Bodyguard + Inspiring Commander = ???

[modicasolis]

I am playing an Inspiring Commander Cavalier and I had a question on interactions between Bodyguard and one of its abilities.

The class ability Inspiring Voice allows me to use Aid Another on assist an ally within 30 feet and when using aid another on a non-adjacent ally, I have to make a Perform check. My question is, tould I use Bodyguard from 30ft as well, using an AOO to aid them?

The text of Bodyguard states it's an adjacent ally, but that could be per the rules of Aid Another and those rules change once I gain Inspiring Voice.

[MC Templar]

Considering Bodyguard is essentially an Attack of Opportunity, I wouldn't allow your inspiring voice to allow it to work from distance. The triggering mechanism isn't under your control.

I would allow you to ready an action to aid another from distance out of turn, but not to let bodyguard do it as an attack of opportunity from 30ft away.

[modicasolis]

I don't understand what you mean about the triggering mechanism. It's the same triggering mechanism, an ally being attacked triggers the feat. What changes is the area in which I can use Aid Another, which is modified by Inspiring Voice,

Maybe I don't understand what you meant.

EDIT: And in reading the Normal for the Bodyguard feat, it seems to imply that what changes is the type of action used for Aid Another (from Standard to an AOO action) in which case I would think it would be doable?

[modicasolis]

Any other thoughts on this?

[Zahmahkibo]

There's no overlap between the two feats, and that seems to be by design.

Bodyguard wrote:

When an adjacent ally is attacked, you may use an attack of opportunity to attempt the aid another action to improve your ally’s AC. You may not use the aid another action to improve your ally’s attack roll with this attack.

Inspiring Voice wrote:

At 5th level, an inspiring commander can use aid another to assist an ally within 30 feet. When using aid another on a non-adjacent ally, you make a DC 10 Perform (oratory) check instead of the normal roll.

Emphasis mine. If the designer went out of his or her way to specify "non-adjacent" in Inspiring Voice, it was probably specifically to prevent it from being used in combat actions. It's a neat combo, but both RAW and RAI are against it.

[modicasolis]

Haaarumph.

I guess it's still worth taking since I can add my Int modifier to the AC bonus they get but man, I was really hoping that would work :(

[Cheapy]

Nope, it wasn't meant to work. Wouldn't really make sense, IMO, since bodyguard is putting yourself in the way a bit. Can't really do that at range unless you're quite ...large.

[MC Templar]

Cheapy wrote:

Nope, it wasn't meant to work. Wouldn't really make sense, IMO, since bodyguard is putting yourself in the way a bit. Can't really do that at range unless you're quite ...large.

yer mother been telling stories about me again lad?