Sorcerer Fey Bloodline: Laughing Touch and AoO's

[Osprey71]

I'm DM'ing a game with a Fey Bloodline Sorcerer PC.

When a creature is affected by their Laughing Touch ability does that creature lose the ability to make AoO's? I say no.

SRD wrote:

"A laughing creature can only take a move action but can defend itself normally."

Since it can defend itself normally I would think it gets to take AoO's normally, it is just that on it's turn it is limited to a move action, it doesn't list any other conditions or restrictions.

Am I right here?

Thanks.

[Benicio Del Espada]

I take it to mean that the creature can move and defend itself normally (not flat-footed, all AC bonuses still apply). An AoO is an attack, not a defending action, so no, the affected creature can't attack at all.

MHO.

[Majuba]

Agreed - it's very similar to the language for the dazed condition, except they can take a move action instead of no actions.

[Osprey71]

Now that there is some support for not getting an AoO, I've thought about it a bit more and looked up some other rules. The confusing part for me was the ability to still defend yourself. Part of defense, to me, is the ability to counter attack someone that is provoking you, especially in the case of a grapple or other combat maneuver.

The biggest support for the subject not getting an AoO is in the description for Attacks of Opportunity in the Core Rulebook (and SRD):

Rulebook wrote:

"You threaten all squares into which you can make a melee attack, even when it is not your turn."

In this case, you are not able to make a melee attack in any "square" since you are limited to a move action for the duration of that turn ( I assume that would mean up to the point in the initiative where the condition was activated). Therefore they would not get an AoO.

Thanks for the feedback.

[Benicio Del Espada]

I see it as the guy is laughing too hard to do anything but move and block/dodge attacks. It's not the most amazing ability out there, being so situation-dependent.

If the sorcerer is brave enough to risk it in melee, I say let him do it then get away w/o getting attacked. His tougher buddies can go in for the kill and won't be attacked by the victim in that round.