I would say no - not unless the spell explicitly states that it causes the moved creature to provoke.
Rationale: The effect is similar to a bull rush maneuver; if you look over the feats related to it, you'll eventually come across Greater Bull Rush, which causes the target to provoke due to the forced movement. Without the feat - no provocation.
In general, forced movement does not provoke. If it does, then it says so, otherwise no.
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What?
If the Bull Rush combat maneuver needs to explicitly state: "An enemy being moved by a bull rush does not provoke an attack of opportunity because of the movement unless you possess the Greater Bull Rush feat" that implies that there is no special clause that prevents attacks of opportunity from movement that is inflicted upon a combatant.
Effects that ignore general rules explicitly state that as part of their text. There is no exception in the rules in the Combat Chapter of the book that states anything close to "forced movement does not cause a creature to provoke attacks of opportunity."
So the movement caused from Force Punch follows all normal rules. A creature leaving a threatened square provokes. Swing away.
There is some room for discussion if the spell should have that kind of text amended to it to prevent that kind of situation. Though for a 3rd level spell that allows a fort save to negate the movement it isn't an extremely powerful effect.
I've been nailed by GM's for a while for being awesome blow'ed away and hit again on the trip out for long enough to know that.
What?
If the Bull Rush combat maneuver needs to explicitly state: "An enemy being moved by a bull rush does not provoke an attack of opportunity because of the movement unless you possess the Greater Bull Rush feat" that implies that there is no special clause that prevents attacks of opportunity from movement that is inflicted upon a combatant.
Effects that ignore general rules explicitly state that as part of their text. There is no exception in the rules in the Combat Chapter of the book that states anything close to "forced movement does not cause a creature to provoke attacks of opportunity."
So the movement caused from Force Punch follows all normal rules. A creature leaving a threatened square provokes. Swing away.
There is some room for discussion if the spell should have that kind of text amended to it to prevent that kind of situation. Though for a 3rd level spell that allows a fort save to negate the movement it isn't an extremely powerful effect.
I've been nailed by GM's for a while for being awesome blow'ed away and hit again on the trip out for long enough to know that.
The problem with your logic is that there is then literally no reason for the Greater Bull Rush and Greater Reposition feats to explicitly call out that it causes the movement to provoke attacks of opportunity.
The Combat section states the following:
Moving: Moving out of a threatened square usually provokes attacks of opportunity from threatening opponents. There are two common methods of avoiding such an attack—the 5-foot step and the withdraw action...
Remember that even actions that normally provoke attacks of opportunity may have exceptions to this rule.
The existence of those feats makes it clear that forced movement is an exception to that general rule. It may not be in the best location in the book, but there's no other logical reason for the feats to be there if forced movement provokes normally.
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Another reason why forced movement logically does not provoke: First, here's the full section on provoking:
Threatened Squares: You threaten all squares into which you can make a melee attack, even when it is not your turn. Generally, that means everything in all squares adjacent to your space (including diagonally). An enemy that takes certain actions while in a threatened square provokes an attack of opportunity from you. If you're unarmed, you don't normally threaten any squares and thus can't make attacks of opportunity.
Reach Weapons: Most creatures of Medium or smaller size have a reach of only 5 feet. This means that they can make melee attacks only against creatures up to 5 feet (1 square) away. However, Small and Medium creatures wielding reach weapons threaten more squares than a typical creature. In addition, most creatures larger than Medium have a natural reach of 10 feet or more.
Provoking an Attack of Opportunity: Two kinds of actions can provoke attacks of opportunity: moving out of a threatened square and performing certain actions within a threatened square.
Moving: Moving out of a threatened square usually provokes attacks of opportunity from threatening opponents. There are two common methods of avoiding such an attack—the 5-foot step and the withdraw action.
Performing a Distracting Act: Some actions, when performed in a threatened square, provoke attacks of opportunity as you divert your attention from the battle. Table: Actions in Combat notes many of the actions that provoke attacks of opportunity.
Remember that even actions that normally provoke attacks of opportunity may have exceptions to this rule.
Notice that it consistently refers to the target of the AoO taking some action that triggers the AoO? In a forced movement situation, the target is not taking any action; he's being forced to move by someone else's action. Therefore, his movement doesn't meet the base criteria of provoking - the moved combatant is not taking an action that provokes, and in fact is not taking any action at all.
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The problem with your logic is that there is then literally no reason for the Greater Bull Rush and Greater Reposition feats to explicitly call out that it causes the movement to provoke attacks of opportunity.
(See below)
The existence of those feats makes it clear that forced movement is an exception to that general rule. It may not be in the best location in the book, but there's no other logical reason for the feats to be there if forced movement provokes normally.
Except for that Bull Rush and Reposition specifically call out an exception to the "leaving a threatened square provokes" rule.
[edit]Oh, I follow what you're saying - the Bull Rush and Reposition maneuvers state they don't provoke.
Hrm, that throws a wrinkle into it. I have always assumed that the intention because of those exceptions was that forced movement did not provoke.
I still believe that logic is that you must provoke. You have to take an action that provokes; movement being forced on you in the fashion of Force Punch or similar is not you taking an action.
FAQ'd. A cursory search shows dozens of threads on the subject with varying conclusions.
[edit]Oh, I follow what you're saying - the Bull Rush and Reposition maneuvers state they don't provoke.
Hrm, that throws a wrinkle into it. I have always assumed that the intention because of those exceptions was that forced movement did not provoke.
I still believe that logic is that you must provoke. You have to take an action that provokes; movement being forced on you in the fashion of Force Punch or similar is not you taking an action.
I think that's just added re-inforcement. Forced movement doesn't provoke unless it says otherwise as youre not doing the moving.
Actions you take force AoO's. If you're not taking an action, you don't provoke (except in the case of certain feats/spells/effects that specifically work that way).