How Exactly does Acrobatics help you avoid an AOO

[Darthslash]

I'm floored at how vague this description is, it had our group arguing almost angrily last night.

Acrobatics:

In addition, you can move through a threatened square without provoking an attack of opportunity from an enemy by using Acrobatics. When moving in this way, you move at half speed. You can move at full speed by increasing the DC of the check by 10. You cannot use Acrobatics to move past foes if your speed is reduced due to carrying a medium or heavy load or wearing medium or heavy armor. If an ability allows you to move at full speed under such conditions, you can use Acrobatics to move past foes. You can use Acrobatics in this way while prone, but doing so requires a full-round action to move 5 feet, and the DC is increased by 5. If you attempt to move though an enemy's space and fail the check, you lose the move action and provoke an attack of opportunity.

Situation

Base Acrobatics DC*

Move through a threatened area Opponent's Combat Maneuver Defense
Move through an enemy's space 5 + opponent's Combat Maneuver Defense

* This DC is used to avoid an attack of opportunity due to movement. This DC increases by 2 for each additional opponent avoided in 1 round.

According to the wording of this action, you can only move 'Through' an enemies threatened square and avoid the AOO with acrobatics.

You can't move away from an enemy and avoid the AOO with acrobatics! And this floored me. Why allow you to move 'Through' an enemy's threatened square but not out of a threatened square with acrobatics?

OOOOOOOOOO
OOOOO23OOO
OOOOOAOOOO
OOOO1OOOOO
OOOBOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOO

O=Empty Square
1,2,3=Player 1, 2 and 3
A=Enemies starting square
B=Enemies ending square after using acrobatics.

So according to the rules, the enemy rolls his acrobatics check against player's 1 CMD, but players 2 and 3 get AOO's Vs. the enemy.

Please tell me, is this how it really works??? According to the wording it is.

[Ciaran Barnes]

Instead of 'through', pretend that is says 'out of'.

[Darthslash]

Pretend?!? Did you just say Pretend??? Ooookay, I'll just pretend my weapon says it does 10d10 damage instead of 1d8 too.

Matter of fact, I can make the game way easier for me if I pretend the rules say different things.

[Darth Grall]

You seem rather upset. From one Darth to another, chill.

Secondly, you are meant to move out of those squares. There are FAQs on the matter. And those FAQs mention "leaving squares threatened by enemies", so the RAI is very clear on the matter.

[Ciaran Barnes]

I did say pretend, but you are confused by the wording and perhaps this alternate wording will help you understand. Using that wording, you can use Acrobatics the way it actual works.

[Faelyn]

Darthslash wrote:

Pretend?!? Did you just say Pretend??? Ooookay, I'll just pretend my weapon says it does 10d10 damage instead of 1d8 too.

Matter of fact, I can make the game way easier for me if I pretend the rules say different things.

That's a great way to keep people from trying to help you with your question.

In reference to your question... Rule #1 to Pathfinder... is the common sense rule. The implication is that one can use Acrobatics to avoid AoO's with movement. Even though the skill doesn't specifically say "into" or "out" of a threatened area... through is a generalized term to encompass the idea.

Reference these rules for additional. It doesn't specify moving into, out of, or through threatened areas.

5-Foot Step

[Darthslash]

Ah, thank you Darth Grall! That FAQ is much clearer. I knew I was right last night, but I didn't have the proper wording to prove it.

[Xaratherus]

First, let's take a look at what exactly it is that provokes:

Moving wrote:

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.

So it's the act of leaving a square, not entering it, that provokes.

Now, to look at the wording of Acrobatics, it states that you move through a square without provoking. "Moving through" could consist potentially of three parts: Entering the square, being in the square, and then leaving the square.

Entering the square doesn't provoke; being in the square doesn't provoke (simply from being in it); exiting the square does.

Thus, in the case of Acrobatics, you're avoiding provocation from leaving a square. And you can do that without moving into it.