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When you move through a threatened square you draw an attack of opportunity.
This we know.
What about this:
When we move through a square "threatened" by a fellow PC, can that PC make a "friendly" Attack of Opportunity?
I assume a Cleric can't cast a Cure Spell as a "friendly" AoO because I assume one can't cast a spell as an AoO.
But what about the Paladin's Lay on Hands Class feature which is a Free Action? If a PC moves through a Paladin's "threatened" square can the Pally take an "AoO" to give that PC a Lay on Hands?
And if so, what about other similar situations?
Actually, as its a standard action, and since you make a standard action attack as an attack of opp, I would rule you could, by RAW. However, RAI is beyond me on this.
Actually, an AoO is *not* a standard action attack. "An attack of opportunity is a single melee attack, and most characters can only make one per round."
That means you can't cleave, or vital strike, or do a lot of things that are 'standard attack actions'. You get one attack with a melee weapon.
Becuase of the way AoO is worded, that means there are a few CM's that can be done in lieu of that physical attack. Trip, for example, says "You can attempt to trip your opponent in place of a melee attack. ". However, the warrior could not attempt a feint action, since "Feinting is a standard action."
Since there are very few things you can do with an AoO (Attack, trip, etc), I'd probably shy away from friendly AoO's, lol.
Actually, as its a standard action, and since you make a standard action attack as an attack of opp, I would rule you could, by RAW. However, RAI is beyond me on this.
You do not make a standard action attack as an attack of opportunity. You can't Vital Strike one, nor can you Bull Rush or Grapple. If you have bonuses to a standard action attack, or the ability to make more than one attack as a standard action, you don't get them.
You just get to make a single attack, or a combat maneuver that replaces a single attack.
Edit: ninja'd
LOH is not an attack. Would not work.
As per PRD: Making an Attack of Opportunity: An attack of opportunity is a single melee attack, and most characters can only make one per round. You don't have to make an attack of opportunity if you don't want to. You make your attack of opportunity at your normal attack bonus, even if you've already attacked in the round.
Ah, my mistake on that. I always thought it was a standard action attack.
It's a common misconception, Ganny...so don't feel bad. Comes up at least once/month in my sessions.
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I could see it happening if one character was already holding a charge of a cure spell.
We start with a couple super fast barbarians. They all took fleet, so they're speeding around at 45 ft. Meanwhile, they have a cleric buddy who wears full plate and slogs around at only 20 ft.
The standard practise is if one of the barbarians needs healing, the cleric casts it, and then the barbarian takes a withdraw action away from combat, moves 40 ft. towards his cleric buddy, withdraws AROUND his cleric buddy (provoking an attack of opportunity) and then moves a bit closer to combat so he can engage again next turn.
When the barbarian provokes the attack of opportunity, the cleric can then deliver his touch spell, and he can auto hit because it's a friendly spell.
Objections?
When you move through a threatened square you draw an attack of opportunity.
This we know.What about this:
When we move through a square "threatened" by a fellow PC, can that PC make a "friendly" Attack of Opportunity?
I assume a Cleric can't cast a Cure Spell as a "friendly" AoO because I assume one can't cast a spell as an AoO.
But what about the Paladin's Lay on Hands Class feature which is a Free Action? If a PC moves through a Paladin's "threatened" square can the Pally take an "AoO" to give that PC a Lay on Hands?
And if so, what about other similar situations?
Well, if you had Improved Unarmed Strike, I believe you could cast Cure Light Wounds on your turn, and then when the PC moves through your square, make an AoO. If you choose non-lethal damage, any damage you deal would likely be healed along with the lethal damage you're already curing.
But it's an awfully convoluted way to do it.
Note also this:
You can automatically touch one friend or use the spell on yourself.
EDIT:
Ninja'd!
I guess if your cleric has cast his cure spell and is holding the charge it could be done.
Seems wrong somehow tho.
Assuming a cleric had already cast the spell and is holding the charge, I don't think there's a problem for the cleric expending his AOO to apply the charge to a bypassing ally. In fact I think that may be legal by RAW.
"An enemy that takes certain actions while in a threatened square provokes an attack of opportunity from you."
Allies taking certain actions in a threatened squares don't provoke.
Good catch sir.
Allies do not provoke AOO under any circumstances then.No cheese available here. Move along.
