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Because the question is unclear in THIS THREAD, and because this is obviously a "Frequently Asked Question", I propose the following for clarification:
When using the Bodyguard feat and performing the Aid Another action on an adjacent ally to increase their Armor Class, must you also be adjacent to (or otherwise be able to make a melee attack against) the opponent that is attacking your ally?
For example: An enemy 30 feet away from you and your adjacent ally fires an arrow at your ally. Can you use Bodyguard to increase your ally's AC?
This question has been asked many times before, including HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE. If enough people click the FAQ perhaps we can finally put the discussion to rest.
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The wording implies that the character with the feat only needs to be adjacent to the ally being attacked, not the attacking enemy as well. Given In Harms Way's flavor of "jumping in front of the incoming attack", I can't think of any reason you'd need to be adjacent to the attacker as well.
Semi-related: the fact that you have to be adjacent to an ally, and the attacking enemy, is why the Archon Style feat chain is so completely awful.
Also Ray attack clarification.
October 23rd was the last update to the FAQ.
Don't forget to FAQ the first post to get the dev's attention.
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Yes, we're hoping the DEVs provide a definitive FAQ on this topic. Until then people will continue to shy away from this feat in PFS play. If you agree, then please click the FAQ tab on the first message. It only has 37 clicks, but I bet far more than 37 people have read this thread.
Official Rules Response
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Bodyguard: The Bodyguard feat says that I can spend one of my attacks of opportunity to use aid another to increase the AC of an adjacent ally, but it doesn’t say one way or the other whether this removes other restrictions on aid another? Particularly, do I need to threaten the attacking enemy? Also, has that enemy provoked an attack of opportunity from me?
You still need to fulfill all requirements of aid another, including threatening the attacking enemy. Bodyguard uses up one of your attacks of opportunity for the round, but the enemy hasn’t provoked an attack of opportunity from you, nor are you making one (which is relevant for abilities like Paired Opportunist).
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The source wasn't super solid, but this was already slightly addressed in the Protector Familiar archetype. "If the familiar is occupying its master’s square, it can use Bodyguard to aid another to improve its master’s AC even if it doesn’t threaten the attacking foe."
Wait, does this also apply to Opportune Parry and Riposte, then? I can't parry an attack from reach?
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Wait, does this also apply to Opportune Parry and Riposte, then? I can't parry an attack from reach?
Why would it affect a parry? The FAQ explains that the Aid Another action requires you to be in melee range of both your ally and your target.
A swashbuckler can parry any melee attack made against them.
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Bodyguard: The Bodyguard feat says that I can spend one of my attacks of opportunity to use aid another to increase the AC of an adjacent ally, but it doesn’t say one way or the other whether this removes other restrictions on aid another? Particularly, do I need to threaten the attacking enemy? Also, has that enemy provoked an attack of opportunity from me?
You still need to fulfill all requirements of aid another, including threatening the attacking enemy. Bodyguard uses up one of your attacks of opportunity for the round, but the enemy hasn’t provoked an attack of opportunity from you, nor are you making one (which is relevant for abilities like Paired Opportunist).
So, Bodyguard and In Harms Way are useless. Good to know!
This is a clarification, but is really lackluster mechanically. Its a good thing my new AP was delayed a week, I was going to build an Aid Another Bodyguard.
B = Bodyguard
A = Ally
E = Enemy
Situation 1 (Longsword):
XXXX
XBAE
XXXX
Result: No Bodyguard
Situation 2 (Longsword):
XXXE
XBAX
XXXX
Result: No Bodyguard
Situation 3 (Longsword):
XXXX
XBAX
XXXE
Result: No Bodyguard
Having 1/3 of the adjacent squares be no cover zones for a Combat feat which isn't exactly gamebreaking is a little lackluster. This doesn't even take into account creatures with reach that is greater than 5 feet.
If you have a Reach weapon, this no Bodyguard zone actually gets far worse.
