I have a diminutive raven familiar delivering touch spells with flyby attack, therefore this familiar is provoking two attacks of opportunity because it is entering and leaving an enemy's space. I'm having trouble believing that the medium-sized, greatsword-wielding, orc barbarian with +8 attack rolls (+10 raging) can really be capable of hitting a diminutive AC 15 raven swooping down. That seems more like a dexterous maneuver than one of brute strength. Is there some exception to the rule that I'm over looking? Any suggestions on house rules?
I'm ok with the guys who have weapon finesse hitting the familiar, since that really makes sense to me. Perhaps it's just my lack of imagination, I can only see a big lumbering "Schwarzeneggar-esque" character swinging wildly at a "humming bird", but I'm what I'm getting is an orc splatting a raven very proficiently...
Well, ravens are actually rather large-sized birds, it is on a direct path, and it has to actually touch the barbarian, not just flit around it. So yes, it is possible the barbarian just smashes the bird with his sword. Same way he can use strength to hit something with a dex of 30; it is supernaturally agile, but it can still be smashed.
Now, the target will only get one AOO against it, no matter how many times it provokes, unless they have Combat Reflexes, but it'll take place as your raven leaves the adjacent square and enters the target's space.
Ok thanks for the clarification on the aoo, I was thinking since the familiar had to fly through threatened square to get to the opponent it had to face a second aoo.
Well, it does face a second possible AOO, but most creatures cannot execute more than one AOO per turn.
Just to be completely clear on the Attacks of Opportunity.
You never provoke an attack by entering a threatened square, only by leaving one.
But you do provoke a separate, and different, attack by entering another creature's square.
You can only provoke one attack of opportunity from leaving a threatened square.
And as Murphy stated, the enemy do not get more than one attack of opportunity per round, unless they have some special power or feat.
Don't see strength as a body-builder type strength, but as a part of physical perfection. It could be what an NFL tackle player has, as opposite what a rhythmic gymnast has. They are both closer to physical perfection than regular people, and can learn other physical disciplines faster. So if both, and a regular Joe, all had to learn to fight with a sword, the two strength and dex based people would learn it more quickly, in game, have a higher bonus to hit from their respective attributes.