Can you use Aid Another with Combat Maneuvers? I know that it works with grapple, but I am unclear if it works with any others.
My thought is that they can work in conjunction. For example, I can see a group of kobolds swarming an adventurer and many of them using Aid Another to distract their opponent while one uses the Dirty Trick maneuver.
Any ideas?
Can you use Aid Another with Combat Maneuvers? I know that it works with grapple, but I am unclear if it works with any others.
My thought is that they can work in conjunction. For example, I can see a group of kobolds swarming an adventurer and many of them using Aid Another to distract their opponent while one uses the Dirty Trick maneuver.
Any ideas?
I believe so.
When you attempt to perform a combat maneuver, make an attack roll and add your CMB in place of your normal attack bonus. Add any bonuses you currently have on attack rolls due to spells, feats, and other effects. These bonuses must be applicable to the weapon or attack used to perform the maneuver.
Aid Another
In melee combat, you can help a friend attack or defend by distracting or interfering with an opponent. If you're in position to make a melee attack on an opponent that is engaging a friend in melee combat, you can attempt to aid your friend as a standard action. You make an attack roll against AC 10. If you succeed, your friend gains either a +2 bonus on his next attack roll against that opponent or a +2 bonus to AC against that opponent's next attack (your choice), as long as that attack comes before the beginning of your next turn. Multiple characters can aid the same friend, and similar bonuses stack.
Yes would be my response. This would not work in a grapple though as it is +2 to their next attack, and grappling requires a touch attack to initiate. However, you could ready your aid perhaps... anyway dirty tricks and the like is right up the ally, clever use of game mechanics.
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This would not work in a grapple though as it is +2 to their next attack, and grappling requires a touch attack to initiate.
Uh... No.
Grapple is ONE (combat maneuver) attack roll and the attack bonus should help just fine. You´re mixing up PRPG with 3.5 Grapple rules.The problem is Aid Another to Defend (+2AC) is... AN UNTYPED AC BONUS,
which PER RAW doesn´t apply to CMD. The INTENT is clearly such that it SHOULD also apply to CMD, but even after Errata (adding Luck Bonuses to the CMD-compatable list) Untyped AC Bonuses still don´t apply to CMD per RAW. Hit the FAQ flag on this if you´d like this to be fixed in a future Errata.
Paizo COULD just try and Errata all untyped AC bonus to be Dodge Bonuses, but that ultimately just seems like a more frustrating approach, because it´s just not likely that EVERY untyped bonus will be found and it requires future products to vigilantly follow the ´all untyped AC bonuses should be Dodge instead´ rule which is also unlikely to be followed 100% (just like the problem with effective spell level/caster level/magic school/etc for SLAs which don´t map to an actual spell).
Disregarding that CMD could more simply be described as a modifier (BAB+STR+ManeuverSizeMod) to Touch AC, the clearer and more consise description could simply say: ¨ALL AC bonuses apply to CMD EXCEPT Armor, Shield, and Natural Armor¨ which ironically is how attack bonuses to CMB are described, e.g. saying ALL bonuses apply and then giving restrictions (e.g. weapon-specific bonuses only apply when said weapon is used to deliver maneuver).
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Mmmm, indeed.
I'm seeing some unique opportunities as a lvl 4 Oracle of Bones, casting up to 8HD worth of undead, 8 1hd zombies, 7 lending a hand to their buddy to give +14 on his to hit. Nasty.
1 HD zombies have to be of size tiny or smaller. Zombie cats maybe?
Remember that at least some of them will miss the AC 10 needed to do the Aid Another. The remaining zombie cat may be almost certain to hit, but its damage will be rubbish. Better to have the zombie cats attack individually.
My thing with this is bull rush. Say I have the party tank holding a gateway, and a bunch of orcs pushing through. It would make sense that the orcs could basically push the orc in front of them, thereby aiding the bull rush maneuver.
I know I'd allow the orcs to do that... but what about y'all?
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If you're in position to make a melee attack on an opponent that is engaging a friend in melee combat, you can attempt to aid your friend as a standard action. You make an attack roll against AC 10. If you succeed, your friend gains either a +2 bonus on his next attack roll against that opponent or a +2 bonus to AC against that opponent's next attack (your choice), as long as that attack comes before the beginning of your next turn. Multiple characters can aid the same friend, and similar bonuses stack.
When you attempt to perform a combat maneuver, make an attack roll and add your CMB in place of your normal attack bonus. Add any bonuses you currently have on attack rolls due to spells, feats, and other effects.
My thing with this is bull rush. Say I have the party tank holding a gateway, and a bunch of orcs pushing through. It would make sense that the orcs could basically push the orc in front of them, thereby aiding the bull rush maneuver.
I know I'd allow the orcs to do that... but what about y'all?
Absolutely. Likewise, the line of defenders can bolster each other, forcing the bull rusher to push multiple people back at the same time. (Bull rush is one maneuver where you can "aid" the defense just by standing behind the target, and you don't have to actually use the problematic Aid Another to CMD.)