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Hey Gents,
Had a corner case come in my weekly game this week and wanted to get the Rules as Written ruling on the situation so I adjudicate it correctly in the future.
Dodging Panache (Ex): At 1st level, when an opponent
attempts a melee attack against the swashbuckler, she
can spend 1 panache point to move 5 feet as an immediate
action; doing so grants the swashbuckler a bonus to AC
equal to her Charisma bonus against the triggering
attack. This movement doesn’t negate the attack, which
is still resolved as if the swashbuckler was in the original
square. This movement is not a 5-foot step; it provokes
attacks of opportunity from creatures other than the
one who triggered this deed. The swashbuckler can only
perform this deed while wearing light or no armor, and
while carrying no more than a light load.
This was the ability the player in question used to try and avoid the extra attacks granted by a pounce, but my argument was that a pounce was still, essentially, a charge action, i.e. a single act, despite the three attack rolls, and therefore not able to be interrupted by the ability. His counter-argument, which I admit was fair, is that it still says "melee attack" in the singular and that therefore anything with multiple attacks should be dodgeable in this way since immediate actions can interrupt as precedented elsewhere in the rules.
I of course, sided with my own interpretation, but I am interested to know what I should have done.
I agree with the player, if he dodges away the enemy only gets a single attack.
By the same token, if a creature pounces and its first attack KOs the enemy, it can make the rest of its attacks against a different enemy within reach. It's not limited to making all its attacks vs a single opponent.
Pounce (Ex) When a creature with this special attack makes a charge, it can make a full attack (including rake attacks if the creature also has the rake ability).
Format: pounce; Location: Special Attacks.
Pounce is simply a special ability which allows a full attack to be made at the end of a charge. It still follows the rules of full attack once the charge portion is carried out.
If the swashbuckler used dodging panache against the first attack in the pounce, he could 5' step away as an immediate action by spending a panache point. He would get his Cha bonus to AC against the first attack. The first attack still gets to target him as if he was in the original square.
Subsequent attacks in the full round attack now do not have a valid target, as the swashbuckler (if he stepped correctly) is no longer in a square the pouncing creature can reach. Any further attacks could not be directed at the swashbuckler if he is now outside the reach.
just give the pouncer reach, problem solved
just give the pouncer reach, problem solved
In a charge, you have to stop at the first space you can reach the opponent. You can't charge to 5' if you have a 10' reach (even if you can attack at 5').
Charging is a special full-round action that allows you to move up to twice your speed and attack during the action. Charging, however, carries tight restrictions on how you can move.
Movement During a Charge: You must move before your attack, not after. You must move at least 10 feet (2 squares) and may move up to double your speed directly toward the designated opponent. If you move a distance equal to your speed or less, you can also draw a weapon during a charge attack if your base attack bonus is at least +1.
You must have a clear path toward the opponent, and nothing can hinder your movement (such as difficult terrain or obstacles). You must move to the closest space from which you can attack the opponent.
just give the pouncer reach, problem solved
Actually, it would still only get one attack. When you charge, "You must move to the closest space from which you can attack the opponent."
So if it had reach and pounced, it would stop its movement when it got to 10 ft. away. Then the swashbuckler dodges away, and the pouncer is 15 ft away with 10 ft reach.
NINJA BATTLE
The main point of Dodging Panache is to avoid taking full attacks. I'd side with your player on this one due to the reasons stated by others above.
1. This thread is three and a half years old.
2. This thread is about charging. You can't charge and then take a 5 foot step.