I am currently using a build that relies on occasionally quaffing a potion in mid combat. Now,. its high ac so AOO is not that big of an issue, BUT what if i wanted to stop them, what would i need to buy/get for my character? Drawing a potion is a provoking action, drinking the potion is a provoking action, therefor if i draw it one turn, and drink it the next thats 2aoo from asingle target. Handy haversack is one way i know of drawing without provoking, other options? PFS legal options only please.
| 3 people marked this as a favorite. |
Actually, a high Armor Class isn't as helpful in this situation as you might think.
Using a potion or oil provokes attacks of opportunity. An enemy may direct an attack of opportunity against the potion or oil container rather than against the character. A successful attack of this sort can destroy the container, preventing the character from drinking the potion or applying the oil.
The vial has Armor Class 13, 1 hit point, hardness 1, and a break DC of 12.
You might want to rethink your build unless you are worshipping Urgathoa or are willing to dip 3 levels like Scott says.
The easiest go-to's are:
1. Drink them before you get into combat.
2. Five foot step away to drink.
There are no easy universal answers to avoid AoO drinking in the middle of combat.
Doesn't that require a sunder attack?
Nope. The rules don't say that you have to sunder the potion, merely that you attack it as if it were an object. It's certainly an option, but because the potion is an attended object, you'd have to use the enemy's CMD, which is certainly most likely going to be higher than the AC 13 (or Strength check DC 12) to attempt, especially at the higher levels.
I would appreciate if that part of the rules had a better wording (or at least a FAQ) to help clarify if a sunder was required, whether an object being attended or not determined if you had to hit the enemy's AC or the object's AC, and so on. Because to be honest, when I brought it up at my table, I was given a lot of weird looks and questions like "Wait, you can actually do that?"
Even with giving the proper citations, the GM is hesitant on allowing it as a rule, since it's not exactly defined or organized how this sort of thing happens...
Being invisible protects you from AoOs against most enemies.
In the absence of Combat Reflexes, having a friend or minion provoke an AoO intentionally can protect you. Or if you want to protect your potion vial you might deliberately provoke a different AoO.
An inquisitor who casts Litany of Sloth on an enemy stops them making AoOs if they fail the save. A rogue with the slow reactions talent can do the same with a sneak attack (no save but sneak attack required).
What does the build look like? There's more I'm sure but not knowing what the character looks like it's hard to know which of the many ways of avoiding AoOs might be useful.
It's not a build breaker, the potions generally boost intimidate, with an antagonizing/in harm's way build. Currently rocking a 17 at level 5, but gravellu voice potion for +5 alchemical, and cant recall name of other at the moment that adds +10 circumstance ,can be nice if i am having a hard time making it stick,
And thankfully, the Dm hasnt thought of that... yet... what about this? I plant the tower shield as my standard, then take out potion. Guy with shield between us cant attack me, because i have concealment right? Next turn drink potion, thats a standard normally i think? Then i can begin moving again or whatnot. Yes it's not optimum, but i'd rather lose one or two rounds when afight starts, then chug my potions all daywaiting for a fight..
The Potion Glutton Feat. You will be able to drink any potable as a Swift Action. You can find the Feat in Inner Sea Gods. You have to worship Uragathoa.
As the original poster is looking for PFS-legal options, I feel it is warranted to mention this:
Change the text of the potion glutton feat to the following, "Benefit: You can drink potions, elixirs, or other potables (but not extracts) as a move action without provoking an attack of opportunity. Normal: Drinking potions is a standard action that provokes an attack of opportunity."
It does not have as great an effect in PFS as it used to.
|
You can dip 3 levels in Monk, and be a Drunken Master. You will no longer Provoke Attacks of Opportunity when Drinking.
Note: Some GMs may apply this only to drinking ale or strong alcohol from a tankard. There is also a Fast Drinker feat specific to this archetype which upgrades drinking alcohol to a swift action.
For retrieving potions you might consider a familiar, unseen servant, or Glove of Storing.
For drinking, the Accelerated Drinker trait makes it a move action.
Cayden Cailean's Blade and Tankard divine fighting style can allow you to drink during combat.
The Sipping Jacket and Alchemist's Suit can also help to sidestep potion retrieval/drinking problems in specific cases.
Can wrist sheaths help out?
Edit: Nope, provokes AoO. Maybe with sleight of hand?
And thankfully, the Dm hasnt thought of that... yet... what about this? I plant the tower shield as my standard, then take out potion. Guy with shield between us cant attack me, because i have concealment right? Next turn drink potion, thats a standard normally i think? Then i can begin moving again or whatnot. Yes it's not optimum, but i'd rather lose one or two rounds when afight starts, then chug my potions all daywaiting for a fight..
Yes, if you're lugging around a tower shield you can do this. It's total cover rather than concealment BTW. Mobile Bulwark Style makes taking cover this way a move action.
Losing two standard actions and a move to get one buff is generally a terrible idea. Intimidate checks aren't that big a deal for a fighter; they're nice when free but you're looking at spending far too much time in combat improving them. The elixir of thundering voice lasts an hour IIRC so you really want to use it before combat if you can.
|
I am currently using a build that relies on occasionally quaffing a potion in mid combat. Now,. its high ac so AOO is not that big of an issue, BUT what if i wanted to stop them, what would i need to buy/get for my character? Drawing a potion is a provoking action, drinking the potion is a provoking action, therefor if i draw it one turn, and drink it the next thats 2aoo from asingle target. Handy haversack is one way i know of drawing without provoking, other options? PFS legal options only please.
The easiest option would be to use up their Oppertunity attacks on other things. Pretty easy to trigger AoOs and most opponents lack combat reflexes. Not a good solution, but an easy one to execute.
Let's see, beyond that, you could probably get around the action time of the drawing potion if your Familiar was inside your backpack, and could just hand off the potion you needed. Have to ask the GM there, but should be fine with one of the smaller familiars, provided they had the grasping ability to hold options. Still probably a move action (and a full round for the familiar).
i do like mobile bulwark, as a tower shield specialist, that could be pretty useful imo, the TSS gives shield bonus to grappling and tripped, tis would add to the other two, plus let me plant as a move. I like this alot, i think i just found my next feat! Thanks, also the sipping jacket seems useful. No way to justify can take a sip to activate the +intim for only around at atime tho, since it last an hour eh? Not instantaneous, but not measure in rounds either, seems to be in the middle, but i suppose RAW would mean sip asswift, it affects for an hour right?
You could use wands instead of potions.
did i mention this is a tower shield fighter? if he could use wands, i'd freak everyone out at the table,as it is i already get TWO skill points every level, fear my intellectual might!
|
|
Downer of tower shields is that they really suck for skill checks at early levels. I often unequip my tower shield before attempting even basic climb, swim or acrobatics tests. Falling and drowning is how early level tower shield specialists die...
Though if going the Tower Shield Route, note that the (normal) Bard and the Skirnir magus archetype can use tower shields while using arcane magic without the arcane spell failure penalty. The Bard has to take a feat for proficency, but the poor wording of the class doesn't exclude tower shields from their immunity to spell failure with shields. The Skirnir Magus starts with proficency and specific exception.
The Phalanx Fighter archetype is also very tower shield friendly. That one is less tower shield specific, but still a strong class for tower shield users.