the cumulative penalties? For example:

Rogue has to tumble past Monster 1, Monster 2, and Monster 3. Monster 1 has a CMD of 10, Monster 2 has a CMD of 15, and Monster 3 has a CMD of 20. Rogue is currently being threatened by Monster 1. The dc modifier is already at +4 due to two additional opponents. However, do you use the CMD of the first monster you're threatened by, the monster with the highest CMD, or does the CMD change each time you pass by each respective monster (assuming you're only making one acrobatics check to tumble past all three).

Also, does the CMD only increase by +2 at the point where you pass an additional opponent?

[BYC]

If I remember correctly, this has never really been answered.

The way lots of PFS GMs run it is to:

1, ask the player exactly how is moving.
2, roll Acrobatics for EACH opponent.
3, add the cumulative +2 to opponents, based on the order the player set down from step 1. Monster 2 is +2, monster 3 is +4, etc.
4, roll attack rolls for failed Acrobatics check vs. CMD.

The reasoning for multiple rolls is the creature performing the Acrobatics checks would be screwed if he rolled low, and took AoOs from every monster, or if he rolled high, the movement does not provoke.

[Tarantula]

I also think it works as BYC described. First opponent is just the normal. Second opponent gets a +2. Third gets a +4. Etc.

[BYC]

One thing I forgot to detail, you add the bonuses to the base CMD of that opponent, not the first opponent. So if monster 1 is an orc, but monster 2 is a dragon, the dragon uses his CMD with the +2.

[Jiggy]

BYC wrote:

If I remember correctly, this has never really been answered.

Actually, it's been in the FAQ for almost a year and a half.

FAQ wrote:

Acrobatics: How does Acrobatics (Core Rulebook, page 87) work when you use it to avoid attacks of opportunity? When do you make checks? How many do you make?

Acrobatics allows you to make checks to move through the threatened area of foes without provoking attacks of opportunity. You must make a check the moment you attempt to leave a square threatened by an enemy, but only once per foe. The DC (which is based of the Combat Maneuver Defense of each foe), increases by +2 for each foe after the first in one round. The DC also increases by +5 if you attempt to move through a foe. In the case of moving out of the threatened square of two foes at the same time, the moving character decides which check to make first.

For example, a rogue is flanked by a meek goblin and a terrifying antipaladin. The rogue move away from both of them, provoking an attack of opportunity from both, but uses Acrobatics to attempt to negate them. She must move at half speed while threatened by these foes and can choose which to check against first. If she fails a check, she provokes an attack of opportunity from that foe. If she makes it, she does not provoke from moving through that foe's threatened space this turn.

—Jason Bulmahn, 11/24/10

To sum up, though, BYC has it right.

[SlimGauge]

Check my example please.

Warning: Bad ASCII 'art'

Player P wants to tumble to the target T. A, B and C threaten adjacent squares but do not have reach.

._.A._._.C._._.
.P.1.2.3.4.5.T.
._._.B._._._._.

Player tumbles from starting square to 1, rolls acrobatics against A's CMD with no extra plus for B and C. If player succeeds, he does not provoke.

To move from 1 to 2, player rolls acrobatics again, but vs B's CMD with a +2, because he's already used acrobatics to avoid A. If player botches this roll, do both A and B get an AoO ? (I think no, only B gets one, because the player already either succeeded or failed vs A and continues to succeed vs A as long as he keeps tumbling.)

To move from 2 to 3, player has already either succeeded or failed vs A and B. If he elects NOT to tumble, he would provoke from both A and B despite having tumbled earlier.

To move from 3 to 4, B and C are threatening, but player has already succeeded vs B, so he rolls against C with a +4 for having already checked against A and B.

[BYC]

That's weird, because this was a topic in the Venture-Offices forums on how to run AoOs maybe 6 months ago, and I would have thought one of us would have looked at the FAQ.

Well whatever. The key point is that I'm right.

[Jiggy]

BYC wrote:

That's weird, because this was a topic in the Venture-Offices forums on how to run AoOs maybe 6 months ago, and I would have thought one of us would have looked at the FAQ.

I've noticed that lots of well-meaning folks (VOs, multi-star GMs, etc) are very much NOT in the habit of checking the FAQ when a question comes up. (Or sometimes even the CRB - seems the longer they've been GMing the more likely that their own habits are the rules and things they're not sure on must not be clear. But I digress.)

Quote:

Well whatever. The key point is that I'm right.

I lol'd. Get that on a T-shirt or something ASAP. ;)