Phergas |
This came up recently in our gaming group and we are trying to find an answer for it...
The scenario is this:
The player is engaged in combat - nearby is an enemy caster. The player readies an action to move when the caster begins casting a spell.
The enemy caster begins casting a spell and the readied action is triggered (the spell has a casting time of 1 action).
The player moves next to the enemy caster and, because his readied action takes place before the caster's action, the player is able to force an AOO because the enemy is casting a spell within his threatened space.
Is this a legal maneuver? Yes/No and Why?
Thanks for your help!
Matthew Downie |
I think I'd allow it.
Readied action effects can be confusing (see, for example, 'Never-get-hit-again-by-melee-attacks').
But in terms of game balance, this seems OK. It's not really more powerful than readying an action to use a ranged weapon to interrupt a spell - in order for it to work, the caster would have to be within a move action of the melee guy (if the caster moves away before casting, the melee guy has wasted his readied action), and the melee guy would risk provoking AoOs to get to the caster.
Quandary |
Right, it works.
As stated, moving out of Move range works as defensive tactic.
Also, you can pre-emptively Cast Defensively, especially if you can reliably pass the DC, why not?
Although if the "Readied Mover" has any abilities boosting the Cast Defensive DC, there goes that calculus.
Incidentally, this reminds me of an eternal question: Can other characters "tell" you are Readying?
De facto, especially if you DID take a Move/other actions, i.e. proving it's not simply Delaying, they do.
(I'm against meta-gaming but for many things "basic common sense" of rules mechanics must be allowed to happen)
But it's not clear if they should "in character", OR if there is any indication WHAT the Readied Action might be.
Matthew Downie |
It's legit. But as it occurs before the triggering action can't the caster just start casting defensively?
Generally speaking you're supposed to keep on doing the same thing you were going to do if you can.
Rule: "Assuming he is still capable of doing so, he continues his actions once you complete your readied action."EG, if your readied action is to move around a corner out the way of an enemy archers line of sight, he can no longer complete his intended action of shooting at you, so he can do something else. But if your readied action was to cast a 'Protection from Arrows' spell, he can still shoot at you, so he should.
Quandary |
I generally distinguish between "beginning an action" and "completing an action".
For most things you already make the decisions at the beginning, and that would include Casting Defensively (since you Cast Defensive for entire Casting),
although some there is some decision(s) after or later in the action
(spell targetting happens after Casting, iteratives or even decision to Full Attack vs. Standard happens after 1st attack)
When you Ready vs "He Does Something" it's really "He Begins Something" since you are interrupting his action before it completes.
But regardless the details, the opponent already decided to start doing something when your Ready interrupts them.
I.e. you Ready "if they shoot at ME", if that's triggered, they already started to shoot at YOU, so can't change that decision.
(if they hadn't made that decision yet, then it wouldn't have triggered the READY)
If they're Full Attacking, though the rest of Iteratives are separate decisions, and they can decide to Move after 1st attack etc.
Numarak |
@Ascalaphus:
On Combat, under Cast a Spell,
"You only provoke attacks of opportunity when you begin casting a spell, even though you might continue casting for at least 1 full round. While casting a spell, you don't threaten any squares around you."
Although if I were the other person, I would just attack and try to provoke the fizzling with the damage.
Claxon |
So heres what happens by my understanding:
1)You ready an action to move towards a spellcaster when they start casting a spell.
2) Caster starts casting
2a) Your readied action goes off and occurs before the caster actually starts to cast the spell. You move into position.
3) The caster begins casting the spell (probably defensively). If they fail, they may provoke.
It is different from :
Distracting Spellcasters: You can ready an attack against a spellcaster with the trigger “if she starts casting a spell.” If you damage the spellcaster, she may lose the spell she was trying to cast (as determined by her concentration check result).
You are not damaging the spell caster while they are casting, you are moving into position to threaten them before they cast, wherein they may provoke an AoO as normal (but can be avoided by casting defensively).
Honestly, you've gained nothing except ensuring they wont simply move away before they cast and be out of your reach.
To me the really important distinction here is damaging while they cast, which forces a more difficult concentration check to cast the spell versus casting defensively.
Snowblind |
I think the assumption is that since the caster wasn't going to cast defensively before the readied action triggered, they don't get to change their mind after the move happens. Their action continues through the way they stated, since they are still able to do it. I don't know if that's the correct interpretation, but I imagine a lot of people would run it that way.
