Can you aid a coup de grace target's AC with bodyguard to force an attack roll? Can you In Harm's Way to take the coup de grace damage and all the 'associated effects'?
The rules questions are pretty clear here (and unforgiving, hopefully you are able to house rule to something that everyone enjoys) but I'm looking for ways to protect allies from coup de gras. Too often have ghouls been fought in narrow hallways and the question was pondered of What Would Ghoul Do to this poor paralyzed player...
The coup de grace provokes, so against more traditional enemies you can disarm them if they are in reach. If you can drop a darkness it takes longer to coup de grace (2 rounds), so it buys time.
So, what advice is out there for protecting other characters in a particularly high steaks game?
I don't think either of these two ideas will apply to CDG, as there is no attack roll. The best bet would be using the AoO to somehow deny the attacker the ability to perform the attack, disarm and sunder are the top choices, but are no help with a natural weapon using enemy like a ghoul. Something that would add a bull rush or reposition to your attack might be able to move the ghoul out of position, or something that gives a stagger or stun.
So yeah, alot easier with a sword swinging enemy.
I'd let it work. I'd even turn the auto-crit into a normal hit on the bodyguard.
Ultimately, coup de grace is probably too easy to perform as a mechanic. If the primary counter is taking AoO, given the number of hit points the typical opponent has, the coup de grace is too difficult to prevent.
I'd consider drawing from the way AoO contribute to the foiling of combat maneuvers and have the attempt modified by the damage any successful AoO inflicts. Another alternative is to borrow from concentration check rules and give the coup inflicting character a chance to avoid having his coup de grace attempt interrupted.
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It's not super helpful but paralysed creatures have and effective dex and strength of zero. That is a huge penalty to there CMD. You should be able to effectively reposition them any where with these penalties.
The distance is limited to 5ft outside of your reach but with other places cooperation it might be enough. The distance can be extended with a reach weapon. Just think of it as using a cane to pull someone off stage.