Alrighty, we had a bit of confusion at our game the other night. To get everyone on the same page, here is the rule about AoO:
An attack of opportunity "interrupts" the normal flow of actions in the round. If an attack of opportunity is provoked, immediately resolve the attack of opportunity, then continue with the next character's turn (or complete the current turn, if the attack of opportunity was provoked in the midst of a character's turn).
So, here's the situation:
1 B 2
1 = PC 1
B = Bad guy
2 = PC 2
Bad guy, who is almost dead, has paralyzed PC 2. He chooses to perform a coup de grace to finish that PC off. This provokes an attack of opportunity from PC 1. The attack of opportunity kills the bad guy.
Which interpretation of the rules (specifically 'then... complete the current turn') applies:
1. The attack of opportunity, having killed the bad guy, ends the fight and the coup never occurs.
2. The coup and the interrupt both occur (ie - they are simultaneous), killing both PC 2 and the bad guy.
The way it is worded it could be interpreted either way.
My understanding focuses on the "interrupt." PC 2 lives, as the CdG was interrupted prior to completion.
After all, if you are tripped mid move, you don't complete the move and then fall down.
An attack of opportunity "interrupts" the normal flow of actions in the round.The bad guy declares a coup de grace.
If an attack of opportunity is provoked, immediately resolve the attack of opportunity.
PC 1 gets his Attack of Opportunity.
Then complete the current turn, if the attack of opportunity was provoked in the midst of a character's turn.
The bad guy is dead so turn end.
You can't finish an attack if your dead.
So PC 2 lives.
An attack of opportunity "interrupts" the normal flow of actions in the round. If an attack of opportunity is provoked, immediately resolve the attack of opportunity, then continue with the next character's turn (or complete the current turn, if the attack of opportunity was provoked in the midst of a character's turn).