Rory |
It's legit. But as it occurs before the triggering action can't the caster just start casting defensively?
That's the way I would run it.
The caster suffers an AOO when they start to cast the spell. But, that's also when they decide to cast defensively.
The attacker would have to set a trigger to be "just before they start casting" or "just after they start casting (when the spell is decided, etc.)". If the trigger is before they start casting, then the attacker can move to threaten an AOO, but the caster can decide to cast defensively when they do start casting. If the trigger is after they start casting, then the attacker moves up next to the caster but the AOO for starting to cast is past.
I can't really justify a trigger to be set between the two, but that might be just me.
To be honest, I'd prefer to allow the attacker to ready a partial charge to interrupt the casting of the spell, which is the intent of the original question anyways. However, you can't ready a partial charge (but I would allow it in a game I ran if the attacker didn't move prior to readying the charge).
claudekennilol |
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It's legit. But as it occurs before the triggering action can't the caster just start casting defensively?
Absolutely not. If you allow this then you allow all sorts of issues that will start creeping in as soon as your players start using readied actions intelligently. The action was declared and must be followed through with because a result of that action has already happened. Because the readied action has already gone off, the action has already been committed to and cannot at this point be changed.
Rory |
Absolutely not. If you allow this then you allow all sorts of issues that will start creeping in as soon as your players start using readied actions intelligently. The action was declared and must be followed through with because a result of that action has already happened. Because the readied action has already gone off, the action has already been committed to and cannot at this point be changed.
What is the "trigger" for the readied action that you are using?
Rory |
Let's take the casting of a spell out of the equation for a moment. There is another easy case of moving just after an action is declared that would produce similar effects.
What if a "hero" readied an action to move in the path of a "villain" that declared a move action to move up to a "victim".
Would the villain have to move thru the hero and keep on going to attack the victim? This would not only provoke an AOO, but it would stop the villain moving completely because moving into the same square is not allowed without an acrobatics check.
Or, would the villain be able to change its move path to move around the hero to get to the victim? This of course causes an AOO for the movement.
Or, would the villain simply have the ability to change targets from the victim to the hero and just stop the movement at the hero?
claudekennilol |
Let's take the casting of a spell out of the equation for a moment. There is another easy case of moving just after an action is declared that would produce similar effects.
What if a "hero" readied an action to move in the path of a "villain" that declared a move action to move up to a "victim".
Would the villain have to move thru the hero and keep on going to attack the victim? This would not only provoke an AOO, but it would stop the villain moving completely because moving into the same square is not allowed without an acrobatics check.
Or, would the villain be able to change its move path to move around the hero to get to the victim? This of course causes an AOO for the movement.
Or, would the villain simply have the ability to change targets from the victim to the hero and just stop the movement at the hero?
That's a bad example that really doesn't equate to this example at all. There's nothing that says you have to declare your whole movement in advance--there can't be. Every table I've sat at I've been allowed to take my move 5' at a time to be able to react to new stimulus (i.e. round a corner or something). There are lots of game examples where you wouldn't be able to move how many people move if they had to declare their whole movement in advance. I.e. If I'm in a dungeon and want to move ten feet forward and then turn right and go twenty feet down a hall I wouldn't be able to do that because I don't know if the hall goes right twenty feet. But I'd find out as soon as I started moving.
Casting a spell is a single action that has no parts. You either do or you don't.
Keith Apperson |
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1)You ready an action to move towards a spellcaster when they start casting a spell.
2) Caster starts casting
2a) Your readied action goes off and occurs before the caster actually starts to cast the spell. You move into position.
3) The caster begins casting the spell (probably defensively). If they fail, they may provoke.
I'd like to point out that failing at casting defensively just fizzles the spell, it does not provoke.
On the rest of the thread:
You provoke when you start casting.
You decide to cast defensively when you start casting.
So the conditions when you start casting:
a. You are not threatened when you begin and will not threaten again.
b. You are threatened, so you cast defensively.
claudekennilol |
claudekennilol wrote:That's a bad example that really doesn't equate to this example at all. There's nothing that says you have to declare your whole movement in advance--there can't be.Assume the villain declared a charge action in the above example.
Then hopefully there's an alternate route that is the shortest that the villain can still charge through otherwise sucks to be the villain. Because of pathfinder's grid-based system and how lines work on grids there are usually multiple shortest paths. But if we're assuming there is only one path for the villain to charge through then yes, this would keep the villain from being able to attack.
