Following Step and attacks of opportunity


Rules Questions

Liberty's Edge

I did try to find an answer to my specific question but my skills at searching are not properly trained.

Using Following Step to move 10' to reposition myself against the foe who took a 5' step away, I understand that I will not provoke an attack of opportunity from that foe. But would my movement provoke an AOO from a different foe?

Thank you


As the rules are written, I would say that using the movement from following step actually provokes from anybody. however, I am less than certain if it was intended this way.

following step

Liberty's Edge

There has been discussion going back a few years that because Following Step is triggered on Step-up, and Step-up states that AOO are not provoked than it follows that Following Step-up would not provoke. At least for the foe that took the 5' step.

I am wondering about other foes and how to handle the 10' part.


Well, that's the problem. When you're using step-up, it specifically says you're using a 5-foot-step. By the rules of a 5-foot-step, you don't provoke.

Following step is different. When you use step up, as in when the opponent makes a 5-foot-step while adjacent to you, you may move up to 10 feet.

"moving" generally provokes AOO's. Step up has no language specifically preventing an AOO, and neither does following step.

That's why, in terms of "as written", following step provokes from anybody nearby. However, again, I'm not certain in any way if this is intended.


The feat says when using step up to follow, step up uses a five foot step. Therefore you're five foot stepping for 10 feet and there is no AOOP

Liberty's Edge

I have to agree with Happy. Following Step says, in part, "When using the Step Up feat to follow an adjacent foe, you may move up to 10 feet." It extends the distance of Step Up to 10'. So it does nor provoke an AOO.

My question is does it also not provoke against a foe that is next to the foe that took the step 5' back? I thought it would not but I had a GM say yes. Thus, why I am seeking to understand how the feat works.

Assume for moment that I use only the Step-up and took a 5' step. would that provoke against a nearby foe? I think not, but again not sure.


5' steps do not provoke. The is no such thing as a 10' step. Moving 10' provokes normally.


You're not necessarily still using a 5' step anymore when you use the more advanced feat, depending if you opt in to the "may do..." clause or not.

Quote:
Normal: You can only take a 5-foot step to follow an opponent using Step Up.

Whenever they write something in the "normal:" section, it means you're no longer following those previous rules anymore, now that you have this feat.

In other words, you now have more options OTHER THAN taking a 5 foot step. Instead, you can choose to move 10' now (not a 5' step), retaining your upcoming 5' step the next turn, and not using up upcoming movement distance.

So yes, you would provoke.

If you don't wish to provoke, just don't use this feature of the feat--announce instead that you're opting out of using your "may do..." power of moving up to 10 feet, and are instead opting to still limit it to 5' step to avoid the AoO. (you would still then benefit from not losing your upcoming 5' step and not having to subtract the distance)

The fact that it says "Normal: you can ONLY choose 5' step..." seems clear to me that it intends for you now to be able to CHOOSE either a 5' step or 10 foot movement, as desired. Instead of "only" having the former choice before.

Liberty's Edge

Ok that makes since and confirms what I thought it meant.

Thank you.


...or just use acrobatics to avoid the AoO when you move while using the feat.

Liberty's Edge

Well the point behind Step-up and Following Step is to not let a foe move back so they take an action like casting a spell or shoot me with a ranged weapon and not face the penalties of do those actions while in close combat.

I am not taking a move action to move 10'. I am moving 10' because of the Following Step feat so I would not expect to be able to use a skill as part of that sequence.

PRD wrote:
...you can move through a threatened square without provoking an attack of opportunity from an enemy by using Acrobatics. When moving in this way, you move at half speed. You can move at full speed by increasing the DC of the check by 10. You cannot use Acrobatics to move past foes if your speed is reduced due to carrying a medium or heavy load or wearing medium or heavy armor. If an ability allows you to move at full speed under such conditions, you can use Acrobatics to move past foes. You can use Acrobatics in this way while prone, but doing so requires a full-round action to move 5 feet, and the DC is increased by 5. If you attempt to move through an enemy's space and fail the check, you lose the move action and provoke an attack of opportunity.

This implies to me that it part of my move action.

Community / Forums / Pathfinder / Pathfinder First Edition / Rules Questions / Following Step and attacks of opportunity All Messageboards

Want to post a reply? Sign in.