Large creatures and movement

[el cuervo]

I need a few clarifications on how large creatures move.

Do large creatures taking a 5-foot step effectively only move half of their area into new squares?

Example:

x = monster area
. = empty tile
Before:
. . . .
x x . .
x x . .
. . . .

After:
. . . .
. x x .
. x x .
. . . .

Do movements of creatures larger than medium (I'll use large as my example) count their "trailing" area as part of their move distance? That is to say, is the "leading edge" of their token during a movement action the edge that is used for determining distance traveled?

Example:

50 foot x 20 foot area, with giant starting where the x's are:

Before
. . . . . . . . . .
x x . . . . . . . .
x x . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . .

After
. . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . x x
. . . . . . . . x x
. . . . . . . . . .

In the diagram above, has the giant moved 40, 35, or 30 feet? 40 feet, right?

Another situation: PCs are in a narrow hallway (10ft wide) and a large monster is coming down the hallway:

x = large monster area
o = medium size PC
. = empty tile

x x . . o . . o
x x . . o . . o

The monster (we'll say he's a giant) wants to pass the first two NPCs. What are his options? Is he completely blocked? Can he attempt an overrun against one of the PCs to move past, while provoking AoOs from both? Can he attempt an acrobatics check against one as part of his move and overrun the other? Can he acrobatics tumble through both at the same time? Overrun both, using the higher CMD of the two (and let the other assist, maybe)?

Thanks for the clarification in advance!

[el cuervo]

Any takers? Really looking for an answer on the third item to give to my players next week.

[Chess Pwn]

el cuervo wrote:

I need a few clarifications on how large creatures move.

Do large creatures taking a 5-foot step effectively only move half of their area into new squares?

Example:

x = monster area
. = empty tile
Before:
. . . .
x x . .
x x . .
. . . .

After:
. . . .
. x x .
. x x .
. . . .

Correct for each 5ft of movement you shift him one square that direction.

Before:
. . . .
x x . .
x x . .
. . . .

After:
. x x .
. x x .
. . . .
. . . .
Is a 5ft step diagonal.

[Gauss]

I am not sure what your question is. Whether you count from corner to corner, leading edge to leading edge, trailing edge to trailing edge, or center to center, the distance is the same.

A 5' step is a 5'step regardless of size.

[el cuervo]

Gauss wrote:

I am not sure what your question is. Whether you count from corner to corner, leading edge to leading edge, trailing edge to trailing edge, or center to center, the distance is the same.

A 5' step is a 5'step regardless of size.

Thanks! But you must not have fully read my post because I asked three questions, not one.

[Chess Pwn]

1) I already answered
2) count how many 5ft steps you made, I'm not going to do it since the grid is messed up.
3) He's able to use any legal means to move there.

[DM_Blake]

Pick on spot on the creature's base. This spot must be clearly in just one single square - call this square the starting square. Then I pretend the creature is really just medium and calculate how it moves to whatever destination square I want, starting from the start square and counting its movement to the destination square. Then I place the creature so the one spot I chose is in the destination square.

Works every time, no confusion.

Only caveat is that while you're pretending to move the large creature like it's a medium one, don't move it through narrow spaces it couldn't normally fit through.

As for your questions:

1. Yes, that's a 5'Step.
2. Yes, that's 40 feet.
3. The giant cannot pass two humans by overrunning just one of them. The rules do not allow him to move through an enemy's space and there are two enemies - he cannot overrun one and ignore the other other one. Unless they're Medium and he's Gargantuan, or they're Small and he's Huge, etc. (three sizes larger). So the giant must overrun them both, but he can't. Overrun is a Standard action so he can only do it once each round. Two humans can block a Large or Huge giant.
3b. He's completely blocked to normal movement (unless he's 3 sizes larger).
3c. Two opponents, two Overruns (not possible). But if even one of them is 3 sizes smaller, he could just Overrun the largest opponent and ignore the smallest - he will provoke from both if he tries to Overrun either of them.
3d. Yes, but if he's going to use Acrobatics, might as well use it against both (the DC is the same, one roll beats both opponents or it fails) - this way he still has his standard action that he didn't waste on an unnecessary Overrun.
3e. Yes. +5 DC for moving through the space and +2 DC for one extra opponent threatening him, he must beat the highest DC to pass them both.
3f. No, that requires two standard actions. But as a house rule, I would allow it (borrowing the +2 DC idea from Acrobatics, too).

[Byakko]

The above sounds good on a quick reading, but I did notice one thing that was a little off:

3d.
You must make one acrobatics check per enemy you are using acrobatics against. The DC for the second one is increased by 2. Failing either will end your movement and provoke from whichever you failed the roll against.

(relevant FAQ)

Some GMs may also allow you to Overrun one foe while using Acrobatics on other foe(s). Overrun is poorly written so expect table variation here.

[Baval]

For 3, a good answer is "change the rules to make sense if they dont, because this is a game"

If it makes sense that the giant could overrun both guys because theyre in the same spot and hes just barreling them both down with the same sweep of his club, then he does. Roll CMB vs both and if he beats both, he gets through, if he doesnt, one of them manages to block him.

Play it fair, play it to your group, and play it in a way that makes sense. Make sure everyones happy and agrees its a good choice. The key is to make sure everyones having fun.