Acrobatics, AOO and casting spells

[keinlicht]

Hi there, I have a dispute with one of my players.

AOO: moving out of a threatened aquare or a distracting act, like casting a spell, cause an attack of opportunity.

Question: Can a player use Acrobatics to tumble out of a threatened square (move action), then cast a spell (standard action), without causing an AOO?

If not, why not?

Thanks for an explanation...

[Howie23]

Yes. He can use acrobatics to tumble out of a threatened square to avoid the AoO. If he then ends that movement in a square that isn't threatened, casting a spell at that location would result in no AoO. An AoO can only be made when the distracting act takes place in a threatened square.

[ZZTRaider]

Note that this isn't the only way to avoid an AoO in this situation.

If a 5 foot step gets the caster to a square that is not threatened, he can cast without issue an take no AoOs in the process.

The caster could also cast defensively (DC 15+2*SpellLevel, vs 1d20+CasterLevel+CastingStatModifier) to not provoke an AoO even without moving. Note that failing to meet the DC means the spell is expended with no effect (but there's still no AoO).

If all else fails, the caster could just move away normally, eating an AoO for movement to get to a safe square, then cast from there.

[Avatar-1]

What's the dispute?

This seems straightforward. Might help to clarify if we know.

[Xaratherus]

Keinlicht said wrote:

Question: Can a player use Acrobatics to tumble out of a threatened square (move action), then cast a spell (standard action), without causing an AOO?

Yes. Casting a spell (non-defensively) only provokes if you're standing in a threatened square; if you're able to exit all threatened squares before casting, be it through an Acrobatics check, five-foot step, or other means, then you would no longer provoke when casting.

[keinlicht]

Thx for your replies. Should be all clear now...