Rory |
Then hopefully there's an alternate route that is the shortest that the villain can still charge through otherwise sucks to be the villain. Because of pathfinder's grid-based system and how lines work on grids there are usually multiple shortest paths. But if we're assuming there is only one path for the villain to charge through then yes, this would keep the villain from being able to attack.
We differ on that too then. I would let the villain charge (and attack) the hero if the hero ran in front of the villain charging the victim.
claudekennilol |
claudekennilol wrote:Then hopefully there's an alternate route that is the shortest that the villain can still charge through otherwise sucks to be the villain. Because of pathfinder's grid-based system and how lines work on grids there are usually multiple shortest paths. But if we're assuming there is only one path for the villain to charge through then yes, this would keep the villain from being able to attack.We differ on that too then. I would let the villain charge (and attack) the hero if the hero ran in front of the villain charging the victim.
You're more than welcome to play with that house rule, but on the rules forum we go by what's written ~_^.
CampinCarl9127 |
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You're more than welcome to play with that house rule, but on the rules forum we go by what's written ~_^.
On the rules forums we don't go by anything because we're all too obsessed with semantics to actually play the freaking game.
Also remember, as JJ wrote, RAW means rules as written as interpreted by the GM.
SlimGauge |
dragonhunterq wrote:It's legit. But as it occurs before the triggering action can't the caster just start casting defensively?Absolutely not. If you allow this then you allow all sorts of issues that will start creeping in as soon as your players start using readied actions intelligently. The action was declared and must be followed through with because a result of that action has already happened. Because the readied action has already gone off, the action has already been committed to and cannot at this point be changed.
I believe that you can choose NOT to continue the declared action due to the change in circumstances, but the Action (more or standard or whatever) is lost.
Badguy: Imma gonna begin moving from A toward B.
Badguy: I've gone one square so far
Ready Fighter: Imma use readied action to move to a square where I threaten your (intended) path.
Badguy: Imma stoppin' here ! My move action is done !
Badguy: Imma fight you with my remaining actions (if any).
In our example:
Casty McWizard: Imma cast a spell
Ready Fighter: Imma use readied action to move up to you.
Casty McWizard: Imma gonna lose the standard action rather than continue casting with Ready Fighter in my face. Now I'll continue the rest of mah actions
Casty McWizard: Five foot step
Casty McWizard: Bye ! <Quickened dim-door>
Rory |
You're more than welcome to play with that house rule, but on the rules forum we go by what's written ~_^.
And I believe allowing one type of action to react to an interrupt but not others is a house rule. Let's set the house rule discussion aside, because that is a quagmire that will bear little fruit.
I believe our difference is that we interpret the trigger differently. That is not a house rule difference, per se, but a vagueness in the rules for interpreting triggers for readied action. There can be a lot of interpretation difference which lets both of us follow RAW.
claudekennilol |
claudekennilol wrote:You're more than welcome to play with that house rule, but on the rules forum we go by what's written ~_^.And I believe allowing one type of action to react to an interrupt but not others is a house rule. Let's set the house rule discussion aside, because that is a quagmire that will bear little fruit.
I believe our difference is that we interpret the trigger differently. That is not a house rule difference, per se, but a vagueness in the rules for interpreting triggers for readied action. There can be a lot of interpretation difference which lets both of us follow RAW.
But one way works and the other way makes universes explode.
Either the action was committed which triggered the readied action, or the action wasn't committed to in which case the readied action doesn't go off. In neither of those scenarios can the readied action be triggered without someone pulling the trigger--that would be buy-buy Golarion.
Rory |
But one way works and the other way makes universes explode.
Either the action was committed which triggered the readied action, or the action wasn't committed to in which case the readied action doesn't go off. In neither of those scenarios can the readied action be triggered without someone pulling the trigger--that would be buy-buy Golarion.
When you are ready to stop using useless hyperbole, feel free to list the triggers you would use for the OP's question.
I already did up thread. Golarion did not explode. :-)
Quantum Steve |
Casting defensively isn't a separate action from casting a spell like fighting defensively is. There's only one action as listed in the combat section: Cast A Spell.
That's the only action the caster has to continue, any other details the caster can decide after the readied action goes off. They can even wait to pick which spell they're casting until after the readied action goes off.
