False Opening clarification

[Saker]

Quote:

Choose a ranged weapon or a thrown weapon. When you make a ranged attack using that weapon, you can choose to provoke an attack of opportunity from one or more opponents who threaten you. You gain a +4 dodge bonus against such attacks. An opponent that makes such an attack and misses you loses his Dexterity bonus to AC against you until the end of your turn.

So, if I have 2 enemies near me, can I chose to only allow one of them an AoO? Or is that just a weird way of saying that when I use the feat all opponents who threaten me get an AoO. If that were the case, it should read ".. you can choose to provoke an attack of opportunity from all opponents who threaten you." Putting the "one or more" sounds like I can chose who I let attack me. Is that correct?

[Saker]

Any official (or well-informed) answers out there?

[Archaeik]

Given the prerequisites and the text of the feat, I would say yes, you get to choose who and how many.

You have already trained to prevent AoOs, now you're purposely goading someone into trying.

I'm not sure what benefit you'd gain by provoking from everyone around you? (I guess if you want more chances for the attacks not to hit so you're more likely to have an SA target? it's still pretty risky)

Keep in mind that certain abilities (like Crane Wing) that deflect an attack do not convert them into a miss.

[Saker]

Thanks, that's how I read it too. This feat is very similar to the Robilar's Gambit in 3.5, but that one gives everyone around you a shot at you. I was just reading the crane styles yesterday and noted that fact myself.

Interesting to note though if you take full progression of crane style, then you could attack defensively -1 attack/+4 AC (w/3 rank acro) giving a total +8 AC with this feat and if someone happened to hit you, you could still smack them back 1/round. This feat could go well with shot on the run, if you decide to shoot while near the enemy.

The problem with this feat would be the GM. Once the first goblin missed you and you hit them back then suddenly everyone on the field won't fall for it... Depending on GM, of course.

[Majuba]

Unless you're expecting to get AoOs after your turn, there's not really any reason to use the feat on more than one opponent. If you finish off the first target, you can use the feat again since it is not limited per turn or only on the first ranged attack you make.

Edit: Oh! Except you don't know if they are going to hit or miss, so you might double your chances by doing two or more.

[Saker]

I see what you mean. If I have a flurry of attacks, I can let the first guy attack me, then pelt him until he is dead. With any remaining shots I could let another adjacent enemy attack me and use my remaining shots on them. I don't have to chose who can attack me until I decide I need to attack them.