Reach, Untrained Combat Maneuvers and AoO

[Musk]

Couldn`t find an answer on the boards on this so here goes.

I`m a big bad guy with reach. I try a combat maneuver on little medium size you for which i don`t have the feat (e.g Sunder, bull rush, etc..). Technically i provoke an attack from you. However, can you attack me since i`m out of your reach?

Common sense says I can`t. I am right rule wise here?

Thanks!

[Jiggy]

You can't take an AoO against a creature who does not occupy a square you threaten, even if the provoking action involves a different space which you do threaten.

See also this recent FAQ blog.

[Musk]

Thanks!

[Ravingdork]

How would bull rush, grapple, and similar combat maneuvers not provoke AoO's? Those are VERY close contact maneuvers!

I know that Jiggy isn't wrong, it just seems weird to me be using reach with these kinds of maneuvers.

[concerro]

Nothing in rules say you have to be adjacent to use those. They are all attacks, and to attack someone you only need to threaten them.

[blackbloodtroll]

You will need to be able to perform the Combat Maneuver with the reach weapon.

If you have reach from another source, such as feats, or spells that increase reach, you should be fine.

You only provoke from the target of the Combat Maneuver.

[Neo2151]

I think I see what RD is saying.

A large creature tries to grapple/bull-rush/etc. a medium creature. It can do so at it's full reach, but it still has to physically interact with the target. But because the medium creature doesn't threaten the large creature, due to reach distance, it cannot perform an AoO, even if it would be provoked.

tl;dr - A giant (without Imp. Grapple) tries to grab you with it's hand. It misses. But even though it's hand is right there for you to attack, you can't attack it. Because you technically don't threaten it.
It feels... weird.