DarkKnight27 |
claudekennilol wrote:But one way works and the other way makes universes explode.
Either the action was committed which triggered the readied action, or the action wasn't committed to in which case the readied action doesn't go off. In neither of those scenarios can the readied action be triggered without someone pulling the trigger--that would be buy-buy Golarion.
When you are ready to stop using useless hyperbole, feel free to list the triggers you would use for the OP's question.
I already did up thread. Golarion did not explode. :-)
In Rory's example:
GG - I ready to move up to the BG when he starts to cast a spell.BG - Starts to cast a spell.
GG - (ready action is triggered) Moves up to BG.
BG - Sees the GG moving toward him so decides not to cast a spell.
GG - Suddenly his readied action never triggers so he's not moving toward BG
BG - (Reality has reset) Starts casting a spell.
GG - (ready action is triggered) Moves up to BG.
This is the logic loop that Rory was trying to point out. This is not how the rules work. Once an action is committed to you have to complete the action if possible.
Casting defensively isn't a separate action from casting a spell like fighting defensively is. There's only one action as listed in the combat section: Cast A Spell.
That's the only action the caster has to continue, any other details the caster can decide after the readied action goes off. They can even wait to pick which spell they're casting until after the readied action goes off.
I disagree with this. I believe that you need to not only declare what spell you are casting but if you are casting defensively at the time you begin casting the spell. This is important to declare this all at the time of casting because things can happen that can cause you to loose your spell.
For instance:Example 1 (the way Quantum Steve says it works)
GG - I cast a spell.
BG - attacks GG and disrupts spellcasting
What spell or spell slot was lost? Was it a 0-level spell or a 9th-level spell? How do the players/GM know which spell was disrupted? What if the attack missed, then GG gets to freely choose which spell they are going to get off? No this is not how this works.
Example 2 (the way I say it works)
GG - I cast Horrid Wilting
BG - attacks GG and disrupts spellcasting
Horrid Wilting is lost (or the spell slot used is lost). Everyone knows, there are no questions.
Example 3 (the way I say it works)
GG - I will cast defensively a Horrid Wilting
GG - Rolls concentration and fails the roll
BG - Laughs at GG's folly and gets and AoO because of feats
Horrid Wilting is wasted (or the spell slot used is lost). Every knows, there are no questions.
Example 4 (the way I say it works)
GG - I will cast defensively a Horrid Wilting
GG - Rolls concentration and makes the roll
BG - Shrivels and dies as all the water is sucked out of it's body
The spell goes off without a hitch. Everyone knows and there are no questions.
This game is complex enough without adding in complexity that doesn't exist.
To the OP's original question, I can see valid rules arguments going either way, personally I think that the GG with the readied action would get an AoO, but ultimately this will be a GM call.
Rory |
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In Rory's example:
GG - I ready to move up to the BG when he starts to cast a spell.
BG - Starts to cast a spell.
GG - (ready action is triggered) Moves up to BG.
BG - Sees the GG moving toward him so decides not to cast a spell.
GG - Suddenly his readied action never triggers so he's not moving toward BG
BG - (Reality has reset) Starts casting a spell.
GG - (ready action is triggered) Moves up to BG.This is the logic loop that Rory was trying to point out. This is not how the rules work. Once an action is committed to you have to complete the action if possible.
(claudekennilol was trying to point out the logic loop hazard)
I interpret it as...
GG - I ready to move up to the BG when he starts to cast a spell.
BG - Starts to cast a spell (triggers AOOs from all those that threaten)
GG - (ready action is ALSO triggered) Moves up to BG.
BG - Sees the GG moving closer but is stuck casting the spell until it is finished.
GG - Is now beside the BG, but the AOO for casting the spell is already past.
This illustrates what I think are the differences (via trigger interpretation). There is no logic loop involved.
claudekennilol |
claudekennilol This is how that scenario would go.
A - "I charge this direction."
B - "Somebody moves in front of you."
A - "My charge hits them."Easy. Simple. You don't fail to act because somebody moved next to you.
If you're following the rules for charging you do.
Charge
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. If this space is occupied or otherwise blocked, you can't charge. If any line from your starting space to the ending space passes through a square that blocks movement, slows movement, or contains a creature (even an ally), you can't charge. Helpless creatures don't stop a charge.
If you don't have line of sight to the opponent at the start of your turn, you can't charge that opponent.