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Readied actions are another option for this, but there's no reason why an attack of opportunity can't be used for this circumstance.
Who your enemy is and isn't is really a matter of perspective, and shouldn't weigh in on the matter.
"An enemy that takes certain actions while in a threatened square provokes an attack of opportunity from you."
Allies taking certain actions in a threatened squares don't provoke.
Good catch sir.
Allies do not provoke AOO under any circumstances then.
No cheese available here. Move along.
Cheese is a stupid term. This isn't overpowered.
Readied actions are another option for this, but there's no reason why an attack of opportunity can't be used for this circumstance.
Who your enemy is and isn't is really a matter of perspective, and shouldn't weigh in on the matter.
Cheese is a stupid term. This isn't overpowered."An enemy that takes certain actions while in a threatened square provokes an attack of opportunity from you."
Allies taking certain actions in a threatened squares don't provoke.
Good catch sir.
Allies do not provoke AOO under any circumstances then.
No cheese available here. Move along.
Actually, readied actions are far inferior to this, for one simple reason: They reset your initiative.
Scenario 1: The cleric goes before both the monster and the party member, casts a cure spell and holds it. The monster hits the friend, who then runs past, provoking a heal. The cleric goes before the monster goes again, and can either set it up again or do something else.
Scenario 2: The cleric goes before both the monster and the party member, and readies an action to cast cure when the friend runs past. The monster hits the friend, who then runs past, triggering the readied action to be healed. The monster goes again before the cleric (although the cleric still goes before the friend goes again).
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The closest we ever got to this was when an NPC lay dying. No one could reach him and use a standard action to help him. The ranger in the party charged and "attacked" the unconscious NPC with a wand of CLW.
I think I would allow the AoO as described, but not as an automatic hit. I would allow the barbarian to use AC 10, so the attack would probably hit.
You can't activate a wand on a charge. Unless there is some feat I have not seen. If you were already holding the cure charge. Then I see no problem with a charging-heal.
Who your enemy is and isn't is really a matter of perspective, and shouldn't weigh in on the matter.
If you thread everybody as an enemy you wont get friendship rewards like flanking. What about spells that effect you and your "allies" like bless ?
Enemies are enemies and friends are friends .. those who are fighting with you are friends/allies, those who are fighting against you are enemies. Everything else is rule bending or a houserule.
What happens when friends are enemies, or when enemies are friends?
What about friends who become enemies in the middle of combat?
What about enemies who become friends in the middle of combat?
What happens when no one can tell who is enemy or friend?
Is status changing an action? No. The status "enemy" or "ally" can change during a combat but not at players will.
Discuss this with your GM .. he has the last word.
Actually, readied actions are far inferior to this, for one simple reason: They reset your initiative.
I had houseruled away the "Initiative Consequences of Readying" rule so long ago that I forgot it existed. Thanks for the reminder.
Initiative Consequences of Readying: Your initiative result becomes the count on which you took the readied action. If you come to your next action and have not yet performed your readied action, you don't get to take the readied action (though you can ready the same action again). If you take your readied action in the next round, before your regular turn comes up, your initiative count rises to that new point in the order of battle, and you do not get your regular action that round.
In my houserule, readying does not change initiative order. The player takes his regular turn after the readied action does or does not occur. Under this houserule, it is affordable for the party cleric to say, "I ready an action to cast Cure Serious Wounds on the barbarian when he passes by within arms' reach." Thus, I avoid shenanigans with the Attack of Opportunity rules.
However, in re-reading the "Initiative Consequences of Readying" I become confused. Usually, readying an action against an enemy will cause the readied action to occur during the enemy's turn. The player's initiative is then reset to the same as the enemy's initiative, which would be impossible to play. Is it really set to just before the enemy's initiative or just after the enemy's initiative?
The player's initiative is then reset to the same as the enemy's initiative, which would be impossible to play. Is it really set to just before the enemy's initiative or just after the enemy's initiative?
If you readied, you act just before the enemy (or ally) that triggered it in subsequent rounds. This is the same idea as if you rolled the same initiative roll (in which case characters act in order of highest mod to lowest mod) as the triggering creature, and you had a higher mod.
If you delay instead of readying, you can't interrupt their turn, and you'll always act immediately after them.