| GalatinaGM |
Let's say I want to provoke an attack of opportunity. This can be for a number of reasons - I am a tank, I suppose that may enemy doesn't have Combat Reflexes and I want my squishy teammates to be able to position themselves; I have some kind of abiloty that damges my opponent when it hits me; I am a Spiritualist with a Dedication phantom and I want to trigger the increased damage in my turn...
Question is: How can I do that? What could be the simpler way, and what is the "shortest" action I could take to do this?
| Saethori |
There are a number of ways you can provoke attacks of opportunity intentionally. This includes:
[Move Actions]
-Moving 10 feet; five feet within the enemy's threatened area and five feet back
-Grabbing an item from your pack (regardless of how inconsequential it might be)
[Standard Actions]
-Attempt to punch the guy unarmed (if you have a hand free)
-Attempt to use a combat maneuver you lack the Improved feat for
-Some kinds of skill checks (such as trying to treat poison that doesn't exist in yourself, an ally, or even your opponent)
| NewXToa |
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Saethori mentioned this in her list, but I'll expand on it here: Attempting a random combat maneuver that you don't have the Improved feat for provokes an AoO. If you don't have any iterative attacks from high BAB, the combat maneuver takes a standard action, but if you have multiple attacks you can replace one of them with a trip, disarm, or sunder attempt.
That means you can take a full round action (something most martials want to do normally) to attack, then attempt to trip your opponent (if you succeed, they're now prone, and even if you fail you provoked an AoO, meaning you get that bonus damage from your opponent hitting you).
Whereas dropping something and picking it up effectively does nothing but waste a move action (at lower levels this doesn't really matter, 'cause you probably weren't going to do anything with that move action anyway, but at higher levels it means you're giving up iterative attacks), replacing an attack with a combat maneuver attempt provokes an attack of opportunity while at the still time contributing to the actual combat. It also means it won't be as easy for your GM to justify not taking that AoO because the NPC suspects something's up (it's kinda weird to repeatedly jump in and out of your opponent's threatened area, or repeatedly pick up and drop an item).
The things other posters have mentioned work too, of course. It might even be a good idea to mix it up and vary your strategy for provoking, to make it harder for the NPC to justify not taking the AoO :D
Diego Rossi
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Drop something (free action, does not provoke) and pick it up (move action, provokes).
EDIT: Also, as a GM, I'd let you just say "I let my guard down" as a free action and provoke that way.
Most things that provoke require at least a move action or an attack, so provoking with a free action seem too convenient to me, I woudl require at least a move action.
I see provoking intentionally as akin to a feint, even if less "advanced" than that, so it wouldn't require a feat and use only a move action.
Come and Get Me (Ex): While raging, as a free action the barbarian may leave herself open to attack while preparing devastating counterattacks. Enemies gain a +4 bonus on attack and damage rolls against the barbarian until the beginning of her next turn, but every attack against the barbarian provokes an attack of opportunity from her, which is resolved prior to resolving each enemy attack. A barbarian must be at least 12th level to select this rage power.
That rage ability is a free action, but learning it require a rage power.
Ascalaphus
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Obviously move around someone to set up a flank.
If you're going to be provoking AoOs on purpose, I'd heartily recommend the Stability dwarven race trait or similar abilities; I'm often much more scared of being tripped with an AoO before reaching my destination than being hit for damage.
(Also, dwarves make good spiritualists.)
GM Aerondor
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Just remember that people are not obliged to take an attack of opportunity. The first time you do this, likely they will, but if they then can't beat on the wizard who is standing next to them with a touch spell, they might learn differently for the next round.
I'd add that if you are wanting to do this, moving into a flanking position for the party rogue is also a good idea, gives someone else a benefit on top of drawing out the AOO.