Charging is a full-round action that has its own target built into the action. If you can't complete it, then your charge is interrupted.
BG - Sees the GG moving closer but is stuck casting the spell until it is finished.
GG - Is now beside the BG, but the AOO for casting the spell is already past.
Except readied actions happen before the trigger.
Readying an Action: You can ready a standard action, a move action, a swift action, or a free action. To do so, specify the action you will take and the conditions under which you will take it. Then, anytime before your next action, you may take the readied action in response to that condition. The action occurs just before the action that triggers it. If the triggered action is part of another character's activities, you interrupt the other character. Assuming he is still capable of doing so, he continues his actions once you complete your readied action. Your initiative result changes. For the rest of the encounter, your initiative result is the count on which you took the readied action, and you act immediately ahead of the character whose action triggered your readied action.
You can take a 5-foot step as part of your readied action, but only if you don't otherwise move any distance during the round.
Now what you're saying is all well and fine and might work for your table, and is closer to what reality is, but as it's printed it's pretty straight forward.
Chess Pwn |
The readied action "happens before the action that triggers it" This means that Provoking the AoO couldn't have happened before the readied action was triggered. Once you do something that triggers a readied action you continue with what you were doing if able.
Examples
I use a move action to move, movement is done in 5ft increments, so if fighter's readied action goes off I can try to move around him or stop moving, but my move action is used regardless of what else I do.
I use a standard action to cast X spell defensively or not. I must choose defensively or not when I begin casting because that's when I decide if I provoke or not. Fighter now moves up "before I started to cast" and I continue with my spell as described before readied action.
I charge and fall into a pit I didn't see, can I continue charging? No! Thus if I charge PC Y and PC X readied action moves in the way I can't complete my charge as I was charging PC Y and now it's invalid.
CampinCarl9127 |
I would allow them to redirect the charge attack at the person who moved in front of them. If you really want to be this pedantic I can phrase it to fit your interpretation of RAW.
A - "I charge."
B - "Where?"
A - "This direction."
B - "Ok, the fighter moves in front of you."
A - "I use my charge attack on him."
Unnecessary, but it fits your understanding of the rules and has the same result.
Just imagine the ridiculousness of stopping a charge by only moving. It's one thing if you actively do something like bull rushing the charger, but if you just move into the way of somebody bearing down with death in mind, you're going to get hit. Otherwise you could stop a mounted knight charging by...moving in the way? Not hitting them. Not stopping them. Just casually strolling into their path. Well crap, I guess their action is just cancelled then. Couldn't possibly hit the person who just blocked his charge.
Chess Pwn |
I would allow them to redirect the charge attack at the person who moved in front of them. If you really want to be this pedantic I can phrase it to fit your interpretation of RAW.
A - "I charge."
B - "Where?"
A - "This direction."
B - "Ok, the fighter moves in front of you."
A - "I use my charge attack on him."Unnecessary, but it fits your understanding of the rules and has the same result.
Just imagine the ridiculousness of stopping a charge by only moving. It's one thing if you actively do something like bull rushing the charger, but if you just move into the way of somebody bearing down with death in mind, you're going to get hit. Otherwise you could stop a mounted knight charging by...moving in the way? Not hitting them. Not stopping them. Just casually strolling into their path. Well crap, I guess their action is just cancelled then. Couldn't possibly hit the person who just blocked his charge.
A charge is a full-round action that you need to declare your target to know the most direct way to charge them and to see if you have room to charge them.
You ARE actively doing something, you're getting in their way when they were focusing on charging someone else. It's the same as the bullrush, trip, readied action Wall/Pit spell. All of them are messing up your Full-Round action.
The POINT of readied actions is to do something specific and often to prevent someone from doing what they wanted to do, similar to AoO.
EDIT:
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.
...
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. If this space is occupied or otherwise blocked, you can't charge. If any line from your starting space to the ending space passes through a square that blocks movement, slows movement, or contains a creature (even an ally), you can't charge.
...
If you don't have line of sight to the opponent at the start of your turn, you can't charge that opponent.
DarkKnight27 |
DarkKnight27 wrote:
(claudekennilol was trying to point out the logic loop hazard)
I interpret it as...
GG - I ready to move up to the BG when he starts to cast a spell.
BG - Starts to cast a spell (triggers AOOs from all those that threaten)
GG - (ready action is ALSO triggered) Moves up to BG.