Situation 1 (Guisarme):
XXEX
XBAX
XXXX
Result: No Bodyguard (Blind spot)
Situation 2 (Guisarme):
XXXX
XBAX
XXEX
Result: No Bodyguard (Blind spot)
Situation 3 (Guisarme):
XXXX
XBAX
XEXX
Result: No Bodyguard (Blind spot)
Situation 4 (Guisarme):
XEXX
XBAX
XXXX
Result: No Bodyguard (Blind spot)
Situation 5 (Guisarme):
XXXE
XBAX
XXXX
Result: No Bodyguard (15 feet away)
Situation 6 (Guisarme):
XXXX
XBAX
XXXE
Result: No Bodyguard (15 feet away)
I really have no idea how this is meant to be used effectively now, against anything with Reach (ie: Most monsters), you're basically useless.
This is also not taking into account if you're diagonal to your ally:
BXX
XAX
XXX
And other combinations.
the last two reach works. 10ft reach covers those squares as per a different FAQ.
if you have body guard get a reach weapon and a bite?
halbards aren't reach weapons.
Halberd 10 gp 1d8 1d10 x3 — 12 lbs. P or S brace, trip
the last two reach works. 10ft reach covers those squares as per a different FAQ.
How so, your target is 15 feet away.
XTTTX
TXXXT
TXYXT
TXXXT
XTTTX
Where Y is you.
If you could source that would be great because I would love to see it.
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The FAQ explanation is how I've always interpreted the feats. Bodyguard is still useful.
Hubaris, you still threaten the second diagonal with reach. Check the FAQ
Oh woops my bad!
Its been a long day, I just looked at it again.
if you have body guard get a reach weapon and a bite?
halbards aren't reach weapons.
Halberd 10 gp 1d8 1d10 x3 — 12 lbs. P or S brace, trip
I saw that after. One of my players in my WotW keeps calling his Reach weapon a Halberd to match his mini. Thanks for the catch :)
Wait, does this also apply to Opportune Parry and Riposte, then? I can't parry an attack from reach?Why would this non-related thing that doesn't reference another non-related thing at all be related?
Sorry, I misread. The problem was with Aid Another, not Aoos
Blindspots with a reach weapon aren't that hard to fix, armor spikes or barbazu beards are both pretty cheap.
Handedness rules make that tricky. You would need a 1 Handed Reach weapon or a Bite/Gore/Wings/Etc to allow that to function.
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So, Bodyguard and In Harms Way are useless. Good to know!
<3
Owner - D20 Hobbies
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On a more related note, I don't suppose we can get any insight on why it was clarified in the opposite direction than how it was intended to work?
It hasn't officially been clarified in the opposite direction. The author saying how he wrote it doesn't mean that is how it was intended to work post-development/publishing.
Still, glad to have this FAQed and not have to have lose game time discussing grey rules.
FAQ contrary to feat author's intent. This makes Mason sad, how will he protect the researchers he travels with from arrows and rays of death now?
Look at the Suicidal trait. Any character can pick it up via Adopted.
Its only once a day, but its what In Harms Way wishes it was.
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On a more related note, I don't suppose we can get any insight on why it was clarified in the opposite direction than how it was intended to work?It hasn't officially been clarified in the opposite direction. The author saying how he wrote it doesn't mean that is how it was intended to work post-development/publishing.
Personal opinion: The writer intended it to work that way but didn't intend for people to exploit it the way they did. Playing PFS I saw people who could give a +4 bonus to AC 6 times a round at level 1. That would go up to +7 or +8 7 times a round by level 5. Going up to +11-12 by level 10. All for a trait, 3 feats, and about 25,000 gp. (It's possible to do even more but it means building to do nothing but aid.)
That made a lot of encounters trivial. Something needed to be done about it. Trying to quantify what would and would not stack would require a lot of FAQs and wouldn't solve future issues. Making positioning matter is the simplest solution to prevent abuse while still making Bodyguard a valid choice.
Yes, I expect a chorus of "PFS breaks all the nice toys" but the fact is that having so many players using the same ruleset means you find the weird ways to fit published rules together.
