Hi all,
While I'm sure this has likely been covered before my search-fu did not uncover it so I'm hoping the community can help me out.
An issue came up at yesterday's session. A paladin on a mount Charged a T-Rex. She has a lance with reach (10'). The problem is the T-Rex has a reach of 20'.
Actions in Combat table in PHB states that the act of charging does not provoke AoO, but has the caveat that this does not stop AoO from moving out of a threatened square.
Further, the Ride By Attack feat states that "you and your mount do not provoke AoO from the opponent that you attack".
After much discussion it was ruled that the Ride By feat was referencing not provoking an AoO from leaving after the attack rather than on the approach because without reach in the equation it would be the condition that normally provokes (or leaving the threatened area after 'riding by'.
Because of the reach it was ruled that the T-Rex would get an AoO on approach of the charge as she left the 20' square into the 15' square. She would also provoke again at 15' to 10' (there would be no 2nd AoO because T-Rex does not have combat reflexes, but we were establishing conditions). It was then ruled that she could leave the threatened area (multiple squares) under the 'protection' offered by the Ride By Attack feat.
All agreed in theory feeling that there was adequate hedging both ways if we had indeed misinterpreted the rules. The paladin was grappled off her mount in the first AoO, and subsequently swallowed next round, much to the amusement of all after a 30 min conversation about the rules.
The question is this- how does the Charge action and the Ride By feat work when the target has more reach that the standard 5'?
Cheers
It's worded similar to spring attack so I would say you simply do not provoke for movement against the target period
Thanks Drakkiel
I did notice the wording on it and spring attack. Under standard conditions I think it would be clear.
I guess what I'm asking is does Reach effectively add a new condition to resolving the Charge/Ride By Attack or not?
Is this a case of specific (Ride By Attack) trumping general (reach)? Or is reach the specific because it's not 'standard' for creatures. Chicken or egg?
Is there an official ruling I could reference? Alternatively I'd settle for majority community view.
Cheers
Reach is the more general of the two...ride by attack is allowing you to skirt the general rules of
1. You cannot move both before and after an attack
2. Your movement does not provoke AoO from your target
I do hope others chime in so that you may get more than just my opinion
That is a pretty vague feat. I think the intent is hit-and-run, not trumping reach. But given that the feat is an annoying speed bump, I'd probably take the wide interpretation.
There is no need of an official ruling. The feat quite clearly says that you do not provoke aoos from your movement. So the aoo you made was illegal, I hope that it didn't result in a fallen paladin *smirk*.
More seriously, Ride by Attack is a very difficult feat to use, I took it on one of my PFS character and have only used it once successfully, so don't try to nerf it to the ground if you will ;)
More seriously, Ride by Attack is a very difficult feat to use, I took it on one of my PFS character and have only used it once successfully, so don't try to nerf it to the ground if you will ;)
It's...not supposed to be difficult to use. If a human on a horse on a featureless plain can't use it against another human on the same plain, you're doing it wrong.