BG - Sees the GG moving closer but is stuck casting the spell until it is finished.
GG - Is now beside the BG, but the AOO for casting the spell is already past.This illustrates what I think are the differences (via trigger interpretation). There is no logic loop involved.
Sorry for the misquote.
In reguards to the above example, I don't think it works like this because a readied action takes place before the action that triggered it (so it would take place before the AoO would even happen). As a result, reading to move next to a spell caster when he starts to cast would get you an AoO from the act of casting a spell if the caster didn't declare they were going to cast it defensibly. But I can see the point you are trying to make that's why I said it would ultimately be up to the GM on how they rule it.
Chess Pwn |
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You need to stop arguing with "what makes sense" when we have clear rules. The rules say X, just because that makes no sense that X should happen doesn't stop the rules from saying that's how it works.
Now houserules to make things more "realistic" sure, if that makes the game more fun then go with it. But ignoring rules because then actions are wasted or it doesn't seem realistic are poor arguments to rules.
claudekennilol |
I would allow them to redirect the charge attack at the person who moved in front of them. If you really want to be this pedantic I can phrase it to fit your interpretation of RAW.
A - "I charge."
B - "Where?"
A - "This direction."
B - "Ok, the fighter moves in front of you."
A - "I use my charge attack on him."Unnecessary, but it fits your understanding of the rules and has the same result.
Just imagine the ridiculousness of stopping a charge by only moving. It's one thing if you actively do something like bull rushing the charger, but if you just move into the way of somebody bearing down with death in mind, you're going to get hit. Otherwise you could stop a mounted knight charging by...moving in the way? Not hitting them. Not stopping them. Just casually strolling into their path. Well crap, I guess their action is just cancelled then. Couldn't possibly hit the person who just blocked his charge.
It doesn't fit any interpretation of RAW because of what I've already said and what Chess Pwn is now saying, as well.
CampinCarl9127 |
You just claimed that moving is the same as bull rushing and other combat maneuvers. That is by definition untrue.
And no. I will always rule with common sense and an intelligent interpretation of the rules over a strictly pedantic RAW approach (which is truly awful), because I like to actually have my games make sense and be fun. Spare me the appeal to authority.
But have fun with that ruling. Perhaps I can build a monk who spends all his actions sprinting around the battlefield, canceling actions by simply moving into the way. And here I thought casters had battlefield control.
SlimGauge |
I interpret it as...
GG - I ready to move up to the BG when he starts to cast a spell.
BG - Starts to cast a spell (triggers AOOs from all those that threaten)
GG - (ready action is ALSO triggered) Moves up to BG.
BG - Sees the GG moving closer but is stuck casting the spell until it is finished.
GG - Is now beside the BG, but the AOO for casting the spell is already past.This illustrates what I think are the differences (via trigger interpretation). There is no logic loop involved.
+1 Rory
DarkKnight27 |
You just claimed that moving is the same as bull rushing and other combat maneuvers. That is by definition untrue.
And no. I will always rule with common sense and an intelligent interpretation of the rules over a strictly pedantic RAW approach (which is truly awful), because I like to actually have my games make sense and be fun. Spare me the appeal to authority.
But have fun with that ruling. Perhaps I can build a monk who spends all his actions sprinting around the battlefield, canceling actions by simply moving into the way. And here I thought casters had battlefield control.
It's obvious that you like to make up you're own rules and change rules that don't make sense. That's fine. You (and you're players?) may find that fun and interesting. But you have to take a step back and realize that not everyone enjoys the game the same way. Some people find that playing by the rules as written to be the best and most fun way to play. Neither option is wrong but they do not play well together.
Also, if this were to be applied to PFS then I'd argue that you should always try to play the rules as written as closely as possible since it's the only way to be fair and consistent across multiple GM's at multiple Cons and Game Days. If you're making up or changing rules that you don't agree with, even when the rules are clearly written, it causes problems for everyone.
CampinCarl9127 |
PFS is different. In that you must play strict RAW (another reason I don't care for PFS).
The thing about RAW is that there isn't always one correct answer. Even JJ and developers have stated on multiple occasions that rule interpretations should be left to GM discretion. My presented side is my interpretation of RAW, not a house rule.
Also, this is a rules forum. Not a rules lawyering forum. There are far too many people here who forget that.
