Say a dwarf if fighting two ogres and a hill giant. The ogres are having trouble hitting the dwarf (let's say he's somewhat higher level), so they decide to help their hill giant buddy by aiding another and giving the dwarf a -2 to AC. Does the dwarf get his +4 racial bonus vs. giants to the aid another AC the ogres must hit? Similarly, if it were some dwarves attacking an orc, would they get the +1 racial bonus vs. orcs against the aid another AC in that case? I think the latter case would be yes, which makes me think the former case would be yes as well. But I'm not sure, so I turn to Paizo!
RPG Superstar 2013 Top 32
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I always thought that the DC for an Aid Another check was always 10? Hmmm....
In melee combat, you can help a friend attack or defend by distracting or interfering with an opponent. If you’re in position to make a melee attack on an opponent that is engaging a friend in melee combat, you can attempt to aid your friend as a standard action. You make an attack roll against AC 10. If you succeed, your friend gains either a +2 bonus on his next attack roll against that opponent or a +2 bonus to AC against that opponent’s next attack (your choice), as long as that attack comes before the beginning of your next turn. Multiple characters can aid the same friend, and similar bonuses stack.
You can also use this standard action to help a friend in other ways, such as when he is affected by a spell, or to assist another character’s skill check.
Yeah, they would only need to succeed against AC 10. They're not actually hitting the dwarf themselves, they're just helping their friend.
The way I interpret the Aid Another action (and why I believe it's always AC 10) is that, the aiding character is swinging their weapon in the general vicinity of the intended target, not actually trying to hit it but preventing it from using that space to dodge, thus narrowing the area that the creature actually trying to hit needs to swing through to succeed.
So then, you'd also deny the dwarves the bonus to hit the orc?
From the SRD:
In melee combat, you can help a friend attack or defend by distracting or interfering with an opponent. If you’re in position to make a melee attack on an opponent that is engaging a friend in melee combat, you can attempt to aid your friend as a standard action. You make an attack roll against AC 10. If you succeed, your friend gains either a +2 bonus on his next attack roll against that opponent or a +2 bonus to AC against that opponent’s next attack (your choice), as long as that attack comes before the beginning of your next turn. Multiple characters can aid the same friend, and similar bonuses stack.
But the attacker isn't actually trying to hit the creature in question. They're simply trying to be a distraction, and/or make it more difficult for their enemy to evade the attacks of a specific ally by decreasing the space the enemy can safely move (ie, if I move there, I'm going to impale myself on that sword). Think of it like a crowd of people with pitchforks jabbing toward a monster. They're not actually trying to hit the thing, but if the monster tries to evade that way it risks impaling itself on a pitchfork. In turn, the fighter facing off with the thing finds the beast easier to hit because it can't duck and weave as freely.
Now, for the attack roll, there's no mention of any attack modifiers being invalid... so if you're using aid another against an orc, and you have a bonus vs orcs... You get the bonus.
But the AC is a specific, set number. None of the defender's bonuses apply at all, so it would suggest that the dwarf's dodge bonus vs giants wouldn't apply either.
EDIT: Oopsed and forgot some stuff.
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So then, you'd also deny the dwarves the bonus to hit the orc?
Yes. They're not attacking the orc, they're helping their friend attack the orc. These are fundamentally different things. In my opinion, it's more like they are corralling(sp?) the orc to make things easier for their friend.
If you allow these sorts of things to deviate the 'AC 10' rule for Aid Another, where does it end? Is it easier to assist your friends against larger creatures (i.e. does their size penalty apply to the AC 10)? I say: Keep it simple. AC 10 is AC 10. No racial bonuses will help a character 'corral' an opponent, but they will help deliver the actual blow itself.
Besides, let's be honest: It's AC 10. How many bonuses do you need?
They're not attacking the orc, they're helping their friend attack the orc. These are fundamentally different things. In my opinion, it's more like they are corralling(sp?) the orc to make things easier for their friend.
Good point, FS.
Yes, good points. All right, question answered! Although I think there may be a time in the near future when the dwarven fighter in my game wished it were a different way. :)