Defend another

[Eldon RowDragon]

Hi!
Is there any rule which helps me defend someone else from melee attacks?
As PC I would like to defend the wizard of the party, as a DM I would like to defend the traitor king from the party. But the rules let the attacker walk round the defender and directly attack the defended person. So, how can I prevent a single attacker pass me?

[Chess Pwn]

stand still, be big, reach attacks and trip them.

Or you can do things to boost the King's AC.

But there's not really a ton of option.

[Gwen Smith]

Eldon RowDragon wrote:

Hi!

Is there any rule which helps me defend someone else from melee attacks?
As PC I would like to defend the wizard of the party, as a DM I would like to defend the traitor king from the party. But the rules let the attacker walk round the defender and directly attack the defended person. So, how can I prevent a single attacker pass me?

If you have a 5-foot hallway or doorway, you can block it completely, and they can't get past you without an acrobatics check. (10 foot hallway requires two blockers, though.)

But like Chess Pwn said, there aren't a lot of options. In general, you want to stand at least 5 feet ahead of the person you're guarding so that the attackers always provoke an attack of opportunity to get to your ward. If the attackers have reach, you need to be 10 feet ahead.

Get Combat Reflexes and Improved Trip. Get a reach weapon and have unarmed strike to threaten adjacent to you. When the bad guys try to get past you, trip them in the square in front of you. Then, they will provoke standing up (and you attack them again) and provoke again when they start to move past you.

Take a 5 foot step back and repeat as necessary.

[shadowkras]

Aid Another allows you to increase your protegee AC by 2 against one attack of the target, if you happen to beat an attack roll against AC 10. Both your protegee and the target must be adjacent to your character. This is a Standard Action.

Bodyguard Feat allows the same, but is improved to an Attack of Opportunity if your protegee is attacked.

And In Harm's Way will upgrade Bodyguard to allow you to take a blow instead of your protegee once per round (it's an Immediate Action).

Convering Defense will grant cover (+4 AC) to your ally if you are wearing a light, heavy or tower shield and perform a Total Defense Action (a Standard Action).

[Eldon RowDragon]

Thank you!
I think I'll make a house rule about this. A small modification. Defender and defended may share the same square at the end of their movement. Defender takes -4 penalty on attack rolls, skill and ability checks. Defended takes -4 penalty on missile attack rolls, skill, ability and caster level checks. Defended may not engage melee. If the defended wants to cast a spell she may casting defensively.
Additional feats may reduce penalties.
Does it sound good?