But I digress. We're not even on topic anymore, and you clearly have no intention of going back to the actual argument at hand instead of invalidated "RAW" claims. I have posted my interpretation and explained why, I am done with this thread. My vote is with Rory. Good day.
thundercade |
A charge is a full-round action that you need to declare your target to know the most direct way to charge them and to see if you have room to charge them.
And absolutely nothing stops you from declaring it twice. You need to meet the requirements of charge in order for what you end up doing to be a charge. It does not say you need to declare one target that cannot change. The phrases "designated opponent", "the opponent", "closest space from which you can attack the opponent" "ending space" can all change over the course of working out the action as long as they all at one time satisfy the requirements. There is no reason they cannot change after another creature has moved in your way. It may sound wonky to you to play like that, and I can completely understand ruling it so that you can't change your mind, but it doesn't break any rule of charge to do so.
"designated opponent" may sound like it's implying that it cannot end up being a different creature than first intended, but it's not explicit. It's just referring to who you end up charging.
The only part that puts a restriction on it is "If you don't have line of sight to the opponent at the start of your turn, you can't charge that opponent." In that case, if your opponent changed to a creature that didn't meet this requirement, then it cannot be a charge.
The POINT of readied actions is to do something specific and often to prevent someone from doing what they wanted to do, similar to AoO.
That may be very common and what you decide to use them for, but that is not THE point of them. They are for ensuring that your action happens before a stated event, because that's exactly what they do. Any further purpose is simply a preference, and that preference does not create rules.
Chess Pwn |
Chess Pwn wrote:A charge is a full-round action that you need to declare your target to know the most direct way to charge them and to see if you have room to charge them.
And absolutely nothing stops you from declaring it twice. You need to meet the requirements of charge in order for what you end up doing to be a charge. It does not say you need to declare one target that cannot change. The phrases "designated opponent", "the opponent", "closest space from which you can attack the opponent" "ending space" can all change over the course of working out the action as long as they all at one time satisfy the requirements. There is no reason they cannot change after another creature has moved in your way. It may sound wonky to you to play like that, and I can completely understand ruling it so that you can't change your mind, but it doesn't break any rule of charge to do so.
"designated opponent" may sound like it's implying that it cannot end up being a different creature than first intended, but it's not explicit. It's just referring to who you end up charging.
The only part that puts a restriction on it is "If you don't have line of sight to the opponent at the start of your turn, you can't charge that opponent." In that case, if your opponent changed to a creature that didn't meet this requirement, then it cannot be a charge.
Yes there actually is something that stops you from declaring it twice. the fact that a charge is a full-round action and
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.
...
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. If this space is occupied or otherwise blocked, you can't charge. If any line from your starting space to the ending space passes through a square that blocks movement, slows movement, or contains a creature (even an ally), you can't charge.
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If you don't have line of sight to the opponent at the start of your turn, you can't charge that opponent.
How can you know if you have room to charge a designated opponent if you don't actually have a designated opponent?
How do you know if you have a clear path to them if it's not a set opponent? How do you know the closest space to them if it's not a set person? How do you know if you don't have line of sight if it's not the set person?Byakko |
I concur that charging is a full round action that requires you to pick a specific target (and a destination square!). If something stops you from completing the charge, your action is wasted. Sorry, tough luck. (however, see below)
Readying an action to move next to a caster in order to get an AoO against them... this may be legal, but I hope someone gives a strong argument for why it isn't. I don't want this to be legal.
However, if it IS legal, I would definitely classify it as a "dark side" tactic - i.e. abusing the rules to achieve something which is almost certainly against the spirit of the combat system. To put it bluntly, if a player demanded to use this sort of shenanigan on me in PFS, I would break out similar "dark side" tactics. (fair is fair) And trust me, I've got a lot of them in my toolbox...
Vrischika111 |
well if a wizard is 4 (or 6 sq) away from a fighter that didn't do any action on his round AND remains on his spot AND cast (not defensively), he deserves the AoO no ?
I don't see this as a dark side tactic, just a gamble that the wizard will cast a spell while staying close. if not, the guy lost his round without doing anything else...
ho, I also agree that Charge needs a dedicated/specified target & clear path. should something change after his decision to charge : then too bad for the charger : no attacks.
again, taking actions that can be interrupted (charge, casting, ..) while a guy has done nothing on his round is a bad decision :)
when I GM I ask my players to write down their ready action, not telling me, it prevents changes on tactics on my side due to meta-knownledge