FAQ contrary to feat author's intent. This makes Mason sad, how will he protect the researchers he travels with from arrows and rays of death now?
Look at the Suicidal trait. Any character can pick it up via Adopted.
Its only once a day, but its what In Harms Way wishes it was.
The Saving Shield and Ally Shield feats can also be used to protect an ally. you can use an immediate action to give him a +2 shield bonus to AC and (if you have the ability to share teamwork feats) he can as an immediate action "betray" you to gain cover (and thus an additional +4 bonus to AC) from you.
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The fact you have to be threatening the enemy isn't my favorite ruling, but I actually like the clarification that Paired Opportunists won't work since I'd seen some proposed builds of that sort popping up and didn't think "Come and Get Me Plus" should be that easy to achieve.
If there were balance problems with Bodyguard I think they were mostly around bonus boosters such as the Benevolent enchantment for armor, which Paizo nerfed slightly a while back. I guess Paizo could have felt that something which gives you a bonus against melee attacks shouldn't work against ranged attacks too though. That's unfortunate since I think stopping ranged attacks seems very thematic for a "Bodyguard".
My PC with Bodyguard rode an eidolon who had it too, so generally they were both threatening the same stuff. My Viking will be pretty sad that the shieldmaiden he travels with can no longer block ranged attacks for him though. Still, I agree with DM Livgin that it is better to have a firm answer here.
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What a silly nerf. Oh well. I'll continue running it as intended in my games—sucks to be PFS, but it always does, doesn't it? ;)
FAQ contrary to feat author's intent. This makes Mason sad, how will he protect the researchers he travels with from arrows and rays of death now?
Look at the Suicidal trait. Any character can pick it up via Adopted.
Its only once a day, but its what In Harms Way wishes it was.
That only works if you're a) willing to spend two traits, b) either willing to ignore trait flavor or willing to make your character adopted by tieflings.
Personally, I don't like to take traits only for the mechanical benefit. They're supposed to enhance flavor. For those who don't mind, though, and have a GM that doesn't mind (like the PFS GM hivemind), it works.
FAQ contrary to feat author's intent. This makes Mason sad, how will he protect the researchers he travels with from arrows and rays of death now?
Look at the Suicidal trait. Any character can pick it up via Adopted.
Its only once a day, but its what In Harms Way wishes it was.
That only works if you're a) willing to spend two traits, b) either willing to ignore trait flavor or willing to make your character adopted by tieflings.
Personally, I don't like to take traits only for the mechanical benefit. They're supposed to enhance flavor. For those who don't mind, though, and have a GM that doesn't mind (like the PFS GM hivemind), it works.
Reflavor it for your game. Based on your earlier post, I can tell you aren't much for PFS, so it isn't like you have anything stopping you. The mechanics of the trait don't actually have anything to do with trying to kill yourself. It could just as easily be a trait for selfless heroes who are willing to throw themselves in front of attacks for allies.
Given the fluff of the trait, I think it's a little absurd that it is a racial feat in the first place. Pretty sure Teiflings don't have a monopoly on being suicidal.
How does this new nerfFAQ interact with Vanguard Style? Do I need to threaten the Wizard thats 400 feet away throwing the Fireball and still be next to my ally at the same time?
What about using the Order of the Dragon's Aid Allies to improve a Saving Throw against a Poison, Disease or a retry against a Compulsion? Do I need to threaten the enemy as well?
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How does this new
nerfFAQ interact with Vanguard Style? Do I need to threaten the Wizard thats 400 feet away throwing the Fireball and still be next to my ally at the same time?What about using the Order of the Dragon's Aid Allies to improve a Saving Throw against a Poison, Disease or a retry against a Compulsion? Do I need to threaten the enemy as well?
Probably not. Just because they have bodyguard as a requirement doesn't mean that they have to use the same mechanics
...but it doesn’t say one way or the other whether this removes other restrictions on aid another?...
You still need to fulfill all requirements of aid another, including threatening the attacking enemy.
Vanguard Style doesn't remove that restriction either.